Whether you are planning a wedding at home or abroad. There are countless moving parts around COVID-19. – And what that actually means for your event depends on your wedding date. The number of guests, the location, and the scope of the trip.
At this point, it’s safe to say that every wedding will look different soon. whether it’s on a smaller scale or how you dreamed later on. To help you prepare for what you should do? And to help if you need to change your plans. We spoke to experts from across the industry to give you a closer look. At how COVID-19 affects wedding planning today. And how you can prepare for the months ahead. Inherit general advice? Be prepared, follow the news, and keep an open conversation with your vendors and guests. Also, if you can, hire a planner – even an hourly one if your budget allows – to help navigate everything. And, most important, keep your eye on the final destination!
Your day will come, and trust us when we say that it will be the most amazing thing. If we can all come together and celebrate, there will be nothing else.
It’s OK to be angry or to feel a wide range of emotions. One thing we like to tell our customers is that it’s not a question of if, it’s a question of when. Your day will come, and trust us when we say it will be the most amazing thing. If we can all get together and celebrate, there will be nothing else but that. “
Below is what you need to know about COVID-19 and wedding planning, depending on when and where you say yes.
How Industry Leaders Feel After a Year of COVID-19
“We’ve definitely noticed a trend where people are happy to get married again. But are wondering if they should book something new or not.” “It’s this strange interlude where things still feel unsafe and we all know that the end of this pandemic is near.
Unfortunately, while we thought last year that those who are willing to take the risk are crazy. We now feel as if if if we don’t want to complete something soon. You won’t have the ‘dream team’ for your wedding in 2022 and will have to make some sacrifices or wait until 2023.”
We believed that “the end is in sight.” “It’s the first time in a year that this way. And I urge everyone to hold on a little longer and not loosen the reins premature. “Although we’re seeing an impending slump in the clouds, there are still some showers today. Everyone is hoping that vaccine stocks. And distributions will roll out more now.
The challenges of planning a wedding pandemic
According to us, the most important things to consider are 1st. the health and safety of guests, and 2nd. the state’s COVID-19 guidelines. “Unfortunately, we have seen that these two do not always coincide. Sometimes the laws are too lax when the risks are high, and sometimes too strict when the risks are low,” she says. “There has been unpredictability. And willpower when local government officials update the COVID-19 rules. So that couples continue to plan both hopeful. And cautious scenarios until this is all behind us.”
Overcoming all these uncertainties was the biggest obstacle of the year. “2021 is the unknown. especially because you don’t know how many guests will admit to events this summer.” “Every city, every county, and every country has different regulations. So it can be difficult to expect that, but also to make it seamless for guests. Even if July is okay, for example, the problem stems from the fact that you now need to know what you’re dealing with. And we don’t know what we’re dealing with yet.”
The rules and regulations vary by state and sometimes by county. So it’s important to check the latest policies at your wedding location. And where your guests will be coming from.
To help couples without full-time planners. Understand the rules and regulations in their area. We launched the “”. Gathering Guide on Planning. Her service allows couples to hire local planners at a daily or hourly rate. “We plan events in different locations around the world. And it’s interesting to see how each local government has a different rule. And what specific challenges this poses.” “That’s why we’ve tried to track the local COVID 19 laws of each region through our Plannie global planner network.” In Florida, for example. where we are base, “All restrictions at the state level will be lifted. Allowing individual venues to set their own rules so that there is no consistency or consistency. A venue may need masks. 50 percent capacity without cocktail hour and dancing. While the adjacent venue is 100 percent busy and mask-less.” In California, events are still closed without specifying when that might change. While in New York, gatherings of up to 150 guests will be allowed on a trial basis from March 15, 2021. “Of course, by the end of the year, all my clients are asking.” Do you think they’ll update it once people are vaccinated over the summer? “And my answer is,” No idea! But hope so! ”
How tests and vaccines affect planning
While we see a greater focus on testing at weddings, planners and couples are aware that this is not a flawless system. “The tests are a good partial defense. I always warn against those who feel that they are completely safe and give them a false sense of security.” “It’s helpful to find out who has had the virus for more than four days. But not those who have not yet tested positive are still infectious.” The introduction of vaccines should add another layer of protection. Especially as more and more Americans are fully vaccinated. “All our customers must tests and/or vaccination certificates,” says Laesser-Keck. “They are not afraid of traveling, but they take all necessary precautions to make this a safe experience for their guests. If there is even the question of whether it is safe or not, they don’t. They prefer to postpone it by six months or so and leave the wedding they envision.” “As long as efficacy against new variants endures, vaccinations are our cards on the way out of prison.” “That this is the key to lifting all these restrictions and enabling us to regroup safely.”
What to expect when planning a wedding in 2021
“Whenever you can play it safe, you should do it.” She specializes in destination weddings with her husband and partner Bryan. “It’s important for us to make the decision at least four to five months in advance. So that, guests can change their travel plans,” she says. “It’s also better for everyone’s mental health.”
At this point, she postponed everything until August 2021. Saying: “We don’t expect things to look normal until the end of the summer, at best in early autumn. There’s going to be some learning curve that brings people back together. We’re going to have to be flexible.”
They are prepared for the downsizing of the guest list. “We advised our clients this summer to create three different guest lists. So that we can jump in the desired direction when announcing future mandates. Very positive about autumn and winter 2021 from now on. For 2022, our approach is to complete things as soon as possible before we are in a position where there is nothing left.”
