COVID-19: For Better or Worse
I don’t think any one of us would have imagined where we are today. Our present is scary and dark, and our future feels a bit shaky. But as the old adage goes… this too, shall pass. We don’t know what our world will look like fully on the other side, but what we do know is we will need joyous celebrations, hopeful love, unconditional kindness, and encouraging support more than ever before. That’s where we come in.
We are here to assist you with navigating these uncharted and choppy waters with as much grace, patience, and faith as possible. Our beloved clients mean everything to us, and we want every single couple to make the smartest decisions for themselves and their guests, while also fulfilling their wedding dreams.
In an effort to be as useful as possible, we are going to help you play out a variety of scenarios below, and how we would recommend you handle each one in our current state. Of course, keep in mind if our situation with the pandemic worsens, or hopefully lightens, we may change our suggested course of action.
HELP! MY WEDDING IS IN APRIL OR MAY! WHAT SHOULD I DO?
First of all, we are so sorry for the immense amount of stress you must be feeling. You are not alone, and there are dozens upon dozens of dedicated vendors that want to help you. Unfortunately, you are most likely going to have to postpone and reschedule your big wedding goals. This doesn’t mean you and a very small select few can’t actually, legally get married, and simply throw a massive celebration later on in 2020 or even 2021.
First and foremost, you need to talk to your venue(s) to see what options are currently available to you. Take one of their available dates, OR if you are not satisfied, look into their cancellation or “Force Majeure” policy, and take your deposit to a new venue. The first tier of vendors that you will need to speak to are your photographer/videographer, caterer, florist, and band/DJ. Finally, check in with your ceremony musicians, hair/makeup artists, rental vendors, transportation companies, etc. Yes, you may have to make some sacrifices or find alternatives, however we have found most vendors during these times are very willing to be as flexible as physically possible.
Once you’ve made the tough decisions, it’s time to inform your guests. You have likely already sent out your invitations. We recommend both sending out a simple updated postcard with new date/details to your guests, AND also updating your wedding website with the new information. You will need a new set of RSVP’s to track as well.
MY WEDDING ISN’T UNTIL JUNE OR JULY… WHEN DO I NEED TO MAKE SOME DECISIONS?
The hope in our hearts tells us to hold off on making any major changes… but reality sets in more and more each day, as we watch the news and track COVID-19’s progress across our country. To be safe, we recommend checking in with your venue(s) and tier 1 vendors (see above for list) with regards to any available dates a few months out. We are crossing our fingers and hoping that by late August and/ or September, our world will start to feel a bit like normal again. If there are no 2020 dates available, consider whether it is more important for you to take the risk and keep your original date, or potentially push out to 2021. Obviously it’s not even close to ideal, but in the end you WILL be married and you WILL have the wedding of your dreams this way.
We are taking it on a week-by-week basis, but our assessment is that by the first or second week of April, you should make a firm decision and move forward with full force - whatever you decide to do. Ask yourself these questions… Will I be upset if I picked a new date to be safe, and my original date ends up being okay? If I keep my original date, will I be able to accept the fact that up to 50% of my invited guests may not be able to attend due to health risks? Will my fiance and I be okay with waiting a few extra months (or maybe up to a year!) to finally get married?
THANK GOODNESS MY WEDDING ISN’T UNTIL AUGUST OR BEYOND… I’M OKAY, RIGHT?
For the most part, yes, we hope your date isn’t affected. There are a few things to consider, however… for the flower industry, this economic crash is forcing our flower farmers and wholesalers to destroy millions of blooms from markets around the world. It’s gut-wrenching to see the waste. This will mean our floral market and seasons will likely be a bit off kilter this year. We won’t know entirely what repercussions it will have yet, but know that your floral designer will do their best to maintain the same exquisite designs you’ve picked - you just may need to be a bit flexible when it comes to bloom varieties available around your wedding date. This goes for all weddings this year, most likely.
With all of this being said, we would love to assist you. Our hearts are with you as you make these incredibly difficult decisions. We are offering up our time, free of charge, to any couples, parents, vendors, etc. that need some extra guidance from professionals. Every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday morning, we will be going on our Instagram story (@moderndaycollective) and post a “question” poll, where you can submit your most burning questions (you can always just DM us too). That evening at around 8:00pm, we will also do an Instagram live story answering the biggest questions.
Of course, if you find you need even further assistance with difficult situations, we are available to hire virtually (Zoom or phonecall) by the hour to help you create a course of action for your big day. Consider things like invitation timing, vendor re-booking, timeline assistance, transportation issues, etc.
All in all, we want you to know you are NOT alone during these uncertain times. We have hope for a bright and beautiful future, and look forward to all of the celebrations of love to come. With the future of humanity at stake, we are all in this together. For better, or worse - in sickness, and in health.
Please do not hesitate to reach out to our team of professionals for guidance. We love what we do, and always want to share and offer that passion to those in need. For now, stay safe and stay home… and in a few months? We will catch you on the dance floor after we’ve properly celebrated life and love.
Hearts and Hands,
Jenn and Team Modern Day
On a lighter and sweeter note - this romantic and love-filled celebration featured was one of our favorites this past season. It especially helps when your clients are the most kind, grateful, and compassionate people… meet Alyssa and Jimmy! This was such a happy late-summer day - just the kind of memories we want to reminisce upon during times like these. So much love for this couple, and all the amazing vendors involved.
Photography: Kate Touzel Photography
Full Planning, Floral, Design: Modern Day Collective
Venues: First United Methodist Church + Amway Grand Plaza Hotel (Imperial Ballroom)
Beauty: Cheeky Strut + Siren & Proper
Rentals: Rentals by I Candy + Special Occasions Linens