Everyone dreams of their wedding day, some dream of the excellent food that will be served that day, some dream of their wedding attire, and some dream of the wedding décor and some dream of all three of those. Well, I am the one who dreams of the three! Having been engaged for almost 4 years now, my fiancé and I decided to take the next step and go official. We decided to get married, but alas, the COVID-19 ruined everything, and all our plans were being killed one by one. The dream destination wedding was going to be cancelled, the gorgeous décor was cancelled, the amazing buffet was cancelled. When the lockdown was announced, I felt the worst and so did everyone, but then months later, we were back to it again, organizing my wedding in the great pompous way. Well, there was many things that changed and many tips that everyone had to remember because of the coronavirus.
The COVID-19 pandemic has hit the wedding industry incredibly hard. Venues are closing, vendors are going out of business, and couples are scrambling to reschedule or even cancel their weddings. You win, 2020. Can we throw up the white flag now?
But instead of wallowing in a wine-soaked pity party, we want to share some tips and resources. Because action is the antidote to fear, and there ARE things we can do right now to help us from feeling so powerless and out of control. So, to help you out, here are the 12 tips that will help you in organizing an Indian wedding.
Put together your wedding website.
A wedding website is the perfect way to keep guests up to date on all the developments and details of your big day. And the best part? There are some really beautiful, free templates out there for you to take advantage of.
Find the venue of your dreams.
Throw on your yoga pants, grab your laptop, and scope out the comprehensive lists of wedding venues on the internet. Find venues by area, budget, guest count, or style—from rustic barns to non-traditional industrial spaces and even woodsy retreats. And if you need to downsize your wedding, we have an entire section of our site dedicated to event spaces that cater to small weddings of 50 or less. See prices, get deals, and view lots of big, gorgeous photos + wedding videos that basically offer a virtual tour of the event space. Then, book a site visit right there from your couch.
Order or rent the wedding attires.
Rent the highest quality tuxedos and suits online without ever visiting a store! Choose the suit and tuxedo styles, along with thousands of colorful accessories to match your wedding color scheme.
Give your wedding party fashion freedom!
Take advantage of the mix-and-match dress trend by giving your bridesmaids the color palette/event style you have chosen, along with the freedom to pick their own ensemble. Your bridal party will appreciate your flexibility—and you will save loads of time on wedding party shopping trips.
Register for gifts or experiences.
While nothing is more fun than using that little scanner gun, couples at home should take advantage of the wide array of online registry options available. From honeymoon registries to websites like Blueprint Registry that let you add gifts from any store, cross this task off your list by cozying up on the couch and shopping entirely online.
Donate to charity in lieu of favors.
Let us be real: most of your guests will not be sad if they do not receive a tea light candle or glassine bag full of Hershey’s kisses. Instead of spending the time putting together favors, why not donate the money to your favorite charity instead? Then, put up a pretty sign at the reception letting your guests know how they were a part of it. You will not only save time, but you will also give back—and we call that a win-win.
Live Stream Wedding
If you are a modern, forward-thinking couple who wants to tie the knot NOW regardless of what is going on in the world, then a live stream wedding is for you! All you really need is a snappy internet connection and basic technology. There are a lot of great, free streaming services out there. Consider a platform like Zoom, Facebook Live, or YouTube Live. And if you cannot decide on just one, why not stream to multiple websites so your guests have options?
Coordinate Vendors
Even if all non-essential businesses are technically closed, your officiant can still perform the wedding ceremony entirely online. No gathering required! To make it legal, you will want to get your marriage license signed and mailed in just as soon as you are able.
Invite Guests
Since you are getting married virtually, why not go the digital route with your wedding invitations, too? Companies like Paperless Post and Greenvelope deliver elegant electronic invitations that emulate the experience of opening a “traditional” printed invitation.
Set Up
Put your phone or tablet on a tripod, open up the windows for some pretty natural light, frame the ceremony with some potted plants, and put some music on to set the mood. You may also want to have a champagne toast on hand to pop bottles post-ceremony!
Rehearse!
Do a rehearsal so you can be sure your technology and devices are all working properly, and you can easily navigate through the streaming platform. Test your WiFi connection to make sure it is fast and strong. Make sure the lighting is on point, make sure sound is getting picked up and there is no feedback, and that camera angles are capturing the right moments!
Pro Tip: Consider putting a trusted friend, family member, or wedding vendor in charge of the wedding day tech so you do not have to worry about it.
Dress Up
This may not be the exact day that you envisioned, but you can still be a vision on your big day! Choose to wear THE dress or go for something a little more casual (perhaps the dress you planned for your rehearsal dinner). Guys can throw on that formal tux or go for sharp jeans and a sport coat. You are the star of this show, so get yourself gussied up in whatever strikes your fancy!
If you are planning a grand wedding in the future months, then get in touch with Xclusive Designs in Etobicoke, ON. They specialize in designing and decorating any type of event, big or small. Their team of professionals provides a full-service approach blending planning with creative design, styling, and event coordination.