With the spread of COVID-19, sadly, many couples have had no choice but to change the plans from the vision they originally had for their wedding. It can be difficult to navigate through everything as you try to decide what is best for you and your guests.

This situation is rapidly changing week by week- and sometimes day by day. If your wedding date is coming up soon, it’s a good idea to have a back-up plan in mind for you and your loved ones.

We wanted to share these options to consider, as well as some encouragement, as you move forward with planning your wedding:

1. Live Stream - At the time of writing this, the current guidelines from the CDC and the State of MS are to limit gatherings to less than 10 people. Live streaming could be a good option to have for guests who can’t be there in person. Your wedding can be streamed publicly for everyone to watch or privately with only your closest family and friends. Live streaming can be done by a family member/friend on an iPhone or professionally by your videographer. One benefit of hiring a professional is to free up your guests to enjoy your ceremony, rather than worrying about the technical aspects of a live stream. This will also ensure better quality. Many videographers already have live-streaming services available to add to your package. Including this for your wedding ceremony is a great way to have your guests celebrate with you virtually.

2. Same Day Premiere - Another option would be to have your wedding day (or just the ceremony) filmed by a videographer who can have the video edited and ready to share with your loved ones later that same day (or really any day after your wedding). It could also be meaningful to have your guests record their well-wishes and reactions on their phones while watching your premiere to be included in the edit of your wedding film by your videographer. You can use Facebook Watch Party or similar live premieres to release your video - in the same way you’d see a live video on Facebook - where guests can interact, comment, and all watch at the same time together. If you need any assistance in organizing a premiere or helping your guests be able to watch on their TVs, we'd be happy to answer any questions you may have. 

3. Plan Two Days - You could plan to have an intimate ceremony on your original wedding date with your immediate family, then a big reception on a later date or on your first anniversary. RD and I did this with our wedding five years ago, and it was really special. We showed our wedding video months later at our reception, and it was a big hit. Keep in mind, if you want to use the same vendors (videographer, DJ, photographer, florist, planner, etc.), make sure they are available on both days. Having a reception on a later date can actually be a lot of fun. You'll be less overwhelmed and have more opportunities to talk with your guests. It might not be your first choice, but during these times it could be the best option. You can still have your first dance, cut your cake, and have a great time with the people you love without having to postpone the start of your marriage. 

4. Reschedule - You may decide you don’t want to give up the original dream of how you pictured your wedding day to be, and that’s okay! Many vendors will honor retainers and payments towards another date in the future depending on their availability. It’s important to check with your vendors before choosing another date. This saves both you, and the vendors, time and money. Wedding industry experts are predicting a large amount of Monday-Thursday weddings in 2021 due to many 2020 weddings having to reschedule in addition to the Friday-Sunday dates in 2021 already starting to fill up. Setting your new date on a non-traditional day could be the key to securing your favorite vendors and preserving the original vision for your wedding.

5. Stay Positive - Keep your mind focused on your fiancé, your family and friends, all of the good things in your life instead of everything that’s going wrong. Changing your wedding plans could be a blessing in disguise and an opportunity to give back. You could even consider giving a portion of your budget to local organizations, ministries, or families being affected during this crisis. Whatever you choose to do, I can tell you from personal experience as someone who had a kidney transplant last year, keeping a positive mindset is half the battle of any difficulty you have to face. “For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord. They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29:11

We hope our perspective as videographers and wedding professionals provides some creative solutions for you if your wedding has been impacted by COVID-19 or other emergencies. There’s a lot to consider with any wedding, so our hearts go out to you during these uncertain times. We'd be happy to talk through any of these options with you- whether you are looking to use our services or not. If you need some planning inspiration or just want to watch some love stories to boost your spirit, pull up our Pioneer Channel on your TV! 

PS: There are tons of people struggling in different ways right now during this historic pandemic. If you have something specific we can be praying for, please reach out to us. We also film commercials/ fundraising videos for small businesses, churches, and non-profits.