Many couples who planned to get married in the second half of 2020 have been holding off on changing their plans to see how Coronavirus would play out. Has COVID-19 impacted your wedding plans? Although restrictions are easing in many parts of the country, there are still many social distancing requirements, or guest limits, and even some travel restrictions still in place. This has meant more couples finding themselves in a position where their wedding plans need to change. Canceling or redesigning a wedding can be every bit as overwhelming as planning a wedding, so we’ve put together a few tips on the kind of questions that you might want to ask your vendor if you need to cancel, postpone, or downsize your wedding.
1 – What is The Cancellation Policy?
One of the most important questions that you will want to ask your vendor is what their cancellation policy looks like. This might have been something you discussed at the time of booking, but due to the unprecedented nature of the Coronavirus pandemic, this could have changed since then. Some vendors have offered more flexibility in regard to canceling a wedding if the couple is going to rebook at a later date, so it is worth asking if there is an update to their usual policy. The answer to this question is likely to shape your decisions moving forward.
2 – Is It Possible to Reschedule?
This question may already have been answered when you asked about the cancellation policy as the two are somewhat related. Perhaps the easiest option in terms of planning and logistics is to have the exact same wedding you had planned for, but move it to a different date some time in the future. However, this could be more difficult than you think because all of those couples who had to cancel or postpone their wedding in the first half of 2020 will already be snapping up late 2020 and early 2021 dates. If you do plan to reschedule it is worth making that decision as soon as possible while dates are still available!
3 – What Happens If Another Wave Hits?
The biggest problem with COVID-19 is the uncertainty surrounding it! We may or may not see a fresh wave of infections in the coming months resulting in a return to lockdown in some states. It is worth asking your vendor if they have a contingency plan if that happens.
4 – What Safety Precautions Are In Place?
Assuming your venue is able to offer an alternative wedding date that is suitable, one of the questions you might want to ask is what precautions they have in place. How will they handle social distancing requirements? Do they have additional cleaning procedures in place? Are there any restrictions that mean some previous plans might no longer be possible? These are all things that need to be discussed in advance. If you are hosting a wedding you will want to know that you, your partner, and your guests are going to be safe.
5 – Is a Midweek Wedding a Possibility?
We’ve always advocated midweek weddings here at WhereToElope.com as they are often more affordable than choosing a weekend date. However, as more couples try to rebook and reschedule dates will fill up fast and the demand for midweek weddings is likely to increase. It’s a good idea to get in early before even those spots are filled!
6 – Virtual Weddings & Live Streaming
Something that has exploded in popularity during the pandemic is virtual weddings! If rescheduling your wedding isn’t an option, ask your officiant if they are able to offer a virtual wedding. This is a possibility in a number of states. Check out our recent virtual wedding blog on the topic. Similarly, if you are having to downsize your wedding due to restrictions on the number of people attending gatherings then you might be able to live stream the wedding to friends and family who are unable to make it!
These are just a few of the questions that you will want to think about asking your vendor if you do find yourself in the unfortunate position of having to cancel or postpone your wedding due to COVID-19.