Covid Weddings, are they for us or not?
Updated: Mar 1, 2021
Although Monday's announcement from our Boris was a welcome one for the wedding industry, as he outlined our road map out of the 2020-2021 pandemic, there's still time for lots of "Covid Wedding" too...
So why would we want a Covid Wedding? I hear you say, well there's many the reason why some couples may opt to get married during the Covid restrictions: -You might not want the massive wedding party, this way you don't need to have those awkward conversations.
-You prefer quality over quantity
-Maybe you would struggle to afford your "ideal" wedding with 100s of guests
-Loads of venues and suppliers are offering great deals at the moment
-You will get time to actually talk to your guests properly
-Things are ironically, often a little more relaxed
-Getting the perfects photos isn't as much of a whirlwind
-You're documenting a bit of time for history
I could go on...but why don't we hear it from some really life couples.
Kelly planned her wedding in a matter of weeks with the help of her husband Steven and Alison- wedding coordinator at Burythorpe House, near Malton. They'd spotted an amazing deal that the venue were offering for small, covid weddings. I believe they got their room for them and their guests, a 3 course meal and a toasting drink too. The deal was fantastic value and very clever of the venue too, last year was really tough for them, they had staff to pay and the building to maintain on top of that, so at the end of the day a small, wedding is better than none at all.
Kelly said, "I wouldn't of had it any other way, I was very pleased I chose to have my wedding when I did... It was perfect, personal and the best day ever... the photos were fabulous the venue was amazing, loved it!!!!"
This couple got in touch with me mid August, for their September wedding, they just wanted to get married and decided to just go for it despite C-19. Originally, they were planning for 30, then they had to cut it to 15 with just days to go, but they still had a great time, ate amazing food and enjoyed each others company.
Rachel & Karl said, "Our wedding was lovely and intimate, everyone got to chat to everyone, which wouldn't have happened to same extent if it was bigger. Organising the wedding was also easy and no stress. We had a fab day and so did our families, it just felt like a big feast in the evening. All of our suppliers from the cake maker to the venue went above and beyond. It also wasn't too bad being the centre of attention when there was only 13 other people."
Hannah and George had been planning their wedding for a good 18 months, they suffered a venue closing down on them and then around 3 weeks before their wedding Boris locked us down, so they dragged everything forwards and got married on a Wednesday because they were just desperate to be Mr and Mrs!
Even with the added pressures this is what Hannah said, "With the uncertainty of weddings during the pandemic, with the worries about guest numbers, it was incredibly hard to feel excited for the whole run up. But what it did teach my husband and I, is that the main thing for us was to get married to each other and start our married life. The intimate wedding that we were lucky enough to have made us realise how lucky we are to have each other and our family and friends. If you’re disheartened by the potential of not having a big, white wedding that you’ve always dreamt of- don’t be afraid to go out of your comfort zone. You might just find that you fall in love with having a small and intimate wedding!"
Sophie and Morgan had been planning their wedding for around a year too, we met the week before lockdown was announced, so I saw their plans for 60 guests go down to the 15 they were allowed, by the time their day came around. Sophie planned for the guests to colour patches of fabric so she could stitch them all together at a later date to remember their day, their guests found this really therapeutic, they also hosted a pub quiz and their best man had created a video show which included lots of messages from their guests who couldn't be there.
Sophie's wise words, "To anyone wondering, is it really worth getting married in a pandemic? I would say the answer is most definitely YES! A wedding should really be about celebrating the love you share with the person who you want to share the rest of your life with. Favours and seating plans and the perfect wedding playlist don't really matter in the end. I LOVE being married, and am so glad that we didn't wait to start this next chapter of out lives together! ...that and there's absolutely no reason why I can't have my full on princess bride fantasy day as an anniversary party instead!!"
