We planned our wedding for June 2020. Then, COVID hit. So we postponed our wedding to 2021. I was upset, but I am picking myself back up so we can try this for the last time. I wrestled with documenting my experience of this. Family and friends encouraged me that I should.
Join me on the journey of Planning a Destination Wedding: Take 2?
Dear Mom planning a wedding again,
Honestly, I was extremely sad when COVID hit, and we went into lockdown in mid-March. My first thought was what about this damn wedding in June. Praying and staying hopefully I thought this COVID thing would be all cleared up by the time we got to June.
All March and early April we got a ton of questions from everyone if the wedding was still on. We were hopeful for so long. I watched the news and read the New York Times articles every day. Praying the situation would turn around.
Then late April/early May we made the call to postpone the wedding for an entire year.
Heck yeah, I was upset. I started planning our wedding in April 2019. We were supposed to have a destination wedding in Jamaica. Under the sun with good food, family friends and lots of dancing. Who would not be upset? So now we would add an extra year to the equation. We made arrangements with the travel agent and hotel to postpone. I told Pop I did not want to talk about it until the end of the year.
Planning frustrations continued…
I had everything planned out month by month. Imagine tons of to-do lists stuff in my purse. I was driving Pop crazy because I talked about the wedding every damn day. I was frustrated with COVID, and I wanted the wedding to happen so I could move on. Don’t get me wrong, I was excited about the wedding but planning a wedding is not fun.
Here are a few things I had accomplished:
- Wedding Website
- Bridesmaid’s dresses were waiting for arrival. Due to COVID, I had to personally pick them up from a mail holding facility. Then deliver them myself or mail them to all my bridesmaids.
- My husband finally decided on an outfit for him and the groomsmen. After searching for months. We did not place the order because we did not know what the future held even with the postponement.
- Most decorations were in boxes in our apartment.
- Mother of the bride & groom decided their outfits and were ordered/arrived.
- The wedding dress was at the cleaners for deep cleaning
- Potato’s outfit was in my closet (Now it doesn’t fit him)
- Flights purchased
- Honeymoon planned
- 80+ guest RSVP to attend with most flights booked
- The hotel was ready for us and our party.
Although I could not list everything, we accomplished a lot. We were 4 months out from the wedding. We were feeling good, but there were so many things that were still on the to-do list. Who could expect COVID to kill our vibes.
Here are a few things that were left to complete:
- The Wedding
- Bride & Bridesmaids makeup and hair
- Groomsmen outfits
- Last-minute decorations
- Gifts for our parents
- Photographer & videographer
- Favors
- Rentals
- Final numbers
- Anything else I could have forgotten
Making a final decision about the 2021 Wedding
In November, we sat down to have a real talk about if we wanted to do this again. Talking about the wedding made me cry. I was conflicted. I did not want to be bothered with trying again, not knowing if it would happen. Then, I also wanted the experience of a big wedding with our family. Although we are married, I still wanted the full experience. (Yes, we had a small ceremony so, we were officially husband and wife. I have another post coming about our ceremony.)
After a long talk over many nights, we decided let’s give it a go. We reached out to guests. Reminding them of the new date and that the wedding was still happening. We told them whatever they decide, we always appreciate all the love. On the bright side, we were able to keep the same deal with the hotel, including room blocks and prices. Amen!
The 2021 Wedding Plans
Here we are in January 2021. We’re 5 months away from the wedding. I am building my excitement again. My bridesmaids are definitely a great help with this. It feels like we’re starting all over again.
Here is a list of the things I’m currently working on:
- Staying positive, this will happen!
- Checking in with the hotel for any information on new COVID safety measures
- Awaiting new RSVP’s. We restarted from the beginning with this.
- Checking in on the wedding party and if they are still willing to be a part of the wedding
- Groomsmen outfits
- Potato’s outfit
- Check on the budget and reorganize where necessary
- Double-checking all the decorations we order, if we need to order more
- Recreating my to-do list of all the things that never got done. Then placing new due dates on this.
- Updating the wedding website.
- Buying flights again
- Getting my body right for my dress
As you can see, we still have a lot of work to do. I pray sharing my story with you will help other women and couples who are in the same situation. This definitely is not easy. This will also help me reflect on this whole experience. When I look back in July 2021, I want to be able to feel like I tackled the impossible.
For the Win (conclusion)
The moral of the story do not let COVID stop the show. Now more than ever, we need to celebrate love with our family and friends. We will definitely do this with the safest measures in place. Are you contemplating if you should have your wedding this year? I say, do it! We must do the things that bring us joy and fulfills our life.
I’m increasing my faith and hope in 2021. This WEDDING WILL HAPPEN!
Stay tuned to my wedding edition series. I will share more details on the wedding planning, what website I used, our first wedding ceremony, my dress, and debriefing once the wedding happens.
Will you join me on the journey of Destination Wedding: Take 2? Anyone else had to postpone their wedding? I would love to hear what you decided to do?
