WHAT DOES COVID-19 MEAN FOR WEDDINGS IN 2020? (UPDATED AUG 2020) – Lisa Hunt-Wotton – Celebrant
WHAT DOES COVID-19 MEAN FOR WEDDINGS IN 2020? (UPDATED AUG 2020)
Written by Amy and Mel from Wedspiration
The following article looks at the impact of the virus namely on people planning their weddings for 2020. This article has been updated on 2/08/20. COVID-19 is an ever-changing situation so for up-to-date health alerts and advice related to the virus, visit health.gov.au.
Dear Couples,
First up, let us begin by sharing our deepest, heartfelt sympathies if you’re currently experiencing stress and wedding disruption due to the Coronavirus outbreak. No-one could have foreseen this coming: a pandemic that’s affecting the entire world. It’s a *touch wood* once-in-a-lifetime experience. And yes, the irony of how in sync that is with the nature of weddings isn’t lost on us. We wish we could give each of you a big hug right now.
And just as we couldn’t in our wildest dreams have predicted an event like this, sadly too the non-existent timeframe for getting this virus under control leaves us hankering for an equally non-existent crystal ball.
If you’re Australian, you’re probably still scratching your head like us, confused and bewildered by the hand we’ve been dealt in the last four months. As if the bushfires of last summer weren’t challenging enough, now we find ourselves facing a life-threatening virus too? We recently saw a meme that said “Who pissed off 2020?”. Exactly.
Over the last few months, we’ve been responding to a large number of queries from concerned couples desperately seeking guidance on what to do right now. We don’t have all the answers. But we’ll do our very best to help provide whatever insights and advice we can. This is the basis of this article.
Before we go any further though, we just want you know that we’ve been inspired by you guys – the positivity that so many of you are sharing right now is amazing. And we’re proud of the way that our industry peers are approaching the situation: largely with compassion, flexibility, and understanding. Many small businesses are struggling right now. But we’re all in this together and working toward a common goal – to get you guys hitched and having the best damn day ever, even if that day takes place a little later than originally planned.
>> COVID-19 And Weddings – The Latest Update As Of 2/08/20:
There are new changes and updates from the Australian Government for each state. Please note these rules and regulations are subject to change at any time with the uncertainty of COVID-19.
In general for all states, it’s worthwhile considering and breaching the topic of the following with your venue/vendors:
STATE-BY-STATE BREAKDOWN OF THE LATEST WEDDING RESTRICTIONS
NEW SOUTH WALES
For more information for NSW weddings, please click here.
VICTORIA
Fore more information for VIC weddings, please click here.
QUEENSLAND
For more information for QLD weddings, please click here.
For further details regarding cancellations, postponements and insurance for weddings in QLD, please click here.
SOUTH AUSTRALIA
For more information for SA weddings, please click here.
WESTERN AUSTRALIA
For more information on WA weddings, please click here.
TASMANIA
For more information on TAS weddings, please click here.
AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY
For more information on ACT weddings, please click here.
NORTHERN TERRITORY
For more information on NT weddings, please click here.
Here’s a topline summary of the things we’ll get into below:
Insurance
Postponements and cancellations
Restrictions
Proceeding as planned
Honeymoons and travel
Emotional burden
The future
We know it’s a nerve-wracking time for both couples and industry alike but we will get through it together. This is a situation where we all need to work collectively to be as compassionate and supportive of each other’s positions as possible.
If you were scheduled to get hitched in the next several months or even weeks, our hearts are right there with you as you adjust to the rapidly changing requirements surrounding gatherings in Australia and New Zealand. Hopefully this article provides you with some confidence to move in the direction that feels right to you.
The big thing we want to say is that when your wedding does happen, there will be new meaning to it. And we’d bet our bottom dollar that the dancefloor moves your guests will pull will be even more impressive.
If you’re wanting to connect with other couples who are also going through the same thing right now, please join our couples-only Facebook Group ‘Wedchat by WedShed‘. There is a huge number of supportive discussions happening, with wonderful advice shared.
So, let’s get into things in more detail.
++ Does wedding insurance cover COVID-19?
Unfortunately, it doesn’t appear so. We’ve reached out to multiple Australian wedding insurers and have heard back from one – the message was:
“Few policies covering weddings (or usual commercial activities) will cover a pandemic or infectious diseases so sadly few brides will have insurance protection if their wedding is cancelled due to the virus but the policy will cover loss through the all the other areas such as fire, death or injury to the bride and groom.
… we are fielding many calls from couples wanting insurance for Coronavirus – this simply isn’t available.”
