The COVID-19 pandemic is constantly changing and continues to impact communities all over the world. We are committed to continuing to support couples who are navigating their wedding at this time with inspiration and information on how to wed safely. As always, please be sure to consult official health departments for local restrictions and guidelines before making any final arrangements.
"Have multiple eyes glance over your contract’s terms and conditions. Your wedding planner might notice something that is negotiable or out of the ordinary, while your partner or family member might pick up on something they don’t feel comfortable with. Simply discussing the terms and conditions, and payments with your vendor is also always welcome, so it reads clearly." —Christie Yerks, Laura Ritchie, and Brittany Hagaman, Grit & Grace
"Most of the insurance options we’ve looked into now consider COVID-19 and known, pre-existing conditions, but will not always ensure cancellations for this reason. However, you should still buy wedding insurance for general liability, as it’s always a good idea." —Laurie Arons, Laurie Arons Special Events
"If your vendors cannot accommodate your new wedding date, ask them what your options are and read through the fine print on your contracts. If they’re not available on the rescheduled date, ask them for other vendor suggestions. They may have friends in the industry who can work on their behalf. Remember, we’re all in this together and we truly want you to have the best day possible!"—Virginia Frischkorn, Bluebird Productions
"We are unfortunately seeing unprecedented times with venues that are closing days and weeks before clients’ wedding days. As soon as you know information, you can let your friends and family know. The biggest thing to remember is that it is NOT about the date, but about celebrating the love you share with them, no matter when or where." —Danielle Elder, Classic Events
"Find areas where you are still able to plan for the day. For example, invitations for a fall wedding, you don’t need to send those out until late summer. Go ahead and design them now (in the spring), but just hold off on printing." —Christina Baxter, Christina Baxter Weddings & Events
"Even if you aren’t being required to postpone your event at this time, you want to be ahead of the game with your strategy. Contact your vendors with specific questions, so you can pivot on a moment’s notice. This way you can efficiently and rationally weigh your options, and understand the financial liability and deadlines for making decisions." —Lori Stephenson, LOLA Event Productions
"As hard as it seems to accept that your wedding will have to take place at another time, you’re still marrying the person of your dreams, and when the time comes you will have a lifetime together. Breathe and take one day at a time!" —Heather Lowenthal, Posh Parties
"Make a spreadsheet of your list of vendors, noting available dates, deposits made, balances due, and any associated fees for changing your date. Then, cross-reference the open dates and see if there’s one where all (or most) of your preferred vendors are available. The first thing to secure is your venue. Then it’s time to prioritize what is most important to you and balance it with the financial details. Some of these decisions are going to be tough and emotional, but remember that the most important thing is the commitment you and your partner will make to each other." —Beth Bernstein, SQN Events
"If you don’t have a wedding planner and you are thinking about postponing your big day, this is the moment where you should hire one! Not only can they help weigh the pros and cons, but they’ll be invaluable in getting everything rescheduled if necessary." —Liz Banfield, Liz Banfield Photography
"If you are a maid of honor, bridesmaid, or any part of the wedding party or day, consider reaching out to the couple who had to postpone their I-dos. Do your best to allow them to ent and maybe even send them a gift basket of self-care goodies for them to enjoy while they are dealing with the heartache of postponement." —Kate Whelan, Kate Whelan Events
"If you are more than six weeks out, you can still have your invitation printed and mailed. If you are looking for something more immediate, have your stationery designer create a digital file that matches the invitation suite so that you can email to your guests immediately, alerting them of the postponement." —Tessa Lyn Brand, Tessa Lyn Events
"Choose the top three alternate dates that the venue is providing and see which of your vendors are available for each of those dates. From there, choose by order of top priority from your vendor list while taking into account their contract terms." —Adam Donovan-Groves, Donovan-Groves Events
"Keep in mind that kindness is key. The hospitality and event industry are doing everything they can to help make your day the best it can be and seeing how you can best reschedule. Have candid conversations with your vendors, but lean on respect. They are there to try to make sure your day is seamless." —Jacin Fitzgerald, Jacin Fitzgerald Events
"When it comes to a destination wedding, encourage your guests to book travel insurance to cover their purchases, just in case. Bonus tip: as you’re collecting addresses, make sure to collect email addresses as well, so that you can contact everyone quickly and effectively should any changes need to be made." —Allyson Joseph and Katie Pincus, Bob Gail Events
"Use your digital announcements and your wedding website to keep your guests in the loop. You want to choose a mode of communication that allows you to make real-time changes and updates. One idea is to create an “upates” page on your wedding website where you can post as needed about what’s going on with your wedding plans. This allows guests to access the most up-to-date information whenever they want." —Carl and Cindy Skanderup, Bliss & Bone
"Keep correspondence with vendors in writing via email. This will help you reference the communication, allowing everyone to track it and any changes that are being made. Also, confirm the contract terms of a new date, as well as any other financial considerations that need to be made when moving dates with each of your vendors." —Stephanie Cole and Sarah Drake, Cole Drake Events
"The one thing I can say to EVERY couple out there is that our industry stands behind its clients more than you can ever imagine. Every discussion I’ve had with colleagues has revolved around the best ways we can accommodate our couples and the rollercoaster they’re riding alongside us. The wedding industry and every one of our clients can be summed up in one phrase: same team." —Brian Leahy, Brian Leahy Photography
"As of now, it’s a great thing to postpone to when ALL guests will be in better spirits. And as they always say, “Great things are worth the wait!" —Christine Viola and Tara Geremia, Exquisite Affairs Productions
"If your wedding is in the summer, you may be able to celebrate just as you imagined, but possibly with a smaller guest count. We don’t know everything at this time, however it’s important to know that you’ve surrounded yourself with a great team of vendors that will help you find the right solution." —Aimee Dominick, A. Dominick Events
"There are government, state, and CDC mandates and guidelines that are put into place for the safety of all guests and the community. If your venue is not operating, it’s likely due to these guidelines. It’s unsettling to have to postpone your wedding, but begin discussions with your fiancé and family about dates that are available or when the pandemic subsides." —Becca Stefan Knuth and Melissa Porter, Asheville Event Co.
"When alerting your guests that your wedding date has changed, only you know the best way to communicate with them, so lean into that! Whether it’s a website, invite insert, paperless post, or even a phone call, every group is different. Use the form of communication that is the best fit for your loved ones." —Jeannette Tavares, Evoke Design & Creative