Spring 2021
“You should make your decisions within four or five months. So if you stop issuing invitations & switch to a purely online communication system. Or if the number of guests is low and you offer COVID-19 tests. That spring 2021 is over and you should probably move.” While now planning events. she does take into account COVID-19 “s security guidelines. Even though the local government has lifted all rules for spring and summer weddings.
Summer 2021
“Depending on the number of guests, you may be able to tick July off. But we would prefer to see our customers defer rather than be in a situation where you still have to follow rules and protocols.” “Consider making a few versions of your guest list for August and September so you can make these difficult decisions quickly if you have to.
Fall 2021
“Fall and beyond… it’s the same wait-and-see game we played last year,” says Lee. Laesser-Keck agrees, encouraging couples to have a backup plan month in advance. “It looks pretty solid for fall, but no one has a crystal ball, including us, and it’s best prepared,” she says.
What to expect when planning a wedding in 2022?
“The primary challenge for 2022 is the availability of venues and vendors.” “We have never seen so much interest in weddings and gatherings in the history of our company. Which may seem exciting. But is actually difficult, because we know that with six inquiries a day we can only guess how many venues we will get. We are already in a position to make decisions much earlier than we would normally do. Fearing that our preferred venues and vendors will not have available.
It will be almost impossible to find the right talent when the world opens up again.” Your advice? “Book everything as soon as possible! Whether you do it alone or with a planner. You will want to book many of your suppliers as a venue at the same time to guarantee availability,” she says.
What to expect if you are planning a dream wedding?
When will a destination wedding abroad be possible, you ask? “It depends on the destination, but a good start is to explore how they have dealt with COVID-19 so far,” says Lee. “Are they the kind of country that closes tourists only 24 hours in advance? Are they the kind of country that has not paid much attention to regulations at all? Ultimately, you have to choose a destination that makes your guests feel good. Currently, booking weddings in Europe in spring 2022 and beyond. but everything before that is centered around the US, Mexico, and the Caribbean.
“Travel restrictions are also still a factor. As many of my clients” parents or immediate family members live abroad and cannot attend the wedding. These weddings will simply have to wait until we can freely cross borders and be reunited. I think that will make for a particularly sweet celebration. “
How to navigate through the planning now
While much is unclear, it’s natural to have a million “what-if” questions about the future. But don’t let that take away the excitement that comes with wedding planning. “This is the moment you’ve been waiting for, and while the world’s landscape may look different right now. Your loved ones will be so excited to hug you and celebrate when your wedding comes.” For this reason, we say take note of what has been said above and consider the following. While hopefully planning ahead in the wake of the coronavirus.
Hiring a planner
“I think couples have really understood the importance of professional guidance through the experience of 2020.” “It’s like climbing your first lion-infested mountain with items you’ve researched online or brought with you a hiking guide? Just like any business, couples are learning to outsource the parts of the planning they need specialized help for, and that’s why we created capturedingenuity to provide a flexible and affordable way for customers to work with local planners on an hourly basis if needed.”
Strongly advises hiring a planner – especially if you are still looking for a venue. “If you are planning to hire a planner, you should definitely get one on board before signing a contract,” she says. “There are COVID 19 guidelines and other things to negotiate. Now, these strategies are more important than ever. And if you have to postpone them again, the planner’s relationships with the providers are everything. Find an experienced planner you can really trust!”
Don’t wait
“At this point, people are fighting over Thursday for 2021,” Lee admits. “Start planning, but the current schedule is” could. “Find a venue that can accommodate 100 people but could grow to 200. Having an outdoor area that could fit in the event that your guest list becomes a no-no within events is a big plus. Budget for on-site testing of your guests because that might be a requirement. Above all, you have to be happy with any scenario. Accept that the virus and the laws are not under your control and be prepared to go in the direction available. “
Why You Should Consider a Weekday Wedding
Consider a smaller guest counter
“If you want to get married in 2021, smaller guest lists are preferable in order to have flexibility,” says Laesser-Keck. “If you already have a large guest list, you go through the list and highlight your must-haves. So if you have to cut back due to regulations, you can do so without any problems.”
Be Flexible
“This is going to be a year where flexibility is crucial, not just in terms of the date and location, but also in terms of the number of guests,” she continues. “We’re basically going to combine two seasons into one, and I know every other venue and provider will do the same, so it’s really important to give ourselves as many options as possible.”
Ask your sales team
“Your creative salespeople are all itching to create and celebrate couples,” Valley admits. “Share the good news and focus on things you can actively plan now: choosing the right date, hiring your creative team, daydreaming about what your story will look and feel like, listening to music for your playlist, and inventing fun cocktails to serve.”
The Budget
Add an item to your budget for convenience items such as masks, disinfectants, etc. Experts predict that weddings in 2021 and 2022 will be more expensive.
No matter where you fall into the planning process, Valley has one last piece of advice for any couple going through this uncertain time. “The goal of a wedding is to celebrate the couple and their love story with their loved ones and families. We encourage couples to plan flat out, continue to be inspired and seek inspiration, and also share their story,” she says. “Once we can all get together, you know that your wedding will be celebrated and celebrated like crazy! Be ready for this moment and have your plans for the best wedding ever! “
The current outbreak of the coronavirus COVID-19 has been declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization. As the situation continues to fluctuate, we will share tips and stories from industry experts and couples experiencing cancellations to give you the latest advice on how this can affect your wedding.