Planning your wedding in the height of COVID-19

Let’s face it, COVID-19 has rocked our world in ways we could not have imagined. No one saw this coming! We are all uncomfortable and inconvenienced on every side with no end in sight. We just want it to be over.

In March 2020, production in the wedding and event industry came to a screeching halt as quarantine, to help curb the spread of the pandemic, caused cancellations and rescheduled events everywhere. Brides were devastated, birthday girls and guys sad to ring in their new year locked down, our elderly became lonelier, and kids were anxious to be free. For 3 months, 12 whole weeks we were stalled.

Once we were able to come back up for air - the world of events looked dramatically different. No buffet or bar lines, no dancing, no dessert bar spreads, no sharing goods or close space really. There were new regulations on what we could and could not do on all sides. Now that we’ve almost adjusted - I want to shed some light on ways to get through the planning - hopefully a little easier.

Here we go:
1. Check your state requirements for maximum number of people gathering. It may cause you to have to cut the guest list. Here in Ohio we have a maximum of 300 guests.

2. Also check your venue’s requirements for maximum number of people gathering. With the new state regulations and the rules for tables themselves to be 6 ft. apart, most venues cannot accommodate the amount of guests they once could. Unfortunately, this may also require you to cut your guest list even more.

3. Masks are the new party favors! Seriously, guests love them. Keep everyone safe, cute, and coordinated by ordering masks and having them personalized with your wedding hashtag.

Find them in bulk here:
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4. Have your hostesses take temperatures at the door. Order a couple touch less thermometers and keep them up front. Make sure all of your guests have a regular temperature before allowing them to enter since that’s one of the signs that they may not be feeling well. This thermometer give you a red indicator if a fever is detected.

No touch thermometer here:
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5. Hand sanitizer! No brainer.
Find it here:
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6. Even if you have to put just 6 guests at a table, assign seats to families. Put your guests with people they have been around consistently throughout this thing so that they are comfortable throughout the night and there’s a lower risk of new germs being spread.

And seating charts like this are SUPER cute, so why not? I had a lot of fun making this thing for a friend’s wedding in 2018.

7. Individually packed desserts are the way to go! We have been making it through the cake cutting and serving process a lot easier with just “cutting” it out altogether. My good friend Jimina of Southern Treats Sweetery has been incredible for our weddings and has individually packed cupcakes into clear boxes for guests.

YES! The couple still has their dream wedding cake but guess what? It’s a dummy cake! That’s right. It’s not real. She carves out space though so you can still cut your cake on your big day and share it with your husband. But that’s so much less cake to cut and serve.

Pssst. A lot of the Pinterest perfect cakes you see are not real. There, I said it! It’s totally fine to do.

That’s right! They can look like this! And give your guests this:

8. Tag everyone’s glasses with a nice tag so no one gets them mixed up. This may also be a trend long after Rona’s gone!

These acrylic glass charms from @Voxel Prints are the perfect touch. They are gorgeous and durable!!! What a cute party favor too, right? Your guests will thank you for introducing them to their new favorite thing. There will definitely be some pinkies up with these fancy things 😍.

Find them here:
https://etsy.me/33pE1dr

9. Going virtual for your bridal shower or even your wedding has never been easier! With platforms like Evite, Punchbowl, and even Facebook for invitations, video conferencing platforms like Zoom, and Amazon where you can make a wish list/registry and your guests can order from the comfort of home and ship their gifts to your front door.

The live unboxing is still fun!

10. Have any events that you can outside instead of inside. It lessens the chance of the spread. And outdoor events are still gorgeous when you choose the right backdrop.

Inspiration photo from Ruffled Blog.

I hope these planning tips gave you a few ideas for your own COVID wedding! If you still have questions leave them in the comments and we’ll chat with you - giving the best advice we can from our years of wedding planning experience.

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