Mar 23, 2020 | wedding planning
Photo courtesy of Artisan Events.
It’s heartbreaking how many people are having to reschedule their weddings and other events. (I understand that some families have even had to hold funerals via video conference.)
Planning a wedding is hard enough. Moving it to a new date is a whole new level of headache. There are so many things to consider: Are all your vendors going to be available? What dates are left? What day of the week should you schedule for? What months are likely to be the best ones this year? (Answer to that last one: No one knows. We’re all guessing based on whatever information we can find.)
If you find yourself in this situation and you don’t have a planner to guide you through the process, I want you to know that you are not alone. If you are willing to spend a couple hundred dollars (depending on how complex your wedding is), this is definitely a service I can offer you as an hourly consultation project.
I estimate that most weddings would take me less than 5 hours (some considerably less) to reschedule, including talking with you about your needs and priorities, reviewing your vendor list, contacting all your vendors, and helping you to choose a final date. Consultation is $50 per hour, so this would literally cost you a tiny fraction of your budget.
And if you work with me, you are eligible for my special discount: If you hire me for a consultation (two-hour minimum) between now and July 1 and then hire me for planning or coordinating for your 2021 wedding or for coordinating your 2020 wedding, I’ll give you a $50 discount off of planning/coordinating services.
The other thing to know is that you should not wait to reschedule if you still want to get married this year. A lot of people are in the same situation as you are, and dates are going to fill up. So, whether you are working on your own or with a planner, be sure to get on this soon!
Mar 16, 2020 | wedding planning
Dreaming about summer 2021. Photo by Chris Ocken
Copyright 2019 – https://www.ockenphotography.com/
A lot of people are looking at some time at home, either working from home or not working at all. Either way, you might have some extra time on your hands. And if you’re looking at a 2021 wedding, that might be some good news for you. (And we could all use a little good news right now!)
If you’re planning to get married next year and you are looking for things to fill your days, you can do some wedding planning right now. No, I don’t expect you’re going to rush out and visit venues this week, but there are things you can do.
If you haven’t done this yet, you can make a list of wedding planning tasks, with notes on when you should be working on each item. There are hundreds of these types of list available on the internet. Find one you like, and adapt it to your needs. (Spread sheets are going to be your friend in this project.) Set up a shared folder for planning purposes so both of you have access to it–and you can share it with your planner or coordinator if you hire one.
Also, work on your wedding budget. This can take some research, but if you have the time, now would be a great time to start doing that work and putting it together.
Have you started to research venues yet? Or caterers? This would be a great time to compile a list of all types of vendors, read reviews, compare costs and amenities, and get in touch with various vendors if you have specific questions. Find out which venues are available on your preferred date(s), and start to narrow down your list so you can visit a few when the time comes.
Finally, a shameless plug: If you want help with any of these tasks, you can hire a planner (such as, say, me!) for a consultation. I’m available by phone or Skype for planning meetings to get you off on the right foot. A two-hour planning meeting will cost you $100. (You can, as always, hire me for full planning, as well. I suggest planning for 2021 at this point.)
I also have a little bonus discount for you: If you hire me for a consultation (two-hour minimum) between now and July 1 and then hire me for planning or coordinating for your 2021 wedding, I’ll give you a $50 discount off of planning/coordinating services. How’s that for a little good news?
Mar 12, 2020 | wedding planning
Photo by Studio Finch Photography, www.studiofinch.com
I’m a planner. I like to plan things and then stick to those plans. I am, however, also a realistic planner, so I know that plans change, and sometimes you just have to roll with the punches. This week is one of those times–in a very big way.
So, let’s say you have been planning a wedding in the US for sometime this spring or early summer. What do you need to be thinking of right now? I’ve been keeping tabs on the news, but I have to caution you that this is only my informed opinion and things may not play out the way I see them right now.
It’s anyone’s guess how long this disease will continue to spread. The best-case scenario I’ve seen is that it could be contained by sometime in the summer–if governments act now. No one wants to predict a worst-case scenario, but it would have to be sometime later than this summer. In any case, if you’re planning a wedding between now and July, you may have to be prepared for some changes.
For one thing, some locations (states, cities, metropolitan areas) have banned large gatherings, both public and private. In Chicago as of today, gatherings of over 1,000 people are prohibited for 30 days. Gatherings of over 250 people are strongly discouraged. If you have a large guest list, your wedding could fall in that second category, and you may have to postpone. If you haven’t sent out invitations yet, think seriously about downsizing your guest list. The smaller the gathering, the less risky it is.
But the other thing to think about is who is on your guest list. It’s generally agreed that older people are more at risk from the virus. As much as you want your grandparents and others of their generation at your wedding, you may need to have some serious conversations with them and let them know that if they need to keep themselves safe, you will understand and you won’t insist that they join you. There may be other people who want to be with you but who need to stay away to protect themselves. Be understanding with them. It’s better to have your dear ones safe than at your wedding.
If you have the time and the means to do so, consider setting up live streaming, at least of your ceremony, so that people who aren’t able to be there with you can participate. It’s not the same as being in the same room, but it is better than nothing.
The other thing you can do is to communicate with all of your guests and tell them to please stay home if they are not well. If you let them know that you would rather they not attend if they are sick, I hope they will agree.
And then there’s the very worst case scenario: Having to postpone or cancel your wedding. Pretty much everyone in the wedding industry is aware that we are going to have to make some accommodations for our clients. Talk to your vendors and ask about their policies for postponing your wedding if it becomes necessary to do so. At least in Chicago, most vendors are being flexible and willing to rebook for a later date at no extra cost. (Some are charging rebooking fees.) Ask about specific policies and make sure they are spelled out in your contracts if you haven’t signed them yet.
And my last bit of advice? Wash your hands frequently with soap and hot water for at least 20 seconds. Don’t touch your face. Do get plenty of rest and exercise, eat as healthy a diet as you can manage, and do whatever you need to do to keep your stress level under control. It’s always better to be prepared, be careful with your health, and change your plans than to be sick.
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