It’s been exactly one month since we coordinated our first wedding of the 2020 season and this Saturday would have marked our second, but sadly COVID-19 decided it had other plans. Now instead of planning weddings we are postponing them.
When the global pandemic first hit Washington State and hard, it happened right around the last few days of planning Christina + Shane’s wedding. News was happening rapidly and everything was constantly changing almost hour by hour. We had to have some really tough and emotional conversations. With only days from their wedding, our couple decided to move forward with their wedding, cutting down their guest count from 171 to 39 and that was no small feat, but luckily all of their friends and family members totally understood. We even set-up a live-stream of their wedding and reception for their family and friends to watch from all over the world.
Truth be told, I wear my heart on my sleeve and in this profession it can be a good thing. Yes, I get teary at a couple’s first look, but who wouldn’t. I get choked up when couples recite their vows and during a great toast. So on this wedding day, there were a lot of tears. Happy tears to see this beautiful bride walk down the aisle to the man of her dreams to the immediate feeling knowing that we did it and it was a true sense of relief. In all honesty, I truly felt this wedding wasn’t going to happen. With 3 days left to go, I held my breathe as the Governor held a press conference. By the end, the wedding would happen and that was the best phone call with Christina.
This has been the hardest time of my nearly 15-year wedding planning career. I have been tested over and over but I won’t let COVID take me or my company down. I have taken the stance not to dwell on the negative, but to focus on the positive and know that love will conquer all. It breaks my heart when I have serious and tough conversations with our couples and the future of their wedding. I have to really say all of my couples have been rock stars and so great to work with during this very difficult time.
What we just keep preaching to our couples is that they will still have the wedding they have been dreaming and planning and that just the date will change. I truly believe that has helped our couples in moving forward with new plans.
I have to be really grateful for technology and that we are still able to plan and design up plans, layouts and amazing designs with both our couples and our vendors.
Speaking of vendors, I really have to thank all of the amazing vendors with whom have just been incredible, whether it been a shoulder to lean on, ask advice, and just be incredible when it comes to working and accommodating our couples.
But not all hope is lost. As for Washington state, we are starting to see a glimmer of hope and the light at the end of the tunnel signaling that wedding season will be back and we will be ready when given the call.
