Think about the most romantic place you could get married. At the beach? In the mountains?

How about a parking lot?

Among the other creative, alternative weddings we have covered during COVID-19 times, couples are turning to parking lot weddings to say “I do” and celebrate safely with their friends and family.

There are a few ways to have your wedding in a parking lot, and we promise if you give it a shot, you might be surprised at how fun they can be.

So fasten your seatbelt (sorry, we couldn’t help ourselves) and prepare to learn how to have a parking lot wedding you and your partner will be telling your grandchildren about.

How to Have a Parking Lot Wedding You’ll Love

There are two main ways to have a parking lot wedding. The first is to get married at your county clerk’s office or in a small venue like a church and have the celebration in a parking lot. The second is to have both your ceremony and reception in a parking lot.

Let’s talk about option one first.

When you get married at your county clerk’s office, there isn’t much planning you need to do. Often, you and your partner can show up, say you are getting married and obtain and sign a marriage license on the spot (for a small fee). Each county office is going to be different, so check the information on the ones in your area before you just show up. Some might require that you make an appointment due to COVID-19, and some might require that you bring a witness when you obtain your license. This witness doesn’t necessarily have to be an officiant, but that will depend on your specific county.

Fees for marriage licenses vary by state with some being as low as $10 and others as much as $115. So when it comes to getting married on the cheap, it’s hard to beat saying “I do” at a county clerk’s office and celebrating in a parking lot.

If getting married at a government building isn’t romantic enough for you, then you could obtain your marriage license and say your vows at a small venue like a church.

Whether you get married at the clerk’s office or obtain your marriage license and get married at a small venue, the parking lot comes into play for your celebration.

This is where couples are having a ton of fun with this type of wedding. After saying their vows, couples step outside to a group of their friends and family waiting in their cars, honking and blasting music to celebrate the newlyweds. Many couples are even adding a live streaming component to their parking lot wedding, so their guests can watch the ceremony while waiting in their cars to explode with excitement when the newlyweds walk out.

Couples are incorporating normal wedding traditions into their parking lot celebration including first dances, mother-son and father-daughter dances and toasts. Since many people will have their cars present, you don’t even need to hire a DJ or provide speakers. Just plug your phone into your car’s radio, play your Spotify playlist and dance the night away with your friends and family.

Add a food truck or boxed meals served from a truck bed, and you’ve got a complete reception.

Now for option two.

Option two is similar to some of the other alternative weddings we’ve talked about where couples are turning untraditional spaces into their wedding venue.

So how do you turn a parking lot into your wedding space?

First, you need a parking lot. Talk with local, small businesses or churches to see if you could use their parking lot for your wedding.

Next, you’ll need to make the parking lot look the way you want. A florist can help your space look less like an empty lot and more like a traditional wedding venue with amazing floral arrangements.

You’ll also need to decide where everyone will sit. Renting chairs and tables could be one option, but why not go all out on the parking lot theme and have your guests sit on the hood of their cars or stand up through their sunroofs? Cars could be arranged like a drive-in movie theater, and your guests can watch you say your vows from the comfort of their own car.

And what about food for your parking lot wedding? If you are into tailgating, fire up the portable grill and make your favorite gameday food to celebrate your wedding day. If tailgating isn’t your thing, you could always have a potluck and ask your guests to bring a dish, or cater food from one of your favorite, local restaurants. Just make sure the food is served in individual boxes for COVID-19 safety.

In addition to all the fun surrounding your parking lot wedding, having yard games like cornhole, Kan Jam and life-size Jenga can provide some additional outdoor entertainment for your guests. Beer pong, anyone?

What Vendors Do You Need for a Parking Lot Wedding?

This is up to you. A photographer will help you capture this unique wedding moment for you and your partner, and florists can help spruce up the parking lot and make it look beautiful and appealing.

Caterers and bakers can provide the food and desserts you need to satisfy you and your guests, if you need help with coordinating things on the day of your wedding, hiring a day of coordinator to help with the logistics and flow could make your wedding day less stressful.

Additionally, since parking lots are outdoors, you will need to consider renting tables, chairs and a tent to seat your guests and protect them from the elements.

In the end, the vendors you choose for your parking lot wedding are up to you, and you can hire as many or as little as you want.

Are Parking Lot Weddings COVID-Friendly?

Absolutely! Many clerk offices are doing temperature checks before you enter the building and require all visitors to be wearing masks. You can also live stream your ceremony from the clerk’s office or small venue of choice, so the guests waiting in their cars can watch you say your vows safely away from others.

If you decide to have your whole ceremony and celebration in a parking lot, your guests will be outside which is a low risk area, and easier for everyone to keep plenty of distance from each other. Food trucks are serving meals pre-boxed to reduce the spread.

Parking Lot vs. Traditional Weddings

Parking lot weddings have some perks over traditional weddings. If you are on a budget and a timeline to get married, having a parking lot wedding could be a great option for you. You can keep your costs low by obtaining a marriage license for a small fee and officially get married at the county clerk’s office instead of a traditional wedding venue. Compared to a traditional wedding, that’s a ton of money saved on a venue that you can use for other things such as your honeymoon (in addition to using your Honeyfund funds).

You can also keep the original timeline of your wedding, since you don’t have to rent a traditional wedding venue, and going to the county clerk’s office doesn’t require a lot of upfront planning.

Parking lot weddings are also less formal than traditional weddings, so if the formality of a traditional wedding makes you cringe, a parking lot wedding might be right up your alley.

On the other hand, a traditional wedding venue will likely be able to provide you with more services such as catering, bartenders and a location that doesn’t need spruced up, so if having these services provided in an all-inclusive package sounds nice, a traditional wedding could be the route for you.

The Green Light for Parking Lot Weddings

Parking lot weddings aren’t for everyone. However, if you are looking for a low-budget, low key, unique wedding, a parking lot wedding could be for you. They are less formal, easier on the wallet and can be a ton of fun. Add you and your partner’s personality to it, and your guests won’t be able to stop talking about how the most fun they ever had in a parking lot was for your wedding.

So what are you waiting for? Give a parking lot wedding the green light and have some fun with this unique, alternative wedding.

The post How to Get Married in a Parking Lot appeared first on Honeyfund Blog by Honeyfund.com, the free honeymoon registry.

Imagine this. You’re at your favorite restaurant, enjoying some wine and an intimate conversation with your significant other when all the sudden another couple appears in full-on wedding attire.

You watch the couple walk to the back of the restaurant, hold hands, kiss and then celebrate. It finally dawns on you that this couple just got married on the spot!

While it might seem out of the ordinary, this scenario along with many other spontaneous weddings are one of the hottest wedding trends right now, and it’s called a pop-up wedding.

So what is a pop-up wedding?

A pop-up wedding is similar to an elopement in that 1) your guest list might be small or non-existent, 2) you choose a non-traditional venue for your ceremony and 3) they feel like a special adventure. What makes pop-up weddings unique is that they can happen in any venue and are typically in and out in a short period of time. Pop-up weddings are happening in restaurants and at parks, hotel courtyards and other public places.This opens the door for random bystanders to witness your vows which can be a unique and exciting perk of having a pop-up ceremony.

