Written By :- team
May 9, 2021
If you’re planning a wedding this year, you probably already know to expect a lot of changes and adjustments throughout the process. Of course, hiring a planner is always a good idea because they can help guide you through the ups-and-downs of pandemic wedding planning, but if you decide to do it yourself or wait to hire someone until the month of your wedding, here are some things you’ll want to ensure are part of your wedding this year!
Host it outdoors: Outdoor weddings are much better suited for a pandemic. With open skies and bright sunlight, they make for great photos, too! Make sure you have a tent to keep guests shaded from the sun — don’t forget the fans to keep everyone cool in the heat.- Keep the guest list small: With so many changing guidelines, it’s important you just plan ahead to keep your guest list small. While it might be tempting to send an invite to all your friends and family across the country, it’s a good idea to remember that not only will you need to budget as though all those guests are coming, and many of them might decline to come. Instead, focus on ways you can maximize your wedding experience — splurge on the photographer, invest in a pair of reversible rings and design an interesting sweetheart table!
- Give everyone hand sanitizer: If 2020 taught us anything, we can never have enough hand sanitizer. For your wedding, this year, why not give personalized hand sanitizers as favors? Customize the label to have your wedding date and the names of your fiance and you printed on it. Include a cute phrase or even a shot from your engagement shoot! The best favors are ones practical and usable even after the wedding is over — and hand sanitizer is perfect!
Theme your face masks for your bridal party: Let your bridal party stay safe in style, at your wedding this year, with matching face masks! You can have “bridesmaid” printed on them or showcase their names or initials. Get them in a neutral color to ensure they complement the decor, or get them in a color that matches their dresses, ties or flowers. Your bridal party will be on point!- A short wedding dress: Instead of the traditional long gown, go for a short wedding dress. Not only will it keep you cooler outside for your outdoor wedding, but it won’t need to be bustled! Wedding dress bustles come in lots of different styles, but they can be difficult to put together after a long day of pictures and right before introductions. Wearing a short wedding dress will let you move freely on the dance floor and ensure you won’t have to stress about bustles, trains or tripping!
- A large dance floor: If you’re still opting to have a full reception complete with a DJ, you’ll want to be sure to get a large dance floor! That way, your guests can safely spread out while still having a great time. Plus, it will help you keep your tables spaced out comfortably for guests. A large dance floor is also great for line dancing! All your guests can get in on the fun with a large dance floor. You can dance the night away!
- Forgo the reception: Instead of having a full reception, consider some alternatives. Host a larger ceremony and postpone the big celebration until later, have a smaller ceremony and an intimate cocktail hour afterward or consider eloping. You can also consider doing everything virtually, as a way to keep everyone involved, especially if you have friends and family who live farther away. Chatting with a professional planner can also provide you with a variety of ideas for approaching whether or not you should have a reception.
Use fresh greenery for your send-off: Rather than having sparklers or blowing bubbles, why not use confetti made from leaves? Known as biodegradable confetti, this option is typically allowed at a variety of venues. Many venues consider sparklers a fire hazard — especially historical sites!
You can avoid starting a fire for your send-off by using different types of biodegradable confetti. Freeze-dried flowers, lavender and even pieces of leaves cut out with a hole-puncher are perfect ideas. This way, you’re not wasting anything or harming the earth — everything gets put right back where it came from!- Instead of the after-party, do a small brunch the next morning: While the post-wedding brunch has been around for a while, the post-reception after-party was just starting to hit its swing before the pandemic. Now, most bars and restaurants close early or aren’t even open — and no one really knows when that will change.
Avoid the stress of planning the details of an after-party and instead invite your bridal party either out to brunch or host it at your home. These smaller events are much more comforting for many people, this year, and you’ve probably already spent a large portion of time with your bridal party anyways, so inviting them over for brunch is a polite way to thank them for sticking with you through all the madness! - Think personal: This year’s weddings are all about the personal details. Sure, get all your inspiration from Pinterest, but keep personal touches in mind as you plan out your vision. Love to travel? Place your altar flowers on stacks of vintage suitcases! Not a fan of wedding arches? Set up a pair of french doors to serve as your wedding backdrop.
Use flowers in your favorite colors, or choose the favorites of recently passed friends and family you were close with. Get a pair of customized rings to exchange on your wedding day, inscribed with the quotes from your favorite books. These smaller details will make your wedding that much more enjoyable because it’s filled with things you love!
Planning a wedding is normally a stressful experience, but this year’s couples face taller obstacles. With some creativity and flexibility, there are still lots of ways to have a fun and beautiful wedding you’ll look back on fondly for years to come!