Lockdown weddings: I do or I don’t?

Congratulations, it’s time to prepare for the day you’ve been awaiting, anticipating and imagining about. There are venues to see and book, outfits to marvel over and menus to try. Yes, a dream come true for some and a shadowy nightmare for others. However, this nightmare just became darker. It’s lockdown. It’s difficult to see family and friends on Zoom when WiFi isn’t cooperating and some of us are adamant that the camera isn’t working (you know who you are). The carefully curated Pinterest Mood boards are not being used as originally planned and it’s challenging to visualise how to downscale a wedding to meet lockdown restrictions. 

Weddings are a time for get-togethers and joyous celebration to enjoy together. We at WedPlans feel that our launch could not have come at a more incumbent time. Even when the uncertainty and doubts spike, we want to make sure your special day flourishes. We asked our brave brides and daring grooms about their big day during lockdown and, like us, we’re sure you will be pleasantly surprised and uplifted by the responses. 

Here’s the low-down on weddings during lockdown. The highlights and the not-so-shiny, with some advice/tips confetti-sprinkled on top for future wedding-planning ease. 

1. The next-door neighbour’s cousin’s best-friend’s uncle was not invited.

Lockdown restrictions meant guest lists had to be evaluated, re-evaluated and then cut down again. Our couples said that this meant no ‘unnecessary’ or unknown guests and more quality time available to speak to and socialise with those who could attend. Sharing the day with your absolute closest and dearest made the day uniquely special and memorable. 

2. Not being able to invite the next-door neighbour’s cousin’s best-friend’s uncle.

Jokes aside, sometimes the more the merrier. One of the saddest things our couples experienced on their wedding day was the sting of not seeing certain faces present. Video conferencing like Zoom and Skype were a helpful go-to but definitely not the same as being able to embrace and congratulate in real life. Celebrating with your best company is what makes the day special and unfortunately, lockdown restrictions meant certain memories could not be made. 

3. It’s not all doom and gloom, especially for your bank account.

Having a smaller, intimate, wedding starkly cut down on the costs for 76% of our couples! There were some non-negotiables, such as makeup artists, catering, photographers and videographers. Though, sadly, no fancy cars to whisk us away to the living room or garden downstairs. With a small-scale wedding, an emphasis was given to perfecting the smaller details and making the home venue deliciously sweet, elegant and inviting with favours, table set-ups and décor being the most popular. A variety of food choices with an elegant, floral view was the most popular theme. The smaller-scale also ensured that all of our lucky couples saved money with 32% saving between £4000-£6000 and 42% saving more than £6000! That is definitely keeping the pocket warm for steps towards a first home or amazing honeymoon…as soon as it’s safe to do so! 

4. Accept and smile through the delays.

Despite all the negotiating, rescheduling and keeping calm to carry on, a lockdown wedding meant having to reshuffle and re-jig. Dates changed like true British weather, with restrictions easing and tightening. This was an exhausting and demotivating affair for both our couples and wedding suppliers. So, when the day did go ahead, it was a huge relief and a classic storybook happily-ever-after. 

5. How to have a happily-ever-lockdown-wedding-after.

We asked our couples to share some words for future brides and grooms planning their wedding. 

“Keep it simple. Keep it intimate. Don’t overthink it”. Having a home wedding is often “less stressful” and so make sure you take advantage of this by “making compromises” and “increasing in gratitude” for the things you can have rather than focusing on the things you can’t. There are benefits to this, such as having a unique and memorable day without the extortionate price-tag! And while you’re at it, try and “do it quick” before other complexities and restrictions arise. This also means we need to “prioritise people’s health and follow guidelines respectfully” as ultimately you want everyone at your wedding to be safe and well. This means being “willing to compromise” such as on the guest list and remembering that “there will be so many things that don't go to plan or you never expected but at the end of it all you will begin a new journey with the person you have chosen to marry”. This helps us to value what is truly important and the main reason for having a wedding.

We hope that after reading this, you also feel that lockdown weddings aren’t so merciless after all. There are lows, such as not having a big wedding at a picturesque venue with as many guests as you wish, but there are significant highs in having an intimate event that comes with calmness, simplicity and precious memories with your closest family and friends. 

Whether you choose to take the plunge and get married during the lockdown, or would like to wait and see, we at WedPlans hope to alleviate the anxiety of finding vendors and suppliers so that you can enjoy the start of the next chapter of your life.