I do, I don’t? Your guide to wedding plans during a pandemic

MANILA, Philippines – For many people out there, weddings are one of the most important milestones in their lives.

This day of celebration, for many, usually take months or (even years) of planning and piecing all of the tiniest details together – from deciding on the color motif, choosing the overall theme, taste-testing your menu, and constantly filling out checklists you never even knew you needed!

If you’re one of the many couples who were set to get married right before or a few months after the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) was implemented on Tuesday, March 17, it’s a difficult place to be in.

Should or should you not postpone?

A lot of us were caught off guard – myself included. As a wedding coordinator less than 10 years in the industry, I never thought I’d get to experience something like this in my career.

For couples who are thinking of postponing their wedding, here are questions you might want to discuss with your partner and your coordinator before making the big decision.

Do you want to wait this out?

If your wedding is scheduled from July 2020 onwards, then it would be premature to cancel as early as now (April 2020). It would be best to wait it out until May, if our situation escalates.

If the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 continue to rise, then it would be best to postpone.

Coordinators have done weddings and events with limited time and most coordinators have pulled it off successfully – you just have to trust your coordinator that he/she will be able to adjust with the timeline given, should you wish to push through.

Where are most of your guests coming from?

If most of your guests are coming from the provinces, or if those who are close to you live overseas, then you might also want to consider postponing your wedding to a later date since we’re uncertain if the travel ban will be lifted when they lift the ECQ. I’m sure you’d want to celebrate your wedding with the people close to your hearts.

Are we covered with refunds from suppliers?

Before deciding to cancel your wedding, revisit your contracts with your vendors first.

Most of the suppliers have a non-refundable clause in their contract, but rebooking is allowed. If you’re one of the couples affected by the ECQ, It would be best to postpone instead of canceling and just wait it out until the situation gets better.

Your coordinator should help you get in touch with your suppliers to find a common date where most or even all of your suppliers would be available, to avoid forfeiting down payments and looking for another supplier. Nobody wants extra expenses!

If I decide to postpone, are there legal requirements involved?

Legal requirements have validity periods. A marriage license is only valid for 120 days, while a baptismal certificate is valid for 6 months.

Revisit your documents and double-check if it expires on your new wedding date. If you’re having a Catholic wedding, make sure to double check with your Church if there are other requirements you need to submit. Given the ECQ, your church will probably give some leeway in terms of processing the documents.

After careful deliberation with your partner, you may have mutually decided to postpone your celebration. Here are some alternative measures for your upcoming wedding: 

Intimate wedding ceremony

If you would like to have your wedding as soon as the ECQ is lifted, then you also might want to explore getting married in a civil ceremony with just you, a pair of Principal Sponsors, and your immediate family. You can opt for a grand celebration with family and friends later on when the pandemic ends or dies down.

Virtual weddings/live-streamed ceremony and receptions

If some of your guests still cannot come home because of travel restrictions, then you might also want to consider a virtual wedding, wherein the ceremony and reception is available via livestream. This way, they still get to witness your union.

Choose weekdays for your wedding

Due to the number of couples moving their wedding, you might want to consider having your wedding on a weekday. There’s a higher chance that most suppliers are available on a weekday.

Limit the number of your guests

We have to admit that even if the pandemic dies down, some of your guests might still not be comfortable attending social gatherings. With this, you might also want to consider limiting your guest list with just your family and closest friends. It will also help you save expenses.

Try shifting to a plated dinner or lunch instead of a buffet set-up

To prioritize your loved ones’ safety and health, take precautionary sanitary measures – consider going for plated meals instead of a buffet.

A plated set-up will prevent the sharing or touching of the same serving spoon with other guests, and you also won’t have to worry about long, tight lines at the buffet stations (social distancing, please).

Another option if your budget won’t permit a plated service would be assigning the waiters to scoop the food for the guests and have the servers wear transparent food face masks.

To ease your mind further from your postponed wedding, here are some suggestions you can work on either with your partner or with your coordinator while we wait for the pandemic to die down. 

Try to be productive

You can start filling out the forms your planner has sent you, start listing down your guest list, finalizing your entourage, and thinking of souvenirs for your guests.

You can begin informing your guests about the postponement and that you are sorting things out with your planner as you iron out details before you announce your new wedding date.

Focus on what matters the most

Now that all we can do is wait until things get better, let’s focus on what matters the most – strengthening your relationship with your partner. Get to know your partner even more and fall in love all over again! Who wouldn’t want a more heartfelt exchange of vows on your wedding day?

Postpone, don’t cancel. Let’s help each other out. – Rappler.com  

Maxine Covar is a young entrepreneur and a budding events planner. She handles and executes social and corporate events through her newly-established company, Maxine Covar Events.