HOW TO MAKE THE BEST OF YOUR UPCOMING WEDDING IN TIMES OF UNCERTAINTY
With the way that things are rapidly changing at the moment, by the time you read this blog, a million different things could have happened. We could be on our way back to “normal”, we could be enjoying a certain sense of freedom whilst still being required to socially distance from our nearest and dearest, or we could be back in “lockdown”. Regardless of where we find ourselves, what’s certain, is that the knock-on effects of the pandemic are likely to impact our lives for a while, which is a pretty daunting thought for couples due to get married. But never fear! This blog is here to help inspire you to get creative during these strange times – all you need is a laptop/smartphone, and a little bit of imagination…
Firstly, it’s no surprise that many couples have had to postpone or even cancel their stag and hen parties (or however they’re choosing to celebrate), due to restrictions preventing many venues from opening and large groups from gathering. However, this doesn’t mean that you can’t still get your favourite people together and celebrate your upcoming wedding! Okay, so this will depend on whether restrictions have been relaxed or tightened when you’re reading this, but either way, you have options. If groups of a certain size are allowed to gather, think about inviting your besties to a socially distanced event in someone’s house, garden, or outdoor space such as the park. Alternatively, as a member of the bridal party, plan a surprise one for one/both members of the couple – what better way to cheer them up?! Bride to be Becky was surprised by her lovely Bridesmaids with a festival-style hen do in her garden!
They had originally organised a trip away for her, but seeing as Covid-19 had other ideas, they told her to keep a couple of days free and that they would sort the rest. A few of the bridesmaids took her out to lunch whilst the others converted her garden into a festival site. They had planned her outfit and she was greeted with a package with her invitation to “Wedfest”. The afternoon consisted of drinking and games, such as “Mr & Mrs” and “Who Knows the Bride Best?”. They had the best afternoon and she absolutely loved the surprise, so it just goes to show how far acts of kindness like this can go, especially at the moment.
Of course, it’s worth bearing in mind that you may need to go down the virtual route for this sort of thing depending on how times change, or you may just feel more comfortable doing this anyway, but this doesn’t mean that you can’t have just as much fun with your closest friends! If you all have access to platforms such as Zoom, then virtual celebrations are a go! There are loads of options when it comes to this, from a boozy night to a chilled one. For the former, try downloading some apps such as Picolo and Psyche – they’re bound to get you all giggling and break the ice, especially if there are members of the bridal or grooms party who don’t know each other as well.
You could also think about getting in the ingredients to create signature cocktails together, and maybe turn this into some kind of competition! Alternatively, if you’re looking for something on the more relaxed side, you could have a virtual spa and movie night, using platforms such as Netflix Party. Another idea, if you and your partner live together, could be starting your celebrations in separate rooms, and coming together for the end of the night! Whatever you decide to do, all that matters is that you’ll all be together, albeit perhaps virtually for the time being.
Image credit: Phil Harris Photography
Speaking of your bridal party, if you haven’t actually asked those special people to be involved in your wedding yet, now is a great time do so! 2020 has been a really tough year for many people; plans have been cancelled, jobs have been lost, and there’s a general feeling of anxiety surrounding all of this uncertainty…so what better way to cheer someone up, than by asking them to be a part of your special day?! There are a million different ways to do this, such as creating bespoke packages to send or deliver personally right to their door. This is something that you could create yourself (there’s loads of inspiration on Instagram and Pinterest!) or, if you lack the time or delicate touch (like many of us) there are so many businesses that can do it for you, whilst still allowing you to make it super personal. Check out @thevalecakeboutique on Instagram to see her beautiful treat boxes that can be personalised with messages and include a keep-sake tag for your loved ones to treasure forever. If you’re not able to deliver a package to them in person, you could add a note asking them to video call you before opening it, so that you can see the look on their faces! Not only is this lovely for them, but it’s a great way to support small businesses, who appreciate it more than ever right now!
Image credit: The Vale Cake Boutique
Finally, having spoken about some of the most important people in your wedding, now it’s time to focus on the two MOST important people – you and your partner! It’s been a stressful few months, so it’s likely that you’ve felt each other’s frustrations – especially if the pandemic has affected your wedding plans – but remind yourselves why you chose to get engaged to your special someone in the first place! Make sure to spend some quality time together – perhaps arrange regular date nights that you can do at home, such as cooking (or ordering in) your favourite dinners and snuggling up/dressing up for a movie/theatre night! You can still discuss exciting ideas for your wedding too, you may just not be able to plan for a specific date yet. You could also “recreate” aspects of your wedding at home – have your wedding breakfast, bake a wedding cake, get all dressed up, treat yourselves to a 3-course takeaway (Wagamama for starters, your local Italian for mains, then a Colin the Caterpillar cake for dessert… because why not?!) have your first dance, and party the night away with plenty of bubbly!
One thing that is certain in a time of otherwise total uncertainty, is that it’s more important than ever to show our loved ones how much we care – and there are so many creative ways to do this! Even seemingly small gestures will go a long way, so why not do something lovely for someone you love today?
