Wedding Planning Amid A Pandemic
Planning a wedding during a pandemic may seem impossible but we’re here to guide you through some tips on how to plan a wedding or an elopement during these uncertain times.
Words Eliska Lam from Ruffles & Bells
Photo By: Smoky Oscar
Wedding planning can be stressful on its own and when you add Covid19 into the mix, it is easy to succumb to all the uncertainty and feel overwhelmed with how to plan forward. A few days ago, we were honoured to be part of Theodore Magazine’s Thursday Live (on Insta) and we shared some of our best tips on how to plan your wedding during these unchartered times.
Stay Informed and Keep Communications Open
Being in lockdown does not mean everything has to stop - including continuing the conversations with your vendors. Now is the time to make sure you are in constant communication with your team. Each business (big or small) operates differently and it is the perfect time to ask the right questions to know what to expect. The last thing you would want during these uncertain times is more uncertainty.
Your wedding team aka vendors are here to guide you and offer you options on moving forward. Almost all businesses now can meet you through Zoom, Skype , Facetime or Whatsapp. Your trusted vendors are a great resource for you with their years of experience and insider knowledge.
If you are wondering what questions you should ask your vendors, we’ve put together a FREE downloadable list of questions to ask your vendors during COVID planning.
Photo By: Tess Follet
Rethink What Weddings Mean To You
With so much uncertainty in the cards, you may need to consider thinking outside the box. To some people, this is the perfect opportunity to break tradition and redefine how a wedding day should be. The most important thing is to keep an open mind.
Due to the limited availability of dates, some couples have split their ceremony and reception into two days or some have even considered a weekday wedding. Others have made their ceremony very intimate (20 guests) but instead, have the celebration in a span of a whole weekend. And some have also found this time to be the best time to elope instead.
A good place to start is to understand what matters to you and your partner the most. Identify the areas that you don’t want to compromise and work backwards from there (i.e. venue, photography, florals). Remember to communicate these priorities with your vendors specifically your planner or stylist so they can offer you informed solutions in case any adjustments or postponements arise.
Our team has adapted a few tips since the pandemic started. They can be quite different from what we used to do before but they sure are helpful during these times.
Tip #1: We recommend not to put any date on your wedding signage which means these can still apply even if the date has changed. You can use a quote or your names for your welcome sign.
Tip #2: Create an online wishing well registry for a Covid safe wishing well.
Tip #3: A QR code can be added to your wedding invitation which can lead your guests to your wedding website for RSVP but also to be used to check in on the day.
Eliska of Ruffles & Bells | Photo By: Arianna Harry Weddings
Make the Most of the Downtime
The gift of time is the one silver lining Covid has given us and instead of rushing through all the decisions during wedding planning (like we did before), you can now take the time to plan all the intricate details one by one. Give yourself and your partner the time to understand what really matters to both of you.
We used to have couples who had to take leave from work just to plan their wedding and now you can use the downtime to dive deep into all the things you wouldn’t be able to do before. Start a new skill and create your own bespoke favours, build a playlist, build your own mood board, create your wedding website…the list goes on.
Alex from Theodore Magazine had the great idea to email your venue about their wine list, order them from your local liquor store and try them at home. This is something most couples didn’t have the chance to do before. You can even time it perfectly when you order your cake tasting box and make an amazing tasting weekend out of it.
Photo By: Smoky Oscar
At the end of the day, it is important to remember that it may seem that a lot of things are uncertain, you can be certain that your wedding day is all about celebrating your love for each other. This will all pass and we will be able to celebrate weddings with our friends and family soon.
In case, you have missed our live interview with Alex you can still watch the episode on IGTV HERE.
Keep safe and be kind
Ruffles and Bells Team X
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