Couples that planned to get married in 2020 and have been faced with so many challenges due to Covid-19 -I’m talking to you! Some of you have had to cancel your dream wedding only to have your back up wedding fall through too. And I get it, it is so tough.
Whether you are a bride that had your large wedding postponed due to the pandemic OR you already planned on having a pop-up wedding, we are here to help you get through this. Now, pop-up weddings were popular before the pandemic because they are a great way to have an affordable wedding that still includes a venue, officiant, photographer and a bouquet. But now, they are even MORE popular because so many cities have limits on how many people can gather for a wedding.
So whatever has brought you to Pop The Knot, we are here to give you a few tips on having a pop up wedding during COVID-19. Below you will find our 3 Top Tips For Planning A Pop-Up Wedding During A Pandemic.
Be Flexible
The most important piece of advice that I can give you when planning your pop-up wedding these days is to be flexible. The pandemic situation is very fluid and the rules and regulations change daily. I literally went out to get a cup of coffee last month and I came back and California got rolled back a phase! You could book during a time when 25 people are allowed and then a month later, they only allow 10. Anything is possible with Covid.
Another reason that flexibility is important is because so many venues and vendors are overbooked due to all the wedding reschedules from March- June. This means that your desired location, date, photographer, or venue may not be available.
Flowers are also taking a hit during the pandemic. Some flower types have been harder to get or take longer than usual to receive. So being flexible in the floral department is also important.
Know Restrictions
Don’t rely on anyone else to tell you what the rules and restrictions are surrounding Covid. Do your own research about required mask wearing, social distancing, and crowded gatherings. That way, you can decide if you even want to plan a pop-up wedding.
For example, if you already know that there is no way you can cut your wedding list down below 30, then you probably don’t want to get married now. If you know that you don’t want to look out and see a sea of masks on your big day….then don’t do it.
After you do your initial research, you are going to want to find out what your venues restrictions are. The difference in what is allowed between indoor and outdoor, different venue types, etc. is maddening. But once you have decided that you ARE ok with the general rules and regulations surrounding getting married during COVID, reach out to us and we can give you more guidance about the particular venue you are interested in.
You will be expected to follow any and all rules in place at the time of your ceremony and those could change so that is why our first tip is to be flexible.
Leverage The Situation
A lot of venues and vendors that you may not have been able to afford or even get in to, are allowing couples to rent their space for a bargain price. For example, we just did a pop-up wedding for 2 people in Malibu at a venue that is normally $30K! But the couple was able to get the space for a fraction of the cost since larger scale weddings are on hold.
I have photographer’s on my list that are normally always booked on weekends and now they have availability. So even though this situation isn’t ideal, you can focus on that silver lining. You may get something you couldn’t have in the past.
Be Creative
While this situation is totally not ideal, it has given people an opportunity to be creative with how they set up the ceremonies. For example, I have seen some really creative photos of bride and groom masks. I have seen a bride print out photos of all of her loved ones and placed them on chairs. I mean, if we have to be in this situation, we might as well have some fun with it right?
Postpone, Don’t Cancel
The Wedding and Event Industry has been one of the harder hit industries affected by this pandemic. So I speak for all of my colleagues when I say, when possible, postpone not cancel. Now I know there are exceptions, I have dealt with many. But postponing is the best option for everyone involved when possible. You won’t lose out on any deposit and you may be saving someone’s job as well.
Focus On What’s Important
Now as much as this sucks, and I’ll just come out and say it, it DOES suck…try to focus on the one thing that really matters. You found your person. Whether you get married now or a year from now, you have found what so many others are looking for and that is real love.
Over the last few months, we have had the honor of helping many people plan their pop-up wedding in spite of the pandemic. From front porch weddings to wineries overlooking the city, it has been so amazing to be a part of these couples altered plans. Be sure to check out our gallery for our most recent pop-up weddings so you can find some inspiration. If you are ready to get started planning your pop-up wedding, contact us today!
