by: Lauren

Below you will find several Coronavirus wedding resources from around the world.

Coronavirus Wedding Resources via TheELD.com

At Every Last Detail, we are all about educating and helping couples plan with candid and accurate knowledge about weddings. With the recent Coronavirus pandemic, we are ALL entering into unknown territory, as nothing like this has ever happened before.

Being a media company with a clientele comprised of the wedding industry, we wanted to help in the best way we know how- information. Below, we’re compiling a list of wedding resources for engaged couples affected by the Coronavirus. It’s our hope that we can provide you with help in making any decisions you need to make for your own wedding.

And as always, you are welcome to come ask your own unique questions inside of our Facebook group too!

We will be updating this page as more resources are shared!

 

On Every Last Detail:


WHAT TO DO ABOUT THE CORONAVIRUS AND YOUR WEDDING

SHOULD YOU CANCEL OR POSTPONE YOUR WEDDING?

HOW TO POSTPONE A WEDDING

WEDDING POSTPONEMENT: EMAIL TEMPLATES TO SEND TO GUESTS

CAN YOU GET YOUR MONEY BACK FOR A CANCELED WEDDING?

IF THERE WAS EVER A TIME TO HIRE A WEDDING PLANNER, IT’S NOW.

 

Around the web:


Great insight from our V List member Sapphire Events

 

General:

THE CORONAVIRUS AND YOUR WEDDING– via The Budget Savvy Bride

What You Need to Know About Coronavirus and Your Wedding– Martha Stewart Weddings

Coronavirus and Your Wedding: What to Consider as a Couple– via Catalyst Wedding Co.

Coronavirus and Your Wedding: What You Need to Know– via Woman Getting Married

 

Destination Weddings:

CORONAVIRUS – HOW IT WILL AFFECT YOUR ITALY WEDDING THIS YEAR AND BEYOND – via Wedding Sparrow

AUSTRALIAN WEDDINGS AND COVID-19: THE NEED TO KNOWS– via Polka Dot Bride

Ask The Experts: Getting Married in Italy and What to do About Coronavirus– via Boho Weddings

Postponing your wedding: 

POSTPONING YOUR WEDDING: A STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE– via The Budget Savvy Bride

CORONAVIRUS WEDDING PLANNING: ADVICE ON POSTPONING AND CANCELING– via Equally Wed

 

This page will be updated as more resources become available!



by: Lauren

Let’s talk about something that isn’t exactly the most typical situation- how to postpone a wedding.

 

We’ve been talking a lot about what to do about the Coronavirus affecting your wedding, and now it’s time to go deeper into exactly how to postpone your wedding. Because let’s be real- this is something that no one WANTS to do, and it’s something that also isn’t very common.

So, let’s discuss what your options are, and what steps you should take…

How To Postpone a Wedding (Due To The Coronavirus) via TheELD.com

My very first recommendation when it comes to postponing your wedding is to do just that- postpone, reschedule, and NOT cancel.

We love what Brooke Kuhl of RSBP Events + PR said regarding postponing your wedding day: “Do you want to think about your wedding day and the only thing you think about is about who couldn’t come? Or why they couldn’t be there? Or what changed because of what’s happening in the world? Why don’t you just postpone it and have it the way you want it, the wedding that you dreamed of. Because that is what you’re going to think about the rest of your life.”

We couldn’t agree more! Besides- you’ve already paid your deposits and likely made other payments, you’ve planned and envisioned your perfect day, and you don’t want any of that to go to waste.

And speaking of your payments, Valerie Gernhauser of Sapphire Events shares that “you can expect that your payments that you have made toward your original date should apply to the new date in most cases.” So that’s good, right?!

If you’re thinking twice about whether to postpone your wedding, Katerina Marie Photography. Art. Designs. LLC’s words of encouragement might help you out: “Do not get discouraged! Just get excited for what may come of this! You may end up having a more intimate wedding to look back on and LOVE! Or, you may even pick a new date with better weather/seasonal scenery! Keep your heads up, keep the communication flowing between you and your top vendors and take it day by day!”

 

Once you’ve made the decision to postpone your wedding, you’ll need to start taking the steps towards rescheduling. Here’s what you can do:

If you have a wedding planner, contact your planner right away, and he or she will take care of helping you with all of this!

