We all made it through Mother's Day, now the next hurdle - Wedding Season.
The CDC has officially recommended the cancellation of weddings in the United States until mid-May, but each state varies in their shelter-in-place orders and restrictions of large group activities. Bottom line, the wedding industry has been turned upside down and hotels, caterers, florists and photographers have felt the pain.
But it isn't completely over. Love is not cancelled - just postponed.
Many brides have already played it safe by finding alternate dates for next year. Others have gone the elopement route, or chosen to have an intimate home wedding, with close family and friends in lieu of cancelling their nuptials completely.
Here are some of the trends we are seeing as a result of the pandemic:
Large weddings are being postponed until 2021 and later.
Hotels and venues are reporting robust booking in Spring of next year and a sharp increase in cancellations through this Fall.
Brides who had weddings planned this Spring into Summer are opting for an elopement ceremony now and planning a more traditional celebration next year.
Engagement parties and bridal showers are being held at home with close family and friends, or done as drive-by celebrations with gifts being shipped to a specific location.
Brides are opting for virtual wedding ceremonies and small at-home celebrations with a limited guest list.
Foreign travel and destination packages are being replaced by domestic venues.
Wedding planners and brides are sourcing local vendors for dresses, decorations, invitations and more in case the supply chain is disrupted though the end of the year.
Florists are opting for more seasonal, readily available product and creating decor on a scaled back budget.
Brides this year can expect to pay cancellation fees for travel and venues, have fewer guests attend their celebrations and experience venues being booked up. Wedding planning this season will require detailed communication, creativity, patience and flexibility. It will be extremely challenging for all couples hoping to tie the knot in 2020.
"When you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible.”
–When Harry Met Sally
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