Postponing weddings during Covid-19

Easier than one might think

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According to Dhanusha Sivajee, chief marketing officer at The Knot Worldwide, 95 percent of all weddings canceled during Covid-19 are being rescheduled for later this year or into next year. So how do you get started postponing and rescheduling the wedding of your dreams?

Vendors currently understand that these are uncertain times and postponing weddings right now is par for the course. If weddings are scheduled in May through July, vendors suggests rescheduling rather than cancling. As far as August or September weddings, they  suggests waiting to see if the stay at home orders/gathering bans are lifted. Many venues are allowing brides to reschedule weddings and receptions twelve months out, but all establishments vary. So if you are thinking about rescheduling, the first thing to do is establish a new date and time for the event. Wedding scheduling is dependent on many things like the availability of the couple, family, venue or even the caterer. Find a couple of dates that work so you have a better chance of getting all of your vendors and suppliers. Also, realize that if you are getting married at a different time of year, the flowers in season will differ; floral designer and Pozie by Natalie owner Natalie Ransom encourages brides to “go with the flow.”

Once you have a couple of dates in mind, talk with your officiant, venue, vendors and any suppliers. For those working with wedding planners, they can often help create a list of the vendors that need to be contacted as well as help you navigate vendor contracts. But do not worry if you do not have a planner; just create a list of your vendors and give them each a call. Rescheduling a wedding is far different than canceling a wedding, but there can be some fees for rescheduling and some of your venders may not be available on your new date, so you may lose a deposit. Review your contracts beforehand to see if they include an Act of God exclusion – Covid-19 certainly qualifies for that! Be sure to talk with all your vendors and suppliers before you announce your new date to guests.

Finally, it’s time to announce the new date to the guests. If you have already sent out wedding invitations, then the address list has been established and you can send out a cute postcard to guests with the information. There are free post card templates on the internet and phone apps or you can create a photo postcard yourself. Sending a mass email or text messages is simple, effective and free. Statistically, the older generation enjoys getting phone calls, but be prepared to have an exit line. If you have a wedding website where people have/can RSVP, be sure to put the announcement and new information there as well.

Postponing a wedding can be a daunting task, but just take it one step at a time.

References:

Thousands of weddings are put on hold amid coronavirus pandemic- By Jessica Dickler

A Guide to Postponing Your Wedding-By Jane Chertoff