Here’s a step-by-step guide for postponing your wedding during the pandemic
The world is in the grips of a global pandemic unlike anything witnessed before. The subsequent chain of events has rung the death knell on social events of any kind, from highly-touted red carpets to weddings coming up in the next few months. A wedding is a joyous union of two people surrounded by their loved ones, and the festive fervour of a traditional Indian wedding falls diametrically opposite the social distancing regulations being recommended currently. Destination weddings are further shrouded by uncertainty in light of the travel restrictions issued by governments around the world. But before you succumb to a quickie wedding over a Zoom call, know that all hope isn’t lost yet. With a little planning, you can still have the wedding of your dreams — just at a later date. Here’s a step-by-step guide for postponing your wedding without losing your deposits or your peace of mind.
Take a decision
Having to cancel your dream wedding can be a tough call to make, but in light of the ongoing health crisis, the coming 3-4 months can be a volatile period. Have an honest conversation with your partner and take a call on postponing your wedding, instead of living in uncertainty or hoping that things will settle down soon. Take a realistic look at the long-term repercussions of the pandemic and plan your wedding at a time when you will both be able to enjoy this once-in-a-lifetime event to the fullest.
Plan your revised date
Even after the lockdown is lifted, the aftermath of the travel restrictions can be cumbersome for guests and vendors who aren’t located in the same city. Bearing in mind the larger picture, decide your revised date. The current pandemic has had an unprecedented impact on life as we know it, and the immediate future looks uncertain. Instead of pushing it to a few months down the line and having to postpone the date yet again, look towards a safer date after the aftermath is over. The last two months of 2020 will be swamped already, so aim towards early 2021 instead.
Inform your guests
Once you have your revised date in hand, it is essential to inform your guests right away so they can cancel any existing travel arrangements in a hassle-free manner. For your inner circle and close ones, it is advisable to pick up the phone and inform them about the change and assure them that you look forward to celebrating with them on the revised date. For the rest of your guestlist, try to send a personally addressed message explaining the situation, instead of a generic forward, to let them know that you value their presence on the most special day of your life.
Postpone your invites
If you haven’t sent out your invites yet, postponing the process is prudent in case of any unforeseen changes to the date. You can use the abundance of free time during the lockdown to design your invites and save-the-dates, but hold off on committing to a fixed date in print. Ensure that you loop in your wedding invite designer into the process, and have all the paper goods and wedding paraphernalia rebranded with the revised date — ready to be printed and published once the new date is fixed.
Check on deposits
Next, comes the dreaded D-word on the wedding planning checklist: deposits. Given the large sums involved, it can be easy to panic. But with some strategic thinking, you should be able to salvage the deposits you’ve already put down. Refunding deposits isn’t common practice in the industry, so instead look to carry forward your deposits with the caterers, florists and the venue to your revised date. If you don’t have your revised date fixed yet, carefully convey that you’d like to postpone — not cancel — your wedding and need to carry over the deposit to your new date soon as it’s decided.
Inform your vendors
A wedding is a grand production that involves multiple teams working together seamlessly, and a lot of these vendors are often independent business owners. The ongoing pandemic has disrupted their business as well, and they are much likely to take a bigger hit than other established companies. Once you’ve decided to postpone your wedding, extend them the courtesy of informing them immediately so that they can plan accordingly as well or take on other clients to compensate for the loss in business.
Plan ahead
Putting together a wedding is a stressful process, and this is your chance to slow down and relish the process of planning the wedding of your dreams — away from the high-octane pressure of tight deadlines and urgent turnaround times. Most designers are still available for online consultations, and you can use this time to finetune every single aspect of your look. Put some thought into creating unique experiences for your guests, whether it is the welcome hamper upon arrival or the food menu and table settings. Make a checklist and prescribe a timeline to each step, so that once the lockdown is lifted, you are ready to execute your plans with ease.
Destress
And once all the variables have been informed, it is time to destress and treat yourself to some downtime before the chaos begins. Plan your bridal skincare routine and follow it religiously every single day for that radiant, lit-from-within glow on the big day. You can also use this time to reconnect with your partner, so when the revised date comes around, you’ll be walking down the aisle happier and stronger than ever before.
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