Should I Start Planning My Wedding During Covid-19?

For the most part, 2020 COVID brides have sorted out their plans. Elopements have been scheduled. Guest lists have been cut. Postponement dates have been selected. Floor plans have been rearranged to create more space. And yet... life continues on. We’re quickly approaching prime engagement season. Fall colors are in full force for engagement photos, and soon Christmas will be upon us. I know many gorgeous ladies will be seeing a neatly wrapped Tiffany blue jewelry box under the tree this year!

You and your honey have been waiting for this!

But is it too risky to start planning now? Will you be forced to change your plans?

Maybe!

Here’s a quick guide to help you decide if starting your planning is the right decision for you

Who Should Start Planning:

1. The Low-Key Bride

Are you a bride who is a bit worried about blushing in front of a large crowd? Does the idea of a large wedding make you want to run for the hills like Julia Roberts in Runaway Bride? Would you have a small, intimate wedding no matter our world’s current events? If so, you’re likely safe to start working on your wedding planning checklist. Research shows that, even as the virus continues to spread, we likely won’t have a complete lockdown of the economy like during Spring/Summer 2020. Social distancing rules and guest list headcounts will continue to be relevant. But if you’re wanting a small wedding no matter what… you won’t have to make adjustments. There’s a trendy new term for this emerging small wedding trend. It’s called a mini-mony or a micro wedding. It’s very different from an elopement. Elopements are just bride, groom, photographer, and witness. Usually with a dramatic romantic backdrop. With micro weddings, you get all the pampering and stylish features of a traditional, large wedding. But the guest list is only 12-50 people. Have more questions about micro weddings? Shoot me an email.

2. The Budget Bride

If a large wedding interests you, but you’re paying for your wedding yourself (like the fiercely empowered, yet tragically underpaid millennial many of us are). It may be worthwhile to plan for a smaller wedding anyway. If you’re having trouble making up your mind on this… go ahead and reach out to a few vendors for quotes accommodating your max guest list. If you see these quotes and your heart rate rises… there’s a simple fix. A smaller guest list means you’ll get to do more for less. AND the odds of rescheduling or reworking the guest list last-minute go down exponentially. Not sure how to decide who to cut? Read this guestlist guide to make your life easier.

3. The Shotgun Bride

Ok so I don’t love this term. It implies limping down the aisle with a too-small wedding dress and a father staring daggers at the groom. But seriously… many brides have a timeline they need to stick to. Factors are out of our control sometimes.

Maybe your fiance is going to be deployed next year, and you need to tie the knot before not seeing each other for months (or years!).

Maybe you got a job offer in a new state. You only have a few months to have a wedding nearby family before moving far away.

Maybe you don’t feel comfortable moving in together until after you’re married… but there are only 8 months left on your current lease.

There are so many reasons why a long engagement isn’t feasible for everyone. If you fall into this category, go ahead and start planning.

Who should wait to start planning:

1. The Large, Tight-Knit Family Bride

Growing up I was always so jealous of friends with 8 siblings. Whose cousins always lived down the street. Whose every holiday, sporting event, and wedding was a whooping, hollering, cheering, festive hoopla of hugs and music. If you have a large family and can’t imagine not having everyone there… it’s best to wait a little longer to start planning.

2. The Destination Bride

Have you dreamed of having your wedding in the Swiss Alps ever since you were a little girl watching the Sound of Music? Do you know for certain you want to spend your honeymoon cruising Venice canals? If so, I applaud your decisiveness (and I hope you’ll show me pictures!) but it’s probably best to put a hold on your planning for now. While the economy continues to slowly re-open, travel (especially international travel) remains unreliable.

If you fall into the last two categories, you don’t need to just sit idly until the world is magically safe again.

If you’re waiting to plan your wedding, here’s a few things you can cross off your to-do list:

1. Shop for your wedding dress

That “omg this is the one!” moment waits for no one. If you buy a summery dress and end up with a fall wedding, you can always add on a cute fur shawl for added warmth and glamour.