In recent months couples have found that they’ve needed to reschedule their wedding due to COVID-19. Since the Church of England announced that weddings with more than 5 people in attendance were not going ahead, there has been a rise in wedding cancellations, and changing dates. It’s not an easy decision to make, but safety of your loved ones has to come first. We’ve put together a list of 5 things to do when you need to reschedule your wedding day.
Contact The Venue
Your wedding venue is possibly the most important contact at this point. Depending on your payment plan, and how far away the wedding date is, this is where most of your money will be. Not only that, but you’ve already fallen in love with this place. All the arrangements have been made, and finding another venue isn’t ideal. Organise a phone or video call with your wedding coordinator to talk about potential future dates. Make sure you’re clear on whether the venue will hold dates for you, and for how long.
Talk To Your Suppliers
Let all your wedding suppliers know that you’re rescheduling the date, even if you don’t have a firm alternative just yet. Keeping in touch with your suppliers can be a big task, but being open and honest with them will help when choosing another date. Most suppliers in this situation are happy to move your booking without any additional costs – regardless of what their contract says.
If you find that some of your suppliers can’t make your new date, don’t panic. They’ll be able to recommend others who will. We know a lot of people in the wedding industry who are all pulling together to take the stress off couples, and to keep your day just as you’d planned it.
Your Guests
Un-invites are quickly becoming a ‘thing’. Letting your guests know that your plans have changed is a difficult, emotional task, but made somewhat simpler with an e-uninvite. If you’ve not heard of these yet, they’re graphic emails that tell your guests that the wedding plans have changed. They ‘un-invite’ your guests from the original wedding so you can send another invite when you have a firm plan.
Insurance
If you took out wedding insurance, look at the details. Some insurers will help a little in this situation, but most won’t. It depends on the level of your cover and the wording in the contract. The best way to not lose any money is to find a date when all your suppliers are available.
Look After Yourself
Rescheduling your wedding for any reason is a tough decision. COVID-19 has made it even more difficult as it’s probably not been your decision at all. Allow yourself a couple of (what we’re calling) sad days. Be sad. Be angry. Be frustrated. Be worried. Be scared. Be any emotion you need to be right now. When you’re done being all those things, start looking forward to the future and your new wedding date.
If you’d like any help or advice when rescheduling your wedding, please get in touch. We’re all in this together, and your day will be absolutely everything you dreamed it would be. Even if it can’t be that right now.