If you’re reading this because you are a bride (or groom!) who is having to postpone your wedding due to COVID-19, first of all, just know that my thoughts and prayers are with you! My heart is broken for you knowing that your big day is being delayed because of this crazy time that we are living in.
There are so many unknowns, you are most likely struggling and wondering how to postpone your wedding due to COVID-19. While I don’t think that there is clearly-defined right or wrong way to do this, I wanted to share with you the best tips I have for you as a former bride and current wedding photographer.
1. Notify all of your vendors and guests of your decision to postpone.
I know that this is probably one of the toughest decisions you’ve ever had to make. If you are postponing though, you can at least rest assured that you are doing the safest thing for not only you, but all of your loved ones and everyone who is taking part in your wedding day as well. It is likely that most of your guests will actually be relieved because if corona virus was going to keep them from your wedding day, they will now have a second chance at attending and celebrating with you!
Notifying everyone about your decision is obviously a super important step, especially if you are having any out-of-town guests or vendors who might have already made travel plans for your big day. This can be done in a number of ways: email, text, or even ordering and mailing out “Postponement” cards (here’s a link to some really cute ones!).
2. Review your vendor contracts.
Every vendor contract might differ slightly in their terms for rescheduling. Some may involve a rescheduling fee but will most likely be willing to work with you due to the situation. It’s always good to know which deposits you’ve made are nonrefundable because that might play a part in which vendors become a priority for rescheduling.
For example, let’s say your videographer required a $1500 deposit and your caterer required a $200 deposit and you have narrowed it down to 3 potential new dates. Your videographer is available for either date #1 or #2 but not #3, and your caterer is only available for date #3. In this case, losing your $200 deposit is much less of a hit than losing out on a $1500 deposit, so going with date #1 or #2 will probably be the best option for you!
3. Make a list of your top priority vendors and narrow down dates.
You can make this list based on the amount of the deposits you’ve already put down (like in the example above) or based on the importance of each particular wedding service (or a combination of both). For instance, if your top three vendors that you absolutely MUST have with you on your big day are your venue, photographer, and florist, start with them. Reach out to each one (if they haven’t already reached out to you!) and see what dates they still have available in 2020 or 2021. Starting with your wedding venue is the best thing to do because before you can reschedule your date with other vendors you will need to have the date locked in with your venue first.
If your venue has a Saturday available during a month you’d like to have your wedding, that’s awesome! If not, this is where considering other days of the week is a good idea. For example, Fridays and Sundays are great for weddings (and sometimes venues will even discount the price for those dates as well!). Also, keep in mind off-season dates. For example, in Florida the months of July through September are considered off-season, so most vendors will still have these dates open for you!
4. Make the new date official by notifying all vendors and guests of the new date.
This will most likely involve your vendors sending you revised agreements to officially reserve your new date for you. As far as updating your guests, you can do this in a number of ways like I mentioned above: email, text, or cards! 🙂
5. CELEBRATE!!
You did it! You have successfully rescheduled your wedding day! Now it’s time to sit back, indulge in some relaxation and self-care while you’re at home, and stay safe!
