Ever since the onset of COVID-19, we have been seeing an overwhelming number of couples needing to adjust their wedding plans. And with all of those changes, have come lots and lots of questions. In order to make your lives easier, I am answer the top 10 questions we have been receiving about how to navigate either postponing or canceling your wedding due to the coronavirus.
1. Do we have to pick a new date today?
Absolutely not!! If you are not ready to pick a new date yet, that's okay. We actually have a number of couples who have essentially put their wedding on 'hold' for the time being. They want to wait and see what things look like in a month in order to make a more educated decision in regards to their new wedding date.
2. At this point, we don't know if we actually want to have a wedding. Should we just cancel?
While there are certain scenarios where canceling is the best option right now, I would say that the majority of the time it is best to just put things on hold. There is sooooo much unknown going on right now and there is no way of knowing how you are going to feel in another month or two. Allow yourself time to process and to gain clarity on exactly what you want to do with your wedding. Be sure to also have this conversation with your vendors, so they can provide insight as well.
3. Will I get all my money back if I cancel?
While I am not a lawyer, the honest answer here is probably not. Most vendors have clauses in their contracts to help protect them in these types of situations. I encourage you to take a look back at your vendor contracts to see how they handle these situations, as that will give you a better idea of exactly what to expect.
4. I'm frustrated with my vendors, as I don't feel like they are understanding the hardship I am going through right now. They aren't as sympathetic in working with new dates or letting me out of contracts as I expected and they haven't done ANY work for my wedding yet!
Let me start by saying, I hear you!! I know this is extremely hard for you, both emotionally and financially, and it's frustrating when things aren't going as planned. With that being said, I want you to hear me when I say that your vendors feel for you. Their hearts are breaking for you and they absolutely hate that you are in this position.
What they need you to understand, is that they have clauses in their contracts in place to protect themselves and their businesses. If every couple right now asked for a full refund, there is a good chance that many of them would go out of business. Just like many people right now, they have ZERO revenue coming in for the foreseeable future and that is a terrifying place for a business owner. As much as they may WANT to work with you, they have to stick by their contract in order to maintain their own livelihood.
5. What if I can't find a date at my venue?
With so many postponements happening right now, it is going to happen. If this is you, consider an alternate date, such as a weekday. While I know this may not sound 'ideal,' you will still have a wonderful wedding; that I can promise you. If you don't have flexibility in the day of the week, you may need to consider looking at other venues and potentially loosing your deposit with your old venue.
6. Should I be selecting ONE new date or multiple options?
My recommendation would be to pick 2 - 3 potential dates and sending them to all of your vendors. From there, you can find out which dates they are available and pick your new date accordingly.
Click here for our step by step instructions to postponing.
7. How to I tell all of my guests?
At this point, the majority of your guests will most likely be expecting your plans to change. This can be done via phone, text, email, a Facebook Group or a paperless 'invitation.'
Click here to read more about communicating changes with your guests
8. What if we already applied for our marriage license and want to get married on our original date?
You can still do that!! There are actually a number of officiants right now who are willing to marry couples on their original wedding date. This will allow you to get the 'legalities' out of the way and will prevent you from needing to get a new marriage licence for your new date.
On a side note, you choose to go this route, I recommend setting up a live stream and allowing all of your guests (or at least family!) to watch the festivities from the comfort of their own home. This is something you could easily setup for free via Facebook or Youtube.
9. What if our wedding is at the end of May, June and July? How do we know if we should postpone our wedding?
I have to admit that this is one of the toughest spots to be in. We all have our fingers crossed and high hopes that we will be able to keep things moving at that time, but, like you, we really don't know. (and it kills us as planners to admit that)
At this time, we are recommending that couples continue moving forward and re-evaluate things as we approach the end of April. Our hope is that we will all be able to make more educated decisions at that point. In the meantime, I would encourage you to take a look at vendor contracts and talk through the options in case you end up needing to postpone.
10. I was feeling just fine about planning my wedding, but am now feeling overwhelmed. Are you able to help us?
Absolutely!! We are actually offering custom packages strictly for couples who's weddings have been affecting by COVID-19. This includes everything from offering guidance and expertise, to helping you move your date and finding new vendors, to filling in for a planner who can't make it. Even if we aren't your official 'planner', we are still happy to jump in momentarily to help alleviate some of the stress.
Click here to learn more and get the conversation started.
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