We know that this is such a hard time on everyone. Weddings all around the globe are being postponed. Couples are re-planning weddings for a new date. Some couples are just starting to plan their weddings. We truly feel for you and your fiance! Your wedding may be postponed, but your love is NOT postponed! Here are tips on how to handle wedding planning amidst COVID-19!

We wanted to make things a little easier for the two of you! A few local wedding vendors put their ideas together and came up with some amazing tips and plans so that you can continue planning your dream wedding!

So grab a chai tea latte or your favorite cup of joe and check out the tips below on how to handle wedding planning amidst COVID-19! And remember, at the end of the day, all that matters is you get to be with the one you love!

1. Photography: Check and Double check to confirm your date with ALL vendors!

So.. your wedding has been postponed… Don’t let that stop you from wedding planning! The best day of your life is still to come! Although the date may change, there will come a time when you will exchange your vows! So now, it is more important than ever to keep planning! Especially because if you are just planning your wedding, dates are starting to book from 2020 couples!

Feel free to call your photographer first. Let us help facilitate these hard to navigate conversations with multiple vendors. Wedding planning amidst COVID-19 is hard! We are more than happy to take the stress of this off your plate. One idea is to create a shared google document so that all vendors can share their availability. Just know, that these available dates are going to keep changing. So make sure to confirm one more time before you officially book!

Reach out to your photographer and let them know that you need help rescheduling your day. Send us the following information so that we can help you plan the most EPIC second wedding date ever!

1. Send us a list of current vendors/contact info
2. Send us your list of potential wedding dates
3. Sit back and relax! Seriously!

We vendors are all on the same page and want to help make your day the best! We know it is stressful and we can aide you during this time! Wedding planning amidst COVID-19 is stressful but YOU CAN DO IT!

-Samantha Mitchell, Samantha Mitchell Photography, West Lafayette, Indiana Photographer

2. Floral: Keep an Open Mind

“If you are looking for live florals for your wedding, shop local and keep an open mind! Contact florists in your area to check on availability for the blooms you originally envisioned. Due to current and possible future international shipping restrictions, the blooms that you envisioned may no longer be an option. Many of the blooms used in the wedding industry today are typically imported from other countries.

If you are set on a specific bloom that is unavailable, you may want to consider faux blooms as an alternative option! Faux blooms have come such a long way in the past few years. There are real touch blooms made from materials that look and even feel like the real thing.

Some faux florists can send you video and photo updates of your florals while they are in the designing process. This ensures your order is exactly what you envision, you get to be a part of the process, and since they’re faux they can be done well in advance. No day of surprises, no worries about availability, and ultimately a lot let stress about your florals.

As an added bonus, your bridal bouquet becomes a keepsake and you may even recoup some of the cost by reselling the rest of the bridal party florals to another bride. “

-Alicia Hunneman, Amelia Marie Florals, Indianapolis, Indiana Florist

3. Venue: This will not last forever!

“In the midst of this turmoil the world is experiencing, one thing has become more and more clear: Family and love are the MOST important things. If you are planning to spend your life with someone, you should be shouting it from the rooftops! Don’t let the uncertainty of the world right now stop you from continuing to plan for that most special day.

One of the most important parts of planning a wedding is….WHERE will you get married and celebrate that day? Luckily, most venues are still booking for the Fall and for dates into 2021. Here at The Sugar Maple Barn in central Indiana, we are committed to making your day as beautiful as possible for an affordable price and working to accommodate those that are having to reschedule their weddings due to this pandemic.

Booking your venue, even during this time, is easy to do! Most places are accommodating social distancing rules by allowing you to view the property through Facetime/Google Hangouts/ Facebook video messaging, etc.. You can view the property and speak to the manager all from the safety of your home! Since knowing where your event will be held is the number one thing to do to get started, it’s vital that you make these arrangements first.

If you are unsure of how to go about doing that, it’s as simple as calling each place you are interested in and speaking to the manager. They will guide you on your way to making your day run as smooth as possible. Most venues are also great resources for you to find the best photographer/caterer/bar tender/florist, etc. since they have lots of experience working with these other vendors.

In short, we encourage you NOT to let this pandemic stop you from planning your future! This will not last forever and we are certain that the world will need lots of parties and celebrations to make up for the time we lost!”

-Amy Demler, Sugar Maple Barn, Kokomo, Indiana Wedding Venue

4. DJ: Everyone Is Still Going To Be There For You

“I know all brides and grooms are starting to worry, if they haven’t been already. Planning a wedding can be challenging, even if everything is going perfectly. Some brides and grooms may have to reschedule their big day which at first, sounds terrible, but you need to remember that everyone there, especially the one standing next to you at the altar, loves you and is there to support you and make this an amazing day.

