Wedding planning the midst of a global crisis is nothing short of awful. We know, we feel it too.
Right now, the world is grappling with the COVID-19 pandemic on a humanitarian and medical level that affects virtually every industry and economy. Everyone is anxious and no one has all the answers.
This is a tough time to be planning for one of the most significantly joyful events of your life. However, there are people, processes and places that can help with your wedding planning in times of trouble.
Staying Calm When You Feel Anything But
Wedding planning during normal times can bring out the crazy in the calmest families. At a time of crisis, all of the emotions and uncertainties are amplified. Everyone has even more opinions and it is hard to make decisions without a clear understanding of how long gatherings will be held off.
Our recommendation? Take care of yourself. Breathe deep, take an at-home yoga class, pause your planning for the moment. Go out for a walk with your spouse-to-be and talk about anything but wedding planning.
Reach Out to Your Wedding Team
Like most everyone, our Meadow Brook events and wedding planning team has gone remote, however they are ready and willing to work with every couple one-on-one to navigate this unprecedented time. If you haven’t yet, be sure to check in with all of your vendors, whether they are photographers, florists, designers, caterers or more.
Begin the conversation by being upfront about your concerns and ask them questions about their policies. If your wedding is coming up soon, make sure you understand how any changes will impact your event. Remember that this is a new experience for everyone and try to be patient if your vendors don’t have all the answers just yet.
Use the opportunity to commiserate and share the emotional burden you are feeling. Your partners feel it too and are just as concerned. It’s ok to feel upset. Try to remember that postponing your wedding (if necessary) is not the end, it is just pushing things back a little.
Focus on the Fun
Whether you are newly engaged or getting ready to head down the aisle, there is still plenty of fun to be had right now. To begin with, this is a great time to explore new color palettes and gain inspiration through some online research.
Update your Pinterest boards and search those Instagram inspo hashtags. Head over to some of the big wedding planning websites like The Knot and Wedding Wire to read blogs and check out venues and trends.
If your date is swiftly approaching, now is the time to tackle those DIY projects you were considering. Use your extra time at home to attend to the details that might have fallen by the wayside like personalized escort cards, gifts for your wedding party and special day-of touches.
Plan a virtual hangout with your bridesmaids! With so many video conferencing channels available today, it’s easy to plan some special time with your nearest and dearest. You may not be able to meet up for cocktails right now, but a virtual hug from your besties can make all the difference in the world.
Our hearts are with all the brides, grooms, spouses-to-be, photographers, florists and vendors of all kinds who are struggling right now. We know it’s scary. We know it’s hard. But we also know that we will all get through this and throw some truly incredible parties when the pandemic is over.
Our Meadow Brook events team is doing their best to help couples right now. Please visit meadowbrookhall.org/weddings or reach out to our team at mbhevent@oakland.edu to discuss hosting your wedding at Meadow Brook Hall.
