We understand that this is a very uncertain time for all of us, but we recognize that for couples who have spent countless hours dreaming and planning for their wedding day, there are far more questions.

We took the time to chat with one of our brides, Heather, about how she is feeling regarding the current uncertainties and preparing for possible adjustments to her upcoming summer wedding.

Heather, thank you so much for taking the time to chat with us about the COVID-19 situation and your upcoming wedding. We would love to hear your experience as a bride trying to be prepared in this uncertain time.
Q. When is your wedding scheduled for?
A. July 11th, 2020
Q. Do you have a lot of people coming from out of province.
A. 2/3 of the invitation list are from out of town (USA, BC, International)
Q. How are you currently feeling about your wedding?
A. We’re in limbo, but we’ve had to remind ourselves that this isn’t just about us and as a bride I think you can be quick to forget this. But everyone is involved and in the same boat.
Q. What proactive steps have you already taken to prepare for possible postponement and/or plan B?
A. We contacted all of our vendors and talked about what our options are. Our venue is willing to accommodate a date change and honour our deposit (up to one year from the original date) and the other vendors that have deposits are also willing to carry them over to the new date. We have faith that people will be willing to work with us.
Q. Did you and your partner talk about the different options before you took these steps?
A. We did. We discussed what’s the most important to us. For us, it really comes down to the marriage more than the wedding day itself.
Q. How did you two decide what your postponement or Plan B option would look like?
A. We actually haven’t made a specific decision – we have options based on how things pan out. We’ve discussed the possibility of a “semi-elopement” in my parent’s backyard or an open field if there are still restrictions on group gatherings by July 11th, and then having the reception party later. We can have the ceremony filmed and live stream it to those who can’t attend, so they can still be involved. Or if the restrictions have lifted by our wedding date, we will move forward with plans as usual, but understand that some things will be different than expected no matter what, like grandparents and international guests still may not be able to attend.
Q. After you took these steps, did you feel more at peace?
A. We did and still do, but you we also had to let ourselves grieve the hopes and expectations, especially as the bride. It’s okay to admit that this sucks, and that there are going to be losses, even things like your bachelorette party or bridal shower. But be willing to change your mindset and accept things for what they are. Give yourself the space and freedom to do this.
Q. How much time did you spend taking these proactive steps?
A. Not long at all, it was just a quick email to most of the vendors.
Q. What did you determine is the most important thing to you?
A. There’s no wrong answer here, but for us we want to get married! Why should our life get put on hold from being able to shift into this next stage based on something that is short term? If you’re doing this for your guests, then think about them when you’re making your decision.
Q. What is your deadline to implement you plan B?
A. It’s dependant on the venue and the restrictions in place by the government. “The show must go on”, so we plan to make changes to the wedding, depending on what’s allowed, but we have every intention to still get married on July 11th. We’re just taking it one day at a time and being open minded.
This is great Heather! There’s so much peace in your voice even as we talk about all of this. Thanks again for taking the time to share your experience with us. We are hopeful that July and August weddings will see little effect, but we recognize that things are unpredictable, so being prepared is a responsible choice. We are so excited to be a part of your special day, whether it’s on July 11th, or at a later time when it’s safe for everyone.

If you have decided to postpone your wedding or want to be prepared in case you need to postpone, we have put together a step-by-step guide with some additional thoughts from other wedding vendors throughout the city. If you would like to get a copy of this guide or ask us questions, please email us at hello@fiorefineevents.com or fill out a form on our Connect page. We will send you a copy of our guide. This offer is for everyone, whether you are a client with us or not.