To start off, please know that we are absolutely devastated by COVID-19 and the havoc it has wreaked on soonlyweds and their upcoming special days. It’s truly something we’ve never seen before – nor hope to ever see again (once the pandemic runs its course and peaces out for good). That said, if there’s any silver lining in any of this, it’s that – against all odds – love and commitment are triumphing. A global outbreak is hardly what one would call a ‘hiccup,’ those of you who’ve been planning 2020 weddings are more than handling it. Even if it means scaling down the size of your celebrations to meet CDC social gathering guidelines and respective state ordinances.
Whether you’ll be postponing the entire wedding for some time later this year or next, enjoying a much smaller reception now and then blowing it out with an epic party once guests are able [to come], or taking all of the craziness as a sign to simplify to #justyoutwo, your day dooesn’t have to suffer with a smaller guest list. You can even have the best of both worlds if you want to make things official right now, with just each other and/or a few extra close family and friends, and then go BIG when the powers that be give you the green light.
Luckily, our Style Me Pretty Collection wasn’t envisioned with any big or small wedding size criteria in mind. So, if you find yourself wanting to throw out Plan A for something private with your mister or missus, or if you think you can be cool with a Zoom wedding that rivals John Krasinski’s-officiated affair this week (that’s a tall order, BTW), then we’ve got you! Check out some ideas we have for a scaled-down nuptials soiree, along with a few must-haves to make the occasion all the more meaningful.
… Oh, and yes, you’ll notice that so many of the sweetest, most enduring memories of your wedding don’t need an audience…
Life as we know it is still pretty standstill at this point, so if you can’t say I Do in the venue you originally wanted, then find something even closer to home (we mean that figuratively and literally #embracethebackyardwedding). Consider the landmark where you might have said ‘I Love You’ for the first time, or the restaurant where you ate together and then went home and told your mamas that he or she was ‘The One. Ask one of your closest friends or family members to officiate, inquire with your photographer about whether he or she would feel comfortable shooting your lowkey wedding, order some curbside takeout from said restaurant, light some candles, and remember that your wedding is yours, and only yours, to create.
This is an activity that always makes a ceremony more special. Not to mention, if you’ll be exchanging vows in the privacy of your own home, the woods, or another remote, yet personal place, by yourselves or with a small sampling of witnesses, you might even feel more inclined to pour your hearts out to each other.
If you’re sheltering in place together, why not get ready together? We’ve seen so many beautiful photos – in color and in black and white – of couples helping each other into their wedding ensems (him helping with the covered buttons on her gown, her making sure his bowtie is on straight, etc.) and it’s the sweetest thing. Alternately, a first look can be special, as well, to make sure all those happy tears are flowing ahead of the rest of the day. COVID-19 has made every day feel like Groundhog’s Day IRL, so a first look could be just the thing to throw some spontaneity, surprise, and anticipation back into the daily grind for any bride or groom.
We actually think it’d be a super cute keepsake to write notes (with fine-tipped fabric pens) to each other on the back of a commemorative handkerchief, especially if you plan to swap gifts. You can have them framed after the wedding / once craft or hobby stores are open to remember the year COVID-19 almost cancelled your wedding, but didn’t get the chance!
If you’ll be having guests (in limited numbers, of course), here are a few things you can do to involve them in your event. *Note, you will need to cross reference with your specific state and county cadences on #s permitted to convene at one time, as these orders may be more or less strict in greater or lesser COVID-19-affected areas.
Not going to lie, putting together guest gift bags is daunting when you’re expecting a gigantic group of people. If the list is shaved down, though, splurging (and it doesn’t even have to be that excessive) on legit welcome provisions isn’t as much a problem as it is a privilege to treat your wedding hype people! Consider a welcome bag filled with thoughtful goodies, and personalized thank you cards as your favor, maybe just a bit more full-bodied (if mini bottles of wine end up in there, it wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world 🍷😉).
Dad can still walk you down the aisle, maybe one of your songstressy-sounding sisters can sing, or one of your best friends can do a particularly resonant reading. And then when you say your vows, everyone can encircle you (flower circles are huge trends, so why not do it with your friends?).
Seat guests at one long table for dinner.
Did you love that long, farm table look? Did you worry with your fiancé about where you’d sit at your reception? At a sweetheart table or with your bridal party? If you’ll be having just enough guests to fill out one long table, then definitely dine together – with place cards to maintain the festiveness or formality of the fete. Keep each other’s minds off of the manic state of the world right now and toast, toast, toast to each other, family, friends, and forever.
Signatures and well wishes or it didn’t happen! Kidding, that’s not the right sentiment for weddings these days, what with social distancing firmly in effect. But we think it’s a great way to honor tradition and have something to look back on and re-read once the wedding is over. If you’re planning on having a second, larger wedding later on, you can always bring your guest book back out and have the rest of your guests leave you with words of advice or congratulatory inscriptions they’ve been waiting to share.
Whether you’ve just gotten engaged or become completely overwhelmed and perplexed about what your wedding plans will eventually look like, you’ll definitely want to start writing some notes down and collecting your research, contact info, etc. in one dedicated place. Hey! Maybe you will end up saying that a smaller setup makes more sense for you, but we’d wager a guess that you’d never say that all the extra [pretty] pages in your bridal planner – for wordsmithing your vows or putting together Plan B, Plan C, or Plan D – were more than you needed!
Congratulations, we really can’t wait to start or keep planning with you. Shop the Style Me Pretty Collection on site now! #loveispatientloveiskindloveneverfails.
Danielle Halibey is a writer, editor, and publicist living in New Jersey. She has been immersed in the world of weddings since planning her own whimsical, romantic affair in 2014. And isn’t that what they always say, “those who can’t do, teach?” Well, once her nuptials were over, she still had stuff in the ‘I Do’ industry to do. She writes regularly for top wedding blogs including Style Me Pretty and Wedding Chicks, and has garnered millions of press impressions for brands in the wedding space: fashion, beauty, wedding talent+tastemakers and more.