While pop-up weddings might look totally spontaneous from the outside, there are still a few things that need some planning. Although the overall planning time and cost is a fraction of a traditional wedding.

So if an adventurous, spontaneous pop-up wedding sounds interesting to you, keep reading.

Planning a Spontaneous Pop-up Wedding

The great thing about a pop-up wedding is you can plan as little or as many details as you want. Want to get married in a sundress and sandals? Go for it! How about having your first kiss at the location of your first date? That’s all you!

Like an elopement, you won’t be booking a traditional venue for your pop-up wedding, so you will have to decide where you want to get married. The venue is one of the unique aspects of a pop-up wedding, so get creative with it! Think about places that have meaning to you and your significant other.

Did you have a memorable first date and want to have your first kiss at the pizza place where you first met? Or maybe there is a brewery that has sentimental value to you where you could say “I do” with a cold beer waiting for you when you are done. Or maybe you love the outdoors and spending the day in a park or mountain setting would mean the most to you. Whatever you decide, it will be the right choice.

Once you’ve picked a location, make sure you can actually get married there. If it is a small business or restaurant, talk with the managers or owners before just showing up and trying to get married. They might even have a private room you could use if you don’t want to get married in front of a bunch of strangers.

Now that you have your pop-up venue, you will want to figure out who you will invite. Most couples are having a tiny wedding and inviting 10 people or less to their pop-up ceremony, but this is your wedding, so you can decide the number of guests who will attend. And with live streaming now a part of most weddings, you can include anyone and everyone via the Web.

Another unique aspect of the pop-up wedding guest list: If you pick a public location, there is a high chance random bystanders will witness your wedding! This just adds to the adventure and spontaneity of this alternative type of wedding.

Even if you have a tiny wedding and keep your pop-up ceremony small, you can still include more people for the after-party. And this doesn’t need to be a formal reception. You could invite friends and family to eat and drink at your favorite restaurant or brewery, plan a picnic in the park or host a party at your house. Whatever you do to celebrate getting married pop-up style is perfect!

Pop-up Wedding Planners and Vendors

If you haven’t caught on yet, your pop-up wedding can be whatever you want it to be. And that goes for choosing what vendors you hire too.

A huge benefit of having a tiny wedding like a pop-up wedding is that the price of using certain vendors will likely go down. If you hire a photographer, you might only need them taking pictures for an hour or two rather than a full-day event, so the price of their services might be drastically reduced.

You still need an officiant, and if you don’t want to hire a random person and would rather have a friend or family member marry you, check out American Marriage Ministries, an organization that provides free, online ordination for people who want to become officiants. And, as always, it is on couples to get their marriage license, so don’t forget your marriage license when planning your spontaneous, adventurous day!

Like a virtual wedding or elopement, there are entire companies whose mission is to help couples have the pop-up wedding of their dreams. One such company is Pop-up Wedding Houston.

Founded and operated by CEO Yvette Valdenegro, Pop Up Wedding Houston helps couples plan their perfect pop-up wedding by understanding what couples want and providing an all-inclusive wedding package. This package includes anything from choosing the location and setting up live streaming to providing a photographer and music. Also, their package includes add-ons such as hair and makeup, transportation and confetti cannons if you are looking for another way to spice up your wedding day.

We talked with Yvette about this unique spin on weddings, and she said couples are absolutely loving it.

“The ability to get married in a safe environment, quickly, without stress, and logistically taken care of seems to be a huge benefit for couples. All of our reviews talk about how their ‘expectations exceed what they imagined’.”

She also mentioned that there are tons of benefits to using a company like Pop Up Wedding Houston to help plan and coordinate your pop-up wedding.

For example, by partnering with top wedding professionals in the industry, Pop Up Wedding Houston is able to pass tons of cost savings to their clients allowing couples to save for things like their honeymoon, first home or the current economic situation.

Additionally, Valdenegro has years of event planning experience which has allowed her to become an expert in planning and helping couples have an incredible pop-up wedding experience that meets and exceeds the couple’s expectations.

So if you are looking for a way to have a pop-up wedding, reduce the wedding planning stress and still have an amazing wedding experience, using a company like Pop Up Wedding Houston could be exactly what you need.

Are Pop-up Weddings Covid-Friendly?

You betcha! Like an elopement or other alternative weddings, you can easily make your pop-up wedding Covid-friendly by planning for it. If you have guests and vendors at your ceremony, you can ask them to wear masks and stand six feet apart. The only trouble you might have is if you get married in a public place where you can’t control the random people who may or may not be in your presence.

If you are getting married at a small business or restaurant, you can work with the manager to see how they might be able to arrange for a ceremony setup that is as Covid-friendly as possible. If you are in a more public setting like a park, you are outside which reduces the risk of transmitting Covid, but you will be taking the chance that random bystanders might not respect your space. Most people are respectful though, so this shouldn’t be an issue, but it is something to consider.

What Do Pop-up Weddings Cost?

The simplicity of a pop-up wedding can help couples keep the cost down which means more money in your pocket for your honeymoon and other exciting, future goals. The actual cost of your pop-up wedding will depend on what vendors you hire, a venue if you use one and an after-party celebration if you have one.

Doing all the planning on your own will be more cost effective than hiring a company like pop-up Wedding Houston, but if you would rather just show up on your wedding day and get married, using a pop-up wedding company’s wedding package could be worth the money and help eliminate most of the wedding planning stress.

What are the Benefits of Pop-up Weddings Compared to Traditional Weddings?

If you haven’t noticed by now, pop-up weddings are quite different from a traditional wedding and are more similar to an elopement. They offer more flexibility for your wedding day, are typically smaller and have a lot more spontaneity than a traditional wedding. The cost is much lower than a traditional wedding because you aren’t feeding hundreds of guests and aren’t renting a large venue to host those same guests.
By having a tiny wedding and simplifying your big day, a pop-up wedding can also be less stressful, more intimate and easier to plan than a more traditional wedding. And just because you are having a pop-up wedding doesn’t mean you have to ditch the traditional elements of a larger wedding tradition! Valdenegro says couples are packing their pop-up wedding with many of the normal wedding traditions.

“This moment is still special and we welcome the first dance, mother-son dance, father-daughter dance, toasts, and any other elements couples want to remember. Nothing special is lost…We have seen couples add their personal touches including meaningful songs, culturally traditional elements, fraternity/sorority and religious songs and dances; all expressed in beautiful ways. Couples are making sure the meaningful details they have always imagined are still included, sometimes in new ways.”

Of course, if you want to invite all your friends and family, a traditional wedding might be the route you want to go. Nothing can replace having everyone you care about under the same roof watching you say “I do” and dancing the night away together. So if that’s what you want, then a socially-distanced traditional wedding might be for you.

And don’t forget that your marriage is about more than your wedding, so don’t let other people’s expectations of what your wedding and ceremony should look like get in the way of what matters most.

A Pop-up Wedding You’ll Never Forget

Alternative weddings like an elopement or virtual wedding are becoming the norm, and pop-up weddings are no exception. With lower costs, more intimate settings and the adventure and spontaneity of an elopement, a pop-up wedding could be the perfect wedding you didn’t even know you were looking for. So grab your partner, choose a unique venue and say “I do” to this awesome alternative wedding.

