These are scary and uncertain times and none of us are untouched by the impacts of COVID-19. If you have a wedding coming up, you’re probably in panic mode. Can you postpone? Should you cancel? Will you be refunded? We’re here to help.
TALK TO YOUR VENDORS
Every couple and every business is different. While we love being your Northeast Ohio Wedding Resource, we can’t speak for the entire event industry. It’s important to reach out to each of your vendors and have a conversation about your options. Your wedding vendors are also booked for several other weddings in the upcoming months, so you’re probably not the first to ask them these questions. Most likely, they have a plan in place to help you get through this crisis smoothly. They may be able to postpone your wedding for later in the year or reassure you that their services aren’t disappearing. Before you panic, take a deep breath, pick up the phone, and find out what your options are.
INFORM YOUR GUESTS
Whether you decide to move forward, postpone, or cancel, let your guests know as soon as possible. A lot of them have to plan travel or overnight arrangements and will want to know whether this is still necessary or not. With an unexpected crisis like this, there are no rules. If it’s easier for you to send a mass text, make a Facebook Group, or update your wedding website and share it as a status, that’s totally appropriate. You can also resend invitations; some invitation companies are offering discounts right now to brides who need to resend.
POSTPONE THE PARTY – NOT THE WEDDING
Some counties have suspended providing marriage licenses. If you have your license, it expires in 60 days. You can still continue by saying “I Do” and limiting the ceremony guest count. The state of Ohio is prohibiting groups of larger than 50, but 10 people or less is recommended. While it may not be the best idea for your grandparents to attend, you can always Livestream or videotape your wedding to share with your loved ones. Be sure to reach out to the 7 people you want to invite as soon as possible. They may not be comfortable attending, which would allow you to invite someone else. Once things settle down, you can have a proper celebration later in the year where the rest of your guests can attend.
Everything is up in the air right now. No one expects a crisis like this to affect their wedding day. Hopefully, you have wedding insurance and a solid contract with your wedding vendors. If you are planning a 2021 or later wedding, prepare for any other potential disasters.
Visit www.todaysbride.com for more wedding tips!
