When we dream of having our big day, we dream of a happy occasion, the finest food, being surrounded by friends and family and generally having the time of our lives. And while the person you are choosing to marry is ultimately the most important thing, it’s only natural that many of us want to make our wedding day as special an occasion as we can. If we think of any possible setbacks, it tends to be trying to sort out the seating plan or sorting out squabbles over bridesmaid’s dresses.
However, there are occasions when something more serious happens. Illness, redundancy, the breakdown of a relationship – all of these are factors that can, and do, cause weddings to have to be postponed or cancelled. And course, 2020 through the mother of all curve balls to all engaged couples, with constantly shifting venue restrictions and social distancing regulations playing havoc with the best-laid of plans.
No one likes to think about this possibility when planning their dream wedding, but when you are investing a significant amount of money into your ceremony and reception, you need to consider what you might do if everything doesn’t pan out the way you first imagined. Thousands of couples around the world are having to contend with this scenario right now due to the global Covid-19 pandemic, and with an uncertain future ahead, it’s wise to be prepared for all outcomes.
So what steps can you take to try and prevent the worst of the stress and too much financial difficulty if you do need to delay or cancel your wedding?
Always Get Wedding Insurance
It’s amazing how many couples neglect to add this rather boring little expense to their list – but you don’t want to live to regret it later. Yes, wedding insurance can seem a little unromantic, and also an easy thing to skip when you’re trying to stick to a wedding budget. And yet it can save you a whole heap of stress and debt if things don’t go according to plan. Getting wedding insurance is the best method of protecting yourself and the financial investment you’ve made into the occasion. It doesn’t matter what the original budget or the scale of your planned wedding was, wedding insurance is a worthwhile purchase and is generally a small cost for the peace of mind it can bring. Lots of providers now offer it, so shop around to make sure you get the best deal. You’ll find that you can get different levels of cover, so you should be able to find a balance between the coverage you need and the cost of the policy. As well as financially protecting you if your day has to be cancelled, many policies also contain extra coverage against specific setbacks such as a supplier not turning up on the day, or your wedding dress getting accidentally ruined. Insurance can keep your stress levels manageable if you have to face a difficult situation where emotions will already be running high.
Check The Small Print
Everything you book for your wedding comes with a contract, from the hire of your wedding venue through to the hotel bookings for the bachelor party, so make it your job to read through it carefully. Although it can be tempting to skip the boring task of wading through paragraphs of legal speak, doing so is highly important when you’re paying out deposits. Everything may seem standard at the time, but usually it’s only when you’re trying to desperately cancel suppliers that you’ll run the risk of getting snagged on clauses you hadn’t noticed before signing up. Pay particular attention to any supplier restrictions, any notice period for cancellations and any mention of non-refundable deposits. These are a frequent addition from suppliers, and although they shouldn’t raise any red flags, you may want to keep a note on your wedding budget spreadsheet of any cancellation deadlines or what money you will not get back should you need to cancel, so that you immediately know what you’re dealing with.
Ask For Support Where You Needed
Getting married is an emotional experience in the best of times, and if something happens to derail the dream you had for your day, it can feel devastating. Not only have you lost out on something you’ve dreamed about and put time and money into planning, but it can feel as if your life is on hold as a result. It’s very natural to feel upset under these circumstances. Turn to close friends and family and let them support you – whether that’s just being a listening ear or a shoulder to cry on, or whether they can help with more practical aspects like letting other guests know the plans have changed. The support and sympathy of those you love can mean everything at a time like this. If you’ve had to postpone or cancel a wedding due to coronavirus, avoid getting too sucked in to all the news about what’s happening – as it’s only likely to make you feel uncertain, hopeless or leave you dealing with anxiety. Even if it takes a huge effort, try to focus on the positives about your situation and those who care about you. This can feel hard to do, but it’s definitely worthwhile to bring down your stress levels a little bit. Simple things like practising mindfulness techniques can also work well to ground you and stop you getting caught up in worries and what if’s.
Work On Your Perspective
Yes, it’s true that your wedding is a huge focal point of excitement and a great milestone in your life. So if it has to be delayed or written off, it’s very natural to feel all kinds of emotions from sadness, to bitterness to anger. However, once you’ve processed those feelings, it’s important to back it up a little. While something like this is tremendously disappointing, it isn’t the end of the world. Thinking about the future and understanding that those feelings will pass is important. If you want to, one day you will get married, even if it’s under different circumstances or even to another partner – and when your day comes, it might be even sweeter for having had to wait.
