Tips for a Covid-Secure Wedding
The Roadmap ahead for weddings
The Road Map as we currently know it:
No earlier than 12th April 2021
Weddings of up to 15 people will be allowed.
No earlier than 17th May 2021
Weddings of 30 people to be allowed.
No earlier than 21st June 2021
All restrictions to be lifted on weddings from this date.
We know that everyone would have been impacted in different ways by the latest announcement. Whether it made you celebrate that your wedding day can go ahead, made you decide that whatever may come that you are getting married anyway, or, it has simply given you the opportunity to pick up that wedding planner and get back to it! Either way, hope and positivity has begun to flood back in and we couldn’t be more excited! So in this blog we are bringing our top tips to help those that are getting married over the coming months.
The reality may well be that it might not be the day you had planned, but that doesn't mean that a little imagination and creativity can't get you the Insta-worthy wedding you dreamed of. And while your wedding might look a little different, the love, joy and festivity of the occasion won’t; it will still be one of the best and most memorable days of your life.
So for those that are planning on getting hitched over the coming months, this is a MUST read for you…
1. Contact your wedding venue and Registrar/Church for their support and direction
You have made your decision and you are going for it, and we are with you every step of the way! We have been in such awe of our couples and their resilience over the past 12 months. It has been an honor to help every single one of them through this process and we couldn’t be more excited to get back up and running with weddings again (after all it is what we do best!). At this stage, it is a priority to get in contact with the registrars/church to plan the ceremony, as they will have their own rules and need the time to go through everything with you.
2. Contact your suppliers
Remember your wedding venue and suppliers are on this journey with you and there to help support. You chose them for a reason, and their advice and experience will become paramount. So check in with them, they will be more than happy to run through the day with you and how it can be just as special, if not more so.
3. The guest list
A smaller guest list does unfortunately mean you will have to make some tricky decisions. Currently, as of the 12th April, the maximum number of allowed guests will be 15. With an increase to 30 guests to happen as of the 17th May.
Fortunately, that number no longer includes your officiant; our recommendation is to keep those invitations limited to your closest inner circle. Whether you count that as your parents, grandparents, siblings, or best friends – think who you could not imagine being without on your big day and prioritise them.
For those who unfortunately cannot be there in person, consider inviting them to ‘Zoom’ in. Here at Coombe Lodge - our gorgeous wedding venue in Bristol, our couples have done just that – allowing those who could not make it feel part of the couple’s special day by watching them say their vows.
The extra detail…
Why not ask your guests to record a message for a digital guestbook, and share in your day by sending them a little bottle of champagne and a wedding favour and emailing the order of service ahead of time.
4. Food & drink plans
Our flexible approach allows you to choose a menu that will reflect your tastes and personality, creating the perfect menu for your day. Our expert team are on hand to help advise with your menu and wine choices to ensure stress-free organisation.
Do you have a favourite food you could incorporate into your wedding menu? Or a favourite drink?
For example…It can often be tricky to offer a complex cocktail menu to 100’s of guests, and is often too time consuming to consider. The great thing about small weddings is that you can go all-out when it comes to details. Set up a cocktail bar or create a special cocktail menu, you might even want to help mix your very own cocktail recipe for the big day.
5. The table plan
Your table plan will all of a sudden become very easy because this is created by your guests’ natural bubbles. It may work best to have up to two bubbles (up to 4 people) per table to allow for social distancing. By doing this will allow you to fill the space in our music room and spaces everyone nicely.
6. Make your own rules
The great advantage of a small wedding is the ability to plan it on your terms. Since you’re keeping the day intimate, this means opting out of ‘unnecessary’ traditions. An example here at Coombe Lodge might be cutting your cake outside during your drinks reception, surrounded by glorious kept gardens. Or doing your first dance surrounded by your closest friends and family in our charming court yard? The beauty of an intimate wedding means that anything goes.
7. The details
You’re with your nearest and dearest, so you should be able to make every last detail meaningful and personal to you. You can worry less about trying to please everyone and focus on including the things that make you happiest – so consider what those things are. It might be giving a small token, hand-made by you, to every guest; picking your favourite type of cuisine for the catering or having your favourite type of alternative music playing throughout the day. The team at our wedding venue in Bristol, are always more than happy to help with this and to help bring those ideas to life. After all, your wedding day is yours! So why wouldn’t you want to make it about you whilst being surrounded by those you love?
The extra detail…
Dancing might be out for your micro wedding, but that doesn't mean fun has to be. Why not set up lawn games—properly spaced out—so that smaller groups can have a some fun. In the evening why not arrange some games, whether that be a friendly game of Mr & Mrs or a quiz?
8. Have fun & let love win!
You've both been through a lot to get to this point. The stress, the worry, the anxiety, and the uncertainty. We are sure there have been tears, late-night discussions, and maybe even disagreements. But somehow, you've managed it. Your commitment to each other has weathered all of that and the team you have formed together has remained unshaken. That's something to be proud of. And that love is certainly something to celebrate. We promise that when you reach the top of that aisle and get pronounced as newlyweds, the moment will be just as magical.
But please don’t just take our word for it…take a read of some amazing advice from those that have done it themselves. Full of inspiration, positivity and creativity and helps show that a wedding during a pandemic, or with restrictions, can still turn out to be AMAZING!
For new wedding enquiries, or options for intimate weddings this year please get in touch with the team - we'd love to hear from you.