The post How to Have a Pop-Up Wedding: Where Spontaneous Adventure Meets the Best Day of Your Life appeared first on Honeyfund Blog by Honeyfund.com, the free honeymoon registry.

Does getting married in your backyard sound like a fun alternative to a traditional wedding? Can you envision all your family and friends congregating at your house to celebrate your big day? Does seeing your dog at the end of the aisle bring a smile to your face?

If so, a backyard wedding might be for you!

Couples are turning to backyard weddings as a way to keep their wedding on schedule and bring their friends and family together during the pandemic, and we couldn’t agree more that backyard weddings are a fun, unique alternative to traditional weddings.
From decorating your yard to saying, “I do” in a spot that might have sentimental value to you, backyard weddings are an amazing way to get married. And they’re Covid friendly.

Hosting an event as meaningful as your wedding at home takes careful, upfront planning, and there are many considerations and ideas to think about when making decisions for your backyard wedding.

Lucky for you, we have researched how to have a backyard wedding and are ready to spill the beans.

Here’s how to plan a wedding at home and have a killer backyard wedding.

Planning a Backyard Wedding Ceremony

Having a wedding in the backyard sounds simple, but there are many things you need to consider while planning your backyard bash. Here are some ideas to get you thinking.

Whose Backyard?

Like most weddings, the first thing you need to determine is, whose backyard will you use? In order to identify the right space, you’ll need to consider if your backyard is big enough to accommodate your preferred number of wedding guests. Is there rain coverage or will you need indoor space in case of bad weather? Where will guests park their cars? If your home and backyard are equipped for your event, great!

If not, you will have to come up with other ideas. You could ask your parents, a friend or even find a rental on VRBO or other sharing service that would accommodate you and your wedding guests.
Before you ask a friend or family member to host your backyard wedding ceremony, make sure this is the best option. Planning and hosting a wedding is not a small task, and you don’t want to strain your relationship with your loved ones by hosting a wedding at their home if it’s not the perfect fit.

Backyard Vendors

A backyard wedding requires more than the typical vendors involved in making a wedding happen. Your home and yard are becoming your wedding venue, and with this comes involvement with additional vendors to make your big day run as smoothly as possible.

Rent a Tent

Having a wedding ceremony in your backyard exposes you to the elements, so you will need a way to protect you and your guests from the weather. Renting a tent provides an outdoor shelter to do just that. The size will depend on the number of guests you have and what you plan to store under the tent like food and a dance floor, so work with the tent rental company to determine what will work best for you.

Music & Dancing

Speaking of dance floors, you will need to create your own for your backyard wedding. You could dance in the grass, on a patio you already have or rent a portable dance floor. A portable dance floor provides a hard, even surface for your guests to dance the night away and helps keep them safe while they Electric Slide and Dougie all night.

You also need to consider your music setup. Will you hire a DJ or band? Or will you use your own playlist?

If you hire professionals, they might have their own speakers and technology setup they can use. However, if you are using your own playlist, you will need your own speaker and technology setup that can play your music loud enough for everyone to hear.

Bathrooms

Hosting a wedding at your home creates another problem that needs solved. Where will everyone go to the bathroom?
Depending on the size of your home, your bathrooms might not be enough to handle 150 people coming in and out all night. You also probably don’t want people going in and out of your house if they don’t have to.

That’s where renting portable bathrooms can help.

When most people hear portable bathrooms, they think of the nasty ones at the local park. That doesn’t have to be the case for your wedding.

There are plenty of nice and sometimes even luxurious portable bathroom rentals that will accommodate your guests during your wedding.

Food & Catering

There are many options for food when you get married in your backyard. You could prepare your own food, hire a caterer or even hire a food truck to park on your street for the duration of your wedding.

If you use a caterer, they could bring prepared food to serve at your wedding, or you could find a company that will cook fresh food in your kitchen. If you choose the second option, the caterer will likely want to check your kitchen to make sure it is big enough and has the necessary items to make cooking easy for them. Otherwise, they will have to bring their own setup which will cost extra.

Food trucks are all the rage right now, and if you have a favorite hometown food truck, you could ask them if they do events and if they would be willing to prepare and serve food at your wedding. Some food trucks don’t do events, but will happily prepare enough food for you to cater at your wedding.

Table, Chairs & Dinnerware

Creating your own wedding venue means you need to provide your own tables, chairs, dinnerware and centerpieces. Find a rental company that provides reasonable prices and decide if you want to enlist them for setup and take down too.

Cleaning Crew

Hiring a professional cleaning crew could be a good investment. Cleaning your home takes time, and you will have a ton of things going on leading up to your big day, so hiring a professional cleaning crew could save you the time and stress involved with cleaning your home, both before and after your wedding.

Additional Considerations and Backyard Wedding Ideas

Turning your home into a venue and hosting a wedding in your backyard requires additional considerations you wouldn’t have to consider if you were having a traditional wedding. Here’s what else you should consider when planning a wedding ceremony at home.

Inclement Weather

If you are planning to get married in your backyard, make sure you have a plan for inclement weather. Depending on the size of your wedding, a good tent might provide enough coverage in case of bad weather, but if not, then you need an alternative. This could be your home if it is big enough, or you could have a backup venue booked just-in-case.

Parking

Where will all your guests park when they arrive for your wedding? Talk with your neighbors and see if they might allow your guests to park in their driveway or on the street outside their house. You could also plan to have guests park at a local church or other facility and hire a shuttle bus to take them to and from your home. Since your home is the venue, deciding on a parking situation is going to land on your shoulders and is something you need to consider when planning your wedding.

Neighbors & the City

Speaking of your neighbors, you might want to inform them that you will be hosting a big event at your home. With music, dancing and a large group of people, your party could get pretty noisy. Letting your neighbors know ahead of time is courteous and will hopefully keep them from complaining about the noise.

If your city has noise ordinances or any permitting requirements for large gatherings, you will need to know this too. Go to your city or county’s website and see if they offer any information, so you can have your wedding without any visits from local officials.

Backyard Wedding Livestream

Will there be a livestreaming component to your wedding? In our post on virtual weddings we talk about how to have a virtual wedding and what you need to consider when making Zoom a part of your wedding. If you want to have a backyard Zoom wedding with virtual guests, check out that post for ideas on how to add a virtual component to your big day.

Preparing the Outdoor Space

Allow for plenty of time to prepare the outdoor space for your wedding reception and ceremony. Making your backyard look pretty and presentable might be more than a weekend project, so don’t wait until the last minute to start picking up leaves and trimming the trees. If you don’t feel like landscaping, you can always hire a professional. And don’t forget to add some ever so popular string lights to bring your backyard to life!

Will There be a Theme?

Do you and your partner love Halloween? Are you asking for Honeyfund gifts for your honeymoon to Hawaii? Do you have a Harry Potter obsession?

Adding a theme to your backyard wedding could be a great way to add you and your partner’s personal charm to your big day. Your home already has your character in it, so adding a theme to your wedding could be another way to add a unique twist to your wedding.

