TIPS FOR GETTING MARRIED DURING A PANDEMIC

Over the last 14 months there have been many, many ups and downs. There has been so much loss and pain but this time has also allowed many of us to slow down and reflect on what really matters most. We’ve noticed that couples are getting tired of postponing and are just ready to be married already! That said, we’ve put together a short guide on getting hitched during a pandemic (and beyond).

Decide What Matters Most

This lies at the core of planning your pandemic wedding, or any wedding really. Compromises may have to be made and you and your partner need to have a very honest conversation about what is important to YOU. Maybe you’ve dreamt your whole life of a 200-person grand wedding and anything less would be devastating? Then postponing might be your best option! But maybe you just want to be married to your partner? You can still do that it might just look different then what you had originally imagined. If you’re in the latter group and you are just ready to do the dang thing and don’t want to wait for some indefinite time when the world will be “normal” again then keep reading!

Be Flexible with Everything Else

This is the hard part. You want to celebrate this monumental milestone and no one can fault you for that, but the reality is that right now that will mean something different then it did pre-2020. We are all hopeful that this will be over soon but we are still at the mercy of restrictions, new variants and constant change. This doesn’t mean that you can’t still have elements that make your day incredibly special - walking down the aisle to that song that was playing the night you met, saying vows you wrote yourself, wearing your Mom’s old dress, exchanging rings. But it does mean that you might not be able to have a cocktail hour and maybe your grandparents will need to attend via Zoom. It might not be what you envisioned, but your celebration can be beautiful, joyous, and meaningful. Where there is a will there is a way!

Hire a Planner (or come to the Chapel!)

We may be biased on this one, but we believe this will absolutely save your sanity. Restrictions are changing literally by the day and figuring out what you can and can’t do while trying to manage your guests and vendors and life adds so much stress to what should be an exciting process. There are so many amazing planners whose job is literally to guide you through this process and ensure you and your partner can enjoy. And of course the simplest way to get married, The Chapel, has been able to run during the pandemic (with some minor modifications). Last year we were still able to marry upwards of 75 couples safely and beautifully!

Find Flexible Vendors

Many vendors have changed policies around postponement and cancellation to be more flexible and give couples peace of mind in the planning process. If you are just starting the planning process now make sure that you always ask about the cancellation and date change policies before booking and ensure you sign a contract that reflects what you have agreed on. This will save you the headache and deposit money in the long run!

Marry Now, Party Later

If you are sick of putting off getting married and but also want the big, once in a lifetime celebration this could be a great option for you. Many couples are getting married in small civil ceremonies, be it the Chapel or a backyard micro-wedding, and planning on doing the big party at some time in the future. This is a great compromise for couples who are torn between wanting it all and wanting it right now.

If you are ready to say “I Do” regardless of what this pandemic has in mind check out our upcoming Chapel’s and book you spot now!