You had all the details planned. You knew what song you were walking down the aisle to, what flowers were in your bouquets, what your cake flavor was going to be…
In the blink of an eye, your dream wedding was postponed due to a global pandemic. COVID-19 is certainly one obstacle no one could have predicted.
The world doesn’t stop turning, and you shouldn’t stop planning for your dream wedding.
We have teamed up with our partners at Diamond Point Catering & Event Services to give you tips and advice about changing your plans! We've even created a printable "Change The Date Planner" to help you sort out the details! Remember That Health and Safety Come First While it’s easy to get wrapped up in all the details that come with changing your event date, remember why you’re doing it in the first place. You may be feeling extreme pressure from being forced to change your plans, but it’s important to remember that everyone’s health and safety is a priority in this time, your own included! Keep up-to-date with guidelines from reputable sources such as the Center for Disease Control and the World Health Organization, but don’t overdo it on the news intake. Limit your news exposure daily and find a great podcast to listen to instead.
Be Patient with Your Vendors
It’s important to have patience when contacting vendors. Most of your wedding vendors will probably be local small businesses, and they are feeling the effects of the pandemic just as much as you are. Call waiting times and email response times may be longer, so keep that in mind before you call or email for the second (or third) time. Your vendors are working hard with all their clients to make sure that your new event date will be just as special as the first one you planned. Many vendors are offering virtual planning meetings, so don’t give up the planning altogether! There are plenty of details you can get checked off your planning list via virtual appointments. When you are changing your date, start with your most important vendor, which is usually the venue. Your venue should be the first call you make to secure a new date. Be flexible and get a few different options before you settle on one. Once you have new date options, then you can start reaching out to other vendors to make sure you can still use them. Keep in mind that some of your vendors may not be available for the new date, which is why it’s important to have a backup in mind just in case.
Communicate with Your Guests
It is good etiquette to give your guests as much time as possible to make arrangements for your new date. Your guests will absolutely understand why you’re changing the date, and they will be compassionate with you about the changes. Once you have a new date, send out “change the date” cards. Many stationary websites are offering free change the dates if you ordered your save the dates from them. Check with your original paper source before purchasing anything! If you didn’t already have a wedding website, now is a great time to start one. Sites such as Zola, The Knot, and Minted offer free wedding websites with no gimmicks. Set up your wedding website and share the details with friends and family via social media and email as a quick way to get the word out. A private Facebook event is a fast, free way to communicate with all your guests at once.
Delete the Dates
Given the ever-changing timeline of COVID-19, the effects of a shutdown may be extended. If you haven’t ordered favors or any signage yet, do not include the date. Other than your invitations, it’s best to hold off including a date on any of your favors, such as cups or koozies. It would be ideal to place those orders as soon as possible, though, as shipping and processing times are extremely delayed lately. Consider purchasing items from local businesses over online dealers. Your purchase will be a lot more appreciated by helping a small business generate income rather than using a faceless online distributors.
If You Don’t Already Have a Coordinator, Now is the Time to Get One! An experienced event coordinator can be the biggest help you need during this time. They are experts in navigating vendor changes and coordinating between many different vendors' schedules. If you haven’t already hired a wedding coordinator, now is the time to get one. Start with your venue when hiring a coordinator--they will be the most knowledgeable about how your venue operates. Most venues have on-site coordinators with services that can be added-on to your venue package or are already included in your venue package. Double check your contract to see if that’s included first before you hire outside help. Either way you go, a coordinator might be the best money you spend on your event!
While most of these tips are centered around weddings, they can be applied to all kinds of events! Was your child’s sweet sixteen party postponed? Graduation party? End of the school year party? Engagement party? Quinceanera? These tips are useful for rescheduling any kind of event you may have planned!
Leave us a comment with your tips and advice for couples in the middle of changing their wedding date!
*To download our free "Change The Date Planner", click here.*
If you need help rescheduling your wedding and would like more information on our event planning services, email us at office@diamondpointcatering.com or call us at 361-884-1399. We would love to help you design your dream wedding!
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