Small steps towards your dream wedding

You’re going crazy, I get it. So are we, wedding photographers with tons of booked weddings coming up. Your wedding is about to happen and there’s so much uncertainty, that you are not sure how to handle it all. The next few weeks will be decisive in where we’re headed towards and we will hopefully get answers to tough questions like “What should I do next?”.

Pre-wedding jitters are hitting hard, not only for the brides getting married soon, but all the wedding vendors that are involved with the events. Facing a pandemic is like nothing we’ve ever had to face before and our mental sanity is breaking little by little. This unprecedented event is hitting all of us in so many ways, financially and emotionally.

I’m sure you’re wondering if you should postpone your wedding and how, and what to expect in the process.

If you have a wedding in April or May, most likely it will need to be rescheduled. If that’s the case, look for unpopular dates towards the end of the year, September through December, although the end of the year is expected to be a very busy time. Keep in mind that postponing or rescheduling is best, as the retainer will not be lost and you are supporting your vendors in the process. Your deposit will apply to the future event, whenever that is decided.

June, July and August look more promising. It is, however, advised to be proactive and check in with your team of vendors and ensure everyone is on board with the preparations. The bigger and more elaborate the wedding, the more time and planning it takes, so if you’re thinking to postpone, whatever the new date you’re about to choose will be, it has to work out with the entire team, not only with your venue.

Being flexible is key.

Instead of having a Saturday wedding, consider having it on a Thursday, Friday or Sunday. In all retrospect, it will not matter anymore what day of the week it is held, and the less popular day it is, the better. While this is not ideal, given that Saturdays are the most popular days for events, it is a practical way of dealing with the situation, while alleviating stress and making things happen easier.

The best way to look at this, if postponing is what you’re looking at, is to book within the year. The reason behind that is – the vendors you’ve already booked might not be able to support your event next year due to dates already being taken off the calendar. But do have a Plan B secured, and choose your next step wisely. With positive thinking, doing what’s right, staying safe and continuing planning, your dream wedding will come true.

As a strong community, we will all find that after the storm has passed, we will find comfort knowing that each of us will be more lenient and more flexible helping each other out, like we’ve never been before. Reach out to the vendor you have the best relationship with and who is the most responsive one, like your wedding photographer or your wedding planner. If you don’t have a planner, your wedding photographer should be next on your list as the key contact, because we are experts when it comes to wedding timeline planning. Your wedding photographer can give you the insight that you’re looking for and and advise how to move forward.

What to do if you need to postpone

Invitations have gone out already, so the only thing to do it picking up the phone and reaching out to your guests. If the list is too long, then maybe an email will be the next best option, and it also saves you some money. Your guests are expecting to hear from you and some will be shy or feel uncomfortable calling you and asking if the wedding is still on. And I bet you don’t want to hear from 100 people asking the same question and repeating yourself that many times.

Be aware when you’re communicating with your vendors, instead of saying you’re canceling the wedding, make sure you specify that it’s being postponed. You should not expect the retainers or deposits to be reimbursed, as they not only serve holding the date, but they cover the solid amount of work that has been already done by person you hired. The retainer covers the cost of doing business, securing your team’s availability for your current date, manage expenses and so on. You CAN expect however for the balance to not be charged until the new plan and scope of work is set in motion. The balance serves to cover the work that’s left to be done and the event itself.

Last thing to add, stay healthy and positive, and Keep Going! Don’t stop planning, don’t get complacent and don’t be a procrastinator. Work on the details that you do have a grasp on at this point, like your speeches, your music list, table arrangements, decorations and most importantly, don’t lose hope!

As always, I’m here for you!

Adina

Fast Links:

1. Reach out to me anytime by email or website. Email: weddingsbyadina@gmail.com
2. Stay Updated – read the BLOG
3. CDC says: Here’s what couples are doing now with their wedding plans