Engagement and Wedding Planning during COVID-19. This has become a very popular phrase all over the world, due to the Global Pandemic. This is largely because so many weddings and engagements have been impacted due to social distancing mandates. While this has all quickly become our new normal, I am so happy to see couples moving forward with their proposal plans in even more creative ways.

We’ve been chatting with some newly engaged couples that are starting their wedding planning process with us. While that is very exciting, I was also saddened to hear some couples lose the excitement about their engagement and wedding planning during this time. This prompted me to share some tips on our blog today to help couples who may be feeling the same. I hope these tips are helpful in keeping the excitement, as you celebrate your engagement, and begin your wedding planning during COVID-19!

TIP #1: PRE WEDDING PLANNING – ANNOUNCING YOUR ENGAGEMENT AND SELECTING YOUR WEDDING PARTY

Come up with a fun way to announce your engagement virtually (after announcing to immediate family/friends of course). Then share it on your social media pages or via email. There are tons of challenges going around social media right now that you can use. One example is the #DontRushChallenge, or better yet create your own (i.e. #EngagedDuringCovid19).

Once you have selected who will be in your wedding party, invite them to a special Zoom virtual happy hour. Make it fun by asking them to have their favorite champagne, wine, cocktail, or sparkling cider ready. If you want to go all out, find companies in your area that are offering delivery on beverages. Or better yet, create and deliver your own customized “happy hour box” for each person, based on their personality. You can look up recipes online or reach out to specialty cocktail companies such as Molecular Foods and Cocktails. They can create a special cocktail for you (such as the cocktail pictured above), with ingredients and instructions.

If you do go all out with a “happy hour box”, be sure to instruct your recipients not to indulge, at least until the virtual meeting takes place. Then you can ask them to be in your wedding, and enjoy drinks together as you would have done if social distancing was not a thing!

TIP #2: GATHERING INSPIRATIONS AND MEMORABILIA FOR YOUR WEDDING DAY

Start compiling inspirations to help you create the overall style and vision for your big day (i.e. wedding dress, venue, floral arrangements, cakes, etc.). Check out some cake inspirations from this recent blog post by WeddingWire, which features a cake from one of our events.

If you are looking for venue ideas, ask friends and family, especially if they are engaged or recently married. You can also look through local wedding magazines, blogs, and social media for ideas. Some of my favorite venues in the DC, Maryland, and Virginia area to give you a head-start are as follows:

The Sagamore Pendry in Baltimore MD

The Conrad Hotel in DC

The Bellevue Conference and Event Center in VA

While you may not be able to physically visit a venue right now, note that some venues are offering virtual tours where the sales associate can walk you through the event space via FaceTime, Skype, etc.

You can also start looking for engagement photoshoot ideas (location, attire, and poses). Take a trip down memory lane by looking through and compiling pictures of each other over the years. You can use these on your wedding website or as a slideshow on your wedding day. Lastly, start working on your songs list (i.e. favorite songs and must play songs). Trust me your future DJ will thank you for this!

TIP #3: RESEARCHING AND BOOKING YOUR WEDDING VENDORS

Start researching wedding vendors that you need to book in advance. These are vendors that can typically only book one wedding a day (i.e. wedding planners, caterers, floral designers, photographers, etc.). Trust me they are just as excited to speak with you during this time as they miss being absorbed with all things wedding related.

If you are considering working with a wedding planner, you should know the the value of hiring a planner before any other vendor. A wedding planner can help you navigate the big decisions you have to make such as budget and venue. Plus the earlier you hire a planner, the more time and money they can save you with your other vendors.

Use this time to research wedding planners in your area and start interviewing them. This will help you narrow down the right planner that understands your vision, and that you emotionally connect with. Then you can work together to gather your perfect wedding vendors that will collectively bring your wedding vision to life!

I hope you implement some of these tips to keep the excitement going during COVID-19. Remember this is the start of your lives together. You deserve to relish in it and be celebrated, so don’t let our current circumstance take your joy away!

xoxo, Sarah