DD and her fiance sent an email to all the wedding guests, that the wedding is still on, but they understand if they can’t make it, just to let them know. I am trying not to spend too much time on the internet because it is making me extremely anxious.
@tx5athome, I hope your DD and her fiancé find that the most important people will be attending. I think being outdoors is a huge benefit these days, though I know travel may be challenging for guests who are planning to fly.
Here I am in “instant” wedding mode. My H has already blocked out the living room with painter’s tape for the chair placement for the ceremony and tables for dinner. I have many twinkle lights from the summer engagement party, my favorite local caterer needs business and is happy to help (and not charge me for anything until next Friday because, hey, things still might change), friends have loaned tables and the rabbi has chuppah poles. Florist (see below) will deliver a smaller bouquet for the bride and flowers for my house against the amount they are charging us for the flowers they have already ordered. Kids got their license today and actually seem to be getting excited about this new plan.
For anyone looking to patronize a brewery in Westchester when this is all over I highly recommend Captain Lawrence in Elmsford. They have been amazing through all of this, even refunding our deposit for the rehearsal dinner without being asked. Our florist has only asked to be paid currently for flowers already on their way and will apply the balance as a credit to the order for the wedding in August. Best of a bad situation. And the venue moved everything to an available August date and even proactively emailed all our hotel guests (it’s an “all in one” place) to cancel the reservations so no one could forget and be left holding a room. All the other vendors (band, hair/makeup, photographer) have that date free - some luck in this whole thing. And the photographer is available Saturday to come for a couple of hours to capture the wedding ceremony and first look. Whew.
I will be thinking about @fretfulmother this weekend (she’s probably in NJ already) and crossing my fingers for full attendance, @tx5athome.
@runnersmom- it sounds lovely. Happy for your family. I know someone whose daughter deliberately booked an immediate family only wedding weekend at an airbnb. They got married at the house and went out for lunch. It was meaningful, with lots of true “quality” family time. When we hosted our daughter’s 130 person wedding weekend, it flew by in a blur, though offered other fond memories. I do see a lot of what matters most in your plan. Plus in August, the focus can simply be on a great party. Enjoy!
My heart goes out to you @runnersmom and it sounds like a beautiful wedding to remember forever. Weddings from home are lovely. If we are up in Westchester we’ll definitely patronize Captain Lawrence.
My D’s Boston restaurant reception in May 2021 is up in the air. They will definitely be getting married at the meeting house, but with this pandemic, It’s not clear what restaurants will even be in business a year from now. Not a time to make commitments and put down deposits. If you put down a deposit and the restaurant goes under, you’ll just be lumped in the “general creditor” group and you’ll never get your money back.
I really feel for all of the couples who have spent so much time and money planning. But, they’ll be just as married! And have a tale to tell.
CDC just recommended no gatherings of more than 50. Our wedding is currently about 120 with maybe 20 of those coming from out of state. If the venue cancels they will still get married on 3/28; probably in my backyard. And then figure out the rest later. If the venue doesn’t cancel we will still go ahead with it. It is outdoors and we will do our best to social distance. We are trying very hard not to stress.
@tx5athome, I am sending hugs and whatever calm I have left. They will be married, that’s what I keep telling myself.
I just stopped by this thread to see how you all are coping. (I don’t have any weddings in my future.) Hugs to all of you trying to figure this out. And hooray for vendors who are flexible.
DD is a bridesmaid for an early May wedding in FL. Bachelorette party just canceled and wedding now in doubt. Bride is distraught. The planning has been over 2 years. It is a rough time.
Now that the recommendation is for no gatherings of more than 10, this is going to have an even bigger impact (if thats even possible). So sorry for all of you who have/had wedding plans in the upcoming weeks.
A client has/had a huge wedding planned for early April. As in several hundred. Feel so badly for them.
I had a neighbor who yesterday was still planning on attending a wedding in 2 weeks!
In NOVA
Her daughter who is a bridesmaid, lives in the U.K. and was still planning on coming.
Wedding was not canceled as of yesterday.
People are crazy. I really wonder what some people are thinking. Or smoking…
Things are changing so quickly that I don’t think anyone can really say what they are going to be doing in 5 days, 2 weeks, or in May.
Bars and restaurants are closed here as of tomorrow (open for take out) but I’m not sure people can get a marriage license any more (the info on that was unclear).
I am sending hugs to all of you who have been affected by this crisis. A wedding is supposed to be a celebration and Coronavirus is ruining the fun for so many. I have been reading this thread for years and have enjoyed hearing about your wonderful tips and plans and wedding reports. My own daughter’s wedding is planned for August. Surely her showers and bachelorette party will be cancelled or downsized. We hope the wedding will go on as planned but who knows!
Weddings are often years in the planning and I feel for all of you. Stay healthy and strong! Fingers crossed for everyone.
Well, DS and DDIL are married! It was bittersweet because almost no one from our side went (wisely) - I saw a distinct lack of social distancing on the other side, sigh. Our immediate family (me, DH, brothers) attended and left as soon as we made our toast at the reception. We did have some joy, yes, but boy was it totally different than imagined. Only a fifth the original planned size, with no auxiliary events.
Every time you think things couldn’t possibly get worse, they seem to. The rehearsal dinner venue cancelled. The venue did not cancel yet, but did offer a full refund, so we cancelled. With the New recommendations not to have groups greater than 10, we decided that was best. They still want to get married on 3/28; so we are in the process of figuring out what that will look like. Maybe they elope somewhere scenic with the officiant and the photographer. They may or may not have a party later. With all of the uncertainty they don’t want to plan and have it cancelled again.
@tx5athome - I’m so sorry. And I agree with your wording about things getting worse. DH unhelpfully reminded me, “in all those post-apocalyptic novels you read, remember how at first they’re worried that prom is cancelled and by the end, they’re worried they will lose a limb?”
@fretfulmother Congratulations, and best wishes!
Thank you @HouseChatte !
@fretfulmother, mazal tov! They are married!!! And @tx5athome, I hear you. This morning my S said he’d be happy on the roof of his building with the rabbi. It may come to that but not with the rabbi so don’t know who they’d get to officiate. State says no more than 50, WH guidelines say 10. Have to say, 10 in a 350 sq ft apartment is not equivalent to 20 in 2500 sq ft or outside. So, for now, we plan to have the wedding but I suspect that plan will change drastically between now and Saturday.
I’ve been thinking about all the people who have weddings scheduled - hope the day will be lovely even if not what was originally envisioned
@runnersmom - good luck to you guys!!! And, thank you 