4 Planning Steps to Get Married Now. Photo courtesy: Pat Furey

We’ve talked about deciding to postpone, how to postpone, and how to party safely after we get through this, but for some people, the time to get married is still NOW. Your reasons for getting married now vary: tax purposes, health care, perhaps you are ready to start a family, or you have just waited to get married for so long that you are done waiting! Whatever your reason, TGT has the 4 planning steps to get married now!

(NOTE: the following thoughts were updated on 5.13.20. In this ever-evolving time, please refer to your city’s current safer-at-home orders and CDC directions. TGT does not have a crystal ball or a medical license so the below are solely our suggestions as event professionals with the knowledge we have at this time).

STRIP DOWN TO BRASS TACKS

Your initial visions, dreams, and wedding expectations are gone. It’s okay to be sad. But as we remarked here, even if you wait to get married until we can gather again, the wedding you planned wouldn’t be the same now that we’ve all experienced this huge shift. So let’s strip down to brass tacks and determine- what do you NEED to make this day happen? It might not feel like a wedding as you know weddings to be, but what will make this event feel like a celebration?

Does anyone else beyond you two needing to be physically present?
Is WHO marries you incredibly important?
Do you need a change of scenery other than your living room?
Will it not feel like your special day without a father/daughter dance?

Once you identify these NEEDS, we can find out how to make it happen.

Photo Courtesy: Pat Furey Photography. 4 Planning Steps to Get Married Now

2. FIND STRUCTURE

The New York Times featured a great piece on rethinking your wedding and how to create intimacy and authenticity while sharing your occasion online. In this particular example, they suggest toasts from specific people, each toast planned ahead of time to speak on different topics. In short: Structure.

As we have all experienced during this time of quarantining, a lack of structure is cause for emptiness and anxiety. Just because your wedding isn’t Ceremony -> Cocktails -> Reception, doesn’t mean that you can’t have structure to follow.

Photo Courtesy: Pat Furey Photography. Florals courtesy: Mimosa Floral. YWbL’s 4 Planning Steps to Get Married Now

3. INCORPORATE YOUR VENDORS

For those of you who have already booked vendors for an original wedding, reach out to see how you could potentially still utilize them for your new day! So many vendors are creating new ways to celebrate their couples and save their contracts!

You can still have florals, you can still have cake, you can still have a photos, and your DJ can still throw an epic dance party on Zoom. A huge positive to come out of this time is seeing the immense creativity springing from vendors!

Photo Courtesy: Pat Furey Photography. YWbL’s 4 Planning Steps to Get Married Now

4. MAKE IT SPECIAL

For many people getting married NOW, their living room, backyard or front stoop is their new venue. But I encourage all considering getting married now to do what they can (while being safe) to keep things special.

Buy yourself a new outfit, perfume, or a shade of lipstick that is different than anything else.
Give your pets a bath so they are nice and ready for the celebration too.
Close the door to your kitchen so you don’t see any undone dishes.
If integrating online, set-up a sound system, outside of your computer speakers, so you are surrounded by the experience and not just looking at another Zoom call.
Treat yourself throughout the day. Whether that be with a nice takeout dinner, a favorite dessert, an at-home spa treatment or laying and listening to music- avoid anything that you’d handle on a normal day- make it SPECIAL!

Once we find out what will make this occasion special, we can figure out how to make it happen, that’s the easy part :)

If one good thing has come out of this epic societal shake up, it’s that we are reminded again of what is important in getting married… THE MARRIAGE.

It doesn’t matter how, when, or what you’re wearing. At the core, you are starting your life with your partner-in-crime and partner-in-corona. So let’s get married!

If you’d like more hands-on help discussing your options, TGT is now offering Covid Coordination, for anyone going through these tough times- TGT can help.