It’s no secret that Covid has greatly impacted everyone’s lives. But what about Covid and weddings? 
It’s no different for those planning a wedding. With all of the new mandates and regulations it can be hard to know what to expect.
I recently did a segment with Kristen Cornett with Dayton 24/7 Now. We talked about Covid and 2020 weddings, and looked ahead to what we can expect in 2021.
You can see the segment by clicking on the photo above, or clicking here for the Dayton 24/7 segment.
There have been many changes to weddings and wedding planning. Here’s what we’ve seen, and can expect to see for weddings in 2020 and 2021.
I’m sure you’ve heard of a Save-The-Date card (a simple card informing guests of the couples’ intended wedding date and location so they can mark their calendars before the actual wedding invitation is mailed). Well, 2020 has seen an increased use in the Change-The-Date card. A quick and easy way to let your guests know that you had to change your wedding date.
While Change-The-Date cards aren’t a brand new concept, their use has never been more prevalent than now. For weddings originally scheduled for 2020, over 60% have been postponed (21% *to later in 2020, 41.5%* to 2021), and 7%* have cancelled altogether.
The number of weddings held in 2020 had a drastic decline, with an estimated loss of 47-52%* in 2020. However, with many being postponed until 2021, we can expect to see an increase of 30-35%* in 2021.
Since wedding receptions and banquets have resumed, certain guidelines have been put in place.
Covid and Weddings – Rules/mandates for venues in Ohio:
1. 6 feet between tables
2. 10 people seated per table, no mingling with people at other tables
3. Masks are to be worn by all employees
4. Masks are to be worn by attendees of the function, except when they are actively eating or drinking
5. No buffets unless there is a server at the line
6. Venues must increase the frequency of surface cleaning, hand washing, and sanitizing
7. All food must be consumed while seated (no more standing for cocktail hour)
8. Group photos limited to 10 people (and they have to be from their original “10 person group”)
9. Dancing is now permitted, but social distancing and sanitation guidelines have to be followed
10. Cannot serve more than 300 guests at one time. Although the “300 people max” mandate sounds good, you need to talk with your venue(s) to see how many people they really can accommodate (The “maximum number” of the room isn’t what it once was, due to the table spacing, and need for social distancing, therefore spacing other tables – buffets, dj, dance floor, etc.)
11. Don’t forget social distancing for wedding ceremonies. This may mean 6 feet between rows of chairs.
Make sure you ask your venue about:
• What is their maximum capacity with the new mandate in place.
• Will they take temperatures/do a health assessment upon guests arrival?
• How will they handle social distancing?
• What will they do if a guest isn’t following the mask/social distancing mandates?
• What sanitization precautions (sanitization stations, plexiglass at bars, etc.) will they have in place?
Covid hasn’t just affected what happens on your wedding day either. The rules for getting a marriage license themselves haven’t radically changed, (you need to go online to pre-register and schedule an appointment, where you used to be able to just show up), however the timing of when you can get your license has. These appointments are booked far in advance, with some counties having appointments booked up to 4 weeks out. You can no longer pop in on Friday to get your marriage license for your wedding on Saturday. (Make sure to check with your local marriage license bureau/probate court as rules vary from county to county, and state to state).
What we will see that is different than pre-Covid weddings:
• Smaller guest sizes. With social distancing rules, venues can’t accommodate as many people, so many couples are opting for smaller celebrations, sometimes as small as 10-25 people, then having a big reception at a later date.
• Food presentation. All food must be served (so self-serve stations are permitted). You can still have a buffet, but the catering staff must serve it.
• All food must be consumed while seated. Even during the cocktail hour.
• Masks/social distancing during the event. No co-mingling.
• Video streaming will become one of the regular “must haves.” The couple can celebrate remotely, especially with guests who are in a high-risk group, or wouldn’t otherwise be able to attend due to travel advisories.
Couples are going to have to adjust their plans to adhere to the new mandates regarding social distancing and face masks.
6 key tips for planning a wedding during this uncertain time:
• Multiple potential wedding dates. Have more than one date in mind when looking for a venue (prime dates may already be taken due to rescheduling).
• You can keep your wedding aesthetic. You can keep your original wedding aesthetic, but in a “scaled down” version.
• Communication is key. Communication is always crucial, but now more than ever: with your vendors (what they need to do), with your guests (so they know what to expect, and is expected of them. You can include an insert with your invitations and on your wedding website.), and with your partner (this is probably not the wedding you both really wanted).
• Keep yourself updated. Rules and mandates are ever-changing, while you don’t have to monitor it 24/7, you should keep up on changes when they do occur, especially as your wedding day gets closer.
• Marriage license. Must go online to pre-register and schedule appointment. Do this as early as you can, as appointment times fill up quickly. As of Monday, August 10th, the next available appointment at Ohio’s Montgomery Country Marriage License Bureau is on September 3rd.
• Remember what’s important. Remember that the celebration of your marriage is the important thing, not a big, fancy party. Never lose sight of why you are getting married.
Big questions on many people’s minds are: “How do we ensure that the current mandates are being followed?, and “Who is responsible for enforcing the mandates? (The venue, the hosts, the couple, the planner?)”. No one wants to have to wear a mask on their wedding day, and they want a celebration for guests to be able to socialize, dance, and have fun. But these mandates are in place for a reason. Guests need to understand that they may have to have their temperature taken upon arrival, and that they’ll have to wear a mask, limit socializing/dancing/etc. with the people at their table.
Also, the rules are ever changing, and each state has their own set of regulations and mandates, so it’s important to keep an eye on what’s going on in your state. No one knows how long this is going to last, if it will fade out, or even if there will be another cycle. No one know how long the current rules and restrictions will be in place, or what new rules/restrictions (if any) may come about. We just have to go-with-the-flow while it’s going on.
While the celebration may not look quite the same as weddings once did, they can still be elegant, beautiful, and fun. Make sure you keep a positive mind set, and adjust your expectations, since your wedding is not going to look like what you’ve originally planned for. Instead of dwelling on what you can’t have, focus on what you do have. You’re going to marry the love of your life, and get to celebrate (either in-person, remotely, or at a later date) with loved ones.
* Statistics from The Wedding Report
Photo Credits:
Covid – Gerd Altmann from Pixabay
Bride and Groom – cottonbro from Pexels
Hearts, Joy, Love!
Jean
Need help with your wedding during these uncertain times, or maybe just looking for fun ideas, or need help with your plans?
Weddings From The Heart can help. Contact me today at [email protected] or by phone or text at 937-581-3647!
