What You Should Do If Your Wedding is Planned in the Midst of the Coronavirus

2020 has been off to a rocky start, especially for us here in the Land Down Under. Now, a new threat to us all has entered the stage and it has caused so much panic and commotion that even weddings and other planned gatherings are gravely affected by its mere presence in our nation.

Travel restrictions, social distancing and mass gathering advisories fill the news as the 2019 Coronavirus or COVID19 has been making a shocking emergence throughout the globe. This type of pandemic is one of its kind and the measures everyone is required to take to combat it are also one of its kind. There has been a directive from the government to cancel or postpone all non-essential gatherings of more than 100 people indoors and the number is set to 500 for outdoor gatherings.

On the other side of the story, weddings are directly affected by the precautionary measures we are required to take to battle Coronavirus. Whether you are planning to have your dream destination wedding abroad or if you have planned for that grand wedding celebration right here in Australia, you are sure to be thinking twice about proceeding with the plans.

All around the globe, hundreds of other brides and grooms have been burdened with these testing times. You would not want to put the lives and the health of all your beloved family and friends in danger by gathering everyone amidst the crisis. However, you still have so many things planned and so much money invested onto this single day that you don’t want to back down.

What should you do?

1. Keep calm. There is no need to panic and panicking cannot help your case in any way. Everyone is feeling anxious but it is always better to keep calm to get a clearer view of the bigger picture.

2. Ask your wedding planner. If you have hired one, then you can easily come up with a backup plan as advised by a professional. If you don’t have one, skip to the next number.

3. Check on supplier contracts and know your options. Read up on what can be done with regards to your hired wedding vendors and find out if there are any contingencies stated in the contracts you have signed. Ring them up and ask them what procedures they might have put up in lieu of the COVID and work together to make arrangements which remain safe for everyone involved. It is best to keep the same set of wedding suppliers so you get to keep any deposits you might have already paid for the original wedding date. In case you have invested in wedding insurance, give the insurance agent a call to see what can be done and if the policy sites anything regarding unique pandemic cases such as this.

4. Immediately inform all guests of the new plan. Whether you are postponing or cancelling the big day, make sure to alert all the wedding guests as soon as possible, especially those who would need to fly into Australia. Update your wedding website or post the changes ASAP at your Facebook event page so everybody gets enough time to rearrange their travel plans as well.

If the date is set in your mind and your heart, then you can have a simple ceremony with only your witnesses and your immediate family members. Be sure to keep the number to a minimum and continue to responsibly practise the social distancing measures enforced by the health ministry. Hand sanitising stations are to be set up throughout the venue and anyone who isn’t feeling well should be kept from attending the event as well.

For the guests who aren’t included, make sure to word the announcement clearly so beloved family and friends understand the shift of plans. Explain to granny that leaving her out of the simple ceremony was more for her safety and assure them that you will all get to party and celebrate together as soon as this health crisis is over. Set up a live stream so everyone else can watch from the safety of their homes and also send photos or card announcements to granny and for overseas guests.

Once you and your spouse-to-be have made your decision, be firm and don’t look back. The important thing is that you, your loved ones, and your family are all safe and healthy as we all fight this coronavirus together as a nation.