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If there\u2019s one thing that a COVID wedding shows us, it\u2019s that no matter how unpredictable life can be, love shines through. With the right planning and adjustments, you can transform your special day into something truly magical. To help you out, we\u2019re sharing some of our top COVID wedding ideas and planning tips so you can have a perfect wedding day even in the midst of imperfect circumstances.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
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Planning a wedding during the coronavirus pandemic is definitely out of the ordinary. There\u2019s lots to consider \u2014 safety, seating, and catering are just a few areas that need extra thought. To help you figure things out, here are some of our best planning tips for COVID weddings.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
In most cases, weddings are still permitted during the pandemic \u2014 but your guest list will have to be smaller than you might have originally considered. State laws vary, so check current guidance<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0according to your state and reference this risk map<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0to help you plan accordingly.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n For some states, weddings and events are limited to 10 people in attendance while others have no limit. With health and safety in mind though, it\u2019s best to restrict your guest list to the people you absolutely want in attendance for an intimate wedding<\/a><\/strong>. Keep your wedding party small or consider not having any bridesmaids or groomsmen, and think about how many different vendors you will need to work with and how that might impact safety guidelines.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Design: Claudia Owen<\/p><\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n COVID has introduced us to the benefits of doing things online, and wedding invitations are no different. Sending online invitations<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0to your guest list is safe, efficient, cost-effective, and eco-friendly. It\u2019s also incredibly easy to choose a design you love and fully personalize it with your own colors, patterns, textures, and wording for a bespoke feel at an affordable price.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Go digital for all of your wedding stationery and find a design that you can use for everything from save the dates<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0and wedding invitations<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0to thank you notes<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Every “I do” moment is different, and that\u2019s still true even in these unusual times. Give your guests all the information they need to help them feel comfortable and confident at your event.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Make sure you share the basic safety and hygiene rules with your guests so there\u2019s no confusion. Increase the signage at your venue to help them find the nearest sanitization point or restroom. Let people know whether they\u2019re expected to wear a mask, or how far apart they should stay from others.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Even with guidelines in place, at a celebration like a wedding it\u2019s tough for people to consciously observe these rules \u2014 it\u2019s tempting to hug someone you love at a moment like this. To help everyone stay comfortable, some couples hand out color-coded wristbands that show whether they\u2019re open to physical touch or not.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Greenvelope\u2019s digital wedding invitations<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0allow you to\u00a0create a details panel and share all of this useful information and more with your guests. You can direct them to a page where they can learn how your wedding will look and feel alongside transportation and location information.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n If you\u2019ve booked a large and extravagant venue, it might suddenly feel way too big for your scaled back COVID wedding. If that\u2019s the case, look for creative ways to make the space feel more intimate.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n You could center yourself in a grand room and section off areas using drapes or faux hedges for a romantic, rustic look<\/a><\/strong>. If the venue has smaller rooms available, swap to one of those and deck it out in gorgeous decor. If the weather\u2019s looking good, why not opt for an outdoor wedding?<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Sometimes your feelings about your venue change, and that\u2019s OK. You might prefer to go in an entirely different direction and opt for a backyard wedding<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0instead.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Make sure you stay up-to-date with current safety guidelines for events and gatherings<\/a><\/strong>. The guide covers safety tips for guests and for your wedding vendors on key areas like hand washing, social distancing, and ventilation.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n On your wedding day, offer plenty of hand sanitizer stations or individual bottles for guests to use. You could also have custom face masks designed for your guests to use on the day. Give everyone lots of space to practice social distance. Move outdoors where you can, keep to small groups, and observe any requirements based on your state guidance.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n You can throw an amazing celebration and be together while staying safe. That\u2019s why it\u2019s important to reduce contact where possible. Instead of hosting a buffet-style meal, consider a plated dinner served to your tables instead. Swap canap\u00e9 trays and dessert stations for single-serve desserts and individual platters. Your wedding guests can enjoy the same delicious food with minimal contact.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n If you\u2019re set on having a cash bar where guests buy their own drinks, make sure it\u2019s set up to minimize contact between the bartender and guests. Also, let guests know how you\u2019ll handle drinks ahead of time so they can plan accordingly.