Weddings in 2021: What Will These Look Like?

Whether you're newly engaged or you've been waiting for a while, there are still so many questions that remain when it comes to 2021 weddings amidst a pandemic:

Will my 2021 wedding be allowed to happen?
Will I have to reduce the number of guests?
Should I consider postponing my wedding?
How will the vaccine rollout affect my wedding?
Will my guests be required to wear masks?

Carling&Carson-Rouge-Calgary-Wedding-Kaity-Body-Photography-Online-311.jpg

While we remain hopeful these future celebrations can return to normal soon, we've been closely following the recommendations, restrictions and news bulletins put out by health experts while we wait for the COVID-19 vaccine to become available for the general public. There is still plenty of uncertainty around 2021 and how we will be able to interact with others, but we have noticed some emerging trends and want to share our opinion with you on this year's potential wedding landscape:

January-May 2021 Weddings

If your 2021 wedding falls between the months of January and May this year, you need to ask yourself if you're willing to compromise your wedding plan to meet all the restrictions in place if you wish to keep your original wedding date. We've heard that some form of social gathering restriction is likely to remain in place until May 2021, or until the general population has access to the COVID-19 vaccine. Through personal experience, we know that a pandemic wedding is possible as we organized many over the past year. However, understand that a spring 2021 wedding will likely look similar to those in 2020, and not the pre-COVID weddings that you may have been dreaming of.

Through your decision making process, start thinking about what wedding details you can live without, and which ones you cannot. If you decide to keep your original early 2021 wedding date, some compromises that you may have to consider could include: all attendees wearing masks on the dance floor, plated meals instead of a buffet, assigned tables throughout the celebration, various reception restrictions and likely a reduced headcount. Essentially, consider that anything that may help limit the spread of COVID-19 could be a requirement at your wedding if you decide to proceed. Until the general public has access to the vaccine, you should consider implementing the same safety measures at your wedding that have been expected throughout the pandemic, according to your wedding location and local ordinance. If you're unsure where to start, ask yourself this question:

Are we willing to move forward with our wedding if the current restrictions in place remain the same?

If you and your fiance's answer to this question is no, we recommend that you start talking to your wedding planner, venue, vendors and invited guests about postponing to a later date.

June-December 2021 Weddings

If your 2021 wedding falls between the months of June and December, we wish we could tell you it will be smooth sailing from there on out! Unfortunately along with the rest of the world, we cannot predict the future or when exactly the vaccine will be available to the general public. If we had the data and information to provide you with specific advice on how to proceed, believe us we'd be doling that out like ice cream! However, we believe that this information will become readily available in the coming months, so we will eagerly await its arrival alongside you.

If you're planning a summer, fall or winter wedding this year, we encourage you to stay positive. Health experts and professionals around the globe seem hopeful that vaccines will be available to the public around May-June of 2021, so there is hope that we will see restrictions loosened, if not lifted, in the coming months. However, we recommend that you start having those conversations with your fiance and family right now about what compromises you're willing to make if the vaccines don't follow their intended schedule. You may be asked to pivot at the last minute, so while you're waiting, consider the following:

How many people are currently invited to your wedding? Are you willing to reduce the total number of guests if required? If so, what is the lowest number of guests you would be willing to go ahead with?
How big is your venue? If social distancing is still in effect, do you have enough room to properly space out the tables and all of your guests?
Are you able to have an outdoor reception or have an open-air tent?
If masks are still a requirement at your wedding destination of choice, are you willing to move ahead with the celebration? Consider how this would make you feel in photographs, at the reception, on the dance floor and the overall experience for your guests.
Are you planning to have a buffet? Would you consider offering a plated meal instead if the restrictions in place limit the movement of your guests?

If you're feeling overwhelmed, we encourage you to take a deep breath and sigh it out. No one could have predicted this scenario and there is no right or wrong answer to any of these questions. It is 100% up to you what you want your wedding to look like - COVID or not. If having a pre-COVID wedding is important to you, then you may have to be patient as the world adjusts and vaccines are administered. If getting married on your original date is important to you, then it's time to have those thoughtful conversations about possible compromises to make it all happen.

Or you may still be unsure what to do about your 2021 wedding - that's ok too! All we're suggesting is that you start having these conversations with all parties involved so that whatever scenario should arise, you are prepared. We know these are not easy decisions to make, but the added pressure of having to make them quickly when restrictions change can make the process a lot more stressful if you haven't discussed them and the possibilities already.

We know this whole process isn't fun or easy, and we're so sorry that you have to add more stress and consideration into planning your special wedding celebration. If you're considering a 2021 wedding, whether newly engaged or you've been planning it for a while, reach out to us for assistance on navigating the planning process through a pandemic. In 2020, we reimagined weddings as we knew them to continue celebrating the union of loved ones, and if we've learned anything, it's that the joyful art of celebration is no less meaningful with a small guest list or a socially distanced design.