wedding day

Finding Opportunity in Crisis

 in Celebration / Ceremony / COVID-19 / Engagement / Wedding planning / Weddings  tagged COVID-19 / wedding / wedding celebration / wedding ceremony / wedding day / weddings by

Finding opportunity in crisis is a characteristic of resilient people. Our resilience is being tested daily as we continue to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic, especially in relation to the milestone moments in life. If you got engaged in 2019 or early 2020 you likely expected your wedding planning to follow a fairly predictable path. All of that got turned upside down when the pandemic reached our area in March of this year.

For engaged couples trying to plan a wedding in recent months the uncertainties have been overwhelming. How many people will be allowed to gather? Is my chosen venue even open? How can a wedding party practice social distancing? Will guests feel safe attending my wedding? Can family and friends travel for the festivities? When will this end?

All of these questions have caused stress for already engaged couples planning 2020 ceremonies. And then there are couples who feel ready to get engaged, but struggle to figure out how to even begin planning a wedding with all the uncertainties in front of them.

Finding opportunity in crisis is possible, however, so do not lose heart. Begin by prioritizing the elements of your wedding day. What is most important to you? The ceremony? The party? The dance? Having your grandparents witness your exchange of vows? Or simply being married and able to begin your marriage journey together? Depending on your answer, finding opportunity in crisis will be different for each of you.

If you want to be married most of all, you can consider a simple certificate signing in front of the legally required witnesses (and maybe a couple of other people). If you want a large gathering, including older friends and relatives, postponing your wedding day may be the right answer for you. Perhaps an intimate gathering with 20 or so people, including a sweet ceremony and significant vows followed by an informal meal where social distancing can be observed and face coverings can be worn may be perfect.

If you choose a certificate signing or intimate ceremony for now, remember that you can plan a larger celebration after the pandemic passes. That celebration can include a wonderful, personal ceremony, too. Wedding ceremonies usually serve the dual purpose of legally marrying you and voicing your commitment and promises in front of the people important to you. But those two purposes can be separated. You can legally marry now and share a wonderful wedding day including a ceremony honoring the commitment you made to each other earlier in private.

Finding opportunity in crisis means thinking outside the box, looking for different ways to accomplish your goals, and bringing creativity to your wedding planning. While there are benefits to being legally married, remember to honor your love and commitment with family and friends when circumstances allow you to do so. When this crisis passes, I believe that we’ll recognize and treasure the opportunities to celebrate life’s milestones with our communities of family and friends even more.

Dealing With Wedding Day Concerns

 in Ceremony / Weddings  tagged wedding / wedding concerns / wedding day / wedding problems / weddings by

Wedding day concerns are common and to be expected. Your wedding day is probably the largest and most formal event you’ve ever planned. On top of that, it marks a milestone moment in your life. Dealing with wedding day concerns in advance can make your day more enjoyable and memorable for you.

Some of your wedding day concerns can be addressed by putting contingency plans in place. For example, if you are planning an outdoor ceremony, what will you do in case of inclement weather? Extreme heat, cold, wind, or rain or thunderstorms can torpedo your dreamed of outdoor ceremony. But if you ensure that you have an acceptable indoor plan, you can roll with whatever weather presents itself on your wedding day. Since weather is beyond our control, it makes sense to plan for the worst and hope for the best, ensuring that you can enjoy your ceremony no matter the weather.

There are a number of wedding day concerns that you can’t plan for, but if you consider them ahead of time you will be prepared to gracefully roll with them if they happen. An example here is the common concern expressed by both brides and grooms, “What if I get emotional or cry during the vows?” My response is always that there is no problem with heartfelt emotion. Practically, the best thing you can do is take a moment to compose yourself and take a few deep, calming breaths. If you or your partner or an attendant can have a tissue handy, that can also help. Remember that a pause that seems incredibly long to you is likely only 15 or 20 seconds. Your guests will wait for you. No one is going anywhere until the ceremony concludes, and recognizing the significance of the moment with some honest emotion is never a problem.

A general wedding day concern is, “What if everything isn’t perfect?” It’s understandable that you want this important day that you’ve been working toward for a year or more to be perfect. But the fact is that there are many moving parts to the day, from the venue to the musicians, to the catering to the weather, to the guests. Most of these you don’t have direct control over on the wedding day, and odds are that something isn’t going to go the way you imagined. Once you’ve planned the day to the best of your ability it’s time to sit back and enjoy the ride. If something goes wrong, ask for help resolving the issue if possible, or just smile and roll with it. Sometimes those snafus make for memorable moments and great stories for years to come.

Considering possible wedding day concerns ahead of time allows you to plan for them where possible. And even just knowing about the possible problems before the wedding day can allow you to accept any imperfections and keep your focus on the important part of the day – making your public declaration of love and commitment to the person you plan to spend your future with. Everything else comes in a distant second. So keep your perspective and have a great day!

Wedding Trends for 2019

 in Celebration / Ceremony / Personalization / Trends / Weddings  tagged personalized wedding / wedding day / wedding trends / weddings by

Wedding trends for 2019 are all over the internet as planning for next year’s wedding season is well underway. While it’s helpful to be aware of new ideas and trends for all aspects of your wedding day, it’s always best to make choices that are comfortable for you.

You’ll find a wide variety of predictions for next year’s wedding trends, and some of them even conflict with each other. Here are three articles that are fun to read with ideas that are fun to consider for your big day:

From Brides magazine: https://www.bridesmagazine.co.uk/gallery/2019-wedding-trends

From Shefinds.com: https://www.shefinds.com/collections/2019-popular-wedding-trends/#slide-1

From the UK Independent: https://www.msn.com/en-xl/middleeast/life-arts/five-wedding-trends-for-2019-according-to-experts/ar-BBN8pto#page=1

You’ll notice interesting menswear options listed in a couple of them, along with ideas for bringing nature indoors for both ceremonies and receptions. But you’ll also see some ideas that are only mentioned in one of the articles: practical wedding gowns and tiaras come to mind. There are a few ideas that you’ll find in all the articles, indicating a likelihood that you’ll see them in many weddings next year. The standout one in this category is eco conscious weddings. What exactly that means to you, however, will be up to you to decide.

There are a couple of trends that I’ve already seen making their way into southeastern Minnesota and that I especially like. First, the relaxed approach to wedding parties where you surround yourself with the important people in your world regardless of gender or number. Second, and the increasing popularity of unplugged ceremonies where guests are invited to set aside their devices during the ceremony, sit back and celebrate with you. Both are great options to consider for your wedding day.

Reading up on predicted wedding trends for 2019 is an easy and fun way to find ideas to consider, but at the end of the day, you’ll need to decide as a couple what fits your style, your vision and your budget as you plan your wedding. You want your wedding day to be a reflection of you, not of some stylist, planner or magazine article, so enjoy looking at the wedding trends and then plan a day that will be uniquely and authentically you.