Just because weddings may look different during a pandemic doesn’t mean love is canceled. In fact, during a time when almost nothing is certain, being certain you want to marry someone is worth celebrating. And working within restricted parameters often breeds creativity. Whether you’re thinking about doing a Zoom wedding, a small backyard ceremony, or postponing altogether, we talked to the experts at The Knot and WeddingWire to find out just how to plan a wedding in 2021. Here’s what you need to know.
What kind of wedding should you expect this year?
Given health precautions and social distancing guidelines, weddings will undoubtedly be dialed back in 2021. However, people are still having ceremonies, just smaller. Sarah Hanlon, Assistant Editor from The Knot says according to their recent data, only four percent of couples are canceling their weddings, one third are postponing, but a majority are keeping their dates.
In throwing intimate weddings, couples are getting creative by including virtual components and finding ways to provide hyper-personalized experiences. Hanlon says to expect things like individual food platters, hand sanitizing stations, restaurant-style seating, and alternative entertainment (sorry, no crowded dance floors this year). And outdoor weddings will be common, which means get ready for stylish tents and plenty of twinkly lights.
Samantha Iacia, Associate Editor, Wedding Wire, agrees that we won’t likely see large, indoor weddings this year, but that means weddings can take lots of different forms, including low-key virtual ceremonies, courthouse elopements, small outdoor weddings, and backyard celebrations. For couples who just can’t wait, Iacia says she loves the idea of having something small now and then a bigger wedding once it’s safe to have all your guests around, because “it’s another excuse to party!”
If you are planning a wedding this year, what things should you keep in mind to keep yourselves and your guests safe?
- Keep health and safety top of mind throughout the celebrations. First and foremost, follow your local health guidelines. Hanlon says they recommend couples stay up to date on local government restrictions and communicate often with vendors, as they’ll be able to help navigate around constantly evolving event restrictions.
- Keep your guests safe on the day of as well. Hanlon recommends having individual food and dessert plates, hand sanitizer stations, giving guests masks as favors, and celebrating outdoors as much as possible. A good way to include more people safely is to include virtual elements like live-streaming the ceremony and speeches. Hanlon says to also consider wedding welcome boxes to virtual guests so they feel included.
- Be flexible. Even during non-pandemic years, no matter how much you plan, something could still end up surprising you. So it’s important to remain flexible now more than ever. Hanlon says to keep an open mind about alternative days and experiences, such as a Sunday brunch wedding (who doesn’t love brunch?) or a weekday rooftop ceremony. After all, the most important aspect of a wedding is your commitment to your partner and celebrating your love, so don’t get too hung up on the little details.
- Plan early and be patient. Since many weddings last year were impacted or rescheduled to this year, Iacia says to prioritize planning early and possibly expect longer lead times. With more couples waiting until it’s safe to have larger events, booking certain venues or vendors can become competitive.
- Consider getting wedding insurance. If you’re uneasy about the general uncertainty of planning a wedding during these times, Iacia says to consider getting wedding insurance. Doing so can help protect you from monetary losses in the event you have to cancel or a vendor goes out of business before your wedding day.
- Don’t focus on what you can’t have, focus on what you can. Iacia says it’s natural to get upset about having to change or put your plans on hold during a pandemic, but she says the best way to get around disappointment is to focus on what you can do right now. That may mean a Tuesday wedding in order to book your dream venue, and that’s okay. Again, a wedding is a celebration between you and your loved one, and if you have to break a tradition, at the very least, you’ll have a memorable and unique story to remember.
How do you plan a wedding while social distancing?
The good news is that a lot of wedding planning can be done online, says Hanlon. This includes everything from creating and managing registries and making a wedding website to gathering style inspiration and connecting with vendors. Iacia says for tasks that can’t necessarily be done online, such as wedding dress appointments or cake testings, vendors may already be limiting the number of appointments they take, so don’t waste time reaching out.
Vendors have also had to adapt their businesses during this time. Iacia adds that wedding vendors’ jobs are to think creatively and do whatever it takes to handle the situation. (Think how many times uncooperative weather has forced vendors to pivot to a backup plan). Ask what safety precautions they’ve put in place and maintain constant communication with your vendors, as well as your partner and guests.
What about gifts? Where do they factor in this year?
Hanlon says couples should definitely still create a registry amid COVID-19. A registry exists to help loved ones buy gifts for the couple, and even if weddings are impacted or changed, family and friends are still continuing to celebrate their union and looking for ways to show them love. She says even though the concept of a registry is the same, the items on it will likely look different in 2021: think things like cash funds for relocating to a new city, functional at-home essentials, or products for new hobbies they picked up during the pandemic.
Even if you’ve postponed, Iacia says it’s okay to keep your wedding registry active and up-to-date, and include a range of retailers and price points. If you’ve already received gifts but have postponed your reception, Hanlon says there’s no need to return the gifts. Wedding gifts are given to support a newlywed life, regardless of whether that life is starting now or later in the future.
For guests invited to a wedding that’s canceled or postponed, Iacia recommends still sending a gift from the registry. Likewise, if you were planning on attending a wedding that’s since downsized or gone virtual, you should send a gift. The TL;DR is that if you’ve received a save-the-date or invitation to the original wedding, you should always send a gift.
Given restrictions and uncertainty, should you consider postponing a wedding that was planned in 2021?
Ultimately it will come down to your and your partner’s personal preferences, situation, comfort with risk, etc. Some people are okay with holding a smaller ceremony vs. waiting; others are willing to wait in order to celebrate with all their friends and daily. Hanlon says to remember that postponements aren’t all or nothing–you can still hold a minimony now *and* a larger celebration later on, or even a first-anniversary reception.
Iacia adds that deciding to postpone your wedding is never easy, so it’s okay to feel sad about it. Think about what you’re comfortable giving up to marry sooner, or if you’re willing to wait for the bigger wedding.
If you do decide to postpone, here are a few things to do:
- Work with your vendors to find a new date. Hanlon says with creativity and careful planning, you’ll be able to find a date in the future that lets you celebrate safely and have the wedding you’ve been mentally planning.
- Start with your wedding venue: Iacia says to ask the venue about when you could reschedule. If the venue is booked solid, you’ll know to start looking at other locations.
- Once you’ve decided to postpone your wedding, share the news with your guests. Iacia says a brief email and a note on your wedding website is a good place to start.
- Take a breath. Wedding planning is a lot, and postponing a wedding is also a lot. You don’t have to figure out everything all at once. Iacia recommends reaching out to a professional wedding planner if you’re feeling particularly overwhelmed. That way you can have someone help with you all the logistics and also possibly provide some emotional support.
Did these tips on how to plan a wedding help you? Tell us in the comments and head to our Bridal Shop for everything wedding-related!
Always follow the most up-to-date CDC guidance on COVID-19 protection. Be sure to check state and local health guidelines, as they may differ and are changing rapidly.
(Featured image via @allieandsam)
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