Tina and Clairwyn decided to get married in the heigh of the pandemic, they contacted my in the July, their wedding was at The Star Inn, Harome. It was important to them, to really treat the guests that they were able to invite, so they went all out with fancy nibble and the best champagne, something that would have been extremely costly with lots of guests. They turned everything on it's head too and the fizz and canapés before the ceremony so they could enjoy the September sunshine.
Tina and Clairwyn said this about their day, "Some of our guests said they had never been to such an intimate Wedding, they felt so a part of it, not just a guest.
It was as if everyone involved with our day also felt as lucky & fortunate as we did, everyone was a part of it, almost as grateful as we were that somehow... our wedding happened, and it was even more special that we could ever have hoped for.
If we’ve learnt one thing from this past year, it was to not put things off.. don’t take tomorrow for granted.
So many positive’s, we had chosen the perfect venue for us, with the utmost commitment, professionalism and warmth that against all the odds ensured we had such a magical day. We will be for ever grateful to everyone involved, without their enthusiasm, vision & care we may never have had such an amazing day."
Becky and Iain chose to get married at St Lawrence's Church in York with this being their local parish and them both being heavily involved with it all. York has a special place in both of their hearts, it's where they met, where they're living and now where they became Mr and Mrs Milne. They wanted to show this in their photos, so with them only having 30 guests for their day, it gave them time to nip off with me, for some photos in the city itself, whilst their guests got started on their afternoon tea. When we returned they enjoyed mingling with everyone from a distance in the sunshine, before we got some photos of them with their family in the stunning churchyard.
Hannah and Tony were given the go ahead by Malton Registry Office with only a few days to go, they'd enquired to see if there were any 2020 date left just out of interest. Then with 9 days to they got a date. Hannah cracked on and sorted her dress from The Little Pearl, Bridal Boutique in Pickering; luckily, it fitted perfectly. She got ready in her office above Willow Green, Estate Agents, Malton, because this is who she works for, then with the ceremony being booked for 5pm we planned to do getting ready shots and then a few before. Unfortunately, it rain all day, but we had a backup plan and used York House, kindly donated to us for an hour so we could get some beautiful shots of their family of 3.
Hannah's wise words, "I’m beyond glad we got married when we did, in fact I’d go as far to say as it really could’ve been that simple all along and we could’ve done it way sooner. No overthinking things, no worrying about seating plans and budgets it was so easy and zero stress. We’ve been engaged ten years and always put off the big wedding because we knew the cost would be crazy having large families on both sides. It came down to just us and really that’s all that matters. I’ve the most amazing photos from Fiona which I will cherish forever, they tell the gorgeous story of our day and capture the intimacy we have as a family."
Last year I captured 8 weddings during the later end of the pandemic, two where there were 30 guests, five with a wedding party of 15 and one where it was literally just the couple, their little girl and their 2 witnesses. So what's the best part of capturing a wedding usually? For me it's the build up, the smiles, the emotions during the ceremony and then getting to see the couple with their loved ones afterwards, seeing everyone congratulate them and wishing them well. During a "Covid Wedding" this still happens. A lot of the time, the couples seem to have gone above and beyond, not only have they planned the most perfectly put together day, they've planned extra entertainment and fun so that their guests don't get board. It's like to couples have become so aware of a "lul" in their day that many people worry about. So during these weddings we've had fun with the guests during photos and then I've taken the bride and groom intermittently for theirs, so they were never away for long at any one time. We've had: singing and piano playing with the guests; guess the movie; pub quizzes; colouring patches of fabric to make a patchwork quilt with afterwards; there's been messages from guests who couldn't be there; canapés and champagne before the I do's and afternoon tea in the church yard grounds. You know it's been an absolute ball watching the plans come together as they did. If you think it could be for you don't forget about your photos, they are so, so important as I hope you cam see from what I've shown you above. I'll be offering an hourly rate up until the 21st June 2021 please see details below:
Covid Wedding Prices
1 hour £250
2 hours £450
3 hours £ 600
To find out more, please give me a call or an email
anoifphotography@outlook.com
01563 695567 | 0777 0938295