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Weddings are challenging to plan even at the best of times, but wedding planning during a pandemic has added difficulties that can interfere with a couple’s special day. With care, patience, and a willingness to adapt, however, the soon-to-be newlyweds can plan a wonderful wedding to celebrate their union even amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Challenges of a COVID Wedding

Planning a wedding always means overcoming budget constraints, timing conflicts, and other obstacles. During the coronavirus pandemic, however, couples are finding that their favorite vendors – local bakeries, photographers, florists, etc. – may have completely gone out of business because of economic hardship. Popular wedding venues are closed or may have radically altered their business models to meet pandemic capacity limits and social distancing requirements. Travel restrictions could keep guests from attending the wedding and make it far more challenging to plan any type of destination wedding. Couples are also concerned about the health risks elderly relatives may face for a wedding when the disease is highly transmissible, and different guests may have their own health concerns that could affect their decisions about whether or not to attend a wedding or participate in the bridal party.

Furthermore, because the pandemic continues to evolve and changes are constantly being made to public health safety guidelines, travel restrictions, and local mandates, couples may find that the plans they’ve made just a few days earlier are no longer suitable. This makes flexibility and adaptability essential, but with care, it is still possible to plan a beautiful wedding despite coronavirus.

Tips for Wedding Planning During COVID-19

All the familiar wedding planning issues – invitations, bridal parties, guest lists, locations, vendors, menus, etc. – must still be considered for a wedding during COVID-19. Taking the pandemic and its risks and restrictions into account is essential for planning the perfect day.

• Date – If possible, couples may want to postpone their wedding during the pandemic, or choose a date during late spring, summer, or early fall when an outdoor event that can better adhere to spacing and distancing guidelines is feasible. Weekday weddings are also growing in popularity, since weekends tend to be more crowded.
  
  
• Venue – Outdoor weddings are a safer option during the coronavirus pandemic because natural air circulation may reduce disease transmission. Furthermore, outdoor venues generally have more space for spreading out tables and seating. Couples may also want to consider larger indoor spaces even if their guest list is small.
  
  
• Vendors – When choosing vendors for a wedding during COVID-19, investigate what health and sanitation protocols each vendor follows to keep everyone safe. Consider the vendor’s refund policies as well if the wedding may need to be postponed or canceled, and choose vendors willing to be flexible in these uncertain times.
  
  
• Guest List – Large weddings with hundreds of guests are inadvisable during the pandemic, and may even be forbidden based on local mandates for gathering sizes. Instead, smaller, more intimate guest lists are preferred, and couples can better interact with fewer guests in a more meaningful way on their wedding day.
  
  
• Invitations – Including safety information and requests (wearing masks, using hand sanitizer, avoiding hugs, etc.) is an important part of wedding invitations during the pandemic. Many guests may also want to know about these precautions before they make a decision about whether they will be able to attend the event.
  
  
• Bridal Party – Just like guests lists are smaller for pandemic weddings, bridal parties are also smaller. This helps limit contact between people from different households, and minimizes the risks of getting together for bridal party events, most of which are also scaled down. Choosing just one or two attendants is a great option for a wedding party during COVID-19.
  
  
• Attire – While there are no limits on what attire is best for a wedding during the pandemic, more casual options are often preferred to lower costs for the bridal party and guests, particularly when economic hardship and job loss is so widespread. A bride will also want to be sure her dress isn’t so complicated that she needs several helpers to get ready on the big day.
  
  
• Menu – Even during a pandemic a wedding menu can be delicious. Locally-sourced ingredients are preferred, which will help support local businesses, and many couples are opting for prepackaged, individual meals to minimize contact and reduce the risk of disease transmission. Healthy meals are always a great bet with many tasty options for guests.
  
  
• Seating – Seating at both the ceremony and the reception should be more widely spaced to adhere to local guidelines for pandemic safety. Smaller tables limited to household members are preferred, and food and bar service is often brought to tables to minimize lines and crowds during the event.
  
  
• Favors – Any wedding favors can still be fun thank you gifts for guests at a COVID wedding. Individual hand sanitizers, soaps, and personalized masks acknowledge the presence of the pandemic, while classics like candles and chocolates remain popular. Many couples are also opting for donations instead of favors, particularly to support local food banks or health-related charities.
  
  
• Wedding Websites – More and more tech-savvy couples are using wedding websites to keep their guests updated on wedding planning, and this is especially crucial during the pandemic. Include safety information on the website, as well as special requests about masks, social distancing, and other protocols. Update the site regularly to keep guests informed.

Special Considerations for a Coronavirus Wedding

In addition to all the typical wedding planning concerns, couples have several new factors to work on when wedding planning during COVID-19. These extra considerations can help make their special day more flexible and safer for all guests.

• Streaming – Setting up a streaming feed for the ceremony and reception can help distant guests who can’t come to the wedding still be part of the festivities.
• Audio Quality – If seating is spaced out at the event, better audio may be needed to ensure all guests can hear the exchange of vows, speeches, and other announcements.
• Early Travel – It may be necessary for guests and the wedding party to travel early to the wedding site in order to have a COVID test or several days of quarantine before the wedding.
• Handwashing Stations – Setting up handwashing stations at both the ceremony and reception can help encourage guests to follow sanitation protocols so everyone stays safe.
• Fast Communication – With the pandemic continually evolving, wedding plans may need to change quickly. An email mailing list can help keep guests updated about any quick changes.

Above all, couples need to be flexible with wedding planning during COVID-19. Because changes may need to be made at the last minute, an easy-going attitude, good communication, and adaptability is essential to keep the plans moving forward no matter what new obstacles may arise. The more flexible a couple can be, the better their wedding day will be suited to the unique situation that is the coronavirus pandemic. While these days may not be ideal, a couple can still have their ideal wedding day as they exchange vows and begin their life together.