We’ll update this section with more information as we receive it from other wedding insurance policy providers. We did hear second-hand (not confirmed) that one policy does cover cancellations related to Coronavirus. Though if true, this policy would’ve needed to have been purchased prior to Coronavirus being identified as an epidemic, and it’s not clear what the circumstances need to be in order to make a successful claim now. An alert was issued for the Coronavirus outbreak on 23rd January 2020, and we know that many travel insurers will not cover any claims made on policies taken out after that date, so in the absence of more solid info, we’d suggest it’s probably a similar scenario for weddings.
++ What about travel insurance? Does this cover for COVID-19 related changes?
Choice.com.au has provided this information regarding travel insurance and COVID-19:
Here’s further clarity on this, direct from Choice:
“People who bought travel insurance before the disease became a “known event” may be covered for medical expenses that arise from contracting the disease overseas, and may even be covered for cancellation expenses. But people who bought travel insurance after COVID-19 was a known event may not be covered for medical or cancellation expenses relating to contracting the disease, or from changes to travel plans that result from quarantine measures, for example.”
We understand this is a bit ambiguous. If you’ve purchased travel insurance to cover you for a honeymoon or even for an overseas wedding, you’re best to contact your insurer directly for the most relevant information according to your policy.
WEDDING POSTPONEMENTS AND CANCELLATIONS
++ Should I postpone my wedding?
As each day passes, we’re hearing of more and more couples making the voluntary choice to postpone their weddings. There are several reasons why:
The decision to proceed or postpone is largely personal and will depend on the restrictions in place for your state/venue and how that impacts the vision you have for the day.
We’d strongly advise starting the conversation if you haven’t already with your venue and vendors about how they’d feel if you were to postpone your big day, as well as gathering alternative dates that are available. We can guarantee it’s a conversation they’re expecting.
Here’s a sample email that you could send:
Hi {VENUE/VENDOR NAME},
I hope this email finds you well, and that you and your loved ones are safe during this difficult time. Due to the current situation surrounding the Coronavirus, we’re concerned about proceeding with our wedding and putting our guests and wedding A-team (you guys) at risk. We’re sure this situation has put you under a lot of stress as we know it’s impacting many people right now and our thoughts are with you.
Due to the uncertainty of the coming months and new restrictions placed on weddings, we wanted to touch base to see what our options were on rescheduling our wedding with your team. Is it possible to postpone the date and reschedule once this has all calmed down? We appreciate you are no doubt managing multiple couples in the same position as us – please let us know if it’s easier to have a conversation over the phone.
Looking forward to hearing from you,
Kindest,
{NAME + NAME}
++ What if I postpone my wedding but can’t find a date that all of my suppliers can service?
This is unfortunately a hard reality – it might be difficult or not possible to make your wedding work with all of the original businesses you chose to partner with, due to the volume of future weddings and postponements. We’ve got all our fingers crossed that these tips will assist you in finding a date that works for everyone:
For any of your A-Team that sadly can’t service your new wedding date due to pre-commitments, it’s unlikely due to the nature of cancellations that you’ll be able to expect your deposit back (see our next question) but many vendors will be eager to work with you to provide some sort of “credit-service” to the value of your deposit. For example, if your photographer can’t make your new wedding date, they might be able to instead do a family photoshoot with you, or an engagement shoot as a good-will measure.
++ I’m thinking of cancelling my wedding – what should I expect?
This will largely depend on the T&C’s set in the contract you’ve entered into with your venue and vendors. Most contracts require a deposit to be paid to secure the services of the business and often these are non-refundable at a certain time-frame (for example, within six months of the original wedding date).
Chat to your venue and vendors if this is something you’re looking to do. Of course, if you make this decision it’s absolutely fine – your wedding, your call, always.
We do know that the vast majority of venues and vendors would much rather you postpone your wedding date over cancelling altogether. And as much as we’re sure they would love to be able to hand back any deposits, the financial implications of this is just too much to expect of a small business (it’s why they have T&Cs in the first place to protect themselves), particularly given the fact that they’re already likely to be losing future business that will be taken up by postponed weddings.
Scroll back to the top of this post for a state-by-state breakdown of the latest restrictions in relation to weddings.
You can find the Prime Minister’s official statements outlining restrictions here.
++ Are marquees considered an indoor space or outdoor? What if the sides are up?
From what we understand, marquees constitute an indoor space, according to the government’s online statement.
“An indoor gathering refers to a gathering within a single enclosed area (i.e. an area, room or premises that is or are substantially enclosed by a roof and walls, regardless of whether the roof or walls or any part of them are permanent, temporary, open or closed).”