Communicate with Your Guests

Good communication with your guests goes a long way towards having a smooth wedding day, and a backyard wedding is no exception.

Letting them know where to park, what to bring (i.e. rain jackets) and expectations for people entering or not entering your home will help your guests understand what you want from them during your wedding.

Also, make sure you are clear that no one will be staying at your home, unless you want that to happen. You don’t want cousin Terry staying at your home because she was under the impression that family was invited to stay there when that was not the case. Blocking off rooms at a local hotel will keep this from happening and help your guests find reasonable accommodations for your wedding.

Check Your Homeowner’s Insurance

Finally, since you will be hosting a large group of people at your home, check your homeowner’s insurance policy to see what it says about property damages and personal injury damages. The last thing you want is to be liable for someone else’s actions on your property while trying to have fun at your wedding.

Are Backyard Weddings Covid-Friendly?

Backyard weddings can be COVID-friendly, if you make it that way. Getting married outside is more COVID-friendly than being inside and limiting the number of guests will also reduce the risk of people being exposed to the disease. Requiring people to wear masks and providing plenty of hand sanitizer will also make your wedding more COVID-friendly.

One major thing to consider is the restrictions on large gatherings in your city or state. If your state is limiting gatherings to 10 people or less and you invite 100 people to your wedding, you might have a visit from local officials asking you to break up your party. This is the last thing you want on your wedding day, so absolutely check your state’s guidelines before planning a large gathering in your backyard.

How Expensive are Backyard Weddings?

The cost of backyard weddings varies from couple to couple. Some couples enjoy DIYing everything while others prefer to hire vendors to handle everything for them. Even though you are saving money on your venue, that doesn’t necessarily mean your backyard wedding will be cheap.

You will also want to consider the trade-offs of having a backyard wedding. If you have to DIY everything on your own that could create more stress and take up more time than paying extra for a venue. It’s up to you to decide if that trade-off is worth it.

We did our research and found backyard weddings ranging from a few thousand dollars up to $10,000. Here are some articles that will give you some backyard wedding ideas and show you the spending breakdowns of couples who had a $4,000 wedding and $10,000 wedding in their backyard.

$4,000 Backyard Wedding – Young House Love

$10,000 Backyard Wedding – Budget Savvy Bride

Backyard vs. Traditional Wedding

There are opportunities and trade-offs to having a backyard wedding instead of a traditional wedding.

On the upside, having an at-home wedding saves you the cost from having to book a traditional venue and lets you have your ceremony in a place that has sentimental value to you.

You can also have more freedom to design, decorate and add unique twists to every aspect of your wedding. If you are a prominent DIYer, a backyard wedding could be perfect for you. Even if you don’t like to DIY everything, you could hire a wedding planner to help bring your backyard wedding ideas to life.

On the downside, you might have more coordination to handle because your home is your venue. Parking becomes your detail to plan and clean-up and setup are on you instead of the venue.
When considering a backyard wedding, consider these trade-offs before making your final decision.

Your Backyard Bash

Getting married in your backyard is a fun, unique alternative to a traditional wedding. Your home turns into your venue and it has the potential to be a wedding your friends and family talk about forever. If you are looking to curb the traditional wedding and plan a fun alternative, a backyard wedding could be exactly what you are looking for.

The post How to Get Married in Your Backyard appeared first on Honeyfund Blog by Honeyfund.com, the free honeymoon registry.

Have you thought about having a virtual wedding? With travel bans, social distancing guidelines and restrictions on large gatherings, many couples are turning to this alternative wedding ceremony.

Having a traditional wedding may be harder than usual right now, so getting married virtually can help you navigate these restrictions and keep your wedding on schedule.
Here’s what you need to know about planning and having a virtual wedding.

How to Plan Virtual Wedding

While planning a virtual wedding ceremony may be simpler than a traditional one, there are still many things you need to consider.

Where Will You and Your Partner Be?

One of the first things you and your partner should decide is where you will physically get married. Will it be in a church? Your backyard? A local park?

Many couples are using their virtual wedding as an opportunity to get married in their backyard. Since you, your partner and maybe a few vendors will be the only people physically at your ceremony, you don’t need a big space to say, “I do”. Any size backyard will do, and you can use this as an opportunity to decorate your yard with some fun, unique decor!

When choosing your location, you’ll also want to consider the lighting and surrounding area. Your guests will be viewing your wedding from a screen, so choosing a location that is conducive to your technology setup and provides your guests with a great viewing experience is an important aspect to consider.

What Platform Will You Use?

This year has seen the rise of remote work and video conferencing software, many of which can be used for your virtual ceremony. Zoom has become a go-to video software for couples, and there are many other platforms you can use too. Other options include Facebook Live weddings, Skype or deciding to livestream a wedding on YouTube.

No matter which platform you choose, make sure you consider these common aspects when it comes to the technology setup for your big day.

First, you’ll want to use a device with a high-quality camera to provide the best possible streaming experience. Your guests are tuning-in to see you and your partner, and you want them to be able to see you clearly. Picking a location with good lighting will help with this too.

The same goes for the device’s audio quality. Streaming your wedding with a device that has high-quality audio will make sure your guests have a great viewing experience. The last thing you want is for your guests to not be able to see or hear you during your ceremony.

When deciding on a platform, choosing one that is easy-to-use for your guests will help ensure technology doesn’t hold them back from viewing your wedding.

Finally, like a traditional wedding, do a test run before the actual ceremony to make sure all the technology is working properly and looks and sounds great.

Do Your Virtual Wedding Right by Hiring Professionals

Wedding vendors will still be a part of your big day, and it’s up to you to decide who you want there.

One essential vendor is your officiant. They can marry you virtually or in-person at a distance. If your officiant won’t physically be in your presence, you will need to confirm that there isn’t anything additional you need to do to make your wedding legal. And don’t forget to get your marriage license! Both the officiant and marriage license requirements vary by state and county, so double check these first before you say, “I do!”.

Even though the in-person guest count will be low, a photographer can still capture your wedding memories and make your ceremony special. Interview a few to see if they have experience with virtual weddings and ask if you can see some samples of their work. Capturing your virtual wedding day moments will give you some positive memories to look back on and remember this year as the time you were married during a global pandemic.

You might also want music at your wedding, but maybe you don’t need a band or DJ. Make your own Spotify playlist and have it playing in the background, or if you do want live music, you could hire a virtual musician.

Additionally, even though you won’t need to cater food for your guests, you may still want to get a special dessert or food item for you and your partner. Food vendors are adapting to the pandemic and can work with you to make your food requests happen.

Finally, with the advent of virtual weddings, companies have been created to help you have a seamless experience. One such company is Wedfuly. They help you with every aspect of your big day. Using Zoom, they provide everything from tech setup to organizing your breakout rooms and first dances. Their base package starts at $1,200, and as part of this package, they provide tech support for your wedding including things like switching camera angles, muting guests, MCing your event and playing selected media. They also have a ton of add-on services you can take advantage of.

Anyone can set up an iPad and stream their wedding, but if you want someone to help you make your virtual ceremony engaging, memorable and less stressful, hiring a company like Wedfuly could be a great option for you.

And don’t forget to post a link to your Honeyfund during your livestream!

