Like you, I also did not plan on getting married virtually in the middle of a pandemic. Yet, here we both are! Your options might be to postpone the wedding or to stick it out and simplify due to the local restrictions on group gatherings. We chose option two! Now, like I said, we did not plan on having to simplify the way we did. We originally planned a traditional wedding ceremony along with a reception. We even secured the venue and other vendors. Imagine our surprise when all of our planning took a sharp turn. There are some pros to a virtual wedding though!
Pros:
1. If you have a video conference subscription large enough, you can have as many people tune in live.
2. Less money spent on a lavish reception.
3. You'll get to enjoy a more intimate setting; with your closer loved ones there with you live.
4. You'll have memorable stories to tell in the future.
Now, you're probably wondering, "Despite all of these pros, it's still a difficult thing to plan". I'm here to help you navigate all of the ins and outs of planning a virtual wedding you'll still love! First let's look at some things you need to make sure you can secure in advance:
1. A video conference service- Now, this is where we went wrong. So, I want to make sure whoever plans a virtual wedding double checks this. We used Zoom for our wedding. However, we did not secure a subscription that allowed the amount of people we invited. So, basically a large amount of those we invited couldn't attend live. Which was a bit disappointing. To ensure this doesn't happen, make sure you read your subscription plan carefully. And if you are using someone else's subscription, ensure that it also allows the amount of people you invite.
2. Photographer- You still want this day to be as memorable and as close to the real things as possible. So, securing this vendor will ensure that you'll still be able to capture all the heart-fluttering moments. Weddingwire was a great resource for us when it came to hiring vendors.
3. Venue- You don't necessarily need a breathtaking venue as your audience will only really see a small area of the background. We had such loving and helpful friends who helped us in every aspect. The couple who introduced us to each other had a lovely backyard that they allowed us to use. It was both sentimental and breath-taking!
4. Back-Up Plan (if you plan on having an outdoor ceremony)- To ensure that you're not stressing out the last minute, you'll want to plan ahead for a rainy weather scenario. Some helpful things to consider is perhaps renting/buying a canopy. I know Groupon has some deals. You could also designate another indoor location that you could move everything to.
5. Decor- This my favorite part! Though you can't control much, you can still have full control on the design aspect of this. We decided to create an arbor for our background and decorated it with faux flowers and chiffon fabric. It turned out so beautiful! We also placed "Mr." & "Mrs." signs behind our chairs to give it a little pop. It was simple yet it made the entire atmosphere just so much more dazzling. We also saved some money on florals by ordering bulk flowers from Costco and making our own arrangements.
6. Helpers- No matter how much you want to, it's impossible to pull even a virtual wedding off all by yourself. You'll need help! I'm very stubborn with this. I absolutely loathe asking others for help. But, looking back at my wedding, I don't see how I could have done it all myself without being extremely stressed out. We had our friends help set up the decor pieces, the chairs and the canopy. We received help with the flowers ( which I initially intended to do all by myself), controlling the Zoom aspect of things and more. It was really a team effort. I suggest you write down all the things that will need to be done either the day of or the week of. Then, write down who you plan on assigning that task to. Make sure you check with them first though!
7. Invitations- We originally planned on sending out physical invitations. However, given that our entire wedding would be on Zoom, we stuck with the “virtual" theme. We created an invitation template and emailed it to our guests. We used the website Zola to track RSVPs. You can also find some free invitation templates on the web!
8. Marriage License- This is definitely the MOST important thing to secure! During the time we first applied for ours, our local courts had restrictions that only approved application on an emergency basis. They eventually opened up to allow everyone to apply for it. The pro was that we didn't have to go in person and wait in the long lines. We could just send an application and get our certificate sent to us in the mail. Be sure you look up the process to attain a marriage license in your local area during Covid as they all vary. I’d suggest giving some wiggle room before your actual wedding to apply for your marriage licence. This way, you won’t be in a panic if it’s delayed.
9. Attire- You obviously still want to look your best on your wedding day. So it's still important to plan ahead for your attire. This includes your dress, suit, wedding party outfits, hair, makeup, jewelry, alterations and shoes. Some shops may still be closed for alterations due to COVID so I'd suggest inquiring about that.
10. Officiant- You'll still need someone to get you married. I've attended weddings where their officiant was also on Zoom. However, we chose to have our officiant be there in person with us. It's up to you and your preferences. It’s also up to how many guests you plan on inviting to be there in person. We limited ours to 15 people and ensured they were given adequate spacing. Back to the topic hand... I'd suggest looking at local guidelines to see whether or not your officiant needs to be there in person.
I hope that covers most things you'll need to keep in mind as you're planning a virtual wedding. Also, remember to breathe and take it a step at a time. You'll still have a lovely wedding regardless because you are marrying the person you love the most. And that, is the absolute most important thing. I look back at my special day, despite all the initial stress, with joy and pure fondness. I hope you can also do the same!
