With the coronavirus still around, the days are still uncertain. You’re wondering then whether it makes perfect sense to get married this year. Is it possible to say I Do despite the pandemic?
The answer is a big yes, and here are three ideas to make it happen:
1. Consider a Self-solemnizing Ceremony
Usually, a marriage ceremony involves a third-party officiant, such as a judge or a priest. But do you know that you can also skip this and marry each other?
States such as Pennsylvania and Colorado, along with Washington DC, allow you to do that, although rules can vary:
- They might still require you to get a marriage license. In some states, you need to send this back as soon as you sign it, which is after the ceremony.
- Some set conditions for it to be binding or legal. Other states cannot guarantee that they will acknowledge your marriage at all times.
- Often, you still need at least two witnesses.
On the upside:
- You can significantly limit the number of guests. You can choose not to have any guest at all.
- You can spend less on your wedding. These days, any amount you can save can go a long way.
- Practicing social distancing is easy even when you’re in the outdoors.
What if you’re in Utah and you cannot do a self-officiating wedding? Go to tip #2.
2. Focus on the Essentials
You can still have a wedding during this pandemic, but expect it to be a stripped-down version. To do that, focus on what matters to make it unique.
For example, you might need a professional wedding photographer. Those mobile cameras won’t still do if you want high-quality photos. Besides, you can’t miss the chance of capturing a special event amid a pandemic.
For your food, you have different options:
- Pick a small local catering service.
- Cook them yourself.
- Opt for curbside deliveries or takeouts.
If you plan to bring in caterers, make sure they follow health protocols of the state. You can do away with servers for now, but avoid sharing utensils with the guests.
If you have a yard or a garden, you can transform it into a wedding venue. With plants around, you can skip buying flowers.
3. Maximize Your Tech
In case you missed it, Zoom weddings are on the rise. This setup doesn’t have to make you feel sad or isolated. Today, companies such as Wedfuly are stepping up to help you, especially if you’re not tech-savvy. They can:
- Send paperless invitations with an exclusive link to your wedding ceremony.
- Create an online reception desk with someone who can keep track of who goes in and out of the “venue.”
- Set up a virtual meeting room for the wedding, depending on your number of guests.
- Stream your wedding to about 1,000 devices.
- Emcee your wedding or even create “same-day edits” and slideshows.
If you have some tech knowledge and you don’t mind something straightforward, you can do this yourself. Zoom allows you to meet with at least 100 people for free, although it has a limited time of only 40 minutes per session. Besides Zoom, you can use other platforms like Google Meet or Skype.
If you have drones, they make excellent tools for wedding video productions. You can then invest in good-quality but affordable editing software. Upload your video content online for your friends and family.
Weddings these days won’t be anywhere near similar to the ceremonies of yesteryear, but they are still possible with proper planning and realistic expectations.