Wedding Postponement Tips for 2020 couples
My heart breaks for all of you that might need to take advice from this post. I am so so sorry that you are going through all of this, in what should be the happiest time of your life. I can’t even begin to imagine how you must feel. But I want to do everything I can to help and make this better for you, so here are all of my wedding postponement tips.
I never thought I would have to write a blog post on wedding postponement tips, but it is so so important that every couple gets as much advice as they can right now. Not everyone will have a wedding planner, and so I thought it was vital to share my expert advice. I definitely don’t have all the answers, but I am here to help in every single way I can.
This may be too painful to read right now, and if it is, I’m going to leave a link here to download a PDF including my top tips. So you can revisit this at any time you need. But my biggest piece of advice would be to act as fast as you can. The sooner you are prepared the better. The more you know the earlier the better. And the calmer you will start to feel. Let’s do this…together.
WEDDING POSTPONEMENT TIPS DOWNLOAD
Try to keep smiling as much as you can, and throw yourself into planning your wedding postponement as much as you can do. It really will take your mind off things.
Wedding postponement tip one
If your wedding is anytime between now and 30th June 2020, then you need to seriously start considering wedding postponement. Lots of wedding venues have closed until this date, and although this might change depending on the situation, you need to be prepared. Communicate regularly with your venue. Find out what their postponement policy is. Or what they can offer you.
This is a strange situation for everyone, and something we have never experienced before. So your venue might not immediately know what to do. This is not because they aren’t organised enough, it’s just because we have entered unforeseen circumstances, that no business has really been set up for.
Your venue will try to find you a date that works for you. After all, you are their clients, and the only reason they are in business in the first place. So they will want to do everything they can to make it work for everyone.
*Something to think about – lots of venues will already be booked for most Saturday dates in 2020 and into much of 2021. They might have a few late availability dates, but lots of venues won’t. You might need to consider another day – Friday/Sunday or even a mid week date. I know this isn’t ideal or what you originally wanted, but it might be all they can offer you.
Once you know your future date options you need to talk to every single supplier before you confirm anything with your venue.
Speaking to your suppliers
Speak to every single one of your suppliers to check potential new date options with them. This includes your caterer, photographer, videographer, florist, events team, band, DJ, cake maker and even your stationer too. Although the date doesn’t impact your stationer, you want to talk to them about creating something digital that you can send to guests.
Firstly, ask them about their health. Remember that behind every supplier is a human, that is trying to make a living for their families. So speak to them personally. It’s totally OK for you to be deflated, annoyed, miserable, sad, angry and scared. Just try not to take these feelings out on your suppliers. They again, just like your venue will want to do everything they can for you.
Your suppliers will all want to make this process as easy as possible for you. But there are two key suppliers that will need to know your plans sooner than others – these are your caterers and your florist. You usually have to submit your final numbers/orders one month prior to your wedding. So if this time has now passed, you need to speak to these suppliers first.
*Find out where you stand – and if you might still owe money to them for orders that might have already been placed. Lots will try and transfer this over to your postponed date, but some suppliers might not be able to afford to do this.
Remember to still celebrate your original date. It was and always will be a special day to you. So crack open a bottle of bubbly, and just be grateful your family are all healthy.
Once you know a little bit more about what’s happening, it’s time to update everyone.
Keep your guests up to date
You definitely won’t have all of the answers at this stage, but you will not be able to constantly update your guests. You simply won’t have the mental capacity or time to do this, as the more you speak about everything the more it will upset you. So send your guests something PDF pretty – that updates them generally.
Perhaps say something like ‘It looks like our wedding plans are changing. We don’t have a definite plan right now – but we promise to update you as soon as we do’. Zoe at The Golden Letter has some great templates on her Instagram page, so I would suggest sending those. They are completely free, and look beautiful too.
Try to send this message to your guests as soon as you can do, to help them plan their next couple of months. It will also help you to feel less stressed as you will have checked your guests off your list of things to do.
*Remember – just like your original wedding plans, you will not be able to please every single one of your guests. There will be guests that can’t make the new date, just like there will have been guests that couldn’t make the original date. This is your day, so do what you need to do for you.
So now you’ve started communications with your venue, suppliers and guests, you need to look at your legal options. This is unfortunately the worst part of your wedding postponement. And if you are in doubt, definitely take legal advice. There will be nothing in your contracts with anyone that is specifically related to Covid-19. No one knew it even existed, but it will be under Force Majeure under Cancellation or Postponement clauses.
Future Money Proofing
Make sure you know if you are going to be financially affected by postponing your wedding. Most venues and suppliers should allow you to delay payments or to make payments for your future date without any additional charges. Try to make all of these payments on a Credit Card. Lots of cards will allow you to claim should the services not be rendered. So you can protect yourself as much as you can.
Speak to your wedding insurance company to see if they will be able to pay out should one of your suppliers not be able to make your new date. Unfortunately not all wedding insurance companies are paying out for Covid-19 related issues, so it would be wise to know where you stand. Some are paying out, but only if the new date is within 2 years of you taking out your insurance. So again, check where you stand.
*Please note – Unfortunately no wedding insurance companies are allowing cover to be taken out at present. So make sure you know how you are covered with regards to your wedding postponement.
Don't confirm any new wedding date until you've spoken with all of your suppliers to check that they can make the new date too.
THIS IS HORRIBLE. There is no way of making it sound or feel any better. What was due to be the biggest and happiest day of your life so far, has now been swept away from underneath your feet. You will have spent hours and hours planning this big day, and it will happen.
Keep smiling, and just know that I am here for you. For whatever you might need – no matter how big or small. Remember to still celebrate your original date with your husband/wife to be. Maybe dress up, crack open a bottle of bubbles and tell each other ten things you love about each other. Still celebrate. Your marriage is more important than the day itself, so just remember that love always wins.
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