Invite Everyone!

A big perk of a livestreaming wedding is you can expand your guest list. You won’t be limited by your venue’s space or cost, and you don’t need to pay for their meals, so you can essentially invite as many people as you want!

Expanding your guest list is a great way to celebrate with more people, but keep in mind that guests may be in different time zones when deciding on the time of day for your event.

Another part of this alternative wedding experience is determining how your guests will interact with each other and you. Make it fun for them! One of the cool features on Zoom is its breakout room feature. You can divide your guests into groups and have them “eat” together like they would at a traditional wedding. This allows for people to interact as if they were sitting next to each other for dinner.

Also, communicating clearly with your guests will help your wedding day happen without a hitch. Making sure they all have the proper link and login information, and providing etiquette guidelines for muting and speaking, will help your guests know how you want them to act during your ceremony.

Caroline Creidenberg, CEO & Founder of Wedfuly, says guests may start out a bit confused and skeptical about a virtual wedding, but they always end up loving it.

“Every single time they are blown away. Guests keep commenting about how real it felt. A lot of them even comment on how they had an even better vantage point than if they had been there in person!”

So if your guests are a bit skeptical about your virtual wedding, you can highlight the positives and assure them that they will love it. Your guests will follow your lead, and if you approach your virtual ceremony with a positive attitude, your guests will too.

Are Virtual Weddings Coronavirus Friendly?

Absolutely! One of the major perks of a virtual setup is the safety it provides against coronavirus. Your guests can be a part of your ceremony from the comfort of their home, and if you decide to have vendors who need to be at your wedding in person, they can socially distance and wear facemasks to keep you, your partner and themselves safe.

Save Thousands of Dollars with a Virtual Wedding

According to Creidenberg, the main benefit they are seeing for virtual weddings is the cost savings it creates for couples.

“By not feeding hundreds of guests, couples are saving thousands of dollars and are able to quadruple the number of guests [they invite]. Removing that cost, but keeping the sentimental and emotional aspect is a win-win.”

Many couples have been hit hard financially this year, so a live-streamed wedding could make for a great alternative to help you save money.

When you get married virtually, you don’t need to book a large venue, cater food or provide transportation to and from your venue, so the main costs involved are going to be your technology setup, any vendors you use, your wedding attire and a venue if you decide on one.

Here is a breakdown of what the cost of planning a Zoom wedding might look like:

• For $14.99 you can get Zoom’s Pro Plan and have up to 100 attendees
• According to The Knot, an officiant can cost between $500 to $800
• Photographers vary in price, but can be as little as $1,000 and up to $3,000
• If you get married in your home, then your venue is free!
• Most people have a phone, tablet or laptop they can use to record their wedding. If you need to get an upgraded one, then this will be a cost you need to consider.

All-in, depending on the vendors you use and the location, you could have a virtual wedding for as little as $1,500 and start going up from there. This does not include items such as your rings or wedding attire, as that will vary based on your personal preference.

One final thing to note is that this alternative wedding option not only saves you money, but it is going to save your guests money too since they won’t need to book travel accommodations for your wedding. It also keeps them safe from having to travel during the pandemic.

How are Couples Feeling about Their Virtual Wedding

A virtual ceremony will likely cost less, let you keep your original wedding date and allow you to expand your guest list. Additionally, it will decrease the risk of exposure to coronavirus because of the lack of in-person interaction.

Creidenberg says they are hearing amazing feedback from couples regarding their virtual wedding experience including reduced stress and blown away expectations.

“Virtual weddings are way less stressful, require less planning, and are still just as emotional and memorable. A lot of couples go through an immense amount of stress leading up to their wedding day because of all the tiny details and stressful things that go into the planning process. Virtual removes a lot of those decisions and eases the stress! I think a lot of people saw this as Plan B, but now they are realizing it’s even better than plan A!”

If you still want to get your friends and family together in person, consider having a virtual ceremony and then hosting an in-person reception when the time is right. You can have the best of both worlds by saving thousands of dollars on your wedding, getting married on your original date and still celebrating in-person with your loved ones when the pandemic subsides.

A New Possibility for Weddings

This year has been anything but normal, and a virtual wedding is a great alternative to a traditional wedding. They are less expensive, and while your guests won’t be there in person, you might be able to invite more people to celebrate with you.

Virtual weddings are becoming more and more popular, so if you are thinking about saying, “I do” virtually, you should feel comforted knowing that many others have come before you and have had great experiences.

The post How to Have a Virtual Wedding You and Your Guests will Love appeared first on Honeyfund Blog by Honeyfund.com, the free honeymoon registry.

Planning your wedding and honeymoon is a big endeavor, and when you add a global pandemic to the mix, trip planning may get a little more complicated.

Resorts, airlines and hotels are doing their best to make your honeymoon experience as special as possible, while also keeping you safe during coronavirus.

While the travel industry has made safety a foremost concern, you likely have some questions:
Can you travel during coronavirus? Where can you travel? Will the experience be the same? What are hotels, airlines and resorts doing to keep you safe when traveling? Are excursions still available?

Honeyfund has you covered. Here are some tips, ideas and guidelines to think about when planning a honeymoon during coronavirus.

Planning Your Coronavirus Honeymoon

A lot has changed this year, and there are few things you want to consider when planning your honeymoon during coronavirus.

Should You Travel?

One of the first questions you should ask yourself when planning a honeymoon during coronavirus is, “Should you travel?”.

Many U.S. states have put shelter-in-place guidelines into effect, which means residents are being ordered to stay in their homes except for essential activities such as permitted work and grocery shopping.

Non-essential travel is also being strongly discouraged. While there is no clear-cut definition of essential vs. non-essential travel, we could argue that your honeymoon is essential to starting off your marriage on the right foot.

Does that make your honeymoon essential travel? That’s for you to decide.

In all seriousness, following the guidelines outlined by the CDC will help stop the spread of COVID-19 and help us start to return to normal life. However, no one is going to stop you from traveling, unless there are travel restrictions for your destination. It is up to you and your risk tolerance as to whether or not you should travel.

The Texas Medical Association created a chart showing the risk levels of various activities including dining out, traveling and being outside. Below is the chart, so you can see where these various activities fall on their scale.

Your Honeymoon Destination

Right now (as of August 2020), travelers coming from the United States cannot travel to countries in the European Union which includes countries such as Italy, France and Spain. Even within the United States there are travel restrictions and guidelines you need to follow.

For example, according to this article by the New York Times, if you are planning to travel to Hawaii, you would need to isolate yourself for two weeks, or until your stay is over, whichever is shorter. However, beginning on September 1, if you can show proof of a negative COVID test within the last 72 hours once you arrive in Hawaii, you would be able to avoid the isolation restriction.

Every state and country is going to have different guidelines and restrictions, so make sure you know what they are before you book your honeymoon. CNN.com put together a good list of countries that have reopened to US tourists which you can check out here.

Additionally, if you decide you are going to still take your honeymoon this year, and there are no travel restrictions for your destination, you may want to consider how affected that area has been by COVID. If the numbers are high, the likelihood you will come in contact with someone who has been affected by COVID goes up. Taking that risk is up to you, and you need to make that determination for yourself.

