The lifting of COVID restrictions means that it’s becoming easier to plan a wedding. Retail stores are opening, vendors are available and meetings are now allowed between certain numbers of people.
If you’ve been holding off on your wedding planning then now is the time to jump back in! There might be a few things you do a little differently but there is nothing stopping you from planning the wedding of your dreams.
Here are just some of the items you can tick off your to-do list now that restrictions are lifting.
Before you head out…
The lifting of restrictions is amazing and we know that everyone wants a little bit of their freedom back. But we also all have a responsibility to be cautious and safe where we can be.
Remember to use hand sanitiser regularly and stay 1.5 metres from others where possible. Make sure that if you are seeing family or friends who might be at risk to keep your circle smaller at the moment. It’s also important to note that if you can have your needs met by a chat with a supplier online or over the phone then that is still preferable. At the moment, if you can stay at home, you should stay at home.
That said, we also know that sometimes you need to plan in person. If that’s the case, there’s no reason that you can’t do that in a safe and responsible manner.
Venue Tours
For those couples who haven’t been able to set a date because they haven’t found a venue, this is great news! Video walkthroughs of venues have been a great addition during COVID but we know that sometimes you need to visualise the space in person.
Wedding venues are now taking appointments for venue walk-throughs and tours so you can actually see their spaces in person.
Make sure you call your venue in advance and chat about when you can come in for a visit or meet-and-greet with your coordinator. Some venues are having fewer people in at once or don’t have staff on full-time so booking in advance is essential.
Make sure you sanitise before and after touching anything and physically distance from staff. Try to avoid having additional people come and see the venue such as parents or your wedding party.
Bridal and Formal Wear Appointments
Exciting news – you can go and try a wedding dress on! Retail stores are open for appointments so go try on that dress you’ve been eyeing, look at those suits or check out that formal wear for your wedding party.
Most bridal and formal stores are by appointment rather than walk-in anyway, and this is even more important at the moment. Make sure you book an appointment in advance to ensure staff are managing how many people can be in the store at once or what they need to do to sanitise surfaces.
The process of trying on that dress or suit might be a little different as well. Stores might have additional precautions like wearing gloves while handling formal wear. There may also be restrictions on the number of people allowed in the store. If you can’t have your whole wedding squad there, just grab one or two and Zoom or Facetime the others to get them involved.
Engagement or Wedding Rings
Retail jewellery stores are also taking appointments. If you’re recently engaged and haven’t had the chance to pick out a ring yet, then now is your chance to do so! Couples already into their planning can also take a look at wedding rings.
Gloves are going to be your friend here if you’re picking up rings to take a look at then. Chat with the jeweller about what you can or can’t handle beforehand. Many stores also have lines at the counter for where you can stand to ensure that you and your attendant are properly distancing.
Beauty Services, Hair and Makeup
It’s time to do a hair toss and check your nails because restrictions on beauty services have been eased.
Different states have different regulations but under stage two hairdressers, barbershops, beauty therapy and massage therapy venues can now open. They’ll record your contact details for safety and likely allow fewer people in (some are limited to up to 20 patrons) so make sure you book in advance.
You can also have home hair and makeup services come to your house. So you can have someone come in for a trial or just get ready for the actual day.
Marriage Celebrants and Rehearsal Ceremonies
Now that we can have larger gatherings it’s possible to host a rehearsal ceremony with your celebrant or actually meet up with your marriage celebrant in person.
Different states have different limitations on group gatherings so make sure you take a look at what you can do in your area. It might be possible to get your wedding squad, parents and celebrant together for a walk-through of what the wedding and ceremony is going to look like.
However, if you’re still chatting about the logistics of your wedding ceremony and can do this online, that is going to be preferable. Just because we can see people doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t be cautious. Organise a video chat, pick up the phone or send your celebrant an email to chat about logistics while keeping your distance.
Catering and Cake Tastings
Venues, caterers and cake bakers are now available to meet and get some samples from! While some caterers and bakers may be able to deliver your tastings so you can stay at home, you also have the chance to call them and see if you can book an appointment.
There is currently no evidence that coronavirus is foodborne so having food prepared by someone else is relatively low risk. Just make sure you’re still being cautious with other areas such as utensils. Stay sanitised, physically distance where possible and make sure you book in advance so you’re the only customer at the time.
Hens and Bucks Parties
For those couples who are having smaller weddings under restrictions then we have some good news for you. Your hen or bucks party does not need to be cancelled!
Sure, bars and clubs aren’t open at the moment. But you can still take a small group to a restaurant or have some people at your house for a celebration before your big (or not so big) day.
For those hosting something at home, try to avoid shared food stations such as grazing tables or buffets.
Wedding Cars
Car suppliers will be more than happy to show you around a particular vehicle that you might like. If you’ve found something online that you love then make an enquiry to book an appointment.
Climbing in and out of a vehicle is a bit more intimate so car suppliers are going to be more mindful of sanitising surfaces at the moment. Make sure you use hand sanitiser beforehand as well as after leaving the vehicle.
Photographers and Photoshoots
You can now meet your wedding photographer in person to chat about their portfolio or have a trial photoshoot before your big day. Under the toughest restrictions, photoshoots were difficult as you were only able to be with one other person. But now you can head out in small groups to have photos taken at your wedding or in advance.
Your photographer will know how to take good photos while distancing and also chat with you about the best locations. Outdoor locations like gardens and parks will be the best options here.
However, if you simply want to chat with a photographer about your wedding then it could b a good idea to keep this online. Remember, when you can stay home you should stay home.
Florists
Most wedding florists specialise in weddings alone and don’t have physical stores. So you still have the option of chatting to them over a video chat or the phone about what you need for your day.
However, if you’ve fallen in love with a florist who has an actual shop then you can now book an appointment to go and see them.
