Coronavirus, micro weddings, and what happens AFTER we find a vaccine

It sounds easy enough to plan a wedding anywhere, let alone San Diego. But if there’s one thing the pandemic has made us all rethink- it’s how we view our ever-changing world. Finding time to sit down and identify the pros and cons of your most significant life decisions (ahem, marriage) is a pretty important one. And if you’re one of the many newly engaged couples during Coronavirus, right now might be the best time to figure out what will work best for you two. Remember the phrase, “the early bird catches the worm”? Let’s see if that applies here.

Plan a Wedding During Covid-19, or After?

Let’s look at some of the reasons why planning a wedding in San Diego, or really anywhere now might be a good idea for you.

The Pros of Planning a Wedding During Coronavirus

A smaller wedding usually means a smaller budget. If you’re hoping to conquer some financial goals like paying off student loans or starting a family, this could be an attractive option. Considering going on a nicer honeymoon to a more exotic location when we finally can again? Maybe you’d prefer to stay away longer? These are other benefits of spending less overall.

Cost

Not only do micro weddings mean potentially less money spent overall, but they can also allow you to spend your money differently. Looking to expand your food selections to an extra course, bring in a midnight snack, or offer a premium bar? Micro weddings can make this very possible for 20-40 guests, instead of 150.

Flexibility

A great article to reference for more information on how to plan a wedding during Covid-19 and micro weddings can be found here. In this article, you’ll find plenty of advice on how to decide if a micro wedding is even for you. There is also a helpful timeline that takes all the guesswork out of how to plan a wedding during Covid-19.

New Packages for a Different Kind of Celebration

Though many venues are currently closed to events, some venues that can stay open are now offering new packages that were unavailable previously. Before the world of Coronavirus, venues charged more per head because small weddings weren’t in demand. On average, most weddings have around 125 guests. To put in perspective from the venue’s side, a venue wants to make more money on a larger group in a larger room than less money on a small wedding in a large space. Now, the tables have turned due to social distancing guidelines that make it impossible to gather for 125 guests.

Micro Weddings from the Venue’s Perspective

Venues are trying to attract couples by offering lower rates now than before the pandemic. Another reason why venues can offer less expensive gatherings involves time. A wedding of 150 requires more staffing, more setup, and additional breakdown. Fewer guests require less staffing to make everything perfect. Micro weddings require less work on the venues’ part, and they pass on the savings directly to the couple. You could almost say that before Covid-19, the more, the merrier for events. But now, any wedding, no matter how small, is good enough for both sides of the equation.

Weddings right now aren’t non-existent, they’re just different.

Of course, it’s hard to forget that today’s weddings are definitely missing some major traditions. The most obvious would be the moratorium on dancing (at least in California). Though dancing doesn’t need to be at a wedding, some argue that it makes a wedding a wedding. Everyone is celebrating the new couple. Sitting in your seats for a cozy dinner conversation might not feel celebratory to you, and I completely understand why. The other obvious difference is mask-wearing and lack of socializing. Gone (temporarily) are the days when you could walk up to the bar, grab a drink and chat with a fellow party-goer beside you.

Another positive of having a wedding sooner or at least booking everything now is knowing the real-life cost. Once the vaccine is widely available, pricing might increase because of the demand. I’ll tell you one thing- the cost of having a wedding won’t decrease. The price to have a wedding of 40 guests now or within the next few months will not cost less in 2021 or 2022. However, if you want a larger wedding, then waiting until after Coronavirus might be your best option. But, if you can make peace with having a smaller affair, maybe it’s best to move forward and tie up your vendor loose ends. You (and your wallet) might be pleased you did!

“Opportunities are like sunrises. If you wait too long, you miss them.”

William Arthur Ward

Stay tuned for part III of this series for Friday. I’ll be discussing the other side of the coin- the pros and cons of waiting until after the vaccine to plan a wedding in San Diego, and possibly everywhere.