Safety Measures

Knowing what safety measures to take can also help you avoid contracting COVID-19 when you take your honeymoon during coronavirus. This includes things like wearing a mask in public places, frequently washing and sanitizing your hands, adhering to social distancing protocols and following the guidelines laid out by airports, airlines and resorts.

You should also know the signs of COVID. If you have symptoms, then it might be wise to not go on your honeymoon to help protect others from getting sick. Another thing you can do is get a COVID test before you leave for your honeymoon and when you return to make sure you haven’t contracted the disease.

Another way to stay safe while traveling during COVID is to consider using a vacation rental instead of staying at hotels or resorts. Vacation rentals (available on VRBO, AirBNB and many other travel sites) are usually private residences that you can rent out, and they are available in most locations across the United States and internationally. They can be cheaper than resorts and allow for more intimate time with your partner.

When it comes to vacation rentals, you will still want to take the proper precautions. Ask the hosts when was the last time someone stayed in the home, what are their cleaning procedures, will they be cleaning the home before you arrive, do they have any symptoms of COVID, etc. Don’t be afraid to ask these questions. You and your partner’s health are number one priority, and if the host wants you to stay in their home, they should be willing to answer a few questions for you.
Another option is an RV rental, which essentially allows you to take a tiny home with you on a road trip! You can rent them anywhere from sites like RVShare.com.

Finally, if you’re traveling internationally, check with your health insurance provider to see if they cover you while traveling overseas. If they don’t, consider applying for traveler’s insurance just in case you get sick while away from your home country.

Financial Impact of COVID

COVID-19 has affected many couples financially. If you aren’t in a financial position to pay for a honeymoon right now, then you need to do what is best for you and your family. Don’t plan a honeymoon because you feel like you have to. If you need your honeymoon money to pay for your living expenses or start your emergency fund, by all means do it. Your well-being is more important than taking a near-term honeymoon. You can always take it next year!

If you’re still planning on taking your honeymoon this year, this could be an opportunity to take a honeymoon closer to home, which could save you money on your dream trip. Find a resort in a neighboring state or road-trip to a beautiful location within a few hours of your home.

You could also take two trips: a mini-moon immediately after your wedding and a bigger honeymoon in the future. This could help you reduce the cost of your immediate trip and give you more time to save for a bigger trip down the road.

What are Airlines and Resorts doing to Keep Honeymooners Safe?

We’ve talked about what you can do to plan honeymoons in the safest way possible during coronavirus, so what are airlines, hotels and resorts doing to keep you safe?

Airlines are doing the best they can to keep you and your partner safe while traveling for your honeymoon. They want you to travel this year just as much as you want to.

Most airlines require passengers and staff to wear facemasks at all times while on the plane to help reduce the risk of spreading the disease. They are also taking cleaning very seriously. Planes are being cleaned throughout the day with industrial grade disinfectant, and they are cleaning everything including seat back screens, arm rests, seat belts and other commonly touched surfaces. Some are going as far as taking planes out of service, if a passenger showed signs of COVID while on board.

In-flight services are being reduced on most airlines including food and beverage services, and flight attendants are being equipped with sanitizing wipes and hand sanitizer to help passengers stay healthy.

Airlines have also improved their air circulation systems to keep unwanted germs from circulating throughout the plane.

Do NOT expect social distancing on the plane. Airlines are so financially squeezed they are not consistent about spacing people in every other seat or row. DO expect to wear your mask the entire time you are in the plane. Which means shorter flights are recommended over longer ones.

What about resorts and hotels?

How are hotels and resorts changing their procedures to keep you safe while you enjoy some one-on-one time with your new spouse?

Starting with the basics, many hotels are reducing or removing points of contact that are frequently touched such as door handles, key cards and seating in common areas. This can be as simple as keeping doors propped open. Additionally, these surfaces are being sanitized on a regular basis. You will also see plenty of sanitation stations throughout the premises. Some resorts are even doing temperature checks on guests when they arrive at the resort, and before sitting down to dine in an outdoor dining room.

Contactless check-in/out and touchless ordering for food and drinks are also becoming common to keep you from touching menus and other common items.

Some resorts are reducing resort, pool and restaurant capacity to make sure guests can be properly distanced and stay safe while traveling to that particular destination. Expect to have to make reservations to partake of any of the resorts restaurants, pools or other activities.

Like airlines, cleaning is being taken very seriously at resorts. If you are staying somewhere for two or more nights, housekeeping will either not be available, or they may ask you to request it. You’ll have to tell them if you want your room cleaned and how often. In addition to cleaning the normal things like towels and sheets, housekeeping is focusing on cleaning surfaces like TV remotes, light switches, faucets, door handles and other surfaces that are commonly touched by guests.

If you have dirty towels, some places are asking that you leave your dirty towels outside your door and they will leave a vacuum sealed bag of clean towels outside your room. Some hotel brands are even using new technology such as cleaning rooms with UV light technology to further clean your room.

Restaurants and bars at hotels and resorts are limiting capacity, implementing touchless menus and expanding room service options for guests. Buffets are not going to be as common in order to limit lines and to avoid people standing in close proximity to each other. One resort is even allowing guests to order their food and eat it anywhere on the premise, including by the pool, ocean or some other quiet place in the hotel, so you can have an intimate dinner experience. Be sure to make a reservation if you plan to dine at an on-property restaurant.

Hotel staff are being trained rigorously in how to clean rooms and common areas properly, and depending on the resort, they may be temperature checked to make sure they don’t have COVID.

How to Have Fun on Your Honeymoon during Coronavirus

A lot is changing in the travel and leisure industry due to COVID, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have fun while traveling for your honeymoon.

Spas are still open at many resorts, and while your massage therapist may be wearing protective gear, this is better than no massage at all. Spas typically have high quality cleaning protocols, and they are taking that even further during this time.

Pools are also remaining open by limiting their capacity to make sure people feel safe. You will still be able to sunbathe, relax in the pool and sip on your favorite drink, it might just be with less people around. Be sure to make a reservation.

But what if you like to mingle when you travel? You can absolutely do this, just make sure the other couples you mingle with feel safe and that you’re following the necessary social distancing guidelines.

Being outside is one of the best ways to avoid contracting COVID, and it is also great for the mind, body and soul. Spend the day on a secluded beach or take a hike in the mountains to create some intimate one-on-one time with your spouse. And make sure to delete all your email and social media apps, and turn off all notifications on your phone. You’ll be surprised how much fun you can have — anywhere — when your time isn’t sucked into the digital world.

If you were planning excursions like snorkeling, horseback riding or guided tours, check-in with the excursion provider to understand if they are still offering excursions and what their cleaning procedures are. If you don’t feel comfortable with it, then don’t do it. Your health is more important than a few bucks, and you can always ask for a refund.

Your Coronavirus Honeymoon

Your honeymoon is a special time to create lasting memories with your new spouse. And let’s face it, when the two of you are together everything is fun!

That said, the honeymoon standbys like exotic beaches, outdoor adventures and overseas touring are not quite what they were during the pandemic. But, if you have at least a medium risk tolerance you can still manage these adventures! Remember that the really special part is being able to unwind, relax and spend all day with your partner. You can have great conversations and create amazing memories with your partner, no matter where you decide to travel.