 

1. Contact your venue

Kelly Fowler of Just Save The Date Events suggests, “Don’t panic! Start with your venue to find out what dates they have available and what their rescheduling policy is given the situation. From there, compile a few dates that you are comfortable with and either have your planner (this is where having a planner comes in big time) communicate to your other vendors or reach out yourself with the list of 1-3 potential dates. Communication is key all the way around both with your vendors and your guests.”

Janice Carnevale of Bellwether Events recommends that you “ask your venue for a hold on a preferred date while you sort everything out with your entertainment, photo/video team and the rest of your vendors. A lot of couples are going to be moving dates, and soon any remaining prime dates for summer and fall will be gone.”

She also suggests to “be open to Fridays and Sundays. In normal times, a Friday or a Sunday may feel like an inconvenience to some guests. But these are not normal times, and your guests will appreciate you making the decision to postpone, so that they don’t have to make the decision to cancel on you now.”

 

2. Get In Touch With Important Family Members and Friends

Don’t forget the people who you really want there! Renee Dalo of Moxie Bright Events says, “Once you have some hard dates from your venue, talk to your family & friends. Get on the phone and get opinions on which new date will work best. Once you’ve narrowed it down, THEN reach out to your vendor team to see if they can move to the new date.” Kind of like how you chose your wedding date in the first place!

 

3. Contact Your Priority Vendors

Before you decide on a date, you’re going to want to contact your “priority vendors”. Kristen Weaver Photography  recommends, “Open a line of communication with your “priority” vendors about the possibility of rescheduling. Many of us have fees for a typical reschedule, but are waiving those in light of recent situations.

I have had several clients already hold a ‘backup date’ for the next 2 weeks in case they’re forced to reschedule based on venue, government, etc. Since it’s first-come, the earlier you consider a second option, the more likely you’ll be to feel more secure if something happens and you have to reschedule your event.”

It’s important to make sure that the vendors who you REALLY want are available, and this is where communication is going to be SO important.

Ash Simmons Photography, a photographer in Florida, recommends that you “Reach out to your “must-have” vendors first and find out what dates they have available in the timeframe you’d like to reschedule.”

 

What if all of your must-have vendors aren’t available for the same date?

 

“Consider getting married on a weekday,” Ash Simmons says. “A lot of vendors book 12-18 months in advance and trying to accommodate all of their March, April, and potentially May and beyond couples to fall Saturdays could be an issue. If you’re open to a Friday/Sunday or even Thursday wedding, take that into consideration when rescheduling.”

We love what The Simply Elegant Group shared about this too:

“When you are postponing but need to figure out what order to rebook with vendors, the best way to go about this is to create a “Priority List.” Make a priority list, listing out your vendors around a few key things:

1- Your relationship (IE would your wedding not be the same without them?)
2- Do they take multiple weddings on at a time? (Then they can be lower on the list.)
3- How much money have you spent with them?
4- Your contract (how much of the deposits you’ve made are non-refundable?)
5- Can you use their services in a different way? (Example: Baker, birthday cakes/etc.)”

 

Also, in dealing with all of this, remember that each of your vendors is their own business, so “their contracts, date switching, and cancellation policies will vary,” as Kinsey Robers of She Creates Business states. “There is no “one size fits all” solution here as we’re all in unprecedented territory so communication will be key.”

 


Does communicating with a whole bunch of vendors sound a little overwhelming?

 

My first recommendation: utilize your wedding planner for this, or if you haven’t already hired one, look into it! Many planners are ready and willing to assist you right away with this type of unfortunate situation, and some are even offering unique services especially for assisting in rescheduling.

We have a few suggestions for you to help assist in the communication of possible rescheduled wedding dates.

Google Form: You can easily create a Google Form that provides possible date options to your vendors, and they can fill in their info and select the dates that they are available. This way, you don’t have to go back and forth, and you can also have all of the information pulled directly into a Google Sheet for you to be able to review. You can view an example of a form like this here, or below via the screenshot provided.

