How to postpone your wedding due to the coronavirus outbreak

Now that politicians and industry experts are agreeing that is it wise to postpone weddings, it is time to get practical and reorganise your special day ahead of the rush. Below is a concise step by step guide to postponing your wedding due to coronavirus.

Read your venue and supplier contracts

Reading your wedding venue agreement, supplier contracts and the fine print of your wedding insurance, will be enable you to approach your officiant, venue and suppliers in an empathetic yet informed way. Turning into a panicked Bridezilla is unlikely to make anyone want to go the extra mile or compromise with you.

Look out for specific wording around “changes due to unforeseen circumstances or situations beyond the control of both parties”, “Cancellation policy and payments” and “Alterations to requirements”.

Contact your wedding venue

As the majority of the wedding ceremony and reception logistics hinge around the availability of your venue, it is wise to make this one of your first calls. Try to take a personal approach rather than emailing as this will evoke a quicker response and also allow you to convey a wiliness to be flexible.

Before this call it is wise to:

• Create a list of questions that would be helpful to have answered to reduce your worries
• Consider alternative dates that could work
• Be familiar with the contractual wording about switching dates

Top tip for the call: Remember the coronavirus outbreak is unprecedented for both parties and many venues will be struggling to create a process for postponed weddings. If you cannot get answers immediately be patient.

Contact your officiant

Once you have clarity on a new date or alternative plan with your venue, it is wise to immediately contact your officiant or registry office (UK only) to ensure that someone can cover your new date and time.

What to do if your officiant cannot cover the new wedding date

If your officiant is not available, it might be wise to consider getting legally married a few days earlier or mid-week and then having a blessing at your venue. Alternatively, it is wise to push back the date further with your venue.

Organise a priority order of suppliers/vendors and contact them

As most weddings are served by a network of suppliers who all have their own supply chains, it is wise to co-ordinate your new date around the availability of those that are most crucial first.

Below is a sample priority order:

• Food and catering vendors (these will be directly affected by supply chains)
• Guest ‘block-booked’ hotels
• Photographers and videographers
• Wedding band and DJ
• Wedding decorators
• Bridal and guest transport
• Makeup and hair stylists

Contacting your wedding vendors and suppliers

As the Coronvirus outbreak has severely affected the wedding industry and in particular smaller suppliers, it is wise to approach each vendor with an empathetic approach and see what alternatives can be provided rather than dictating what is needed. Before calling it is wise to:

• Create a list of questions that would be helpful to have answered to reduce your worries
• Be familiar with contractual agreement about switching dates
• Divide out who will lead the calls so you and your partner are sharing the task

Contact your wedding party

While your nearest and dearest will undoubtedly be aware of your dilemma it is wise to reorganise your day and then involve others to limt addtional stress. Once you have a new date and a hefty amount of the logistics reorganised, then it is time to facetime, call or skype your bridal party and give them the news.

Managing your expectations: Everyone will be dealing with the coronavirus outbreak in a different way and do not expect floods of sympathy or support. Merely delivering the news and reiterating the importance of them at your special day is enough right now.

Amend and design appropriate wedding stationery

The amount of wedding stationery you will need to amend will depend very much on the extent of your alterations.

Date and/or time change only

A short 'Save the date' style postcard with the new date and reasoning will suffice. Wording to include:

• New date
• Reason for postponement: Making sure all our loved ones are safe within the coronavirus outbreak
• Reminder of venue
• New details of hotel booking
• RSVP email for guests to respond via if cannot attend new date

Date and menu and/or hotel changes

An adapted version of your wedding invitation with RSVP card. Wording to include:

• New date and time
• Reason for postponement: Making sure all our loved ones are all safe within the coronavirus outbreak
• Details of hotel re-booking and refunds
• New menu
• RSVP card with menu options

Review your honeymoon plans

Dependent on your wedding date, some couples may have already organised their minimoon and honeymoon and will need to contact travel providers to reschedule.