Interview with Wedding Planner, Oh Splendid Day, on how to Handle Covid-19 Cancellations

In unprecedented times many of us have sacrificed important events, vacations, celebrations, and more! It can feel confusing, frustrated, and it's hard to just google a question when many people and organizations are dealing with new problems and with few options or resources.  Unfortunately for many of 2020's brides and grooms are postponing their long awaited wedding day. While the decision its self may or may not be difficult, the logistics and to-do list most certainly are! Today Tina, from Oh Splendid Day is here to answer some questions about how to go about postponing your wedding.

What is the first thing you say to brides who have had to or are considering postponing their wedding?

I let them know they’re not alone. Let them know that it’s okay to grieve this time and to through the stages of what grieving looks like (denial, shock, anger, bargaining, acceptance, etc). I also let know as their coordinator that I am there to help them in anyway I can. 

Who do you recommend they contact first?

Reaching out to your coordinator and having them help you reach out to all of your vendors should be your first plan of attack. Your coordinator will work with you to find an alternate date, understand your options based on contracts you have signed and help you to get a plan in place. 

How have you been seeing deposits for venues, etc. being handled?

I have been seeing different vendors and venues handle deposits differently but most importantly the thing I have seen them doing most is being flexible and understanding. I understand it from both a business and consumer side. It’s important to remember that the deposits you have paid are the business’s livelihood and small business run the wedding industry by and large. Also, as I mentioned the vendors are trying to be flexible and understand that this is the client’s hard earned money and the day they have been dreaming of for a long time. By working together and remaining flexible and compassionate on both sides we can get through this and come out stronger. 

How should they inform their guests?

At first people were contacting their guests through email, text or their wedding websites. All still good methods. But stationers (like minted, zazzle, etc) have been coming up with cute postponement cards (a few of my faves I have included here) as a way to inform guests of the new info. The ones I picked are silly, since that suits my personality but there are more formal ones available too.

How do you recommend picking the new date?

This question is tricky, because this pandemic is unprecedented and I don’t have a crystal ball it is hard to say when it will be a good time to postpone to. I recommend working with you coordinator to come up with a Plan B and even C to have in your back pocket. These plans will need to be specific to the contracts you have signed with your venue and vendors among other factors that are particular to your life. 

Any other tips?

Lastly, I would recommend staying flexible, remembering that this is about the love you and your future spouse have for each other and this too shall pass. If you want to honor your original date there are several ways to do that from ordering take out from your favorite restaurant and opening a bottle of wine on the night of what would’ve been your wedding all the way to having a ceremony and legally getting married on that day and turning your postponed wedding into a vow renewal. 

I want to drive home that your coordinator is your biggest asset here. They are on your side. 

If you don’t already have a coordinator, Oh Splendid Day is happy to help you in the postponement process. ohsplendidday.com or info@ohsplendidday.com