Guest lists will be smaller

Large weddings of 300+ people may be no more …at least for a while. Since weddings are typically large social gatherings in a limited amount of space, the risk of COVID-19 infection is relatively high. Travel restrictions may also hinder attendance. For future weddings, I am seeing a trend of smaller, intimate weddings of around 50 people or less – mostly for very close family and friends. Even if this pandemic is temporary, people might organically opt for smaller weddings in the future exemplifying the “micro wedding” trend.

Ceremony now, Reception later

Many couples are sticking with their original date and having a private ceremony, opting to reschedule their reception or host an anniversary reception later the following year. For most, ceremonies are about your commitment to each other and therefore — why postpone that? The celebration part can always happen at a later, safer date. Plus, with so much uncertainty around COVID-19 and large gatherings, the logistics of planning such a large event may be futile if plans might change anyway.

Communication is everything

Planning a wedding during a pandemic means that communication is everything. I can’t stress this enough. Sending updates to all of your guests in an efficient way is key right now, and working with a stationer who understands how to help you communicate changes and procedures is invaluable. As a stationer, I can tell you that couples are sending additional inserts regarding COVID-19 updates, as well as making sure their wedding websites are updated with the latest information. Here are just a few of the ways to utilize paper inserts:

1. Ease your guests’ worries with the health and safety protocols you’re making. Assure them that you’re monitoring the situation, holding your venue(s) to the highest standards of sanitization, encouraging physical distancing, and making sure you’re doing whatever you can to ensure the safety of your attendees.
2. You can use this space to enforce the use of masks (or let them know that you’re providing), encourage wearing gloves, and/or assure them there will be hand sanitizing stations throughout your venue.
3. You can get creative here! Illustrate the ways NOT to interact: hugging, kissing, dancing too close, etc. Remind those not feeling well to stay home!
4. Discourage guests from bringing physical gifts. Direct them to your registry and have them ship or mail gifts to you instead.
5. Direct them to your wedding website for the latest information. You can also include streaming instructions if you plan on making that an option for those who cannot attend.

Day of Logistics get a makeover

The format of weddings are definitely changing to adjust to physical distancing rules. Some of the ways couples are adapting to these changes are as follows:

1. Open-air ceremonies with physically distanced chairs or no seating so that people can space themselves out accordingly.
2. No buffet or family-style meals and no self-serve dessert tables/food stations. Instead, tray-passed hor d’oeuvres and cocktails will help alleviate crowds and lines.
3. Seating arrangements will be based on households instead of social/friend groups.
4. Escort cards no longer encouraged to avoid touching objects. Instead, seating charts will be utilized.
5. Programs and favors will be individually placed at each place setting instead of handed out.
6. Photo-booth props are no longer considered safe and there may be limits to how many people can use the booths at a time.
7. Hand sanitizing stations and PPE will be available for guests, as well as signage or floor markers to encourage physical distancing.
8. Dancing might not be encouraged (ugh, so sad), however, couples are opting instead for planned entertainment as part of their wedding programs. There will also be an emphasis on toasts and speeches as a result.

The good news? If there’s anything that this health crisis has taught us, it’s that human connection and the celebration of LOVE are more important than ever, no matter how (or when) you decide to celebrate it!

Have any of these tips resonated with you? How has this pandemic affected YOUR wedding plans? I’d love to know what protocols you’re making. If you have a moment, would you fill out this quick (~5 min) survey about your wedding plans? We are all figuring this out as we go… your feedback will be so helpful as I navigate how to serve my clients during the age of COVID. Thanks so much for reading! Stay healthy!

The post What weddings will look like after COVID-19 appeared first on Paper Mint Press Blog.

Free “Unsave the Date” graphic

With everyone (hopefully) practicing social distancing, it’s difficult to imagine a joyful gathering taking place in the next two months or so. I am seeing many couples faced with the decision to postpone their weddings and it’s heartbreaking. Even if the wedding must go on, we are seeing many canceled RSVP’s and smaller guest lists. If you are faced with postponing your event because of COVI-19 and are unsure about how to communicate this to your guests, feel free to save the use the following graphic. You can post this to your Instagram, Facebook feed, Email, or Text it to your guests.

If your wedding must go on, I’ve also written some tips about what you can do to safely enjoy your day amidst this COVID-19 outbreak.  In addition, I am waiving all rush fees for Day-Of Stationery for weddings taking place in March and April so that couples can sort out their guest list and logistics during this awful time. Hope this helps. Stay healthy, everyone!

The post Free Unsave the Date Graphic for postponed weddings during COVID-19 outbreak appeared first on Paper Mint Press Blog.

