It’s been exactly one month since the first time I had to postpone a wedding due to covid-19 and start the process of re-planning several celebrations.
As you can imagine, the last month has been an emotional rollercoaster…
As wedding planners, we have our hands full AND our hearts bursting with more love than ever before for all of our sweet couples. We are navigating through these unknown times together and learning so much along the way.
Here are my TOP 5 LESSONS for all couples who are in the process of “re”-planning their wedding celebration:
COMMUNICATION IS KEY
This is the ultimate test. You and your partner need to openly discuss your mental stamina, enthusiasm, priorities, and urgency. If you’re planning in “fear” and no longer enjoying this happy journey, then pause or think about shifting to a more comfortable date.
Include families in deciding a backup or postponed date to ensure everyone is on the same page.
Allow your wedding planner to support you with email templates, suggestions, and contacting the venue + vendors. We have relationships that we have built with all of our vendor friends over the years and we can work closely together with our vendors to facilitate the difficult conversations and better understand policies.
Should your jobs be affected, budget change, etc- tell your planner and vendors if you need anything in your overall budget/design plans further reviewed or customized. There is no shame in any of this.
THE POWER OF PERSPECTIVE
We can’t control what happens to us but what we can try to control is our perspective and our reaction. Let’s repeat that so it sinks in: We can’t control what happens to us but what we can *try to* control is our perspective and our reaction.
TRUST YOUR VENDORS
The vendors our team typically works with are all kind, caring, and reputable people who truly care for each couple. They will each have their own policies and comfort level in terms of postponing. Support them and trust that they have your best intention in mind.
Hint: the more calm and approachable you are with your vendors (coming from a place of respect and gratitude), the more likely they’ll be more supportive and fair in reaching an agreement about your wedding plans.
RELATIONSHIPS ARE EVERYTHING
This has and always will be my approach to running my business. While profit is important, my heart is in it for the people. I will always be there for our couples emotionally and as a friend. We strongly believe in “turning clients into friends” (our team motto) and we mean it. We are here for you and we feel for you!
EMOTIONS WILL RANGE
I’m a logistical machine/taskmaster… (hence why I’m a self-employed wedding planner) but what I’ve learned more than ever is to be flexible with the planned to-do list and be patient.
It’s okay to feel sad and disappointed. It’s okay to feel unmotivated. There will be many emotions that range within a single day.
What’s most important is to talk through your emotions with someone. Or write it down. No matter what, don’t hold it in. The wedding planning experience is naturally an emotional one and the potential postponement is something none of us saw coming nor could have planned for.
I’ve always been very close with all of my couples, but this new journey is foreign and unknown to all of us. I’ve confessed to my couples that I no longer have all the answers and solutions as it pertains to this covid situation, but more than ever, I have an enhanced sense of empathy. While I can’t promise when this crazy time will be over and predict when we’ll return back to “normal”, what I can do for all of our couples is to be there with you in full transparency and having proactive conversations more often than before.
Thank you to all our couples for being so understanding and patient with us. Our team has attracted the kindest and most understanding couples, and we’re so grateful to be part of this special and memorable journey with you.
Whatever happens to your wedding plans, we will support you along the way.
Love, Hasti & the La Vista team
PS. If you have a friends getting married in 2020 and they don’t have a wedding planner, we’re gifting three couples with complimentary one-hour consultations to discuss anything covid OR non-covid planning related. All they have to do when contacting us is mention this blog post and we’ll be happy to help.