How To Postpone a Wedding (Due To The Coronavirus) via TheELD.com

Doodle: Another platform that is great for coordinating with multiple people is Doodle. I know myself and many of my friends and colleagues use it when trying to find the best time for a meeting to happen. They have a 14 day free trial (sorry, I swear it was free a few weeks ago!), but that should be plenty of time to get connected with all your vendors and decide on your date.


Blooms By The Box reminds us that “in the case of caterers and florists, who will be sourcing perishable product for you, contact them as soon as possible so they can cancel their own supply purchases. They won’t be able to absorb all of the costs of last-minute cancellations.”

And finally, don’t forget to “look over contracts to see what kind of force majeure, rescheduling, or cancellation clauses they have,” says Amy Sedan of Hitch Perfect. “If you decide to change your date and that vendor doesn’t have the same availability, expect to at least lose your initial deposit.”

 

4. Choose Your Postponed Wedding Date

Once you’re set on an official postponed date, Valerie Gernhauser of Sapphire Events says, “expect that your new date may come with additional charges, dependent upon the vendor, and the specific conditions surrounding your exact event details. In this case, many vendors will most certainly try to honor your original plans for the new date as much as possible, but it is not unusual to see nominal fees or additional charges that reflect additional labor costs or other work required to make the new date happen.

 

5. Notify Your Guests

Finally, you’re going to need to notify your wedding guests that you’re postponing your wedding.

Kinsey Roberts of She Creates Business suggests a few great ways to communicate with your guests:

– Post an announcement on your Wedding Website about the date change and update your wedding website with all of the new information.

– Ask your Maid of Honor, Mom, Future Mother in Law, etc to help you send text messages to your guests about the changes.

– If you have access to all or a majority of your guest’s email addresses, use a service like Paperless Post to announce the date change.

Grab our free templates of emails to send to your guests here!

 

Jacksonville wedding planner Terri of G.G. Events has a few extra pieces of advice too: “Be prepared to have to make some changes and be aware there may be some additional cost. Such as if florals were already ordered then they would have to order them again and the cost would need to be covered or you may have new fees if you postpone into the next year. If you already got your marriage license and you postpone over the 60 days you will need to return your current license and pay for a new one. Lastly be patient and understanding you will hopefully be working with a planner that can handle all the back-and-forth it will take working with multiple vendors and venues. Everyone is trying to help and there are a lot of couples affected by the shut downs due to Coronavirus.”

 

Are there other ways to postpone a wedding?

 

What if you REALLY wanted to get married on your original wedding date? Maybe the day has a special meaning for you, or you just don’t want to wait another year to be legally married! Well, let’s figure that out!

You can always do a small, intimate ceremony to get married, and then choose another date for your rescheduled wedding celebration to occur.

We love the suggestion that Cat Pennenga Photography made, saying, “If you do have to reschedule your wedding due to travel restrictions or venue cancellations and now have to wait 6-12 months to finally say I do to your person, you could always have a small elopement or courthouse ceremony in the meantime. Photographers and other wedding vendors often have elopement packages, especially for weekday events and it’s a great way to seal the deal privately while you wait for the big party to celebrate! Most cities have beautiful, historic courthouses for a simple elopement or you can choose an outdoor location like the beach or the middle of the woods. You also get more dedicated portrait time with your photographer and the opportunity to emotionally connect during a stressful time.”


Just like with all of our other information we have about how the Coronavirus is affecting your wedding, we hope that this will all help make things a tiny bit easier for you in this unprecedented time.

And if you need help finding vendors to help you for a small, local wedding, or finding a wedding planner to help you out, please don’t hesitate to send us a message on Instagram, or check out our vetted and verified vendors.  



by: Lauren

Postponing your wedding thanks to the Coronavirus? Here’s something to make things a little easier for you.

 

This is a devastating time for you as you face the downsizing or postponement of your wedding due to the CoronavirusEvent professionals have seen a lot, but nothing that has disturbed the wedding and event industry like COVID-19. 

You, engaged couples, are having to make heartwrenching decisions about your 2020 wedding, especially if you have a wedding planned in the current and upcoming spring months.

Learn more about HOW TO POSTPONE A WEDDING here

From telling your guests that the show must go on, to the difficult email that “un-invites” guests to your wedding- how exactly should you convey this information? Well, we heard your cry for help, and we have teamed up with wedding professionals to create a few templates to help you find the right words to say when it comes to dealing with a Coronavirus wedding postponement.