What to do if you’ve already sent out your invitations

If you’ve sent out your wedding invitations and unsure about your guests’ willingness to attend, there are ways to ease their minds and communicate sensible precautions:

• If you have a website, update it immediately with information regarding travel precautions as well as ways you are working to mitigate the risks for guests who plan to attend your wedding. Remind them that if they have ANY symptoms, it is best to not attend. Give them a link to the CDC’s website where information is readily updated.
• Consider lengthening the RSVP window so that guests can see how COVID-19 will play out in the next few weeks. With information changing daily, it’s impossible to make decisions about attending large events with confidence. Know that it might take your guests a little longer to respond with their RSVPs. Be patient and reach out to them if they go over the RSVP deadline. Most of my couples give until about a month before the wedding day (which is typically 2 weeks more than what your venue needs to know the final headcount), so give guests that extra 2 weeks to figure out their plans.

If they’ve RSVP’d “Yes” but now they are a “MAYBE”

• Be gracious and thankful that they let you know. It’s not ideal, and it’s difficult to plan for seating arrangements and headcount and the other million things that go into wedding logistics, but it’s for the best. Be prepared for any scenario (aka, plan for a smaller guestcount).

If they cancel their RSVP

• Hopefully it’s before the window of time before you have to let your venue know so you can adjust that headcount. If not, there’s not a whole lot you can do, unfortunately. Be patient and remain focused. This situation is out of our control at this point.
• Remember that they don’t want to miss your wedding.  Choosing not to attend is something they probably had to weigh heavily.
• If there’s still time to let your vendors know about changing headcount, do it immediately.
• Stay calm and focused. You are not in this alone.

If the wedding must go on…

Prepare, don’t panic! Some things you can do to ease your guests about COVID-19:

• Provide hand sanitizer stations throughout the venue with clear signage directing people to them.
• Have directional signage indicating where the restrooms are so people can wash their hands frequently.
• Have tissues and hand wipes readily available for guests so that they can wipe down any surfaces they come in contact with.
• If you have food stations or a buffet planned, talk with your caterer about what can be done to minimize the risk of contamination. Could you switch to plated service instead? Can you set a limit for the amount of people at the food stations at any one time? Is it possible to distribute gloves?
• Can the ceremony and reception venue accommodate changes in their layout to give more distance between guests as much as possible?
• If your wedding is taking place at a popular church or public place, talk to the venue manager about what their sanitation methods are after such gatherings.
• Have announcements made at the reception to remind people not to overcrowd food stations, photo booths, dance floor, etc. Reasonable social distancing should be taken wherever possible.
• Consider utilizing technology to include guests who cannot attend. Zoom wedding, anyone?

Communication is KEY

• Communicate with your coordinator and vendors as soon as possible regarding any precautions you want to take before and during your wedding day.  If you need to cancel or postpone your wedding, let them know early so they can make arrangements. Be aware of their cancellation policies. Many will have non-refundable deposits, so keep that in mind!
• If your venue and vendors can modify certain logistics to minimize people coming into close contact with each other, ask them! They can be as simple as passing out gloves at food stations, or rearranging the layout of the space to discourage a heavy flow of crowds, asking your MC to make announcements reminding people to keep a reasonable distance when dancing, etc.
• If there’s anything that can be done to ease anxiety, let your vendor know. For instance, many wedding vendors are willing to take virtual meetings instead of in-person. We’re here for you and we’re in this together!

Remember the goal

• The ultimate goal of your wedding day is to marry your love. Despite weddings being a social event, be understanding if your guests end up canceling last minute. People do not want to risk their health or risk being a vector for the spread of infection. However, it doesn’t mean that these absences will ruin your special day.

How we are taking measures to help

Here at Paper Mint Press, we’re ready to take on any last minute changes affecting your seating charts, place cards, and/or signage. We are waiving rush fees for Day-of Stationery orders placed in March for March and April weddings. Please note this does not mean we can necessarily take on EVERY new project, but for the ones we are able to accommodate and would normally charge a rush fee for, we are waiving the fee in order to give our clients the MOST amount of time possible to sort through this situation.

I’ve also made a list of simple ideas you can implement to make your wedding run as smooth as possible while mitigating the risk of spreading COVID-19:

• Have more than one seating chart display so people don’t overcrowd one area to look for table assignments
• Instead of a station to display wedding favors, place favors at individual place settings instead.
• Have MULTIPLE signs directing where restrooms and hand sanitizing stations are located.
• Consider adding a note on your wedding programs about best practices for enjoying the night. It can be a small paragraph or graphic reminding them:
  • Not to overcrowd food stations, photo booth, dance floor, etc.
  • Wash their hands for at least 20 seconds
  • Avoid touching their face
  • Wipe down surface(s) they come in contact with
  • Refrain from hugging or kissing loved ones (elbow bumps or a simple hand-wave instead!)
  • Use hand sanitizer if hand washing is not accessible
  • Sneeze into a tissue if they must sneeze
  • Cough into their elbow and away from people/tables/etc.

I hope this has been helpful for my couples who are feeling all the anxiety about their wedding day. My heart goes out to you. The work and stress and thought that goes into wedding planning is exhausting to say the least. I hope this situation quickly passes, but in the meantime, there’s still a lot you can do to safely enjoy your day. If you need to order Day-Of Stationery, please fill out our questionnaire and we’ll help you start the process.

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