Personalization

Wedding Ceremonies 2020 Style

 in Ceremony / COVID-19 / Personalization / Wedding Party / Weddings  tagged COVID-19 / livestream / Social distancing / wedding ceremony / weddings by

Wedding Ceremonies 2020 style have changed due to COVID. And the truth is that these changes may last well into 2021. So if you’re planning to get married this year or even next year, it’s time to move toward acceptance of that fact, and then plan a memorable wedding day. Memorable may not look exactly like you expected it to last year, but it can be special, safe, sincere and significant.

Here are some ways to make wedding ceremonies 2020 style safe and special:

  • Reduce the size of your guest list: This can be tricky if save the dates or invitations are already out, but everyone understands the situation. You’ll want to stay aware of all state and local public health requirements so you are in compliance.
  • Provide custom masks for your guests: These can be simple disposable masks in your wedding colors, or elaborate ones with your monogram embroidered on them. While an added cost, the reduced guest list will make this more manageable.
  • Small or no wedding party: If you’re only going to have a few people at the wedding, you don’t want them all standing up with you. You also avoid issues with social distancing of your wedding party by limiting attendants to only one each for you and your fiance(e). Better yet, opt to go without a wedding party at all, and keep the focus on the two of you. You can have any guests of your choice serve as your official witnesses.
  • Seat your guests by household, with social distancing between each group: You can use sofas, hay bales, chairs or any other seating to accomplish this, but some creativity here can create a lovely visual.
  • Invest in a streaming service for your ceremony: Since only a small number of your community can be present in person, it’s a great idea to have someone livestream or Zoom your ceremony. A professional can provide this service so all your in person guests can focus on being truly present for your ceremony.
  • For a punch of interest, try a reverse receiving line: At the end of your ceremony, have your guests line the aisle by household, socially distanced, of course. Spread them out so you can walk down the aisle without getting too close to them. Then turn from side to side as a couple, pausing to acknowledge each group with smiles, receive their congratulations, and exchange a few words. It won’t take too long with only a few guests present, and can provide a great way for you to exit the ceremony space.

Wedding ceremonies 2020 style are certainly different than the large scale extravaganzas we’ve become used to in recent years. But there are still opportunities for you to customize your ceremony and your day to fit your style. Keeping the health and safety of your guests in mind shows your consideration and love for them, and allows everyone to celebrate with you in some way. In January of this year no one expected that wedding ceremonies 2020 style would be so radically different from previous years, but your wedding will be memorable in its own way.

When Love Wins

 in Celebration / COVID-19 / Personalization / Weddings  tagged COVID-19 / wedding / wedding planning / weddings by

When love wins couples get married and begin their new lives together. When love wins compromises may be made, but the ultimate goal is achieved. In the time of COVID-19 it takes a little more creativity and flexibility, but when love wins there are smiles all around.

This is the story of a family friend and her fiance. Hannah and Yousef spent much time, effort and money planning their perfect destination wedding for August 1, 2020 in Italy. When COVID-19 ravaged Italy and then started its rampage through the United States, it became clear to them that their wedding would not take place as planned.

They first had to deal with the disappointment of abandoning their dream, along with all the challenges of canceling plans and dealing with deposits and retainer fees they had paid. After mourning the loss of their dream for a bit, they decided to keep their wedding date. They decided that beginning their married life together was more important than any of the rest of their plans. They chose to let love win.

Most aspects of their day changed as they planned their new wedding day – from the location, to apparel, to the ceremony, to the guest list, to the celebration. But they kept some of the flavor of the day they had planned. Hannah wore white, and Yousef looked elegant in his blue suit. Their day started with their ceremony, although it was in a Chicago courthouse not on the Italian coast. They were surrounded by their closest loved ones, even if the guest list was smaller than originally planned. They still captured special moments throughout the day with the assistance of a professional photographer, but the backgrounds were a bit different. Best of all, they capped their day with a wonderful meal at an Italian restaurant, in a nod to their original plans.

Hannah and Yousef know that when love wins they win, too. They begin their marriage now, but will celebrate their commitment to each other and the love they share surrounded by family and friends at a later date. When health and safety issues make a such a gathering possible, they will dress up, hear toasts to their future, share a meal, and dance the night away. They may even choose to exchange their vows again as they remember August 2, 2020 – the day when love triumphed over a pandemic – a wedding day they will never forget. Best wishes, Hannah and Yousef, for a long and happy marriage!

