What a strange time to be getting married! Due to the ‘C-word’ scuppering most of this year’s plans, we are forced to find new ways of being. Many of us have stumbled upon fresh perceptions, reevaluated priorities and maybe even some big-life-realisations! We’re not here to grumble about the situation. We’re here with our top tips about what a post lockdown wedding could look like, and how you can make your day extra special.
Okay, so we’re suckers for finding the silver linings. But, hear us out, the potential greatness of this situation is that there are NO preconceptions about what a post lockdown wedding might look like. This is a whole new ball game for the world of weddings and you have an empty canvas to make your own. We teamed up with directory member Elwood Photography to bring you some creative ideas and solutions.
Is Live streaming the way forward?
1. Live Streaming Key Moments
However the lockdown exit progresses, there will likely always be some people that are unable to attend your wedding. Whether this is due to health concerns, travel restrictions or unrelated situations, perhaps live streaming parts of the day could be the answer, even now small ceremonies are allowed.
What each couple will need to figure out is how to make online guests feel included in the celebrations. This is up to you as it will differ from wedding to wedding. Remember, there are no preconceived expectations! There aren’t many photographers/videographers offering live streaming yet, but it’s definitely possible to do at high quality. When choosing a wedding photographer or videographer, ask them if they can help with live streaming.
2. Pre-record your first dance
Perhaps you’ve chosen to have a small wedding ceremony and postpone your bigger celebrations. Pre-recorded first dances could be a big part of post lockdown weddings! You could have so much fun filming, editing and sharing your first dance – AND it may take some pressure off you, not having to do it in front of people!
You may also like: How To Make Your First Dance Unique To You & How To Celebrate Your Nearlywed Day
Including online guests in your wedding day
3. Online Wedding Day box for Your Guests
If your post lockdown wedding day requires you to have online guests, make sure they don’t feel second class. You could send them a small wedding celebration box to help them enjoy the day.
Here’s some things you could include:
- An outline ‘timetable of the day’ with all the key links they will need.
- A little bottle of something nice to help them celebrate
- A slice of wedding cake
- The wedding playlist
- A wedding favour
- A photo print
- A thank you note
4. Chat with your online guests
A simple Zoom call will do the trick! Interacting with your online guests means they will feel more included. Check out Beth & Jonty’s Zoom Wedding for online wedding inspiration!
Technology is your new best friend
5. Push your wedding Planning online with a wedding website
Given the current uncertain future, you’ll need to keep your post lockdown wedding guests informed about issues they may face on the day. Increasingly, couples have been using self made websites, or templates from third party websites, to push out information on their wedding celebrations. These can be really helpful in letting people know your safety arrangements.
You may also like: COVID-19 – A Practical Guide For Weddings Impacted By The Coronavirus
6. Post lockdown wedding photos
One of the most requested pictures for a wedding is the photo of all the guests together. This concept can be adapted to allow for online guests as well. Your photographer should have loads of ideas on how to do this – it usually requires a little bit of simple Photoshop work to bring people closer together than they are physically allowed.
This is also a great chance to encourage your on-line guests to get suited and booted because you could do a remote zoom portrait of each of your on line guests and Photoshop them all together! The pictures could then be printed in your album or a panoramic frame.
A wedding revolution?
The hard truth is that things may be different for quite some time, but please don’t let this virus ruin your day. The wedding ceremony is the most important part of your wedding day. It’s where you make your vows and declare your commitment to one another, whether this be legal, religious or in between. The rest is all on top of that. When we remember this, we can build from the bottom up and create something truly unique.
Rather than view this as a time of restriction, perhaps this as a time to be creative and find something even better than ‘normal’ for your post lockdown wedding. Press on with the celebration of love!
If you’re planning a wedding and looking for advice or a place to vent, you can join our Unconventional Wedding Chat Room over on Facebook for more advice.
Key contributor To This post lockdown weddings Blog
Elwood Photography
Tim Elwood from Elwood Photography is a North East based photographer with over 20 years of experience. Over the years, he has photographed hundreds of weddings. No budget is too big or small - weddings are a unique celebration of love and as such are to be cherished and treasured.
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