If you're deliberating what to do amidst the COVID-19 pandemic then fret not, for professional wedding planner Jenny Wren has been kind enough to share her top tips for couples having to change their wedding date...
Contact venue and suppliers ASAPIf
you have a wedding planner, they will do this for you. Many couples
will be postponing resulting in 2021 and 2022 dates filing up fast, so
make this a priority.
Send a message to your guestsYour
invitations may have gone out already so email to save time informing
them of the new date. Your stationer could design something pretty and
in keeping with your theme, which you can email out. Some guests who
could not make it previously may now be able to come, so factor that
into your plans and ask everyone to RSVP again if their status has
changed with the new date. Remind them to rearrange their accommodation
if they booked direct.
Contact your church or registrar If you're having a church wedding, find out whether you are required to do your residency period again.
Check your insuranceIf
you took out wedding insurance, contact your insurers and re-read the
terms of your policy. If any of your suppliers cannot transfer to the
new date and you need to cancel them, your insurance may cover their
deposit charge. The insurers may need copies of invoices so ensure you
have these ready.
Pay suppliersSome suppliers may ask for
another payment instalment before your wedding date to help with their
cash flow. It's nice to help them out if you can, as after all you want
their business to be in a healthy position by the time your wedding
comes.
Check in on childcareIf you are having children at
the wedding and had organised childcare, ensure you update the childcare
team of the ages of the children for your new date.
Keep communication upStay
in touch with your venue and suppliers, but do keep in mind they are
probably dealing with lots of couples at the moment so try not to get
frustrated if there is a delay in their response.
Use your time wiselyYou
now have extra time for any finishing touches that you may not have had
the time or budget for previously, although be careful not to get
carried away and just add things for the sake of it. Remember your
wedding budget and the vision you had for your day and stay true to
that. Here are a few things Jenny suggests you could be working on…
•
Creating playlists-. These always take much longer than you think! You
may want to consider them for:-' The morning when you are getting
ready-' The drinks reception (between sets if you have a live
musician)-' During dinner for background music-' The evening (between
the bands sets and after they end).
• Drafting your table plan. -One of the hardest tasks, my couples often say! Add in dietary information for your caterers.
•
Making a photography list. -Think about any particular shots you want
your photographer to capture. This list does not need to be extensive
(we encourage it not to be) ' half a dozen or so important shots is
ideal.
•
Thinking about favours-. Perhaps you planned to make your
own? Now is a good time to get crafty and prepare them (you will thank
yourself later on when the wedding draws near and you have lots of other
things to think about!). It's also a nice time to do something creative
while at home.
Image Thomas Frost Photography