2020 certainly was a year like none other. Covid affected everyone, (even those who remained healthy). And for those couples planning weddings, it may have seemed like fate was against them (what with all the varying venue restrictions, travel bans and limitations, permitted group sizes, etc.).
But after finally coming out on the other side (for the most part, anyway), we’ve found that in the midst of all the shelter-in-place, ever-changing mandates, and uncertainty, that what Covid taught us about weddings are some important life lessons.
What Covid Taught Us About Weddings
1) Good Things Come To Those Who Wait
Perhaps you chose to postpone your wedding by pushing it back to a later date. Sure, you (and everyone else) had to wait longer – maybe a only few months, then again maybe even a year or more. But, your wedding eventually took place. Those nearest and dearest to you got to celebrate the day with you and your beloved. And your wedding was (or will be) just as fabulous and joyous. An added benefit to having extra planning time is that it gives you additional time to save up some extra money.
2) Sometimes We Have To Make Changes (And We Will Get Through It)
Covid caused a lot of couples to make changes to their original wedding plans. Maybe they had to scale down their guest list, and had a mini wedding instead of a large bash. Maybe they had to change to a completely different venue. Or even (like most couples who were planning to get married in 2020) they changed their wedding date to later in 2020, or even to 2021. So there are times when it is necessary to make changes. But we always get through it in the end.
3) Size Doesn’t Matter
When Covid made it necessary for couples to make changes to their wedding plans, a large number opted to push their wedding back for a whole year (41.5% moved their wedding date to sometime in 2021*). Of the couples who chose to still get married in 2020 (either on their original wedding date or later in the year), 58% cut their guest count* and had a much smaller wedding instead.
Now that things are starting to get back to normal, many couples are still going with smaller weddings (15% of couples are still cutting guest counts by as much as 27%*). They are still getting married to the love of their life. They are still celebrating their new marriage. They are still having beautiful, fabulous, memorable weddings. And it doesn’t have to do with how many people are there.
4) You Can Get Through Anything (As Long As You Do It Together)
Sure, having to make changes, often times radical changes, to your wedding plans can be heartbreaking and discouraging. But you aren’t in this alone. Look at the person next to you. You’re in this (and everything else in life for that matter) together. Rely on your partner (and allow them to do the same) to help you get through this. You’re in this together.
5) Accept The Unexpected
Changes had to be made with how weddings were held, such as the guest size, the food presentation, and the entertainment (yes, an obvious statement, I know). But with the proliferation of these changes, the expectation of how weddings are supposed to be has been altered. Even though they couldn’t follow many of the traditional yet preconceived ideas of what has to happen at a wedding, weddings that took place under pandemic mandates were still beautiful, wonderful, amazing events filled with love and joy.
“What expectations of ‘normal’ am I letting go of today?”, one of the Six Daily Questions to Ask Yourself in Quarantine, is an excellent mantra to practice even in non-pandemic occasions.
6) What Weddings Are Really About
Of all the wedding planning tips, the one that is the most important (even pre-Covid, and eventually, post-Covid) is “Remember why you’re having a wedding!” And when you think of what Covid taught us about weddings, this tip helps us to remember what a wedding is really about. Is it to have crazy, blow-out party with everyone you know?
While that may be on your mind, hopefully it isn’t the real reason that you and your beloved are planning to have a ceremony (where you promise to love, honor, and cherish each other until death do you part), with a celebration following (to celebrate with the love of your life, and those closest to you, the first day of your marriage).
What do you think of my list of what Covid taught us about weddings? Is there anything you’d add? Let me know in the comments below.
*Statistics cited are from The Wedding Report
Photo Credits:
B/W Wedding Ceremony – Jonathan Borba via Unsplash
Outdoor Nighttime Ceremony Site – Junior REIS via Unsplash
Hearts, Joy, Love!
Jean
Looking for fun ideas, or need help with your wedding plans? Contact me today at jean@weddingsfromtheheart.net or by phone or text at 937-581-3647!