If your wedding date is approaching soon, we understand how agonizing it is to have to postpone or reschedule your celebration. While working closely with our Happy Days Lodge and Hines Hill couples whose wedding dates have been affected by COVID-19, we took a moment to round up some of the best advice we could find on postponing your wedding amidst the coronavirus pandemic:
- Boston Magazine: Here’s Everything You Need to Know about Postponing Your Wedding
- “The best thing to do is to reach out to key vendors. That’s your planner, if you have one, or your venue coordinator. If you don’t have an event planner or a coordinator and you’re having a tented wedding, you want to reach out to your tent provider, catering, photography, and entertainment. You’ll look at the available dates at the venue first, and then determine which date your key vendors are available to switch to. I would encourage people to be looking at winter at this point, because while you can reach out about the fall, fall is really booked. Also consider dates that aren’t Saturdays—look at Fridays and Sundays. I’ve really been championing the midweek wedding because that’s going to allow couples to have their weddings this calendar year and move their plans a bit more seamlessly. And guests aren’t going to think twice about it: Everybody is going to be so incredibly excited to have a celebration and exchange their yoga pants for gowns and ties.”
- “The biggest thing I want people to know is that you are the story, and the wedding tells the story and celebrates it; not the other way around. The date, the time, the venue, and the guest count can all change, but the heart of the wedding and your story will remain untouched. No matter what happens, your original stunning wedding will morph into another stunning wedding. It will be remarkable no matter what happens. “
- Zola.com: A Guide to Postponing Your Wedding
- “It’s perfectly OK to spend some time grieving for the day you envisioned that’s now on hold. Now is the time to practice all the self-care you need—whether that’s with some relaxation and deep breathing, indulging in your favorite foods, venting to anyone who will listen, or all of the above.”
- “Celebrate your day regardless. If you are up for it, do something just for you and your fiancé on the day your wedding was to take place. Some options include picking up cupcakes in your wedding cake flavor, spending the day relaxing together with your favorite movies, or taking a walk or drive to the spot you got engaged or had your first date. Remember that whenever or wherever your wedding ultimately takes place, it will be beautiful—and your loved ones will be there to support you. Until then, try to soak up being engaged to the love of your life for just a little longer. “
- Brides.com: How Should We Tell Our Guests That We’re Postponing Our Wedding
- “First, it’s important to tell people you’re changing the date as soon as you know it must be done. “If you know you are postponing, the most responsible thing to do is tell your guests right away,” says Stefanie Cove of Stefanie Cove & Co. “I suggest an email to get them the information as soon as possible.”
- “If you’re using a wedding website to keep guests informed, add a note on the homepage about the change of plans. As you nail down a new date and logistics such as accommodations and room blooks (if different), continue to update the website to keep guests in the loop. As rearrangements are made, they’ll surely appreciate the extra effort and direction.”
- Syracuse.com: Postponing, Rescheduling Weddings: What to do in coronavirus pandemic
- This article has a great video and specific advise for 2020 weddings and 2021 weddings, so be sure to click the link and check it out!
In challenging times, many things are uncertain.
Your love for your partner and your connection to your national park are not.
Like hiking your favorite trail, you should find peace of mind in planning for your big day, so we’re offering refundable deposits for all dates booked in 2020 and 2021. If you are conflicted about changing your 2020 wedding date or want to learn more about planning a wedding in 2021, do not hesitate to connect with us at weddings@forcvnp.org.
Both Happy Days Lodge and Hines Hill are now taking reservations through December 2021. While we are unable to offer tours of these venues at this time, we do have “virtual” tours on our website and plenty of photos. Our staff is working remotely and is available to answer any and all questions you may have. Please visit our Happy Days Lodge and Hines Hill webpages to learn more.
Featured photo: Ben and Jodi Photography