Coronavirus Wedding Postponement: Email Templates To Send To Guests via TheELD.com

 

Email Templates


How to Tell People Your Wedding is Going on as Planned

Copy and paste the following template if your wedding is still happening:

 

In these uncertain times, we hope you are hugging your loved ones a little tighter at home and keeping yourselves healthy. We wanted to update you with some information about our upcoming wedding on ______.

As of right now, the wedding is going on as planned. We are working with our vendors to make sure the day is safe and beautiful.

Here are some safety precautions we are putting into place

(Bullet point these items and make them short and to the point. People will likely skim them)

Suggested items to cover

  • The number of guests you are expecting
  • The precautions the ceremony site is taking
  • Hand wipes or sanitizers you will have on hand
  • Precautions the reception site is taking (such as foodservice)
  • If you are still allowing children to attend

We also want you to know that if for any reason you cannot attend our wedding we understand. You were invited to our wedding because you are important to us, and our top priority is making sure people feel safe at our celebration. 

For the sake of our vendors, please let us know as soon as possible if you feel that you will not be able to attend. And if you are unwell in the days before the wedding, we ask that you stay home to keep the rest of our guests safe.

If you cannot attend, please hold us in your hearts on _________ as we take our vows to each other. This is not how we envisioned entering married life, but we are doing so with an even greater appreciation of life and love.

If there are any other changes, we will contact you as soon as possible.

 


How to Tell People Your Wedding Will be Postponed

Copy and paste the following template if your wedding is postponed:

 

We wanted to reach out to you to let you know we’ve made a difficult decision to postpone our wedding (to date/season)

This was a heartbreaking decision, but not nearly as heartbreaking as the idea of putting our loved ones at risk.  When it comes right down to it, a marriage is a commitment of two people, and a wedding is a party that can be rescheduled, so that is the route we have decided to take.

At this time, things are changing rapidly, and we are working with our vendors.  There are some unknowns at this point. We will be reaching out as soon as we know more.

In the meantime, hug your loved ones at home a little longer. Be safe and be well.

 


How to Un-Invite People to Your Wedding

Copy and paste the following template if you are reducing your guest list and have to “un-invite” guests:

 

Over the past few days, the world has turned upside down. We’ve all had to make some really hard decisions, and that includes us.

Due to the ongoing pandemic, we have to reduce our guest list dramatically to adhere to mandated numbers of people gathering so our wedding can go on.

We are so sorry to have to do this, but at this point, we have to cancel the invitation to our __________ wedding.

We hope that you understand that this is a drastic measure we never expected to have to make. We love every single person we invited to our wedding, and this is heartbreaking for us.

(if you are hoping to do a later event)

We are working on having a reception at a later date when the crisis has passed. At this point, things are so uncertain we don’t have a firm date, but we will be in touch when we know more.

Please hold us in your hearts on _________ as we take our vows to each other. This is not how we envisioned entering married life, but we are doing so with an even greater appreciation of life and love.

Be well, be safe, and hug your loved ones at home tight. We all need each other right now.

 


We know that this entire situation is tough, but we hope that these email templates will make it a little easier on you when it comes to handling a Coronavirus wedding postponement.  

 

 

 

If you need any more help, or if you have questions at all, you are welcome to come join our Facebook group- click below!

Coronavirus Wedding Postponement: Email Templates To Send To Guests via TheELD.com



by: Lauren

So you’re facing the gut wrenching decision to either cancel or postpone your wedding due to the Coronavirus pandemic and the CDC’s latest recommendations. First, let me say, I am SO SORRY. This is NOT something that anyone has ever planned for or even experienced. But a decision has to be made, especially if your wedding is happening with the next 2 months.

The CDC “is now urging a nationwide halt to gatherings of more than 50 people for the next eight weeks (10 for the next 15 days at the time of publishing), citing the risk of the coronavirus.” Mind you, this is a recommendation and not a mandate, so this means that you can still decide on what to do for your wedding.