Connecting Elements of Your Wedding Day

 in Celebration / Ceremony / Decor / Guests / Personalization / Rituals / Unity Rituals / Weddings  tagged wedding / wedding ceremony / wedding guests / wedding rituals / wedding theme / wedding venues / weddings by

Connecting elements of your wedding day together is a great way to tie your ceremony, your social hour, your dinner and your reception into a cohesive unit. Better yet if you connect the elements in a way that is meaningful to you as a couple. You can use thoughtfulness and creativity to accomplish a truly memorable experience by connecting elements of your wedding day in a meaningful way.

Begin by choosing a venue that represents a shared interest or has significance to you. Perhaps you enjoy wine. Choosing a vineyard or winery as your venue is a great start. Or for the railroad enthusiasts among you, perhaps renting a train for your wedding day is the way to go. Let’s create connections using those two examples.

The vineyard/winery venue offers a ceremony venue among the vines, with wine barrels in place of tables for the unity ritual or program distribution at the ceremony. Include a wine sharing or love letters and wine box ritual in the ceremony, and you’re on a roll. The social hour can feature your favorite wines which can follow through to dinner with wines selected for each course of your meal. Perhaps your cake is decorated in the colors of wine (reds, blushes, and creamy whites) or has a wine themed cake topper. Consider a takeaway for the guests of a wine glass or even a bottle of wine, and you’ve succeeded in connecting elements of your wedding day from start to finish.

For the railroad enthusiasts, you can hand out train whistles to your guests to serenade you as you share your first married kiss at the end of your ceremony. Those whistles can be used at the reception to call on you to kiss, and then be the guest takeaways at the end of the night. You might have a model train running around the cake table or the buffet table, and even choose a train themed song for your first dance.

Many of the ideas for connecting elements of your wedding day are not expensive, but require a bit of time and creativity. They serve to personalize your day and share a part of who you are with your guests. Each couple is unique, so celebrate who you are on your wedding day!

Advantages of Intimate Wedding Ceremonies

 in Ceremony / COVID-19 / Guests / Personalization / Weddings  tagged ceremony / COVID-19 / intimate ceremonies / wedding ceremony / wedding guests / weddings by

The advantages of intimate wedding ceremonies are significant. With a smaller guest list options exist for all aspects of the ceremony. You might be opting for a smaller number of ceremony guests due to safety and health restrictions, or just because the idea appeals to you.

Either way, consider some of these options and advantages of intimate wedding ceremonies:

  • Choose a circle or semi-circle ceremony space layout. These connect you to your guests in a visual and emotional way.
  • Opt to forego a wedding party, simplifying planning and expenses and keeping the focus on you as a couple during the ceremony.
  • Invite guests to participate: identify someone to hold your bouquet and someone else to hold the rings.
  • Leverage skills and interests of your guests as readers, musicians or DJ for the ceremony, and even as photographer if you’re lucky enough to have a talented family member or friend.
  • Include spontaneous moments. Perhaps you want to speak to your families and express appreciation for their assistance and support. Or near the end of the ceremony you can invite them to voice their wishes for you going forward.

It’s not uncommon for couples to express concern about being the center of attention with all eyes on them during the ceremony. But smaller guest lists offer less of a “show” feeling to the ceremony and offer you less stress and more connection with your guests. Your ceremony can also be more intimate, sharing inside stories that family and close friends will understand. You can be more open and vulnerable to each other in front of a small group of close family and friends.

While large ceremonies have their own beauty, the advantages of intimate wedding ceremonies make them a great option for many couples. Whether it is to keep you and your guests safe in the time of COVID-19, or to best fit your personal style, make sure you discuss an intimate ceremony option with your wedding celebrant when planning your wedding day.

Making Personal Vows Relevant

 in Personalization / Wedding Vows / Weddings  tagged personal vows / personalized vows / wedding ceremony / wedding vows / weddings by

Making personal vows relevant is a great way to make them significant and memorable. Many couples want to write their own vows but can struggle to choose what to include in them. Including references to your life experiences connects you not only to your partner, but also with the family and friends witnessing your ceremony.

In 2020 the COVID pandemic is having an impact on all of us, and this recent article shows how some people might have modified thier own wedding vows if they had married in the time of COVID-19. Some of the vows speak to the general impacts we’ve all seen like shortages of toilet paper. Some are more specific to the couple, like references to Zoom meetings for work or personality traits that became obvious when quarantined together.

Even if you don’t want to use quarantine experiences in your vows, you can use the concept when making personal vows relevant for your wedding. For example, you can reference the little rituals and traditions you’ve established as a couple, or reminisce about funny experiences you’ve shared. Letting your personalities shine, and sharing specific moments from your time together will bring a smile, a laugh, or maybe a tear from your partner. Making personal vows relevant and significant as you make your promises to each other during your wedding ceremony will ensure the moment is memorable for you and your guests.