6 feet of distance or planning a wedding during a pandemic

Don’t panic, wedding planning during the PANDEMIC

Here’s some solid advice and questions to ask your wedding professionals while you plan your wedding during a (thankfully) zombie-less viral outbreak pandemic

3 wedding professionals weigh in with ideas that will help you plan a wedding during the PANDEMIC

As we are collectively all working toward stopping the spread of the CV-19 by not meeting in groups of more than 10 until the AT LEAST the end of APRIL, it’s more important than ever to have great communication with your wedding professionals, you know, people whose entire industry relies on such gatherings.

First thing to remember is: We are all in this pandemic together. Most of your wedding professionals are small local businesses who care very much about you. Wedding professionals and their families depend on your weddings and events for their livelihood.  We all have all been affected. None of us, even the heartiest of preppers or planners, could have ever fully planned for this.

Whether you are a bride, groom, matron of honor, or man of honor, or wedding professional planning a safe and beautiful wedding that celebrates your love is our collective goal.

That said, we understand how easy it is to get completely overwhelmed during this unprecedented time.  We reached out to some of our Southern Maryland wedding professionals’ family and we have your back. Normally, not even considering the additional factor of a global PANDEMIC, wedding planning can be stressful, and we understand that more than ever you need solid advice to help you get through this.  We brought together some experts in our community to be here for you and we are here to help and support you.

Wedding planning 1. Things to ask your caterer

Caterer Dave Benson, of Elegance by Maryland Country Caterers, known and loved locally in Southern Maryland and has been in catering events for 31 years. He is a wealth of knowledge. He also grew up in the restaurant business with his parents. He’s been recognized as small business of the year in Southern Maryland.

  1. Take a deep breath and go slow: Be thoughtful about every decision you make. If your wedding is in a month and a half, you can make your plan B but don’t give up on your plan A yet.
  2. Talk with all your vendors: Get a secondary date in mind. Be cautious and wise and thoughtful and kind. Remember all your business resources, many of them are small businesses and independently owned. They are worried about taking care of you and their families. Be aware that the more thoughtful you are the more they will want to help you. And a thoughtful and kind word will be remembered especially now. Be sure to follow up with an email after you speak so there are no things that are forgotten or misunderstood.
  3. Be adaptive: Know that all of your wedding professionals care about you.
  4. Bonus tip: Be grateful, if we are all well that puts us way ahead many other people right now. The picture of your wedding may be a little different than what you originally had in mind but know that it is going to make everything about your wedding day that much sweeter.

Wedding planning 2   Things to ask your venue

Nicole Edwards

Is a 10 year event planner with high-end venues and the head of Running Hare’s bride team in Southern Maryland at Running Hare Vineyard.

  1. Building and keeping good relationships is incredibly important right now: Reach out to your venues and ask them the best way to communicate with them right now. Pick up the phone and call and email. If they don’t get back to you right away give them a couple of days a lot of things have changed for them and are fluid in their lives right now and many are working remotely.
  2. Ask venues what their policies are for changing dates: Ask if they have any change date fees or cancellation fees. Many venues will slide your date for you in the same year right now to a Sunday or a Friday with no fees if it is the same year and next. Be sure to ask.
  3. Keep in touch: If you have plan B dates be flexible and keep in touch with your venue. Ask them if they need an additional deposit to hold a plan be date that can be used for your balance. Reach out every few weeks to see how things are going.

Wedding planning 3 Things to ask your florist

Connie And Aut of Floral Expressions are 31-year staples in the Southern Maryland wedding industry. They also have a son who just got married, so they really understand a whole new side of the experience.

  1. Don’t be quick to cancel your date! communicate: We all need each other more than ever before don’t panic! Ask you wedding experts what you can do? We will help you through this. Your wedding professionals if you let them, can help be the glue to hold you together, Connie and Aut share in unison.
  2. Have 3 plan B’s or alternative dates and be sure to reach out to all of your wedding team. Ask your professionals if they have 3 alternative dates.
  3. Be flexible: Be very careful about canceling your date and opt for sliding your date especially with your florist. Ask them the implications or how it changes availability of flowers you are dreaming about on your new dates. How does changing your date affect flower availabilities? We are in a fluid situation with farmers. Many of the types of flowers may not be as easily available. If you cancel and re book the prices may also go up significantly due to availability of flowers. If you are sliding your date remember that you may need to adjust type of flower with the season and be open to adjusting your colors.
BONUS !  Bride’s advice:

Reach out via email first, check your wedding expert’s schedule and schedule a phone call to keep communication going. Now, more than ever, good communication is incredibly important. In this time of social distancing it is important to connect.   Make sure you are being understood. If you can, BE PATIENT, many professionals for whom this is their livelihood are working hard to help ALL of their brides and it could take them a day or two to get back to you.

Bonus tip…In advance of your call, write your questions down. Take notes during the call and then send an email of your summary after you call, this can help keep everyone on the same page.

 

 

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