This is a tricky post to write but if sadly, you are having to reschedule your wedding day for any reason, here is some advice that may ease the disappointment and provide inspiration to start the process again - I wish you well as you navigate your way through this.
Organising your wedding is one thing, but having to change the date of your wedding due to unforeseen circumstances, is one event no couple wants to do. The main thing is, don't cancel your wedding, just postpone it for now.
Here are some positive steps you can take to reduce the stress of rescheduling your wedding celebration when faced with moving to a new wedding date.
CHOOSE A NEW DATE... SOONER RATHER THAN LATER
In the case of COVID-19 there are going to be a lot of wedding couples looking to reschedule their wedding ceremony date, so the sooner you choose an alternative, the better chance you have of getting the new date you want. For some couples, it's a relief to make the decision to postpone then you can begin working towards "I do, take two"
There are some wonderful change of date cards out there from downloading a simple template you can email, to printed templates you can personalise to resave the date and post out to guests.
Advise your guests officially that your wedding has been postponed and that a new date will be advised. It may take time to set a new date let them you know you are excited to gather together again.
OPTIONS FOR RESCHEDULING YOUR WEDDING
To widen the possible dates available to you, consider the possibility of a week day wedding rather than a weekend. You may even find that venue prices are cheaper mid-week and if you are flying to a destination wedding your guests might make considerable savings on the cost of their airfare. Friday weddings can be a potential compromise, leaving you a lovely long lazy romantic weekend to recover from your celebrations, spend time with guests who have travelled to your wedding and of course, for you to replay over and again the day you got married!
It’s probably best to keep your postponement challenges professional between your vendors and family—social media is not always the best place to go in a time like this. Use the energy you have to remain calm a and to problem-solve.
UNDERSTAND THE FINANCIALS
With any change of plans comes a potential for different costs, including losses on deposits and final payments, depending on when the wedding is. To understand the financial implications of postponing a wedding, check out the following:
- read the fine print on all your vendors contracts/communications.
- plan for additional expenses
- rethink the details eg if there's a change in season date, indoor/outdoor options, availability of certain flowers, photography locations, honeymoon arrangements.
APPOINT A "RESCHEDULE ANGEL" TO HANDLE GUESTS' QUERIES
You may want to consider appointing a responsible family member/good friend who when you notify your guests of the need to postpone your wedding ceremony, they can contact this 'angel' who can handle your guests' queries on your behalf.
Your priority is to liaise with your venue, your wedding planner or event coordinator, your wedding celebrant, photographer/videographer, caterer, florist, DJ/music, accommodation provider, equipment hire company and any other suppliers to find a date that works for everyone.
A "reschedule angel" can take a huge amount of stress and emotional anxiety off your shoulders by responding to offers of sympathy on your behalf. Later on when you have chosen your new date, your reschedule angel can be involved in the practical side of assisting guests with their own new travel and accommodation arrangements.
ACCEPT WHAT YOU CANNOT CHANGE WHEN RESCHEDULING YOUR WEDDING DATE
Change what you can and not put energy trying to change what you can't. Accept that not all of your original choice of wedding suppliers will be available for your new wedding date - but they will still want to do the very best for you and will not want to let you down.
In this case, ask your supplier to suggest a trusted colleague or alternative supplier. The wedding industry is a wide network and local suppliers often support one another, so rather than searching from scratch, rely on their recommendation for a plan 'B'. Check each individual supplier contract with regards to their cancellation policy and deposit refunds.
PRIORITISE YOUR GUEST LIST
Another reality of rescheduling your wedding is to accept you cannot please all of the people all of the time. So when it comes to deciding on a new wedding date, prioritise those essential VIPs for whom your wedding cannot go ahead without.
At the same time, have a back-up plan for guests who will not be able to make your new date - you may want to include the services of a videographer or ask the person handling the logistics of your wedding ceremony if they can live stream it! An imaginatively decorated, well-placed laptop on a side table will pick up every word of your ceremony and stream it live into the living rooms of even the most distant of family and friends.
MARK YOUR ORIGINAL WEDDING DATE IN A SPECIAL WAY
A lot of time and effort will have gone into planning your original wedding day - and you will no doubt always remember that date as "the day our wedding should have been". So acknowledge that. Do something special on that date. Open a special bottle of wine and raise your glasses in a salute to the past, the present and the future - because you still WILL have your wedding ceremony, just not today.
One thing is certain, that changing your date does not change your love for each other. Waiting just a little bit longer for your wedding ceremony is a delayed pleasure - all the sweeter for the waiting!