COVID-19 may alter or delay your travel plans, but as we have seen, there are still plenty of options to take a fantastic honeymoon. And if you would rather wait until COVID dies down before taking your honeymoon, consider a mini-moon or stay-at-home honeymoon right after your wedding.

Happy Honeymooning!

The post What You Need to Know about Coronavirus Honeymoons appeared first on Honeyfund Blog by Honeyfund.com, the free honeymoon registry.

Alternative weddings are becoming quite popular. From virtual to popup weddings, couples are getting creative when it comes to wedding planning. Your wedding day may look different than what you imagined due to COVID-19, but having an alternative wedding has many perks.

Weddings can be one of the most expensive, one-time events for couples, and alternative weddings can help couples lower the cost of their wedding and give them more money for things like their honeymoon, purchasing a home, paying down debt or other major life events.

Today, we are going to talk about eloping as an alternative to a traditional wedding. Traditionally, an elopement is a secretive event, with couples running off and getting married without telling anyone. These days, couples are planning their elopement like they would a traditional wedding, and there are even entire companies whose mission is to help you plan your elopement.

Eloping has many benefits compared to a traditional wedding including lower costs, less coordination with vendors and guests and a more intimate affair. Eloping will also reduce the risk of contracting COVID-19 for you and your family, due to fewer in-personal guests. You can even have your entire guest list present via Zoom or another streaming service. On the downside, if you want your friends and family to celebrate your wedding day with you, eloping might not be for you.

If an elopement sounds like a great option for you, keep reading to see our tips on how to elope during coronavirus.

How to Elope During Coronavirus

Planning for an elopement is much simpler than planning for a traditional wedding. There are few to no guests, not as many vendors involved and overall fewer moving pieces needed. That being said, there are still many important aspects couples need to plan for when it comes to eloping during coronavirus.

Where Will You Elope?

When you elope, you don’t need a traditional wedding venue to get married. You can get married wherever you want. This could be in your backyard, in the mountains, at the beach, at your favorite National Park or anywhere in between.

Having this flexibility lets you choose a place that fits you and your partner’s personality. Before you head to the mountains or the local park to say, “I do!”, you should know the guidelines for that specific location to make sure you can get married there.

Not having a traditional wedding venue can greatly reduce the cost of your wedding, and planning an elopement is one away to avoid booking a more traditional space.

Marriage License

Each state has different requirements for how to obtain a marriage certificate and license. Wherever you decide to elope, make sure you know how to obtain these documents in that specific state.

Due to COVID-19, there could be delays in obtaining a marriage certificate and license, so make sure you take this into consideration when thinking about the timeline of your elopement.

Vendors

Even though you aren’t taking the traditional route when you elope, you still want to think about what vendors need to be involved for your wedding.

Hiring an officiant is essential to making your marriage official. This can be someone you find online, a friend or a family member who decides to become an officiant, which can be easily done at American Marriage Ministries. They provide free, online ordination, making it easy for the person you selected as your officiant to become certified to marry you and your partner.

You also want to consider how you want to capture the moments of your elopement. Do you want a photographer or videographer to help you capture these memories? Are they willing to travel to your elopement destination?

Hair stylists and makeup artists can also help you prepare for your wedding, even in this non-traditional setting. Ask your friends and do some research to find stylists who fit your personality and the personality of your elopement.

Additionally, florists can provide your elopement destination with beautiful flower arrangements that make your venue pop!

And if you want a cake or specific food at your elopement, consider working with your favorite bakery, restaurant or caterer to provide your favorite food for your elopement.

Finally, if you need help planning your elopement, you can always use a wedding planner or company like Simply Eloped to help you organize and plan your alternative wedding.

Like a traditional wedding, you can choose what vendors you do and do not use. If hair and makeup aren’t important to you, then you don’t need to hire a stylist. If having high quality pictures and video of your elopement is something you want to splurge on then by all means go for it.

As with all weddings, communication between you and your vendors is key. Let them know your wedding date, and work with them to decide where and when they should be arriving to make your elopement flow as smooth as possible.

Guests & Breaking the News

If you decide not to invite guests or tell people about your elopement, it is important to send a marriage announcement. Weddings are meaningful for people beyond you and your partner, and making sure your family and friends feel included in some way is a good move. This could be as simple as hosting a get together at your house when you come home from your elopement, or you could hold a bigger reception to celebrate with your friends and family. In any case, be sure to mail the announcement and include an insert about your Honeyfund. (You can print these under the Share menu in your account.)

Your wedding is for you and your partner, but realize that some people might feel hurt if they don’t know about this big moment in your life. Be conscious of this and come up with a plan of how you will tell your friends and family about your elopement. If you are struggling to figure out how to tell your loved ones about your elopement, here are two additional resources to help you inform them:

1. How to Tell Your Friends Your Family and Friends You’re Eloping Alone

2. How to Tell Your Family You’re Eloping

Using Zoom during Your Coronavirus Elopement

Depending on the location of your elopement, you may or may not be able to set up Zoom for your wedding. If you are in a remote location, you might not have phone reception or access to Wi-Fi to all your guests to tune-in on your big day.

If you decide to have a Zoom component, confirm the guests have the meeting invite, so they can login and be there during your ceremony. Also consider how the device will be set up. Will you use a phone or tablet on a tripod? Will you sit a laptop on a flat surface? Will someone be filming for you?

Having a Zoom component to your wedding day is a great way to include guests without having anyone physically there, which is especially important if you are thinking about getting married during Covid-19. However, make sure you check all the boxes, so your Zoom meeting works well and the experience is a good one for your guests. Many wedding planners are now coordinating Zoom weddings, find one on our Wedding Vendor Directory.

Is Eloping COVID Friendly?

An elopement might be one of the most COVID friendly alternative weddings couples can have. With minimal guests and vendors at most elopements, this alternative, intimate wedding option will keep your loved ones from traveling far distances for your wedding day and it will reduce your contact with many wedding vendors. If you choose an outdoor setting, this makes your wedding day even more COVID friendly, since being outside and six feet apart can help greatly reduce the risk of transmitting COVID-19.

How Expensive is Eloping?

When thinking about the expenses involved with your elopement, here are some things to consider:
Your elopement destination will play a big role in how expensive your elopement is. Will you elope at a park in your hometown? Or will you travel a few hours or to another state to elope at a destination? The more you travel the more expensive your elopement will be. When you travel, you need to pay for airfare or gas in your car and also book a place to stay.

Another thing to consider is what attire you will be wearing for your elopement. Will you wear a wedding dress? Will your partner wear a tux or suit? Or will you both go a bit more casual and wear outfits you already own? Making these decisions will help you determine the cost of your elopement.

Additionally, the more vendors you have, the higher the cost of your wedding. Photographers, videographers and officiants all cost money, so you will want to plan for these when putting together your elopement budget.

Marriage licenses also cost money, and depending on the state you are married in, a marriage license could cost anywhere from $10 to $115.