Now, I must let you know- I am not a medical professional nor a lawyer, and everything that is shared here is opinion. But, they are opinions based on experience and facts, which you can then take to make your own decision.

 

POSTPONE, DON’T CANCEL

 

Should You Cancel or Postpone Your Wedding Due To Coronavirus? via TheELD.com

 

Without being aware of any of your unique circumstances, my own personal recommendation would be to postpone your wedding and reschedule to a new date.

Why?

You’ve already paid your deposits and likely made other payments.

You’ve planned and envisioned your perfect day for months, maybe even a year or more.

And I don’t know about you, but I wouldn’t want any of that to go to waste!

We 100% agree with what Kristy of Momental Designs said, “Who wants to cancel a wedding that has been meticulously planned and anticipated for months or even years? No one and you shouldn’t have to cancel anything.”

Of course, as Renee Dalo of Moxie Bright Events shared with her clients, “Only you can choose what is right for your wedding and your loved ones, in light of this public health crisis.” At this point, there is no right way or wrong way for how to deal with the Coronavirus and your wedding– there is only YOUR WAY.

Should You Cancel or Postpone Your Wedding Due To Coronavirus? via TheELD.com

So- how do you decide whether to cancel or postpone your wedding?

 

Everything is canceled……is your wedding next?

It doesn’t have to be. It’s a scary and uncertain time right now for couples and for your vendors. We can get through this together, and we will! Your vendors want to help you make the safest and best plan for your wedding day amid this chaos.

Here is a plan you can approach your vendors with if you’ve found your wedding date in the CDC’s line of fire:

Continue with your wedding date but bring your guest count down to under 50 people per the CDC’s guidelines to make it an intimate and bespoke affair. Talk openly with your vendors to see if they can make additional modifications to their services if needed. Can you caterer accommodate a smaller guest count? Is your photographer able to shave off a few hours of coverage?

You can think about having a larger, reception-style party later in the year or in 2021 to include everyone on your original guest list. This plan allows you and your vendors to continue as normal with a few modifications.” – Kinsey Roberts of She Creates Business
 

Things to consider:

1) Location

2) Date

3) Guest count

 

Tiffany and Cody of Hunter Ryan Photo shared their insight about questions to ask yourself…

“Consider your guest list. Is this a local gathering? Is it small or large? Do you have a large out of town guest list? Is this a destination wedding? Would traveling be restricted for many guests or yourself? Is it taking place in an area of already known large Covid-19 cases/possible quarantine? Do you have immune compromised guests/elderly guests? Would you feel that guests/family/friends might feel you were insensitive moving forward with the wedding on the current date? Will your venue remain open/available (as many are already closing – Government funded museums/parks etc)? Are you stressed that even more restrictions could be put in place in the coming weeks (being possibly days before your wedding date)? If you were to have the wedding in the near future – would you feel like a dark cloud was hanging over it – would you have additional anxieties/stress beyond just normal bridal jitter stress?

We feel like these are all reasons to consider postponing, but not canceling. Canceling would be for not getting married at all – and we know you don’t want that. You more than anything want to be married – to your person – so proactive postponement with flexibility is key.

 

And more specifically, Sasha of Oh So Classy Events says, “There are three major things to consider: where your wedding is taking place, what your guest count is, and whether your venue and vendors are still on board for the scheduled date. If your wedding is taking place in an area that is not considered a virus hot-zone, that is a great start. And if your guest count is under the recommended 50, or you can adjust it to be, then that is also helpful. Keep in mind many guests may choose not to attend, so your guest count may already be naturally lower. And lastly, your vendors and venue may very well be on board to assist and make adjustments and exceptions to a previously agreed service for a decreased guest count along with additional precautions in your specific city.

However, if any of the above points are against COVID-19 recommendations and would be considered problematic, it’s best to work with your event planner to postpone. Most reputable event industry professionals are going to do their best to make that process as smooth as it can possibly be and are happy to service your event at a later available date!”

 

If your wedding is in March, April, or early May, you may need to make the decision to postpone.

“If your wedding is in March, April or early May, you should be making moves towards postponement immediately. With the ease of travel in our country, this virus is likely lurking everywhere already, even if it doesn’t seem like it yet. We all need to do what is best for the entire population, and postpone large gatherings. And your guests will be grateful for your making this decision sooner rather than later. Otherwise they might be in the uncomfortable position of cancelling on you last minute.

