Wedding Postponed? Here’s how to communicate changes with your guests.

Calluna Tips

Monday, April 20

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As we adjust and pivot the world of wedding planning amidst this global pandemic, we know that to many it means shifting plans for your big day. If you’ve had to postpone or reimagine your wedding because of the state of the world, we are so sorry. We wish more than anything we could wave a magic wand and make this all go away for you and your loved ones.  We can’t wait for brighter days ahead when we can gather and celebrate your love!

If wedding postponement is your reality, we want to make this transition as painless as possible.

We’re here to help! If your wedding is affected or likely affected by COVID-19, we strongly encourage you share your progress / thoughts / updates with your wedding guests – formally or informally. Communication is key as we navigate through this uncharted time – especially when it comes to weddings. The more frequently and transparently you can communicate with your family and friends, the better.

We’re rounding up a few of our favorite resources from the trusty corners of the internet to your desktop. We hope this is useful and we’d love to hear from you!


What to do your wedding date is not postponed but may be in jeopardy: 

Great! Let’s hope for the best but plan for the worst. Depending on your original date, your guests are likely wondering what’s going to happen with the big day and if they should continue to plan as normal. Send a message (your wedding website is a great destination for this!) reassuring your guest you’re closely monitoring the situation and will update them if anything changes. We love this boiler language from Minted that can be customized accordingly.

  • “As we all adapt to an uncertain time with COVID-19 (coronavirus), we are monitoring the news carefully. We are prepared to take every precaution necessary to make our wedding safe for our guests, even if that means postponing it. Our wedding is happening as planned, and we look forward to celebrating with you all on [date]!   At this point, we’ve been advised that a [month] wedding should be safe. Please RSVP and book your accommodations as you normally would, but check first for a lenient cancellation policy, which most hotels and airlines are happy to provide in light of current events. That being said, the safety of our guests is our utmost priority.
  • Please check our website and national and local public health websites regularly for updates. Please contact us directly with any questions – our contact information is below. Thank you for your love, patience, and concern.”

If you’ve already sent your invitations: Due to the fast moving nature before you have a concrete date, we’d recommend holding off on printed items for now. Wedding website, texts, emails + phone calls are the way to go!

If you’re about to send your invitations: Include this as language as an insert as you would an RSVP card or lodging arrangements. This will field most questions upon invitation receipt and tell your guests you’re on it.

What to do your wedding date is postponed and you have a new date: 

We’re so sorry. After you’ve taken some time to sit with this change, it’s imperative to let your guests know as quickly as possible. As we’re facing unique circumstances, there are no hard and fast rules around stationery etiquette. Our opinion is to get the message out quickly – either via e-communication or quick invite – and keep the channels of communication open.

Some language we’re loving from Green Wedding Shoes and Minted:

  • “Please mark your calendars with our new wedding date! We can’t wait to celebrate with you.”
  • “We changed our date and can’t wait to celebrate!”
  • “Don’t dust off your dancing shoes yet! Due to unforeseen circumstances, we are now getting married on [insert date]”

If paper products get your heart beating fast, you’re in luck! There are so many fun new postponement cards online. Most e-cards are editable or you can opt for a postponement specific card like this one from Minted or this downloadable template from Etsy.

Want to turn to the experts? We’re so glad you asked. Sophie and the team from Sweet Zion Paperie have put together a postponement package and they’re so beautiful you won’t believe this is a second date invite!

  • The team developed 5 different postponement announcements + coordinating RSVP cards to assist in these efforts (sneak peek below). Wording can be customized to suit your needs, but these designs are being offered at our costs. Each set includes address printing (for both outer + RSVP if elected) + as an extended gesture during these times, the team is offering mailing service (normally $150+ charge) for added convenience + expediency. All sets qualify for the most economic, first class postage rate. Thank you Sweet Zion Paperie!

Having a wedding in 2020 and not sure what to do?

We love this resource from The Knot for what they suggest each couple should be doing right now based on their wedding month.

 

As a reminder, all couples navigating the ripples of COVID-19 are welcomed with open arms to chat with our team for a complimentary hour of consulting. To get started, send us a note at hello@callunaevents.com with the subject line COVID-19 CONSULTING or learn more about this hereWe will get through this together!


Feature Photo | Laur Fernandez

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