The Havoc of Coronavirus on Wedding Planning

As wedding planners, we too are devastated for the couples whose weddings have been impacted by Covid-19.  There is nothing like the feeling of being surrounded by friends and family on your wedding day and right now, that is not an option.  With restrictions lifting but social distancing recommendations remaining in place, it’s unclear when weddings will resume unencumbered by regulations and fear.

To help couples out, here are a few of the questions we are regularly hearing from our couples and our responses.

Photo courtesy of Whitley B Photography

WHEN DO I NEED TO MAKE A DECISION ON WHETHER TO POSTPONE OUR WEDDING?

There are two windows of time to consider in this decision.  Wedding invitations should be mailed eight weeks prior to the date at the latest.  To avoid the cost of reprinting and confusing or frustrating guests who need to book flights or make other travel arrangements, we suggest you make the decision by the print deadline for your invitations.  Depending on the printer, this is 10-12 weeks out from the wedding.

Of course, three months is a lot of time and much can change.  If you prefer to push the decision to as late as possible, we suggest no later than five weeks before the wedding.  After this time, additional payments are generally due, flowers get ordered and vendors move into high gear planning the final details of your event.  The more notice you give vendors, the more amenable they will be to your rescheduling. 

IF I FEEL I NEED TO RESCHEDULE, HOW DO I GO ABOUT IT?

Assuming you are not working with a planner who can handle these changes for you, contact the biggest ticket item vendors to get a read on their policies regarding rescheduling and get a list of available dates that fit your schedule.  Cross reference all the lists and select your new date.  In most cases and with enough notice, vendors are transferring deposits to new non-peak dates (meaning off-season) with no penalty.  If the vendor is not available, then you enter a gray area that falls under cancellation and you could lose your deposit, so be sure to involve the vendors in the selection of the new date. Once a new date has been selected, be sure to get a contract addendum or new contract from each vendor for the new date.

CAN I BUY EVENT INSURANCE TO PROTECT THE DEPOSITS I’VE MADE?

You may be thinking of purchasing event cancellation insurance to protect yourself.  The unfortunate news is that major insurance carriers have either suspended issuing cancellation policies or have language in the policy that would prevent claims tied to coronavirus since they are considered a “known circumstance” and therefore are not covered.  So, for example, if vendors you’ve booked go under, lost deposits will not be covered if the closure can be traced to coronavirus.  If your wedding is next summer and you want to purchase now, it is a known circumstance at this time so coronavirus next summer will not be covered.  If it completely goes away this fall and you purchase for next year in the anticipation it could return like the flu, this is a gray area.  What we’ve been told by insurance carriers is that if you are thinking of purchasing a policy to protect yourself from coronavirus, then don’t. 

This is a time for appreciating all we do have, and we just want you to know how humble and honored we feel to be a part of such momentous occasions.  These are unusual times and we are all in this together.  Lean on your vendors to help you navigate the effects of this pandemic on your wedding planning.  We are all eager to help.  Stay well.