Important Tips for Postponements

Photos: Postponement Announcement and Save the New Date by NooneyArt Designs.

In this time of social distancing, many people are having to reschedule their events. Many couples are facing that challenge right now as the COVID-19 pandemic has forced restrictions on large gatherings. Some couples have opted to have a private ceremony, and reschedule the formal celebration for a later date, while others have already chosen to reschedule the entire affair for the following year. 

If you decide to postpone, here are a few helpful suggestions.

1) Contact your vendors ASAP. This is priority one, since your vendors are the ones doing most of the work. Your venue should be at the top of this list, but you will also need to contact your invitation printers, florists, photographers and DJ’s or musicians. 

If you are using a wedding planner, they may be able to assist you in making the task easier by making some of the calls and going over vendor contracts. Your vendors will likely have a policy for cancellation and postponement. There may be additional fees for changing dates, etc.

2) Notify your guests. The easiest and quickest way to get the message out is to send a mass email or text and follow up with a new printed invitation as a formality. If you have a wedding website, you should also be posting any updates ASAP.  Below is an example of a message you can send your guests:

Dear Friends and Family:
We have made the difficult decision to postpone our wedding due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We will keep you updated regarding our wedding details. We are looking forward to celebrating together.
Love, [Couple Names]
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If you have guests that are coming from out of town, they may need to cancel travel and accommodation plans. To help your guests, you can supply them with any contact information they may need for changing or cancelling their reservations.

3) Announce your new date. Once you have decided on your new wedding date, you will want to send a new invitation to your guests. If you have a wedding website, you will want to update that prior to sending your printed invitations.