The COVID-19 pandemic is still lingering and it continues to affect many people’s lives in different ways. One of the industries that have been hit hard is the wedding industry — venues are closing, vendors and suppliers are going out of business, and couples struggle to re-schedule their weddings.
While these business closures are incredibly heartbreaking and discouraging for brides-to-be, there are still ways to make your wedding happen even during these trying times. Whether your wedding was rescheduled or you just got engaged, there are lots of things that you can accomplish from home!
Here’s a list of things that you can work on to plan your wedding during the pandemic.
Figure Out Your Budget
Pandemic or not, the first thing to do when planning a wedding is setting your budget. Figuring out the budget for your wedding is not easy, but it will help guide the rest of your planning decisions.
You will need to tally up your savings and maintain a detailed spreadsheet, so you don’t go over when organising the wedding. Your budget will help you determine what kind of venues and suppliers to look for, and how many guests you can accommodate.
Also read our guide on which Wedding trends of 2020 you should adopt and not.
Understand the Current Social Distancing Guidelines and Government Rules
Mass gatherings significantly increase the risk of COVID-19 spreading, which is why the government has implemented social distancing guidelines. If you are planning a wedding, you need to be aware of the current regulations to maintain a safe environment for your guests. And yes, you should consider this even if your wedding date is set to 2021 — at this point, there’s no telling when the pandemic will end so it’s best to have a plan for this scenario.
Even as states and territories ease restrictions, it is important everyone continues to stay 1.5 metres away from others.
It’s also necessary to remind everyone involved about the importance of social distancing before, during, and after your wedding. While it is an instinct to hug each other when happy, this is where COVID-19 can spread quickly. Consider alternative ways people could offer their congratulations that don’t involve close contacts, such as through a digital guest book or recorded messages.
Learn the Government Rules
Having a strict COVID-19 Safety Plan in place will help to protect you and your guests. According to the government rules, your guests must be informed that they should only attend your wedding if they are feeling well and do not have any symptoms.
You can also think about how other hygiene risks could be minimised, such as not sharing food and making sure people can remember which glassware is theirs. High-risk activities such as dancing should also be kept to a minimum.
It’s also a must to keep a digital record of guests who attended the wedding, including their contact number. Make sure you also have a record of additional attendees such as photographers, caterers, and other vendors involved. The list must be kept for 28 days after the event.
If there is a guest who gets diagnosed with COVID-19, public health will ask that you provide this record to assist with contact tracing.
Meet with Your Wedding Suppliers Virtually
Another big wedding planning task that you can accomplish while self-isolating is finding wedding vendors. Many of these businesses, from venues and caterers to musicians and florists, have adapted to the new normal and will happily hop on a Zoom or Skype call with you for a virtual meeting. This will help you make an informed decision on the best professionals you plan to hire for your wedding day. Make sure to have frequent and transparent communication with them throughout the entire process.
Trim Down the Guest List
Given the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on weddings in Australia, you have to face the task of trimming down your original guest count. Some of your friends and acquaintances cannot be there, especially if they are in high-risk areas. You have to communicate with them well and let them know that due to some restrictions, they can no longer attend the event in person. Explain that you are taking the steps to ensure everyone’s safety on your wedding.
It would be best if you also reached out to your close friends and family members about realistic expectations on your wedding date. Some guests may not necessarily feel comfortable travelling at this time, so you need to assess the comfort level of your loved ones.
With so much uncertainty, it may be a good idea to keep your wedding plans simple. Hosting a small wedding may not be your dream wedding, but it allows you and your loved ones to enjoy the romantic wedding during the pandemic.
Look into Wedding Insurance
The pandemic disrupted the wedding plans not just romantically but also financially. If you are planning a wedding, you have to get wedding insurance to give you peace of mind against the costs of cancelling the wedding, or other reasons such as extreme weather or if an injury happens.
Wedding insurance also covers the financial consequences if, say, a wedding dress doesn’t arrive on time. You can get wedding insurance any time, from the day you secure a venue until right before your wedding. But getting it sooner will give you more protection.
Book a Suitable Wedding Venue
After finalising the above tasks, there’s only one thing left to do; getting the ideal wedding venue. During this pandemic, that will mean choosing an outdoor venue. That’s because the open-air will minimise the spread of the virus.
If you want the perfect outdoor wedding venue in the Gold Coast Hinterland or Brisbane area that is close enough to the city, then Cedar Creek Estate is for you. Imagine your wedding in one of the most naturally stunning hinterland locations in Queensland where you can enjoy the region’s most excellent food and wine with friends and family. Browse through some videos from previous weddings held at Cedar Creek Estate and get some inspiration.
Cedar Creek Estate also offers several all-inclusive wedding packages to suit all budgets and requirements. Our packages come with a vast array of complimentary inclusions from a professional wedding coordinator to a wide selection of table centres and accessories.
Call Creek Cedar Estate today on (07) 5545 1666 or send us an online enquiry to get more information on our vineyard and hinterland wedding packages, and our Cedar Creek wine selections.
