Some Advice for Wedding Planning During a Global Pandemic
Well, there’s a blog title we never thought we’d write!
COVID-19 is straining our lives in so many ways these days - ways we could never have imagined. Those of you who were or are planning a wedding are surely feeling the stress that comes with the uncertainty of this coronavirus pandemic.
If you were planning your wedding for spring 2020, you’ve probably already had to reschedule. If you’re in the early stages of planning and were considering a late 2020 wedding, you’re likely now planning for 2021 instead, just to be on the safe side.
We understand that planning a wedding is challenging at the best of times, but these days it’s really hard. There is so much uncertainty. But we’re here to help.
Here are a few things to keep in mind that may help you secure the vendors you want most, and maybe even save you a bit of money.
1 - Don’t put off picking a date.
The postponements for 2020 weddings will mean that 2021 will be BUSY! Popular wedding venues and vendors will be swamped next year, so pick a date soon if you are planning for a 2021 wedding. If your wedding was going to take place this spring and you’re rescheduling to late 2020, try to secure your new date asap. Fall is a wonderful time to get married in Ottawa. It’s actually our favourite season to photograph in; the weather isn’t too hot nor too cold and Mother Nature shows off by painting the foliage all different colours.
2 - Book soon and avoid price increases.
It’s reasonable to assume that vendors will increase their prices to meet 2021 demand and to recover some of the revenue lost during this year’s wedding season. There are two ways to try to avoid the increased pricing: 1. book early and lock in 2020 pricing, and 2. consider off-peak wedding seasons such as late fall and winter, or pick a day other than a Saturday or Sunday to have your wedding. Here at Union Eleven, we’ve seen a big increase in Thursday and Friday weddings, even before these pandemic days! They are far more common than you might think, and often come with significant price savings.
3 - Interview and book your vendors online.
If you have a venue secured for your 2021 wedding, it’s a good idea to start researching and booking other vendors that have limited availability, such as photographers, videographers, planners, and officiants. You don’t want to miss out on booking your first choice!
While the Union Eleven studio is closed, we’re working from our homes every day and are happy to conduct virtual consultations for photography and videography via Facetime or Skype.
If you’d like to set up an online consultation simply contact us! We would love to hear from you!
4 - Live streaming to come!
International travel for non-essential trips may not become a reality for months. It’s also possible that weddings will be restricted in terms of the number of guests allowed. We just have no idea. Union Eleven is working hard to be able to offer you professional live streaming of your wedding for family and friends who are unable to make it in person. Stay tuned!
We hope this gives you a bit of a perspective on how to manage your wedding day plans. We understand that this time is not easy for anyone. We are here for you! Feel free to contact us at any time if we can help.
If you’d like to learn a little more about Union Eleven and our approach to wedding photography and videography, check out the video below:
The Union Eleven Team
