How to Survive (and Actually Enjoy) Postponing Your Wedding
If you were a 2020 bride, it’s likely you have postponed your wedding due to coronavirus. Between the toll the virus has taken and the restrictions on group gatherings, weddings just weren’t possible in most cases. My husband and I were lucky enough to have a covid elopement and legally tie the knot. But our destination wedding in France has been postponed until next summer. Having a coronavirus wedding postponement was a bummer, but we had to prioritize our guest’s safety and ability to travel with ease. My destination wedding planner made rescheduling the wedding weekend as easy as possible, and I definitely learned a lot in the process. Here are my tips for postponing your wedding due to coronavirus (or really for any reason).
Stay Open Minded and Flexible
We have some other pretty big commitments lined up for next Spring and Summer, so finding a new date was tricky. While Friday and Saturday weddings are more traditional, we ended up having to settle on a mid-week date. Summer is peak wedding season, and you aren’t just competing with 2021 brides, but with all the 2020 brides that had to reschedule their weddings! While you may have had your heart set on a particular date, staying flexible will make the postponing process so much easier. Our priority was finding a date that worked for all our vendors so we wouldn’t lose our deposits. If you are having scheduling conflicts between vendors, prioritize the ones you can’t live without or paid the largest nonrefundable deposit to. Let the rest of the chips fall where they may!
Just note – if you have to pick a day or time that may be less convenient for guests, think of extra things you can do to give them a better experience. Consider a big welcome cocktail, after-wedding brunch, or organizing a local activity.
Take Your Time Finding Your Perfect Wedding Dress
Everyone spends months trying to figure out what to wear to a wedding. Your wedding dress is one of the most important elements of the big day. If you felt rushed choosing a dress or are feeling less enthusiastic about saying yes to the dress, here’s your chance to fix that! Stores may be opening soon and you’ll have a fresh new bridal collection to choose from. Or you can turn to custom wedding dress designer, Anomalie, for a fully custom gown. I got my wedding dress online with Anomalie and it was an amazing experience.
If you are still in love with your dress, complete your bridal look with the right shoes and accessories. If your new wedding date is in a different season than you originally planned, you may want to think of ways to tweak your look.
Enjoy Having More Time to Plan Your Wedding
Wedding planning can be stressful, to say the least. Even under normal circumstances, figuring out how to plan a wedding takes a huge amount of time, energy and money. Not to mention all the pre-wedding events you may have had to cancel! Having a few extra months to plan will help ease the stress of the planning process, give you more time to research vendors if you haven’t fully committed, and rethink tiny details that will make or break your day. Just do yourself a favor and spend less time on Pinterest! You don’t want to fall into a wedding planning rabbit hole and end up rethinking all your plans. If you have one, work with your wedding coordinator or wedding event planner to finalize details. If you haven’t enlisted a pro, see if anyone in your bridal party or your friends and family want to chip in to assist.
And if you didn’t already (or just want a do-over!) plan yourself a kick ass bachelorette trip! Whether with your bridal party and friends, or a solo vacation so you can practice self-care, plan a fun and refreshing weekend before the big day.
Take the Opportunity to Manage Your Wedding Budget
One more advantage of a wedding postponement – getting the chance to save more money! Weddings are expensive; figuring out how to pay for your wedding is one of the biggest stressors. Should your parents help pay for your wedding? That really all depends on your and your families circumstances. In our case, we are paying for everything on our own. As disappointed as we were to have to postpone, it does take a pretty big financial burden off our shoulders this year.
If you’ve been going crazy over wedding related expenses, give yourself a breather. Coronavirus has had a huge impact on the economy and everyone’s financial situation, so take the opportunity to reset and rethink your budget. If you need to cut wedding costs to save money, go ahead! If you are able to save up and feeling more flush, you may even want to spend more! If you are increasing your budget, think of something worth it to splurge on. That may be fancier flowers, a signature cocktail, or supplementing travel costs for some of your guests.
And remember – use the time to practice self-care!
2020 has been pretty tough. You may still be reeling from the pandemic and its devastating effects. If wedding planning has been stressful for you, take a break from it! Postponing will give you time to put your wedding plans on pause and pick them up when you are ready. If you have one, your event planner or event coordinator can let you know when it’s time to get back into action. If you are planning your wedding on your own or having a DIY wedding, set up a to do list and reminders on your calendar. Just make sure you are taking care of you!
How to Plan The Perfect Post Quarantine Vacation
What a year 2020 has shaped up to be! One of my first posts this year was a Travel Bucket List - all the best destinations to visit each season this year. Of course the plan was never to visit all of these countries and cities in 2020! However, it was more to provide guidance and inspiration based on the best times to travel and which destinations would be best to visit at which time.
