Your 2021 Survival Guide for Brides

The state of play for weddings has changed constantly throughout the coronavirus pandemic. While all social distancing rules weren’t lifted as planned on 21st June, some wedding restrictions have been loosened.

There are currently no official limitations on the number of guests you can have at your wedding, but that comes with some caveats. Numbers will depend on the venue’s capacity combined with social distancing, which is still in place.

Weddings can be stressful to organise and plan, especially in the face of changing regulations. With this said, we’ve put together a survival guide for brides who planned to get married in 2021, including how they can look after their mental health, how they can get ahead of the game when continuing to plan for their big day, and what they must do if they do need to change their date.

1. Being flexible with your wedding date

While many restrictions have now been relaxed, many of us still can’t quite have the wedding of our dreams. If you’ve chosen a cosy, intimate venue, you may not be able to have as many guests as you’d like with social distancing still in place. Plus, singing and dancing are still not allowed. These festivities are a staple of our wedding evening dos, so it’s a shame to miss out on them.

Because it’s still an uncertain time, many wedding venues and suppliers are being flexible in terms of rearranging dates at no extra cost. If this isn’t the case, however, and your venue treats a postponement as a cancellation, then consider having your wedding somewhere special to make up for it, like scenic wedding venues in Cumbria and the Lake District.

It’s advised you take out insurance if you haven’t done so already. That way, in the event that your wedding venue has to close due to the tightening of restrictions, you’ll be covered. Furthermore, check with your venue if you can reschedule for a different date, discussing options later in the year or next year, then check with vendors to see if this will be possible. Check your new provisional date with your most important guests – after all, you don’t want your best friend or a close family member unable to make it and have to change the date again or sacrifice them not being there! Plan for additional costs in the event that fees change based on the season.

Once you have another date in mind for when you might need to change the ceremony to, let your guests know well in advance.

2. Prioritise your mental health

Feeling stressed and sad over one of the most important days of your life being cancelled or delayed is completely understandable. If it is affecting your daily life and routine, it is nothing to be embarrassed about. Mental health is important, and just as important as your physical health – just because you can’t see it doesn’t mean that it doesn’t matter. With the pressure and worry of the wedding, as well as COVID-19 continuing to have everything up in the air, it’s likely you’ll feel down – according to Mind, the mental health charity, one in four people in the UK experience a mental health problem each year.

Remember to set yourself as a priority. In moments of crisis, it’s important to take a step back and remove yourself from stressors. Take time out of your day to do things that make you happy. Now that social restrictions are beginning to ease, it is the perfect time to go back to doing something you have missed. When you’re down, it’s too easy to slip into a lethargic routine that is a breeding ground for negativity and sadness. Maintain your appearance as you normally would, like applying fake tan if you usually wear it, putting some make-up on, painting your nails, and doing your hair.

Make use of sport and leisure facilities now that they have reopened and book a slot at the gym or at a fitness class. With this said, it’s also important to remember not to make yourself feel bad if you don’t always feel up for exercise every now and then. Don’t pressure yourself to be productive this whole time. If you don’t feel up to it, practising meditation and mindfulness with the guidance of apps on your smartphone can help, such as Headspace and Calm.

Other than keeping a regular sleeping pattern, take time to try out some new healthy meals and cooking recipes. A healthy gut is a healthy body, which can help contribute to a healthy mind! Don’t hide away – video call people to open up and speak to those closest to you about how you’re feeling, including your partner. Be there for each other during this difficult time. If you feel like things are getting on top of you, seek professional help from your GP.

3. Think ahead

If your wedding does end up being postponed for whatever reason, then use this time to think of creative ways to make your day even better than what you had in mind. For example, you could research online for wedding inspiration and create your own invites with arts and crafts, a colourful bohemian blanket aisle for the quirky couples, or your own floral centrepieces. A quick look on Pinterest reveals a plethora of decorations you could make.

One of the main perks of this is that you will have something that is unique and personal to you at your wedding that you wouldn’t have originally if it wasn’t postponed. Try to be positive about how you can improve your wedding setting without spending loads of money.

While many restrictions around weddings have eased, it can still be a frustrating time for couples because of the uncertainty of when lockdown will officially end. However, you can take control and plan your wedding for an alternative date without risking the health of yourself or your loved ones.

Sources

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-51942898

https://www.standard.co.uk/lifestyle/weddings/cancel-postpone-wedding-coronavirus-a4391906.html

https://www.brides.com/story/how-to-postpone-cancel-a-wedding