Planning Your Wedding Virtually during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Happiness and joy have not been postponed.
Love has not been cancelled. Weddings have not ceased to exist.
COVID-19 has changed our lives, our perspectives, and has caused us to shift our plans. But a few things haven’t changed: love, engagement, and the desire to share the rest of your life with someone.
If you’re newly engaged – congratulations! You are worthy of celebration! We want you to give you permission to share that excitement and soak in every moment of this time. We want you to know it’s okay to start planning your wedding during a pandemic. In fact, we encourage you to do so! Planning a 2021 wedding is exciting, and we want you to experience that joy just like any other newly engaged couple.
Like a lot of things in our lives, thanks to technology, we can accomplish quite a bit without ever stepping foot outside of our homes. We can plan your wedding virtually! This is not a new concept to the RRE team. This is not something that our team crafted as a response to the shutdown. For years we have been working with couples and families by connecting virtually. Because most of our clients don’t live in the same place as us, we have perfected the art of having meaningful conversations from many miles away.
Are you dreaming of a cozy wedding in the mountains? Meghan and Cole did, too. Due to military deployment in Okinawa, we never had the chance to meet this couple in person until the wedding week. All our planning was done via FaceTime while creatively navigating a significant time zone difference. When we finally got the chance to hug in person, it felt like we were just old friends reconnecting. When you look through their wedding photos, you would never guess that the first time Meghan and Cole saw their wedding venue site was just days before their nuptials. They relied on our video tour, pictures, and research, and professional guidance to pick the perfect spot.
Nicole and Blake wanted a warm beach wedding in a fun destination city on the East Coast. During the planning period, this couple lived on the West Coast with busy careers. We planned their Charleston wedding by only communicating via video conference, phone calls, and email. The end result was nothing short of spectacular. Here is what Nicole said: “You truly captured who we are as a couple and every single detail reflected that. Your love for what you do is evident. Thank you for every ounce of love that you put into planning our day and for an effortless weekend that never would have happened without your expertise. “
Yes, you read that all correctly. We can (and do) plan weddings without ever meeting in person.This process really can be just as special and just as personal. Virtual wedding planning isn’t a new concept to RRE.
We know the thought of not meeting in person right away may seem odd. Don’t let that stop you from starting to plan your wedding.
Here are four tips to help you have a fun virtual wedding meeting:
Location: Pick a cozy spot in your house that you and your fiancé want to spend a period of uninterrupted time. This may be on your sofa, in front of your fireplace, outside on your patio, at your dining room table, at your kitchen island, or in your bed (we don’t judge). There is no wrong answer, but we encourage you to figure out where in advance. Blankets, pillows, slippers, and friendly pets are all welcome (and encouraged)!
Screen Placement: Test your technology and find a place that doesn’t require you to hold your computer on your lap. You can stack up books, use a tripod, or mirror/ airplay your screen on a TV. Thoughtful placement will help keep you both comfortable and allow you to focus on the joy of conversation and not strain your neck or back.
Time: Do you and your fiancé like to drink coffee together? Do you prefer a glass of wine or a perfectly balanced cocktail? This is your wedding planning meeting not your weekly office staff meeting. Pour yourself a cup of something that brings you joy. Plan your meeting at a time of day that is conducive to your beverage of choice.
Check your mailbox! The RRE team has creative ways of bringing joy right to your doorstep.
There is no doubt that we are in the midst of an unprecedented time in our lives. While that can all be scary, we feel certain that when we get to the other side things will be different… and for the better! We know that people will value the art of celebration as soon as it’s safe for us to meet again in person.
Allow yourself to get excited about planning your wedding and don’t delay your plans because you feel guilty being joyful during this time. You deserve to be celebrated! Get started planning your wedding virtually. When it’s safe, we’ll be the first one to pour you a glass of bubbly and toast this exciting time in your lives!
Cheers!
Betsy