COVID Wedding Trends
To all the couples out there planning a wedding right now… let me give you a big (virtual - virus free) hug. I get it; planning a wedding right now isn’t nearly as fun as you imagined it would be. I was feeling the exact same thing until I realized, this is an opportunity to get creative!
Photo credit: Jayleigh Flood Photography
As much as I always strive to make each of my client’s events unique, there are several parts of planning and designing an event that have become standard practice for me over the years. Over the past few months, I’ve realized that the ways I’ve always approached some of these things (layout, food service, functional design) needs to be re-imagined. As frustrating as COVID has been for the entire industry, I’ve decided that taking it on as a professional and creative challenge is the only way to go. After all, we don’t know how long we will need to take precautions or even what the “new normal” will be like.
Below I’ve broken down my best ideas on how to navigate COVID while still celebrating in style.
Welcome + Ceremony
Welcome Bags
Photo credit: Chelsea Abril Photography
Guest welcome bags have long been a popular way to greet your guests for destination weddings. With health and wellness on everyone’s mind, we suggest embracing it as a theme. Including things like hand sanitizer, cute masks, disinfectant wipes and immunity boosting treats in a tote that can be easily cleaned would be a huge hit for anyone who’s traveled from afar. You might even include a card that outlines the precautions you are taking and the expectations you have of everyone on the wedding day to ensure the safety and health of everyone attending.
Guest Book
I’ve always been all about the creative guest books. A no-touch idea that I am obsessed with is a short video recorded message from each guest. This is something you can hire a professional team or simply have a designated person to capture. I suggest creating several prompts to help guests come up with fun messages. Some examples include:
What advice do you have for the newlyweds?
What is your favorite memory of the newlyweds?
Suggest where they should honeymoon and why.
General well wishes for their future.
Turning these clips into a video montage would be a priceless keepsake.
Virtual Guest Attendance
With technology being as fabulous as it is today, it’s amazing virtual wedding guests haven't already become a bigger trend. Companies like Clarity Experiences are offering services that take care of all the logistics and gear to make it happen. Aside from guests being able to see the action, you can take things a step further by sending your virtual wedding guests “wedding experience” kits. They could include things like the programs, bottled signature cocktails, desserts and favors.
Ceremony Seating
For years, we’ve been creating outdoor ceremony layouts that mimic the seating you would find in a church. There is absolutely no reason, you can’t get creative and do something entirely different that gives a bit more space between chair groupings. In particular, we love seating arrangements that circle the altar. With twice as much space to utilize, chair groupings can easily be spread further apart. Be sure to assign seats for optimal efficiency. Creative lounge or cabaret seating vignettes for each couple or family are another fabulous way to tackle social distancing during the ceremony.
Photo Credit: Ashley Goodwin Photography
Cocktail Hour
Re-envisioning the Cocktail Hour
While I love a good mingling during the cocktail hour, guests are more likely to feel comfortable if they have a designated and properly socially distanced spot to hang out. The best way to facilitate this is with additional seating (either lounges or sit down cocktail tables) for each group. Instead of guest crowding around the bar, cocktail servers can bring appetizers and drinks to each group. With a 6 foot distance, guests can still chat with each other. The newlyweds can still easily make their rounds to each group, which if we are being honest, is who the guests really want to talk to anyway. With a little less socializing and moving around, this is a great opportunity to create a more structured cocktail hour program. Incorporating light live music, slideshow or speeches into this part of the event would keep the guests entertained and the party mode going.
Graphic Design + Signage
Photo Credit: Gabriella Katalin Photography
Wedding day signage has always been popular, but with guests potentially feeling less comfortable interacting with event staff, kicking it up a notch is a great idea! Here are some additional pieces you could consider incorporating:
Multiple spread out seating charts
Wedding day itinerary
Social distancing markers for the restrooms
Cocktail hour menus
Extra large bar menus for spread out lines
Finding fun and attractive ways to communicate with your guests will not only make them more comfortable, but also contribute to your overall event design.
Reception
Mix and Match Table Styles
Assigning guest seating has been a long time wedding planning chore. Finding the perfect mix of guests at each table to maximize conversation will no longer need to be a concern. Instead, I suggest having a mix of table shapes and sizes to accommodate each group or family. While there may be a few additional costs for linens and table numbers, flower costs will likely balance out with an influx of smaller centerpieces for smaller tables. Not only will this fix your seating chart blues, but it will create a really cool layout aesthetic if done well.
Food Service Trends
Over time, wedding food service trends have always changed. In the coming years, I anticipate plated and French style food service to be the most requested.
Photo Credit: Ashley Goodwin Photography
Plated, a classic, is when servers bring a plate of each course to each guest. Guests are often asked to choose from a selection of main courses prior to the event date, but offering one option or “surprising” guests with an alternate drop (50/50 of each main dish to each table) are other options.
If you truly had your heart set on a buffet or family style, I suggest opting for French style dinner service. If you’ve ever watched a period piece where the butler went around the guest table served food directly on to each guest’s plate, then you know exactly what I am talking about. This style of service removes the risk of multiple guests handling platters and utensils, but still allows them a variety of choices and portion sizes.
If either of these sound a little too formal for your taste, I have a few other suggestions. Having to break guests into smaller groups does add additional costs, so how about opt for a picnic style reception? Instead of having to double or triple the number of tables, opt for rugs, pillows and beautifully styled picnic baskets for each family group. Another idea with a little local flair, is to offer bentos or plate lunches! Regardless of how the food is served, as long as it is tasty, your guests will be happy.
Last but not least, let’s not forget about dessert! The traditional wedding cake for all to see (and if we are being honest - all to sneeze on) has been going out of style for awhile. In its place, I recommend a smaller cake for the ceremonial cutting and boxed or packaged cake, cupcakes or another fun alternative dessert for each guest to enjoy. If you would like some suggestions on other desserts that can all be safely served or packaged, check out this blog post.
Social Distanced Dancing?
Most of my clients have a hard time imagining a wedding without dancing. The obvious problem of how to accomplish this while still social distancing is a big one. I have two suggestions.
Opt to have dancing on a large patio or open floor so guests can spread themselves out.
Have multiple smaller satellite dance floors in view of each other, but far enough that guests can dance safely.
Although a little different, guests will still be able to shake their booties.
Thoughtful Late Night Snack
Photo Credit: Gabrielle Katalin Photography
There are 101 different kinds of late night snacks that you can offer, but one of my all time favorites and a very relevant one is a health shot! In the past one of our awesome (and health conscious) clients created three varieties of pre bottled health shots that were served chilled at the end of the night. I love in this case that they would do double duty as hangover preventatives and immunity boosters.
I am stoked that physical distancing restrictions have given me the ability to flex my creative muscles even more than normal. After really thinking it through, I am excited to re envision traditions, layouts and timelines completely! I hope this burst of inspiration inspires you to see these challenges as an opportunity to make your event extra special and memorable for your guests.