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n If you feel comfortable with it and your guests would too, add some fun signage around the venue that acknowledges the reality of the current situation but still maintains a positive attitude. Play on the idea of coming together but staying apart, or that you want to share the love but not the virus.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n These COVID wedding ideas aren\u2019t for everyone, but if they are, these small touches of light-hearted humor can lift spirits and bring a smile to people\u2019s faces. Find or write your own quotes, then have them made up in a gorgeous font and display them as part of your wedding decor.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Another great way to add some light to the situation is to print a board or poster that displays all of your COVID wedding rules. Add some sweet illustrations or use a fun way to describe distance (like the length of an animal) to playfully share these all-important details.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n With restrictions in place, you might not be able to have everyone you want at your ceremony. Sometimes that includes people who would\u2019ve given a speech or toast. Involve them in a sweet way by asking them to record a speech for you to play on the day.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n This is a lovely COVID wedding idea that lets you involve someone special who can\u2019t be there for your nuptials. You can have fun picking out a wedding poem<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0or speech together or ask them to surprise you instead.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Your COVID wedding won\u2019t look exactly like the one you\u2019d always planned for, but use it as an opportunity to be creative and focus on the details to create an immersive experience.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Pick out a handful of ceremony or reception details that mean the most to you, and invest more of your budget, creativity, and time into them. You might decide to splurge on gorgeous fresh blooms and bouquets, or spend a little more than you had anticipated on your wedding dress.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n You could also invest in creating a fun experience for your guests. Transform your wedding venue with a themed reception, or go all-out with personalization and spoil your guests with what feels like a truly bespoke VIP experience.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n With ongoing uncertainty around COVID, you might decide a traditional wedding isn\u2019t what you want anymore. In that case, here are some lovely alternative COVID wedding ideas to consider. If you do decide to switch things up, send your guests a sweet and simple wedding update<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0about your postponement or change of plans.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Since you might not be able to get everyone you want to your wedding venue, invite them to attend from the comfort of their own home with a virtual wedding.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n This is a practical way to involve all of your guests on your scheduled date instead of postponing your wedding date or opting for a more intimate ceremony. Invest in the right platform to livestream your wedding, or get the help of a professional team to share your ceremony with loved ones.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n If your state guidelines require you to limit your guest list, consider hosting a micro wedding<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0instead of your original ceremony.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n This small wedding trend covers weddings of up to 50 people or so, and focuses on creating a fun experience for those you invite to spend the day with you. Micro weddings can feature any theme and work great for any budget too.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Want to celebrate with a big to-do in the future but mark your original wedding date now? A popular choice for couples is to host a minimony<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0on their planned wedding date.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n A minimony is a mini wedding ceremony that takes place around the time you\u2019d originally planned to get married. Some couples hold just the minimony then a casual party with family and friends afterward while others hold a \u201csequel wedding\u201d \u2014 such as a big, traditional wedding reception \u2014 in the future.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n If your date holds significance for you, this is a sweet way to honor it and still have the party you\u2019d always dreamed of afterwards.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Design: Signature Greenvelope<\/p><\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n The coronavirus pandemic might\u2019ve changed your wedding plans entirely. If you\u2019re all about keeping things small now, an elopement<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0might be a wonderful way to tie the knot.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nSend Digital Invitations<\/strong><\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
![\"COVID](\"https:\/\/cdn.greenvelope.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/image2-34.png\")
Prepare Your Guests<\/strong><\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Make Your Venue Feel Special<\/strong><\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Be Safety Conscious<\/strong><\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Reduce Contact<\/strong><\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Add Some Light-Hearted Posters<\/strong><\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Play Recorded Speeches<\/strong><\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Invest in the Details<\/strong><\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Alternative COVID Wedding Ideas<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Virtual Wedding<\/strong><\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Micro Wedding<\/strong><\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Minimony<\/strong><\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Elopement<\/strong><\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
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