Planning your wedding during the pandemic? We’re always here to help. The good news is you can still have a wedding and enjoy your big day with friends and family. We have put together a list of things to consider to make your wedding a joyous (and safe) memory.
Follow Local, State, and Federal Recommendations
Regardless of your stance — your venue, vendors, and guests can be sensitive to someone ignoring mandates and regulations. Although it is your big day, your guests and vendors peace of mind should be a consideration. We suggest checking local, state, and federal regulations first. They’ll provide all the information you need before you begin planning your wedding.
Communicate With Your Venue
Your venue will be up to date on any changes to local and national restrictions that must be followed. Discuss with the venue their protocol and limitations. Be sure to confirm the maximum number of guests before you create your guest list. Considering the size of your guest list, discuss seating and the layout of the space when you visit the venue.
Check-In With Your Vendors
Surprises on your wedding day are never welcome. Be proactive. Ask your vendors if/how the regulations have changed the way they carry out their service. Ask if there will there be unexpected limitations. Don’t leave anything up to chance. Your vendors may take further safety precautions than you are expecting potentially hindering your day.
Keep Your Guests In Mind
Ensure safety measures are being taken for all of your guests. Regardless of how seriously you take the pandemic, your guests may have an entirely different opinion. Even if your thoughts on social distancing do not align with all of your guests, be sure to respect and accommodate their wishes. Do not pressure guests to attend. Inform then that you completely understand if they do not feel comfortable attending. Consider recruiting a tech-savvy guest to run a live stream of the ceremony with their mobile phone. You can easily create a private group in FaceBook and only those invited will be able to watch.
Keep Your Guests Up To Date
Were you planning to have a huge turnout for your wedding? Unfortunately you may need to scale down the guest list to accommodate state and local laws. In light of the situation, it is acceptable to politely uninvite some guests. If you have already invited a number of guests that exceeds the limits, we highly suggest acting quickly giving them plenty of notice.
As for the guests that will be invited, share any safety measures you might be taking or the expectations that will be set forth. Be clear and concise so there are no surprises the day they arrive. Do not hesitate to encourage them to understand that you would like your elderly invites to attend and that the safety precautions are for their own peace of mind.
Take It Outdoors
Being outside equals more space, and more fresh air. If you’re planning a Covid conscious wedding an outdoor venue is a given. You can also consider planning an outdoor ceremony with an indoor reception. Hybrid indoor/outdoor weddings are quickly rising in popularity. Embrace the trend.
Now here’s our chance to pat ourselves on the back. Our venue is huge. With 15 open acres, and an enormous barn able to accommodate 250 seated guests, it seems like it was made to handle this situation. What’s better, the huge sliding doors create a seamless flow between the outdoors and indoors. So, in theory you can still be inside protected from the elements while enjoying the open air. Our standard practice is to hold the ceremony outside, but we maintain ample room inside in case of inclement weather. It’s truly the best of both worlds.
Stay safe.