During these uncertain times with Covid 19 and the ever changing guidelines you may be wondering what to do if your wedding has to be cancelled or postponed. In this post I will discuss your options on Cancelling, Postponing and other options to take if you just can’t wait.
You should cancel your Wedding if a circumstance beyond your control will significantly impact your Wedding Day plan. How should you proceed.
Should I cancel my wedding because of Covid 19?
If you are wondering if you should cancel your wedding right now, there are a few different ways to handle this situation. I have found that postponing the wedding will help with some fees associated with your big day.
Usually a Venue and Vendor is not willing to give up a customer and will allow you reschedule without losing your money.
If your wedding venue is forced to close due to Covid 19 Guidelines then you should cancel or postpone your wedding to allow guests and vendors time to adjust. If you or your soon to be significant other contract the virus then you have no choice but to cancel or postpone your big day.
Some other unforeseeable reasons to cancel or postpone would be:
- Uncertainty about getting married.
- Weather ( Blizzard, Tornado, Hurricane, Natural Disaster..)
- Other Illness or death in family
Unfortunately any reason to cancel is going to be stressful and some research can help you find a place to start. Below I will outline some avenues to start with.
If I have to cancel my Wedding what should I do first?
I realize that this may be answered a few different ways but the first thing you should do is take care of anything related to the reason you cancelled in the first place.
Next start from the top and see what you can get rescheduled or refunded.
Make a List of all the Services you paid Money
Next make a list of all the contracts you have made and money that you have paid out. Often times you will have a receipt or some type of document related to the service. It is a good idea to keep all these in a safe place in the event an issue like this arises.
Often times vendors will require a non refundable deposit fee. I have my Photo Booth Company which also goes by this rule. I have had instances where someone had to cancel but they almost always want to reschedule at a later date.
With my business the non refundable fee is not set in stone. It can be enforced but there are also alternative avenues to take if you are needing to cancel. Often times if someone needs to reschedule I allow them to change the date based on availability and keep their deposit.
Take proactive steps in trying to relieve the money loss from your cancellation. Explain the situation and be understanding to your vendor. Try to sympathize with their business cost and see if they would be willing to apply the deposit back to another date.
Plan that some of the vendors may have to charge an additional fee to reschedule. Read the fine print in your contracts and make sure you are taking the best approach with planning your new date.
Contact your Wedding Insurance ( If you have Insurance)
I believe you should then contact your Wedding Insurance if you have a policy in place. Wedding Insurance is usually not new to this type of issue. They can often offer some guidance and assist in what your plan covers.
Check into whether your policy will cover any part of Covid 19 related issues. If there is some type of natural disaster they will often cover portions of your Vendor and Venue fee’s.
Just remember that the Wedding Insurance will usually cover things that are not under your control.
If you are researching this topic proactively then it may be a good time right now to research Wedding Insurance.
Notify your Guests
Wow this is an important step in the process. You really need to get everyone informed so they are not showing up to your cancelled wedding.
This is a hard part of your cancellation process. Depending on your guest count you could be left with contacting anywhere from 50 to 200 guests to let them know you are rescheduling. Proper Etiquette is to contact each guest by phone. This is a long and tedious process that can be handled through e-mail.
Everyone has e-mail right? No, not everyone has e-mail. I would recommend starting the process by sending out an e-mail and or social media notification to most of the guests you have contacts for. Then contact the others without electronic means of communication.
Ideally you would have a new date planned fairly quickly and you can send out invitations or Save the Dates again. I had just received a Save the Date that said, ” Lets try this again!” Lighten the mood with a silly card.
Alternative Wedding Ideas if you must cancel your Wedding
If you have to cancel your venue, there are still ways to have your wedding that you can make work. Remember this is more than just a huge event. This is the rest of your life and if you want more than anything to marry the one you live then consider these alternatives.
You can Host a Virtual Wedding
In this day and age hosting a Virtual Wedding is easier than its ever been. You can also stick to your original date and have your guests tune into your ceremony from afar. Keeping everyone safe (during a pandemic) and you can have your wedding anywhere that you can be connected to the internet.
There are many different options for Virtual Wedding Hosts. Some of the more popular options include:
- Zoom
- Google Hangouts
- Facebook Live
- YouTube Live
- Instagram Live
Get married now and have a reception (party) later
Not having a huge wedding does not mean marrying the Love of your Life has to wait. You can have a legal Marriage Ceremony with a small group of family and friends. You can also get married at the courthouse in most places (Even during the Pandemic).
Then if you can reschedule your reception hall for anther date go ahead. Also if your vendors will be willing to work with you then reschedule them for your big celebration.
Celebrate your day even if its not conventional!
Despite the Pandemic or any of the other reasons you may need to cancel make it happen. After all getting married is more about the union than holding a huge party. Sure the Party is very fun but you can always have than later.
You have gone this far in your planning to make your wedding wonderful and it still will be. Everything may look different but looking back you will be glad you figured it. Marriage is all about obstacles and working together. Plan a day you will never forget!
Good Luck! Be Happy! Be Safe!
