Hey girls and boys, Sammi here once again to give you an wedding venue's perspective on travel delays, interruptions, and your wedding.
Let me begin by saying my heart goes out to anyone who has experienced a personal loss because of the virus, and I hope you and your loved ones are getting the support you need at this time.
If you are a member of this website, it's likely that you live a life of relative economic and social stability - meaning the daily course of your life is not affected by gang violence, food insecurity, or homelessness. You're used to having the autonomy of traveling when you want to places you can afford, spending your social time as you see fit. There's a regularity and certainty about your routine, and when that changes, it can be very unsettling. And when it comes to a big project like your wedding, there are plenty of balls in the air at the best of times. If you're upset, scared or confused - I don't blame you, and you're not the only one.
But before you call your vendors in tears, here are some steps you can take to figure out your options.
First, read through the contract you signed with your vendors so you know exactly what the policy is about postponing or cancelling. Can you reschedule without penalty? Is part of the deposit refundable depending on how far out your wedding date is? Remember that your vendor's policies are designed to protect them against unforeseen circumstances. One of my clients called and asked "What is your cancellation policy because of the coronavirus???" Well we haven't created any new policies - that wouldn't make sense. Our policies do allow for postponement, but as long as we are able to provide the service you contracted for, we do not refund deposits.
Second, after you've decided if you need to postpone or cancel, contact your vendor and calmly outline what you would like to do. Believe me, it's not like we aren't sympathetic to what you're going through. Wedding vendors are just people like you. Some of us have kids who can't be in school, older relatives we're worried about, and of course, the worry of potential lost income. My husband and I were planning to go on a trip and sell our condo - both up in the air right now. A good vendor will be as helpful and constructive as she can. You could request future available dates to check with your family and friends (I've rescheduled two weddings so far this week) and ask about other ways your deposit could be used if you decide you have no choice but to cancel your wedding altogether. For example, our venue allows you to apply your deposit to a different event (like a family party, birthday, or catering). Florists might give you a credit you can use throughout the year, same with a bakery. Just don't get angry at your vendor. If you can't fly from Europe to your destination wedding in Martha's Vineyard, or your elderly relatives are afraid to travel, that's out of your control, but it's out of your vendors' control too. And they don't owe you anything other than what you agreed upon in your contract. They need to make a living and take care of their families just like you do.
If you haven't made any deposits yet, you may want to consider holding off until the situation stabilizes, AFTER you've read through your vendors' policies and understand them (don't get something? Just ask! That's what we're here for). Consider wedding insurance, but also dig through to make sure the coverage extends to this kind of scenario - an insurance company makes money by paying out as little as possible. Never part with a deposit that you can't deal with never seeing again, or that you're waiting on lottery winnings to pay the balance - if your vendor goes bankrupt and skips town, you don't want that affecting your future with your partner. Be sensible and don't take on more than what's within your means.
Overall, try to focus on the most important thing - your relationship with your partner. I had a client who cancelled a few months ago when she and her fiance split up (she's having a birthday party instead). At least you're not cancelling for that! If you are healthy and in love, count your blessings and work on getting through this together.
There's always someone who has it worse.
