If your wedding is fast approaching in the next few weeks or months check with your local CDC. Currently the regulations for Ohio are as follows:
▪︎Ohio Department of Health Director Amy Acton, M.D., MPH has signed an order to prohibit mass gatherings in the state of Ohio.
▪︎Mass gatherings are defined as any event or convening that brings together 100 or more persons in a single room or single space at the same time such as an auditorium, stadium, arena, large conference room, meeting hall, theater, or any other confined indoor or outdoor space.
▪︎The order does not apply to and/or excludes religious gatherings, gatherings for the purpose of the expression of First Amendment protected speech, weddings and funerals.”
UNITED STATES:
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that no gatherings with 50 people or more — including weddings, festivals, parades, concerts, sporting events or conferences — be held in the United States for the next eight weeks in one of the federal government’s most sweeping efforts to slow the spread of the coronavirus.
No one would ever expect an illness to sweep the entire world the year, month and day of their wedding. First things first try not to panic... I know, I know its easier to say than do. But what I DO KNOW is that working ourselves into a frenzy doesn't create calm but instead more panic.
If you have already set your dates for all the pre-wedding festivites and most importantly your wedding, here is how to pivot, prepare and what to consider if the coronavirus is affecting your wedding.
ARE YOU INSURED
If you secured wedding insurance when you started planning. Reach out to insurance company to see if you are covered. If you're not, investigate your options with other insurance companies. PLEASE read the terms carefully and make sure you are covered for what you expect to be before you give them any money.
PREWEDDING
Whether that's the engagement party, bachelor party, bachelorette party, engagement session, bridal shower or another wedding-related event. Try to make them as local or postpone them. Trust me, everyone will understand. They want to celebrate with you, but this is an epidemic and at the right time, they will come and celebrate with you better than ever!
WEDDING AROUND THE CORNER
If you're wedding is in the next 2 weeks you may want to consider postponing until the autumn. An alternate option can also be changing your plans to have a smaller ceremony,and working with your videographer to set up a live stream option so guests at home can still share in the day. This is a great time to have a smaller, more intimate wedding that you always secretly wanted!
THE WEDDING & VENDORS
I get it. You have your date set. Everyone is coming. They booked plane tickets, hotels, sent gifts. You are waist-deep in deposits with your “non-refundable” venue and vendors. Many vendors are rallying together to support each other too - they are all in the same boat and none of them want to let any couple down.
Although deposits may be nonrefundable – they should offer to hold your deposit until you can postpone to a later date. However, if vendors schedules clash with your new date, they need to/will refund your deposit. Professionals are very understanding and will do their best to reach a benefical outcome for both parties.
THE WEDDING GUESTS
Your guests have invested a lot into your wedding. Plane tickets, hotels, gifts, rearranging their schedules, getting babysitters, etc. etc. But they love you, this is why they invested so much into your special day. They will understand if you need to cancel, postpone or change plans. Advise your guests to keep checking your wedding website for updates.
THE SHOW MUST GO ON
If you are still planning to "do the damn thing" , your headcount is likely to change like no other weddings in history. There is always a last-minute cancellation at every wedding with typical excuses like my husband is sick, or we can’t find a babysitter, our flight was canceled, we can’t find the venue, etc. etc. Guests come up with creative excuses to try to excuse their social indecency of changing their yes RSVP to a no. But in reality, it leaves you the couple fuming because you paid $250 per person so you wasted $500. Today, and in the coming months, vendors should will see a lot of these changes. Each venue will be different but explain that you have a sliding scale headcount haha. They should understand.
Provide hand sanitizer as your wedding favors and instead of a favors table, have each favor at their place setting. This is the typical way to put favors at each place setting anyway. Have the wait staff wear white gloves. Have Lysol wipes at the cocktail bar and at each station. You can put your wedding logo or monogram on a roll of toilet paper as a modern bonbonnière. Guests will get a laugh out of this! Almost like a parody you’d find on Saturday Night Live, but very apropo to the current situtation of COVID-19, it just may be the reality of nuptials in 2020. Also, consider adding to your wedding website that you will be skipping handshakes and hugs upon greeting.
CANCELING OR POSTPONING DUE TO THE CORONAVIRUS
This will be an incredibly heartbreaking decision, but it may be one that you have to face whether your wedding is next week or in six months or longer. It may be a costly and time-consuming process. It’s not the first time that uncontrollable disasters have struck the wedding world. And I’m not talking about earthquakes or hurricanes. Zika worries deterred many from destination weddings and Sept. 11 instilled a fear of flying that still lingers. Everyone will understand and they will be with you when the time is right.
IT BEGINS AND ENDS WITH LOVE
Whatever you decide to do regarding your upcoming nuptiuals, just remember what it’s all about. Spending the rest of your life with the one you love and combing your lovely families.
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