You need to talk to your soon to be wife/husband and let them know everyone is still going to be there for you! The same thing goes for your vendors! They want to make this a happy day for you! You need to get a hold of them and get a game plan together. There is a chance that they have your reschedule day open! If not, the wedding community is very generous and tight, and they are quick to help one another.

All of the venues, photographers, DJs work very closely with one another! Talk to your vendors, they may be way ahead of you and have advice for a backup plan! That day will be the happiest day of your life, regardless of when it is. The only advice that I have is to stay in communication with everybody that is a part of your big day. They will do everything they can to make it amazing! “

-Joe Sheets, DJ Joe Sheets, Central Indiana DJ

5. Officiant: It’s a very romantic notion to elope in secret but also a practical one!

“I’ve been a wedding officiant in Indiana for 10 years. I’ve been a full-time wedding officiant available to marry couples daily for 7 years. I’m able to officiate weddings full time because you can’t get married in most courthouses in Indiana. Wedding officiants have taken over where judges left off. Because of this change, I see a wide variety of couples. I’ve married over 3500 couples to date!

Most people think of “weddings” as formal affairs, and of course, that’s true. But the act of getting married doesn’t need a formal wedding. It just needs a person who can legally marry you. Two days before Governor Holcomb’s Stay-at-home order went into effect, I married 4 couples – on a Monday. Monday’s definitely aren’t formal wedding days. These were couples who needed to get married now. 2 of the couples had K1 fiance visa’s and are required to get married within a fixed period of time like “90 Day Fiance”.

Another couple had to postpone their wedding until summer but needed to get legally married now. The last couple needed health insurance. With people moving or making life changes or losing their jobs, one partner has health insurance and the other needs it, and the only way to get it is to get married.

Many couples come to me to get legally married with a formal wedding planned for the future. Often, we keep it a secret! If you find you need to postpone your formal wedding consider getting legally married now. Either just the two of you or a slightly more formal affair with just your parents. Last week I married a couple with just their parents and grandmother in attendance with a video camera. It was their actual wedding day but the formal wedding of 180 guests wasn’t possible. Their photographer still came to capture the moment at no extra charge. Facetime has become very popular too! You may find you need to get married now or in such uncertain times, want to be married now. It’s a very romantic notion to elope in secret but also a practical one!

If you have any questions about the legal aspects of getting married or need someone to legally marry you today – or help you plan your dream wedding ceremony (or both) please contact me! My name is Victoria Meyer. I’ve worked hard to create comprehensive websites to answer any question you might have so you can hopefully just find the answers you need by reading, but please sent me a message if you have questions. I’m happy to help!”

-Victoria Meyer, Marry Me In Indy, Indianapolis, Indiana Wedding Officiant

6. Rentals + Designs: Ask for video consultations!

“Most rental companies will have photos of their inventory on their website. Use this to your advantage to put your list of must have decor items together. Spend some time really thinking about all the details you need to tell your love story from centerpieces, to your ceremony, or what kind of dessert you will have, and if you want a sweetheart table, or maybe you want a lounge area at the reception, etc.

Since you can’t visit a showroom at the moment ask your rental vendor if you can do a video consultation! They can go over options with you based off your interests and likes. You can even share your Pinterest board with them so they can see the type of theme you are trying to achieve.

Then your vendor can give you suggestions and advice to choose the best decor for your wedding! Make sure to put those must have items on reserve and once you are able to do an in-person visit you can finalize the rest of your details!”

-Cheyenne Fox , Nerdy Fox Rentals & Designs, Greenwood, Indiana

7. Bakery + Catering: Utilize porch pickup and try your menu items!

“These times are trying but they’re also a great time for trying desserts! Here at Whisk Bakery and Catering we know that right now is a very stressful time for many of our brides and grooms to be, but don’t let that hold you back from moving forward with your plans.

Catering and cakes (or desserts) are an example of a very easy vendor to book with out needing any contact. Simply request a porch pick up or drop off of your menu items you’re hoping to taste and reach back out once you’ve finished to finalize your menu. It is safe to say there will be an influx of bookings once things start the return to normal and we would hate to see couples pushing their dates out even further because vendors are already booked.

Spending money right now may cause some anxiety so make sure to chat with your vendors ahead of making deposits about their policies for pushing back dates and what their contingency plans are. We are all in this together!”

Chanda Michele, Whisk Bakery and Catering, Serving Midwest Indiana

A note from Sam + Bryt – Wedding Planning Amidst COVID-19:

We hope you found this blog helpful while you are navigating and trying to handle wedding planning amidst COVID-19! Our hearts are truly aching for you and we hope that this inspires you to continue being just as excited about your big day! Wedding planning amidst COVID-19 can be stressful, but if you use the tips mentioned above, it can still be just as fun! Your day is still to come!

Remember, your wedding may be postponed, but your love is not!

This blog post was inspired by Olivia Locascio Film + Photo. Thank you Olivia for your inspiration and ideas to help our couples!