Despite the fact that marquees can be erected outdoors, they still fall under the category of a single enclosed area, substantially enclosed by a roof (even if the walls are removed of left up). It doesn’t make a difference if the marquee is permanent or temporary either.
We know that prior to the recent announcement of wedding restrictions, many couples still hoped to proceed with their wedding by setting up outdoors. Given the expense of marquees and the limitations on weddings, it’s understandable that this will no longer be a viable option for many.
PROCEEDING AS PLANNED
Each state has different rules about how a wedding may look right now, and they’re constantly evolving. Many couples are forging ahead with their wedding and if there is a change in restrictions that means their wedding cannot continue in the way that they had hoped, then they are reassessing as and when needed.
However, that’s not to say that you can’t make things paper-official on your original wedding day, even if a postponement needs to happen. There are plenty of couples that are getting officially married on their original date with an intimate ceremony, with a big reception-style party planned down the track when they and their loved ones can let down their hair restriction-free.
Another suggestion for couples proceeding with their wedding is to live stream your ceremony via video for those close family members and friends who are not able to attend due to the restrictions.
++ What if the guests I invite to my wedding don’t want to attend?
We really feel for you here – of course you want to get married surrounded by all the leading people in your life, let alone a select couple. But given the covert nature of COVID-19 and the fact that it’s impossible to know who has the virus until they’re symptomatic, it’s reasonable to expect that guests may not feel comfortable to attend your wedding. They may have contact with kids, the elderly or immunocompromised people, or they may just be conscious of wanting to distance themselves from people until authorities say it’s safe to do otherwise.
While it can be heartbreaking to hear, our advice is to be completely understanding of your guest’s choice and to not let it influence your relationship with them. This is a time where we all need to respect each other’s autonomy.
HONEYMOONS AND TRAVEL
++ Should I book a honeymoon?
If you haven’t already booked your honeymoon, the most obvious suggestion here is to postpone it or travel within Australia once travel restrictions and warnings are lifted. Right now, Australian state borders are in a state of lock-down, and overseas travel is prohibited.
If you had already booked travel, some airlines are giving credits to flights, so touch base with both your travel partners and accommodation provider to see if this is an option for you.
EMOTIONAL BURDEN
OK, this is a biggie. And we want to spend some time here, because we have a lot. Of. Feelings.
We know it’s likely that you’ve been looking forward to this day for ages. Putting time, emotions, money and more into bringing an epic celebration together, only to have the rug potentially pulled out from beneath you. If you’re getting married in the coming months, the confusion about whether to proceed or postpone (or otherwise) can feel overwhelming and just downright devastating. We 100% empathise with you here – we know this is not how you wanted to be moving into married life.
On top of this, you might be feeling guilty or indulgent for even allowing yourself to feel upset about your wedding, given we’re talking about people’s lives and health being on the line.
What we need to say here is don’t. Know this: your disappointment is valid. We would feel exactly the same.
But also know this: no matter what happens to your wedding day in the short-term, it’s more important than ever to reflect on the things that are important to us as people, and that’s our relationships. The beautiful thing here is the very fact that you’re planning a wedding means you’ve found a life partner that you can depend on during the toughest times. It’s like you guys get to start your marriage early – just without the official piece of paper.
Focus on loving each other, keep communicating and know that when your wedding day does happen, it’s going to be so much more special having gone through this challenge to get there. If there’s anything we can take away from this pandemic, it’s the importance of taking stock of our loved ones and looking out for our community. This means when you’re smashing cake in your face at some point in the future and raising a glass of sparkling with those special people around you guys, there will be no better feeling.
THE FUTURE
++ Should I keep planning my wedding or wait until COVID-19 is over?
We know that Coronavirus is all-encompassing right now. But eventually, this will be something we can collectively put behind us. If you’re hoping to get married in the future, don’t stop planning your wedding – allow yourself to get excited, get inspired, speak to venues and vendors and get the ball rolling. Now more than ever, the entire industry is so excited to help you celebrate your love! And it’s not just for financial reasons; we all need some positivity right now and looking to the future and all the happy days ahead is as feel-good as it gets.
If you have any further questions, suggestions or comments, send us a DM on Instagram or ask our lovely couples in our couples-only Facebook Group. Our hearts and thoughts are with you and we hope you can remain positive knowing that you’ll have an incredible day regardless of when it takes place. We hope that you and your families stay safe and healthy as Australia navigates COVID-19.
With love,
Amy, Mel + The WS Team.
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