Hi COVID/California Brides!
I need your expertise.
My fiancé and I have been planning a three day, “destination” wedding for 70 of our family and friends in Temecula wine country in March of 2021. Our venue property, Wedgewood Weddings, has told us they will not reschedule our wedding unless they are closed for our wedding date by the state of California.
With 100% of us coming from out of the county, 25% of our guests coming from out of state, three of my best friends being healthcare providers and both of our fathers having pre-existing conditions, I’m not sure it’s worth 36k to have a wedding that will not be well-attended. Wedgewood, like many other venues, requires a minimum investment whether or not enough guests attend to meet that minimum.
This is an issue for us right now, because our second payment is due in a couple of weeks. We are fine losing the deposit, but I don’t want to give them more of our business in light of their lack of customer service during a public heath crisis, and I’m not thrilled to be asking our loved ones to take an unnecessary risk next March.
We are thinking of scrapping the whole thing, and planning an elopement for 30 (our families are really that big!) in Las Vegas [which will cost around less than 10k]. We love to travel and I’ve always wanted a destination wedding, so for me, I’m good as long as we’re celebrating for the whole weekend!
Keeping in mind that Temecula is in a healthier place (read: Not as busy) than Las Vegas, along with the pricing, what would you do?
What would you prefer as a guest?
Other factors to consider: I already have a photographer, videographer, florist and Photobooth vendor. I would lose all those deposits, but again we don’t mind the money.
