Having to cancel your big day due to the Coronavirus is something you would have never had to consider when making your initial plans.
As of March 23rd, this would have become a sad reality as weddings and other social events are banned indefinitely until the Coronavirus spread subsides.
If you were planning your big day between the months of March and July then it’s most likely not to go ahead. So what are the major and initial considerations? We’ve put together the following to help you out.
Wedding Insurance
Depending on the venue, this may only give you limited protection with many venues offering a rescheduling service only.
If postponement is a better option, then do it as payments may have already been made and you may not be able to claim these back with an outright cancellation.
Our Policy
We are currently operating under our ‘Conditions of Hire’ with regards to cancellations due to Coronavirus (The deposit is non-refundable). However, if you wish to reschedule your function for a mutually convenient date to take place before the end of April 2021 then we will transfer your deposit across to this.
Should you wish to reschedule your function after the end of April 2021, unfortunately you will lose some of your deposit (Rather than all as a gesture of goodwill) as this will be in next year’s peak season. We are transferring the equivalent of 10% of the initial total that the 25% deposit was based on. The balance of the 25% deposit would be payable on or before 4th January 2021.
Please let us know if you would like to move dates or cancel ASAP.
The Venue
What is the venue’s current policy in regards to postponement given the current climate? Have they published any guidance detail or contacted you? Once known, contact all your guests and make them aware of circumstances.
Your next step, once you have postponement detail is to contact all your suppliers and make them aware of the situation. Strongly advise them that you will get back to them with a new date as soon as you have one confirmed.
Your Options
Remember, if your wedding does fall outside of any containment date you could still legally get married on that date, then have a celebration on the first anniversary. That’s an option to consider.
Venues will operate different policies, a large chain will have procedures set in place now whilst a smaller family led operation may have bespoke methods in place.
New Date
If your venue agrees to a potential new date then begin the process of reaching out to all suppliers and making them aware of it. Wedding suppliers have been known to work together and in times like these we’re sure you’ll find them as co-operative as possible as they have themselves invested in your big day.
Double check also with your wedding insurance company and give them the new date, you may also have to give legal notice to get married again.
Your Stationer
Ask if they can resend out new date detail, on a new design to keep your guests up to date. Either via an email or Whatsapp group blast.
Websites
Use your wedding website to keep everyone up to speed also. The more mediums you can use to keep people in the loop the better.
But whatever happens, remember that this is all temporary and eventually you will get to marry the person you are in love with. It may not be on the day, month or even year you thought, but it will happen – and that is what is truly important.
