Michigan Couples Planning a Wedding in the Midst of a Pandemic
Planning a wedding in the midst of a pandemic is not easy. It has been stressful, annoying, unknown among other adjectives! I am a photographer in West Michigan, and I am going to share my personal experience with Michigan couples during the 2020 wedding season. We are a few months into what usually is ‘full swing ‘of Michigan wedding season. By now, I would have thought this would have been leveled out and normal but it isn’t. We still are dealing with the Coronavirus, Covid-19. I wrote one blog early in the Pandemic, called Coronavirus and Your Wedding. I thought it would be helpful to spend a little time updating for future couples, how other Michigan couples are handling their wedding in the midst of the pandemic that have been on the calendar for months or years!
2020 was going to be a huge year of weddings. So I have been able to really see a large range of how couples are handling their wedding plans.
April and May were a complete bust. All of the wedding rescheduled for a later time. One couple had a courthouse wedding.
June – We managed to do six weddings out of nine.
Michigan Couples Planning a Wedding in the Midst of a Pandemic
So what happened in June & July:
- Wedding 1/June 5 – They downsized their wedding to their backyard. They had a ceremony and about 50 guest and had donuts
- Wedding 2 / June 6 – Rescheduled for August 2020
- Wedding 3/ June 6 – Had a backyard wedding but did not continue with my services.
- Wedding 4 / June 13 – Continued at their venue to have a ceremony and dinner. They downsized this event to 50 people and are having a reception in August 2020.
- Wedding 5/ June 13 – They had their wedding at the church, downsized the guest list and are having another event next year.
- Wedding 6/ June 20 – Ceremony at the outdoor at scheduled venue, dinner at another location with a downsized guest list and are also having a party next year
- Wedding 7 / June 20 – Got deployed, married in GA. Was not at event
- Wedding 8/ June 20 – Backyard ceremony and reception with downsized guest list
- Wedding 9/ June 27 – Rescheduled event.
- Wedding 10 – June 27 Ceremony and Reception at a venue with downsized guest list.
- Wedding 11/ July 10 – Continued at the venue chosen with ceremony and reception and downsized guest list by choice
- Wedding 12/ July 11 – Backyard wedding with ceremony and reception and a downsized guest list, having another party next year.
- Wedding 13/ July 19 – Rescheduling their wedding. Maybe having a small wedding ceremony that I am not attending.
I project August and September to be very similar to what I have been experiencing these last few months.
What couples are saying in the Midst of the Pandemic Handling Wedding Plans:
One bride told me she couldn’t change her wedding, when they date came and gone, she would be so sad to not have been married.
Every couple had a wedding change.
Every couple was glad they had their wedding despite current events.
Every couple said vendors worked with them.
When asked if they would do anything different? Michigan Couples Planning a Wedding in the Midst of a Pandemic said..
100% said no that had their wedding
There was one maybe, and one that said I wish we would have went with ouroriginal date, but we’re glad we at leastget to have some family present!
When I asked if they had any suggestions or tips? Michigan Couples Planning a Wedding in the Midst of a Pandemic…
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Be flexible. Everyone is struggling right now, even the vendors. There are so many executive orders that they AND you must follow! Understand that not everything is going to go as you planned, and that is ok. Getting married to your partner is the most important thing, not all the details. Do not postpone your wedding just so you can have a bigger wedding later. Instead, have a small, intimate ceremony and throw a big party/reception later that everyone can attend. Your friends and family will understand!
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My biggest suggestion is to do what is best for you! Your family will understand your decision.
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Lean on your vendors for guidance, make your deadline to have things “done” 1 week before the wedding & delegate, delegate, delegate! 🤪
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No matter what happens your special day will turn out amazing and will be something you will never forget. I know it can be a stressful time especially in todays world with COVID, but just try to have fun and know that you will always have a great story to share about your wedding.
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Your wedding should be everything you dreamed of, but life happens and there are bigger things. With planning and having a wedding in a pandemic there are many life skills you and your spouse will learn early on like adapting to the unfamiliar and being flexible. In the end it will be the two of you together, so do what will make you both most happy.
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Don’t let the pandemic stop you from having your special day in some way
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Stay Positive and be flexible. Enjoy everyone that chooses to be there.
When asked if anything they would like to share? Michigan Couples Planning a Wedding in the Midst of a Pandemic…
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During a crazy time like now, it is so hard to keep your head above water. I always found it helpful to remind myself, “Everything always works out”. Doing this helped me mentally get through times of distress!
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I appreciate all that Jamie has done for us. From switching dates, to being willing to help out, to even finding a friend to meet gaps. We are so thankful!
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I never would have thought this would impact my wedding in such a way. However, it was so wonderful to not only have support and understanding from all my family and guests as plans changed, but also having that same support and understanding from all of our vendors. It made this whole situation a lot easier and allowed for us to still have a beautiful wedding!
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Try to go with the flow as much as you can, it will only make for a better experience through all of this!
When asked 8 couples if they are doing an event next year? Michigan Couples Planning a Wedding in the Midst of a Pandemic…
62% said yes
12% said maybe
25% said no
The Knot and other wedding magazines have also talked about this topic. You can find one article here.
Here is a couple pictures from a few of these events! Hopefully, I will get around to sharing their full stories! And be sure to check back as I get more feedback in, I will add to this blog and feel free to email me your tips or advice to jamie@jamiemay.com
