How to Plan Your Wedding During COVID-19

Hello

For those of you that don’t know us, we’re Josiah and Summer! We are a husband and wife team based in Southern California that absolutely love telling love stories through photography and videography. We specialize in small weddings and elopements, but you can catch us with our film cameras snapping away at the beach. With everything going on right now, we want to address the pandemic and provide you with some helpful resources during this time. We’ve created a small guide to on how to plan your wedding during COVID-19. Whether you’re considering cancelling your wedding or just newly engage, we want to let you know that we are here for you. We want to support you during this time as best we can!

COVID-19 and Wedding Plans

We can’t even begin to imagine the sadness and frustration couples are feeling as we learn more about COVID-19 everyday. We are sorry that the happiest day of your life is impacted by this crisis. For those that have been directly affected by the virus, we extend our sympathies and prayers to you. We are here for you.

Our goal is not to add to the noise that’s circulating. We want to provide information about how to plan your wedding during COVID-19. We are here for you! If you need advice on how to reschedule your wedding or if you simply need someone to talk to, contact us below! For those that are uncertain about their wedding, scared, and angry: we are with you, praying for you, and are here to answer any questions you may have. 

It’s been amazing to see the wedding community coming together to strengthen one another during this difficult time. Vendors are suggesting that couples who have large weddings scheduled in 2020 should postpone your wedding until 2021 to be safe.

How to Plan Your Wedding/ What to do if You’ve Already Planned Your Wedding

1. Reach out to your venue ASAP and see what their rescheduling policy is during this time. Many vendors during this time, including us, have extended grace on their rescheduling policy. Find out what dates are available for your venue so you can reschedule. If there’s a date that works best for you, reschedule so you can still have your dream venue.
2. Reach out to your other vendors, especially to your photographers and videographers. See what their rescheduling policy is and what dates they have available.
3. Reach out to your guests and explain the need to reschedule. You do not have to have a solid plan before reaching out and there is no pressure to know. Just let them know that you will update them once you have a better idea of the plan.

*Bonus tip*

Continue to date each other during this time. Well, ok, that might seem obvious to some. Your engagement is truly an amazing time in your relationship! We want to encourage you to continue to date each other during this time. It’s especially easy to forget to date each other when times are stressful, but it’s absolutely worth it! Here’s a blog about how to make the most of your engagement: https://josiahandsummer.com/5-tips-for-newly-engaged-couples/

Alternative to Your Big Wedding. 

1. Considering eloping now and throwing a big party later.
2. Throw an intimate wedding ceremony with less than 50 people. Pros to an elopement or intimate wedding:
   • You don’t have to postpone your marriage!
   • Say your vows and celebrate with close family and friends surrounded by nature!
   • You can still throw a big celebration after this crisis state is over. You can invite all your original guests and party it up with delicious food, drinks, and dancing! Saying ‘yes’ to eloping and getting married now means you get to prioritize your marriage! It does NOT mean:
   • Saying ‘no’ to family and friends
   • Having to elope in Las Vegas. Courthouse elopements in Vegas are a thing of the past! Modern elopements include family and friends, epic adventures, and a wedding day as unique as the two of you.

Elopement FAQ’s:

1. Can my family and friends still come? Elopements and small weddings come in all shapes and sizes (well, usually a smaller size). We think they’re so beautifully intimate and unique because of that! Traditionally, “elopements” are just the couple, the officiant, a few family/friends, and the photographers and videographers. It’s a “small wedding” if you’d like 20-50 friends and family with you on the big day!
2. How can my family be involved? Your family can be in your elopement! A big way your family can be involved is if one of them wants to officiate your ceremony! In California, you can have a family member officiate your wedding by getting deputized for a day. Another option is to get ordained online. It’s easier and more affordable than getting deputized! We’ve linked a few churches that offer online ordination courses below. https://www.ulc.org/ https://www.amfellow.org/minister-training-course-online/ https://www.universalministries.com/ordination/beordained.php

We Are Here For You

We are such big believers in marriage and celebrating love. It’s why we love this job! If postponing your big wedding celebration is best for you, we want to support you all the way! We want to be clear that there’s no right or wrong answer when planning your wedding during the outbreak. Our desire is to be a resource for you as you plan your elopement or small wedding. If you don’t want to postpone your wedding, but can’t wait to get married, we suggest doing the dang thang! Elope now and plan a big celebration with everyone when it is safe to do so. Our goal is to provide you with resources and to support your during this time.

If you want more information on planning your elopement or small wedding, please reach out to us! We’d love to connect with you and support you as you plan your wedding during this time.