Unfortunately, Covid-19 had other plans! The virus quickly became a pandemic, shutting down everyday activities and making travel impossible. Any vacations you may have planned are now probably up in the air, and many brides are being forced to cancel their weddings due to Covid. Of course, we will be able to travel again safely one day. But will we be able to take vacations this summer with the effects of coronavirus? The main thing to focus on is health and safety, so the decision to travel has to take that into account. You’ll need to consider the prevalence of cases in your city and the city you are thinking about traveling to, as well as what activities and dining are available.
I’m cautiously planning some travel for June and July 2020 and am unbelievably excited. Keep reading for some of my predictions on how covid will change travel for the rest of the year and how to I’m planning safely!
How Coronavirus Will Affect Summer and Fall Travel
Summer travel will be less frequent this year than average. From fears about safety, to limited resources due to the economic impact of covid, less people will be taking trips for sure. However, people that were lucky enough to stay in good health and maintain their finances may want to consider planning a trip. International travel will likely be risky until late Summer, and a lot of countries have said the borders will remain closed to Americans indefinitely.
Luckily for me, I’ve been planning to do more domestic travel! The only international trip I had planned was for our destination wedding, which has sadly been postponed. Now is a great time to start thinking about domestic destinations that are safe and fun to visit. Since I’m a West Coast girl now, I plan to spend time exploring more of California and neighboring states. Sedona is top of my list, and I’m also excited about wine country in Oregon, mountains in Utah, going back to Hawaii, and seeing Cabo and Puerto Vallerta on the Western Coast of Mexico.
When we get out of quarantine and can start traveling again, the most popular trips will definitely be those that are close to home. The great American road trip will become popular again, with people planning trips that are an easy, scenic drive away. If you are nervous about flying, a road trip is the perfect way to travel while still practicing social distancing. People may also be more open to vacation homes like AirBnB instead of traditional hotels, largely because hotels require a lot more daily interaction with staff. Safety is always a big thing to consider when traveling, especially as a woman. It will become even more important as we consider health as much as personal safety.
Things may settle down even more by Fall, making international travel more likely. European hot spots and beach destinations will be closing down for the season by then, so think of some fun, new locales to explore. It’s always lovely to catch the Fall foliage, and wine destinations from Napa to Tuscany are gorgeous in September. Do some research into what is seasonally appropriate, safe, and free from restrictions before you book!
Planning a Post Quarantine Vacation
I’m sure we are all dying to get out of quarantine and get back to having fun! It can be a little scary thinking about traveling again, which is why planning a trip during the coronavirus pandemic will require a lot more precautions. If you plan on flying, give yourself extra time at the airport. There will probably not be long lines, but there will be extra safety precautions. A lot of airport restaurants may be closed and food and beverage service on your flight will likely be limited. Plan to eat before your trip and pack plenty of snacks just in case. If you are thinking about taking a long-haul flight, call the airline in advance to inquire about how they are handling meals. If you don’t like their plans, you may want to switch to a different provider or plan a trip with a shorter, easier flight.
And no matter your destination, do your research to make sure you can enjoy your time when you land. If there are certain sites you have your heart set on seeing, make sure they will be open! Purchase tickets and make restaurant reservations in advance as well. A lot of places will be reducing capacity and taking measures to ensure social distancing, so you don’t want to miss out.
While a face mask may not be required to fly or enter certain establishments, I recommend packing a few and wearing them. A face mask can protect you and those around you from getting sick and it’s still important to remain cautious right now. They can be a little annoying, especially when it’s hot outside, but health and safety are paramount. Keep a few cute patterns and colors in rotation if you are worried about how they look!
How to Find Post Coronavirus Travel Deals
The travel industry is reeling from the months of coronavirus related travel restrictions. That means travel deals will be plentiful! Sign up for travel newsletters and alerts from your favorite airlines and hotel chains. They will be offering everything from deep discounts to bonus points that you can use later. Dollar Flight Club has a special Travel Stimulus Package deal, offering $10,000 in exclusive discounts with 40+ of the best travel & outdoor brands in the world. Sign up on their site before May 31st!
There will also be a lot more flexibility with changes and cancellations, so don’t be afraid to make some reservations now. Just double check the fine print before booking! Booking direct gives you more of an advantage than using a third party booking platform, so consider changing your approach to making reservations. And don’t forget your travel insurance!
Hope these tips help! Just remember to have fun and be safe!
