Should i just elope instead? (ca bride)

Awww I am in love with the idea of eloping at Lake Tahoe with your closest family and friends! Yes, Lake Tahoe has stunning sceneries and beautiful locations to elope. I feel that if you are planning to elope and have a celebration next year and your guest count is less than 50 people maybe you should still have your wedding this year? Again it is what ever makes you guys feel comfortable and happy. There are options for guest who don't feel comfortable attending the actual wedding to do it virtually as well. But based on how excited you are I can see the elopement would work so beautifully with you both. Maybe you can your elopement before your venue date and just have a celebration that day for those that choose to join you

A lot of brides are doing exactly that, especially with the original plan becoming a source of anxiety/uncertainty. Sounds like you're already leaning that direction

I'm also in northern CA. I'm actually shocked that the venue thinks things will be ok by October. CA is one of the states that has had a spike in cases, and our Governor is imposing restrictions again. Sounds like you're already leaning towards postponing, I think I would postpone if I was in your shoes. And Tahoe weddings are beautiful! Not to mention it has meaning to you guys.

Hi! We are located in Ventura County, CA and had a guest list of 50 for August 16th. Our venue went back and forth with giving us the go ahead, and then changed their mind over and over again. Talk about exhausting. Anywho, they finally told us everyone would have to wear masks, including us - during the ceremony. Which obviously is not ideal, so she recommend postponing which is what we are doing. I don't want anyone to worry about getting sick or put anyone in harm's way. Our 8 year anniversary is on 7/11, so we plan to get legally married on this day just with our officiant - no family. This way, we have our little intimate ceremony with just us, and a bigger celebration with all our friends and family as originally planned when everyone feels safe. Wishing you the best!!

Thank you! Yeah our venue is in El Dorado county (about 45 minutes from us) so it's very rural and hasn't had a big spike in cases. The last time I talked with my venue was the same day the Governor mandated the masks, so it was a few weeks ago. But now, since cases are still spiking, it's been stressful not knowing what will happen. I talked to my FH about eloping in Tahoe, and he says it's not logical to go to Tahoe (about 2 hours from where we live) and pay for an elopement, hotel, and then for a restaurant meal right after with our family and friends, when we're already locked into this venue and can't get our deposit back. I agree with him, it would just be another added cost, when we still have a venue to pay for. So I think we're just going to stick through it, and see what happens...

Yeah we live in Sacramento county, and our venue is located in El Dorado county (about 45 minutes from us) and the cases there have been really low. I totally know how you feel about being stressed an obsessed! I can't stop thinking about this wedding and all the extra little things I have to do, haha! I talked it over with my FH, and he suggests to just stick through it with our venue, and see what happens... If we decide to elope in Tahoe, it would just be more extra costs to find a hotel room, permit, and restaurant to eat at if we choose too. I honestly just feel cancelling the whole reception altogether lol, but we already put a deposit down on the venue that we can't get back. Before COVID, he originally just wanted a very intimate ceremony with just parents and wedding party, but I went a little overboard, and invited some extra people, so now we have about 45-50 on our guest list, wish I just stuck with his idea in the first place haha.

I'm surprised your venue hosted a 90 guest wedding too! What venue is it? Are you guys going to just stick through it too?

Thank you! Yeah having to wear masks, including bride and groom, would be a no from me too! Our venue said that masks are recommended but they won't be enforcing them on our guests. I am still going to provide some just in case though, but for sure not wearing one during my own ceremony. I am glad you were able to figure out a plan that works best for you!! 💖 For me I have to have my parents and sisters with me! I honestly don't think I can do it without them haha.

I feel the same way, about it just being awkward, and people would still be thinking about covid, and trying to feel safe at the wedding. But I think it's also a "know your crowd" type of thing. I know most of my family and friends will be focused on us, having fun, eating, and chatting. But covid will still be there. So I totally understand. No these are very valid opinions, and you are definitely not a brat haha. No one ever expected a pandemic will happen.

Yeah that's what we are thinking too. Even though I would love to just have a small ceremony in Tahoe, it makes more sense financially/logically for us to just keep planning with the venue, and if that doesn't work out, then we'll probably just switch everything to our backyard too. I'm also really over all this planning haha, I'm just stuck in the mindset that I want to stop buying all these useless decorations and stuff, and just elope somewhere pretty lol.

I would go forward with the 50 person wedding. There's no way to tell what the future holds. It could get worse or it could get better. My thinking is just having local guests and capping our guest list at 50. I'm in Lake county about 2 hours from you and we have had pretty low cases.

That's great news! I'm happy you were able to figure out a plan that works best for you and your FH! I'm sure next year will be a lot better, and by then we should also have a better understanding of what weddings will be like too! 💖