When to reach out to vendors

I sent out an “we’re still good to go about a month and a half out” to all vendors and asked about their contingency plans if we did have to postpone.

Then a month out from the wedding (april 18th) we decided to postpone so I emailed every vendor letting them know that we decided to postpone and I would get back with them on the new date asap!

Our wedding is the same day!

I just sent emails to our venue (they also handle, photography, DJ, Officiant, Bar, Cake and Catering), Hair & Make-up and Florist yesterday to inquire what to do if this continues through the summer. They all said right now we have to wait and see. They are all hopefully that we will be able to continue as planned. I think it is good to reach out now and see what their rescheduling/postponing policies are in light of the crisis and how that might affect your deposits.

I was contacted two weeks ago by the boutique I purchased my dress from to come get my dress because they are not an essential business and have to close. They did not want to leave the dresses there that were waiting for alterations while they were closed. Come August, I will have to bring it back for alterations.

You still have awhile before your wedding. My wedding is in August and I haven't even considered messaging my vendors with questions. They're having to deal with all the cancellations/postponements from the weddings that are currently booked for the closer months. I'd definitely wait until at least June to see where things are and to reach out to any vendors.

Our wedding is in August. The only vendor I emailed was our reception venue about 2 weeks ago and they still had high hopes that we’re still okay to have our wedding and basically said to wait it out a few more months because it’s too soon to tell. None of our other vendors reached out about postponing, but I’m assuming they’re currently dealing with couples getting married March-May. We’re not making any big decisions to postpone until June-July.

Hi Crystal,

There are some great suggestions above. I do recommend that you contact your venue and see how they're handling postponements. The COVID-19 situation is changing daily, so keeping the lines of communication open is important. That way, you can make decisions in a timely fashion.

Specifically, I would ask your venue about rescheduling options if it comes to that in October (or sooner). Could you place a soft hold on a Plan B date in 2021 for peace of mind? What's the venue's process and timeframe for postponing your wedding?

There are many resources on our website that may be helpful as you navigate the planning process: Our COVID-19 Weddings Advice Guide. You'll find articles like this one: What to Do About Your Wedding During the Coronavirus Pandemic.

And here's a discussion with other brides re: Wedding(s) October 2020.

Good luck!