DD had a healthy attitude re gifts. Both of them are 30 and have lived alone before so there was little they really needed. Her destination wedding was expensive and time consuming. All of her friends that made it to celebrate with her were gift enough. It was our pleasure to make it an enjoyable weekend. I don’t know how many gave her gifts, too. She is managing that.
Updates in the world of weddings potentially impacted by Covid-19. I spoke to my S and FDIL yesterday and she interestingly said that if they had to get married in our living room it would be her dream wedding. Apparently, it’s my S who wanted the big party. So, if necessary, they will be married here and we’ll postpone the party to a later date. They also have a back-up plan for the Thailand honeymoon that I assume will end up cancelled. Their attitude is great and that’s infectious too! 
On the practical front, we had to give the rehearsal dinner venue our menu and final count yesterday. Payment of 50% was due then. I inquired about flexibility assuming our numbers would drop as we got closer and the response I got was wonderful. Our “guarantee” is now not applicable, we can adjust the final numbers until that week and they ask for no payment until then since it’s easier than refunds. I would recommend this place wholeheartedly without even having an event there!
Next up is a conversation with the ceremony/reception venue but they’ve already indicated flexibility with the guaranteed revenue. Deep breaths…my sister got married two weeks after 9/11 - their honeymoon to Spain became a road trip to Vermont and they are happily married and looking forward to getting here for their nephew’s wedding!
@runnersmom A friend is cancelling her river cruise to Germany and Croatia, set to go in a few weeks. She’s usually remarkably immune to concerns. And she has the funds to get herself out of anywhere, if it were a major crisis, like war. But this is different.
Her top concern isn’t getting sick. It’s the quarantines. She’d hate to be stuck on the boat (a section of it) or in a random local hotel, not allowed to do anything.
She trusts local med expertise. There are fine docs everywhere. But not all staff speaks English. Or well enough for solid discussions about health status or even general conversations.
I’d think that might be a bullet for your son to consider. Being literally stuck, a bit on the helpless side.
It helps that Viking offered a full credit, good for 2 years, decide up to 48 hours before departure.
@lookingforward, that’s the tact I’m taking with them now! Hopefully, within the next 10 days, they’ll be a little more practical. I even offered to help make them whole, financially, to take that worry out of the equation, for things that are not cancellable or refundable.
In the scheme of world events this is so not important, but my S and FDIL decided to postpone their wedding. They will actually be married on the original date, 3/21, in my living room with immediate family only. We will plan the celebration for a date in August and hope things have settled down by then. It’s the only reasonable decision given current events and our location adjacent to New Rochelle, NY. Thinking of everyone else dealing with issues relating to making decisions in the land of the unknown.
It seems like the right decision, but what a bummer for all of you. These are strange times, indeed.
Yup, as of 8pm last night they were planning to go ahead, but with everything that transpired they decided to postpone. Also cancelled the Thailand honeymoon. Oy, my heart breaks for them but they will have a story to tell.
I’ve been thinking of you @runnersmom. Sounds like the best solution unfortunately right now.
Thinking of you @runnersmom!! We are starting to stress about our 3/28 wedding. Not in an area that has been heavily hit, and the event is outdoors. But some guests are coming from heavily hit areas. And things everywhere are getting crazy. Sigh…
@tx5athome - my coworker also has her wedding on 3/28 in SoCal at an outdoor venue. She wasn’t really that worried until I saw her yesterday when she said most of her family is coming from the east coast and she is already having people cancel because they don’t want to travel.
So sorry @runnersmom Hopefully the rest of your vendors will be equally understanding. The only good news is that the grace with which the bride and groom are handling the situation bodes very well for a long and happy marriage.
My D’s wedding is scheduled for Aug. – we are hoping that this calms down before then. We are also near the containment area in NR. They are reconsidering their planned honeymoon in Italy but will wait a couple more months to make a final decision.
It will be a beautiful, small and intimate wedding now. The party later to celebrate will be wonderful.
As hard as it was, the decision was made, and now you can relax a little…and plan this nice immediate family event.
@runnersmom My S said his friend made the exact same decision as your children and are re-planning their party for July. Difficult choices but hopefully good things will follow.
@runnersmom - that is a bummer but a good call to do now!
We are unfortunately a week before you (3/15) and we have had to just make a bunch of cancellations, including the aufruf (shabbat) - now only out of towners and meals separately in hotel rooms, no prayers, and the sheva brachot receptions back in our home town next week (two large parties). The wedding is about half its original size, but still running. The great-grandparents are calling in for their readings.
Thanks all, and I’m thinking of you @tx5athome and @fretfulmother. Our vendors have been amazing - for the most part no issues and everything rescheduled for August 8.
We’re all getting dressed in our finery, the photographer will come to my home for a couple of hours (and is rebooked for August for the shindig then), and we will have a wedding dinner catered by a local business who can use the work and who I’ve been using for 30 years. I will bake a wedding cake (my first). Somehow immediate family became immediate family and wedding party (like 28 people) but we’ve minimized risk and no one has to make the hard decision to cancel. The kids realized that while their closest friends said they would be there anyway, no one was going to have a very good time.
This is the best of a bad situation and in reality, it’s nothing compared to what’s going on in the world. They will be married - that’s what matters.
@runnersmom Enjoy every moment of your children’s two special days. Wishing you and your family all the best.
So sorry for the curtailed / deferred festivities. I have to say, though, it makes me really happy to read about weddings at a time like this. Sending best wishes to all!
Thank you! 
@runnersmom - what a process. Sounds like all rallied to create a meaningful, intimate event and it must be a relief to move forward with a plan that may well create the opportunity to have 2 great times that, ultimately, will embody the best of both worlds (smaller and larger).
Best to all who are rapidly re-grouping or in limbo. I know how hard it is to plan a wedding once; twice and turning on a dime is heroic.
@runnersmom - Glad to hear your vendors were willing to work with you, and the couple had such a good attitude. Wishing you a great celebration in August.