Most vendors are going to be flexible and you may not sacrifice anything financially if you can move to a date within 6 months of your original date. Keeping the new date in the 2020 calendar year may also be helpful when negotiating with vendors.” – Janice Carnevale of Bellwether Events 

 

Think things through.

“Try to take a breath before making any moves- remember, this is all very new to everyone and unless you have your wedding in the next 60 days, you can press pause for a moment and think things through. You want to be sure you’re making an informed choice as I find that irrational decisions often lead to costing you more in the end.

Now is the time to revisit your contracts and, if applicable, your event insurance policies to better understand what you may owe financially for any changes. This will better guide your decision about next steps.

Bear in mind, for some, you may have very limited options and in this case, connect with your team immediately about the option to reschedule. Couples will be eager to still marry in 2020 and it’s important to know upfront that many dates for late summer and fall may already be booked. This will require a degree of flexibility as you reschedule.” – Eddie Zaratsian of Eddie Zaratsian Lifestyle + Design

 

Rescheduling is 100% the way to go.

“Rescheduling is 100% the way to go. Step one, read your venue contract to see their policy on rescheduling. If it’s not clear, call them directly and ask for options to reschedule within 2020. Most venues are doing their best to accommodate couples but keep in mind most of their prime dates have already been filled. Be willing to consider an off-peak day or event a smaller guest count.” – Shannon Tarrant of Wedding Venue Map

“Cancelling has a trickle effect and serious financial ramifications. You not only run into the risk of losing all of your deposits, but potentially a lot more based on the contracts signed with various vendors.”José Rolón Events 

 

Event professionals are here for you.

“My best piece of advice is to lean on your vendors. We are HERE FOR YOU and we have more ideas and connections in this industry that you might realize. We are survivors and have the thickest of skin. From your planner and photographers to your stationer and rental company, we will find a solution that works for all considered.

The heart and soul you poured into planning will not fade away. The details DIY’d live on and will still serve a purpose a few months from now. We’re all in this, reimagining what our new world, after this blink of time, will look like. And while we may have more questions than answers right now, I do know that on the other side is a day waiting for you both.

Lean into the reality of a thoughtful postponement giving you the time to savor planning a bit more, recoup funds and savor the continued anticipation of a new day coming. – Kristy Rice of Momental Designs

“Don’t make this decision on your own- instead, connect with your wedding day team to discuss at length. Your planner should be able to help you reach an informed decision about next steps and you’ll also want to loop in your venue and caterer to start. In many instances, you may not have much of a choice in the matter but with the right team in place, you’ll be able to navigate a postponement.” – Kevin of Fantasy Sound Event Services

 

Get help if you can.

We’re all about hiring professionals here at ELD. If you didn’t already have a wedding planner, now could be an excellent time to get one to assist you in all of the extra management of tasks for postponing your wedding. Many planners are available to offer their expertise, and even their services come the day of your wedding- some are even creating special packages for this unique circumstance. You can find our vetted and verified wedding planners in The V List here. 

 

What else can you do? Is there another alternative to canceling and postponing your wedding?

Janeil of Seventh and Anderson shares her idea: “Have your ceremony be a relatively private affair (close family + friends..perhaps no more than 10-15 guests + your wedding party), and then do a “reception rotation.” What in the world is a reception rotation? Have a certain group of people attend the reception for a couple of hours, then the next group of people, and so on. While this may not be the “ideal,” you may be able to keep your wedding as scheduled and allow you to really focus on your guests and enjoy quality time with them.”

 

Whoa, we didn’t think of that! That’s a good option for not canceling or postponing your wedding, especially if a lot of your guests are already local to your wedding location! (And if you can move forward with your date, you could also livestream your ceremony.)


We hope all of this insight and these perspectives will help you make the decision of whether you should cancel or postpone your wedding due to the Coronavirus. If you need more information about this, you can view our archives here, or you can also come join our Facebook group to get free, 1-on-1 advice from Every Last Detail’s wedding experts!

Should You Cancel or Postpone Your Wedding Due To Coronavirus? via TheELD.com