Cornwall Wedding Planner: Planning a wedding during Covid: 6 Top Tips on how you plan for a wedding when you have no idea what the government restrictions will be in advance?
Juggling Covid restrictions whilst planning a wedding in Cornwall.
For all of the wedding industry, the C-word is definitely not our favourite subject right now, especially after last night's announcement! However for all the couples who have yet again been left to make some tough decisions we all support you during this upsetting and stressful time.
I have been working with all of my couples doing our best to work with regularly changing guidelines and restrictions and for a short time, we had all become used to the limited guest’s list and come to terms with how weddings would operate for a while. However, wedding ceremonies and receptions now up to a maximum of 15 allowed in England for up to six months has caused my phone to go crazy in a panic of what's the best move now. The question is “how do you plan for a wedding when you have no idea what the government restrictions will be in advance?”
Right now, whether you were planning a wedding at home or abroad, there are countless moving parts surrounding COVID-19 and since this situation is fluid, what it means for your wedding, specifically, really depends on your wedding date, guest count, location, and extent of travel involved.
A lot depends on when your wedding is, of course. If it’s in the next few months and you’re simply adding the final touches, you might have already cut down your guest list to 30 however you are now having to half that again or asking yourself should I postpone? But if you have a 2021 wedding, it is now hard to know what to plan when you don’t know what restrictions will be in place by then.
How do you plan for a wedding when you have no idea what the government restrictions will be in advance?
Should you play the waiting game?
It’s tempting to wait until the last minute to plan the finer details of your wedding day, to see what the Covid-19 situation is nearer the time. But then leaving things too late can also leave you with limited choice or availability. If you have decided you are still going ahead with your wedding over the next few months, now is the time to get tough and work out how you’re going to adapt to the current situation.
A popular option for couples having 2020 weddings is to go ahead with an intimate ceremony this year, but postpone the main party until 2021. If you choose this option, be aware that a big 2021 party isn’t guaranteed and it’ll all depend on a potential second wave or a coronavirus vaccine.
If your wedding or reception is planned for 2021 start planning it as if everyone has the same idea it’s going to get busy! There has been a larger influx of couples than ever getting engaged this year and 2021 is filling up with an estimated whopping 400,000 weddings and celebrations hoping to take place next year.
2. What should you consider before booking a supplier?
Whether you’re chatting to a florist, entertainer, caterer or hairdresser, be sure to check their cancellation policies before booking. Check the contracts carefully to ensure you have something that suits your needs. Some suppliers will cover if certain guests can’t make it, while others may be less flexible. If you’re going ahead with a scaled-down event, there has just been clarification that third party suppliers no longer count towards to new 15 maximum numbers! (I know its not much but every little helps).
Image by Tom Beynon
3. Should you move the whole thing outside?
Something to remember, though, is that mass gathering are still banned – whether they’re inside or outdoors – so whilst the fresh air might make everyone feel more comfortable, it won’t necessarily fix the problem. For now, you’ll still have to keep things small. Another factor to take into account is the good old British weather! So, ensure your venue has a plan B option. Some venues may have a marquee in place you can use, but if you’re looking at hiring a marquee yourself, there’s a lot to consider – from power sources to nearby port-a-loos.
4. What should you do about food?
The government advises that wherever possible all food and drinks should be served by staff, in line with the guidance for restaurants, pubs, bars and takeaway services and that dancing should not be permitted due to the increased risk of transmission. Wedding buffets are a thing of the past right now so make sure you talk with your venue first and get some guidance on your menus. It’s hard to know what the future of food may look like at weddings, but experts say an option could be to have covered boxed meals, bento-style – designed to match your wedding decor.
5. Is live music a no-go?
Under the current rules, singing, chanting and shouting are banned at weddings, as are instruments “that are blown into”. Will you want to go ahead with a band if it’s instrumental? Or is a DJ (or Spotify) a better option? Organs and pianos are allowed (as long as they are thoroughly cleaned afterwards), so that might be the answer if you’re longing for some live music as you walk down the aisle. Again, check cancellation and postponement policies before paying any deposits and remember this will eat into your headcount. You can still create romance through your favourite songs digitally. Walking down the aisle to a song that is special to both of you can have the same effect.
6. If all else fails...
Planning for two dates might be the safest option. Approach your venue and suppliers to see whether you can work towards your date but have a ‘plan B’ date allocated to fall back on. This may help to alleviate some of the stress and the unknown if you know you already have an alternative date saved if things cannot go ahead as you had wished.
I hope this has helped a little. As if planning a wedding is not stressful enough juggling constant changing guidance is hard. If you are still unsure How to plan for a wedding when you have no idea what the government restrictions will be in advance. Get in touch to chat through your queries. In the meantime take a look at my blog Wedding Planning Cornwall: How to navigate your guest list for your Covid 19 wedding.
Image two and three by Tom Beynon https://www.tombeynonphotography.com/
