The Complexities of Reorganizing a Wedding Post-COVID

COVID-19 disrupted so many wedding plans across the globe. And, now that people are recovering, we are seeing a wedding boom. It seems like everybody wants to get married at last, but supply chain issues are making what is the busiest season in four decades a tough time to tie the knot. 

NPR reports that 15% more couples got married and 2022, and that increase is only continuing in 2023. That may seem like it’s not so bad, but that translates to millions of couples in the United States that are vying for many of the same slots in vendors, locations, officiators, planners  and more. 

With all of that and the repercussions of the pandemic on the general public, there are a few major variables that you will have to consider when reorganizing a wedding that may have been canceled by COVID. Once you get these out of the way, you can focus on the happier sides of the big day. 

Making Sure Everyone is Safe and Healthy

Now more than ever, it’s completely understandable to be hyper aware of everyone’s well-being. After all, you don’t really want your wedding to be ground zero. It’s essential to put certain precautions and guidelines in place to make sure that everyone is healthy and feeling safe when attending your wedding. 

While your priority may be your guests, this will also require you to consider the vendors that will be present during preparations, the wedding itself and the reception. 77 Diamonds suggests that wedding insurance is worth looking into, as it covers any problems that may come up including wedding party members or suppliers falling ill. There are even policies that cover cancelations or rescheduling caused by coronavirus, but it’s best to confirm this with the provider you speak to. 

By getting wedding insurance and requesting certain health measures from guests and suppliers, you not only ensure that everyone is well but also save yourself the hassle of dealing with yet another canceled wedding date. 

Photo: Vera Vita Media

Getting Available Venues and Vendors

Because of the surge in demand for wedding supplies and venues, you may be facing some tough competition when setting a new date for yourself. Many couples are having to really bank on connections and get creative with how they want to execute the plans they’ve carefully laid out. 

For instance, Autumn Hepner ended up utilizing the best of her skills to get her own outdoor ceremony done. Despite initially wanting a fall wedding, she managed a winter date to ensure a spot at her and her husband-to-be’s dream venue. If not for that date adjustment, they would have had to find another place or postpone their wedding for two whole years because the venue was fully booked for 24 months. 

Once you’ve got your venue and date nailed down, you’ll have to make sure that you get reliable vendors that can actually deliver on the promised date. Otherwise, you could be looking at missing arrangements and unwanted adjustments that may add some unwarranted stress to a joyous occasion. 

Inflation and its Impact on the Wedding Budget

Inflation is hitting the country hard, and it’s inevitably trickling over to weddings and the budget that goes into them. While you may have already accounted for everything before, pre-pandemic prices are a far cry from the state of things today. 

As of March 2023, The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a 5% increase in the consumer price index on an annual basis. Supply just isn’t meeting demand, especially since Americans have been leaning into all the vacations, indulgences and postponed wedding plans that had to be on hold since 2020. As you reorganize your wedding now, it’s best to prepare for higher prices that will either inflate your budget or push you to make some adjustments to stick to your original budget. 

Photo: Juniper Woods Photography

Getting the Guest List Right

The world has unmistakably shifted, and people’s priorities have changed with that. We’re also seeing changes in how people work, make plans  and interact. This means you have to be more mindful when considering how big your guest list is going to be.

Are you going big or paring down to the inner circle? Even when you’ve settled on who you want to invite, in comes the challenge of availability and making sure you get proper RSVPs. Many couples have opted to have smaller wedding parties that truly make the moment feel more special, even finding ways to hit two birds with one stone after pandemic restrictions. 

Just look at the wedding of Gentijana and Hannah Montoya, who got their high school art teacher to officiate for them. Couples looking to get married soon may want to think outside of the box to maximize their guest list and make sure everyone is on the same page. 

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