What To Expect For Wedding Season 2021 And Pandemic Considerations

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There are many things Americans are excited to have return to normal (or something close to that) once vaccines are doled out. A regular in-person wedding is certainly one of them. And it appears we forgive and forget rather quickly since as recently as four months ago, we had stories of 55-person weddings causing seven COVID-19-related deaths. But now, with at-risk and other priority groups going to the front of the line for the vaccine, it seems like there is some light at the end of the tunnel. That could be why Massachusetts, for example, recently greenlit indoor gatherings of 100 people to go into effect March 22.  In some areas of Colorado, indoor venues can host 175 people. Maryland is allowing 100 percent capacity in retail spaces, gyms, bars, and more. You can see a state-by-state breakdown of recently lifted restrictions here.

All in all, it seems like things are back on for wedding season 2021. If you think of when wedding season traditionally is, we’re looking at late spring to early fall. A lot can and will change during that time. By early fall, perhaps most of the country, if willing, could be vaccinated. But what about those late spring weddings? Young healthy people, and those who aren’t essential workers, might struggle to get vaccinated in time. June weddings might fall right in between the first and second shot for others, making it a tricky time period. Wedding regulations will continue to fluctuate, so we spoke to Jeffra Trumpower, Senior Creative Director at WeddingWire, about what that means for betrothed couples.

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Lean on your vendors

Trumpower reminds couples that their wedding vendors, as part of their job, should be up to date on current guidelines in the area, so grooms and brides-to-be can lean on them for answers. “While social distancing and gathering restrictions vary from location to location, couples should continue to work with their team of vendors to incorporate health and safety measures, including social distancing, as well as different event formats and guest experiences to safely host a wedding,” she says. “It’s also important for couples to keep in mind that vaccines are still rolling out, and as such, the timing around when guidelines and safety measures will be lifted or changed is unknown.”

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Is fall the new spring?

While the idea of a June wedding has always been rather popular, Trumpower says fall is becoming more popular for weddings, as the intense heat of midsummer can be too much for some parties. Fortunately, more Americans should be vaccinated by the fall, too. “Over the last few years, we’ve noticed a shift of ‘wedding season’ moving into the fall, with the most popular months to marry often being September and October due to more mild weather and beautiful outdoor backdrops with fall foliage,” she says. “We’re certainly hopeful that by late summer and early fall vaccinations will be more widespread and in-person wedding celebrations will continue to thrive.”

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Food safety

Staying safe in a pandemic might actually result in a more luxurious experience for guests. “As a result of necessary social distancing along with guest health and safety measures, expect more couples to incorporate plated dinners and live entertainment into their wedding days,” she says. “Guests will no longer have to crowd around the bar or wait in line for food, as they can instead experience luxe personalized services such as bento boxes of hors d’oeuvres, individual charcuterie boards, individualized portions. Think a single-serve charcuterie board for one, or a mini mason jar with dip and a snack-size bag of chips on the side, or even picnic baskets for guests.”

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Beverage safety

Trumpower says that instead of offering an open bar where guests walk up to order, couples can have servers taking tableside orders. Of course, it will mean an increase in staff, but with smaller pandemic guest lists, the cost may balance out. “We’re seeing couples elevate the guest experience when it comes to serving drinks at the wedding with safety in mind, including butler or bottle service,” she says. “According to the 2021 WeddingWire Newlywed Report: COVID-19 Edition, one-third of couples increased catering staff; 77 percent changed seating to allow for more space and fewer guests per table; 44 percent served food outside, and 13 percent had their caterers use a plexiglass display box to keep food protected.”

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What about entertainment?

“While dance floors remain limited, couples can lean on alternative entertainment, such as acoustic musical performances, celebrity impersonators, or magicians so that guests can be entertained without ever leaving their seats,” Trumpower says. “There’s also the option of having a larger dance floor and incorporating hand sanitizing stations into the overall wedding design and decor. We’ve seen many states institute restrictions on who can dance together (members of the same immediate family or household in many cases), however, some states are lifting these restrictions as the vaccine rollout gains momentum across the country.”

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Get creative

While you’ll need to stay informed on local guidelines as they continue to change, Trumpower does assure us, “As more and more people are vaccinated, we do anticipate event elements like dance floors and open bars to normalize again…In the meantime, we encourage couples to get creative with a butler or bottle service for their guests, and alternative entertainment options to dancing, like a musical performance over dinner, a cultural performance that nods to their heritage, or even hiring a magician or comedian.” These experiences can be even more memorable than a traditional DJ or live band in some cases.

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How to protect your deposit

For many couples, there is this huge looming question: how do we protect ourselves against major money loss if guidelines change again? When this occurs, it’s a mess for couples and vendors and causes a lot of conflicts. Trumpower says, ‘We always encourage that couples look into wedding insurance to protect their wedding investment from circumstances beyond their control. That said, it’s important to keep in mind that wedding insurance policies are all very different, and couples should make sure to speak with an insurance agent who can explain what different policies cover. There are two types of wedding insurance: liability and cancellation.”

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More on insurance

“Many venues require couples to purchase liability insurance, as this protects against accidents or injury during wedding events. Cancellation insurance on the other hand will reimburse couples if their wedding needs to be canceled for any reason,” Trumpower explains. But there is one interesting exception in the case of cancellation insurance. “A change of heart by the couple” will not be covered in most cases. So be sure that you’re sure. “Some examples of what cancellation insurance will cover include natural disasters or injuries that force a couple to postpone and reschedule their wedding, and damage to elements of the wedding (decor, attire, etc.) that need to be replaced.”

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Over-communicate, and then communicate more

“If a couple does not want to take the steps to purchase a cancellation insurance policy for their wedding, they should speak in-depth with each wedding professional they hire about what their contract terms are before signing the contract,” she says. “If couples have a wedding planner, they can also lean on them to help with this process. At the end of the day, it’s important for couples to understand what terms they are agreeing to when signing a contract for one of the biggest, most exciting days of their lives—especially during this unprecedented time when we’re all navigating the global pandemic and how that impacts events like weddings.”