Elopements don’t have to be expensive. If you and your partner wanted to elope at a local park and wear outfits you already own, then maybe your only costs are for hiring a photographer and officiant, and paying for your marriage license. This could keep your wedding budget at a minimum.

On the other hand, if you want to travel to a destination for your elopement, you might have to add in airfare and hotel to the wedding mentioned above. This will increase your cost, but it is still going to cost way less than a traditional wedding.

According to Simply Eloped, a wedding company offering elopement packages that help couples plan their elopement, the average cost of an elopement during coronavirus is $1,200. This is down from the $1,485 which they reported in 2019.

Eloping vs. Traditional Wedding

One of the biggest benefits to eloping instead of having a traditional wedding is the cost savings. Traditional weddings can become quite pricey when you start booking venues, photographers, hair stylists, paying for meals for guests, beverages, DJ and many other normal wedding costs. With an elopement, you can ditch a lot of these costs.

Another benefit is you can have an intimate wedding day experience with your partner. Many couples who elope choose to do so with just the two of them, and this can make your wedding day more intimate.

Additionally, eloping is a way of getting married during coronavirus without putting you and your guests at risk of contracting the disease. A more traditional wedding would have you invite guests and bring them together at a venue to celebrate your wedding day. This increases the risk of transmitting coronavirus.

An Intimate Alternative Option

Eloping is a great alternative to having a traditional wedding. It can be cost effective, intimate and it is COVID friendly. Many couples are deciding to elope rather than go the traditional wedding route, especially during coronavirus.

There are still things to consider when deciding to elope, but often much less than a traditional wedding. If you are thinking about an elopement as an alternative to a traditional wedding, we hope you will take the leap!

The post Eloping during COVID-19 appeared first on Honeyfund Blog by Honeyfund.com, the free honeymoon registry.

Photo courtesy of Chris J Evans Photography

Weddings During Coronavirus

Are you wondering how to plan a wedding during coronavirus or how to social distance at weddings? With states starting to reopen and social distancing guidelines being relaxed, couples are realizing that their wedding plans may be able to continue this year. Planning and having a coronavirus wedding might look a little bit different than what you imagined, and that’s okay.

Put you and your spouse’s personality into your wedding. Get creative and have fun with it. Your wedding is what you want it to be whether that is having a socially distanced wedding in 2020 or cutting your guest list and eloping in the woods. Whatever you do for your wedding, it’s the right choice. Have some fun with it, and think about the story you will be able to tell the younger generations about the time you married the love of your life during a global pandemic.

The wedding industry is changing like much of the world, and they are doing their best to accommodate you and your wedding plans during this new normal we are living in. Here is how the wedding industry and couples are making their weddings happen during COVID-19, and how you can make yours happen too.

How to Plan a Wedding During Coronavirus

Wedding planning usually involves travelling to multiple venues, spending time with vendors and shopping for your wedding dress and tuxedo in person. While in-person meetings may not be happening during COVID-19, there are tons of great alternatives that can help you plan your wedding.

Have Virtual Meetings with Wedding Vendors

Hair stylists, makeup artists, photographers, videographers and other wedding vendors are adapting by offering virtual meetings and consultations. Nothing can replace the trust and bonding created during an in-person meeting, so how do you know you will be selecting someone you can trust? Ask to see a portfolio of the vendors past clients, or better yet, ask for the contact info of past clients and get in touch with them to see how their experience was with that vendor. If a hair stylist or photographer does a great job, they will have plenty of happy clients who are willing to give them a good review.

Wedding Dresses and Tuxedos

Shopping for wedding dresses and trying on tuxedos and suits are a big part of wedding planning. Thankfully, many companies now have options for you to do much of your shopping at home by letting you try-on your wedding dress or tux at home and returning it if it doesn’t fit. The same goes for your bridal party. Bridesmaids and groomsmen can get their dresses and tuxedos sent directly to their home for them to try on and return if the size is incorrect. This also helps save them time during their already busy lives.

If you were really looking forward to going dress shopping with your friends and loved ones, don’t let COVID hold you back. You can still have a good time with your friends and family by organizing a Zoom hangout to showcase the wedding dresses you try on at home. They will love that you still included them in your selection process.

Food and Caterers

When it comes to food on your wedding day, many caterers are nixing buffets and only allowing plated meals. If you are looking to protect your guests as much as possible, this may be the way to go. Having a plated meal eliminates the long line of a buffet where people are much more likely to come in close contact with each other. If a buffet is really speaking to you, you can still have one if your venue and caterer allow it. Be sure to use safe practices such as social distancing and wearing masks when inviting people to get their food.

Another option that could be less expensive than a plated meal is having a pre-packaged, boxed meal put together for each guest. Your guests could get their boxed meal from a buffet-style table, it could be waiting for them at their assigned dinner spot, or you could even have a food truck at your wedding that has a list of pre-made meals your guests can choose from.

Switching to plated or boxed meals sounds great, but how do you find a caterer you like while stuck at home?

Some caterers have added a new service to their business model that includes ordering packaged, to-go items from their menu. Instead of an in-person tasting, you could order one of these packaged menu items from a caterer and do a tasting at home. This could be a great alternative for you to try out a caterer’s selection.

You can even do the same thing for dessert. If your favorite baker isn’t allowing in-person tastings, see if you can at least get a taste by ordering one of their desserts and picking it up from their store. Again, like other wedding vendors, personal recommendations and reviews can go a long way when picking your food.

Wedding Venue

One of the biggest questions about coronavirus weddings is about the wedding venue. This is where everyone is going to convene during your ceremony and reception, so it is important to understand the venues guidelines.

Venues must follow their state’s and county’s guidelines regarding the maximum number of people they can allow at their site. Some states are only allowing venues to host small weddings of less than 50 people, while others are allowing up to 300. Each state and county is different, so check with your specific state to understand the rules in your area.

Many venues are giving virtual tours either through a pre-recorded video or by having a staff member show you around via a video tour. Some are even showing previous weddings that have been held at their venue to show you what your big day could look like.

Additionally, many venues are opening for weekday weddings to increase the number of events they can hold. With delays and postponements, venues want to make sure they can accommodate everyone who wants to get married, so weekday weddings are becoming more common. This might limit who can come to your wedding, but it could also drastically reduce the price of renting the venue since it is not a peak day like Friday, Saturday or Sunday.

Guests

One of the most important things to consider when wedding planning during COVID-19 is your guest list. Not only who you are going to invite, but also setting expectations with guests up front on how you want people to interact during your wedding.

Depending on the capacity of your venue, you may or may not be able to invite everyone you wanted. If your guest list is limited due to venue constraints, this could be an opportunity for you to have a small wedding that is more intimate. If you are still inviting all of your guests because the venue is allowing it, you will want to think about the people on your guest list. If you want Grandma and Grandpa to be at the wedding, but they need to get on a plane to be there, be sure you know the risks involved when it comes to guests travelling for your wedding.

If you do have your wedding this year, or any time with the new protocols in place, set expectations with your guests up front on how you want them to interact. Close contact like hugging, kissing, hand shaking and dancing will increase the likelihood of transmitting COVID-19, so consider letting people know what you want them to do instead.

This is all about your personal preference. You need to do what makes you and your loved ones feel the most comfortable. If limiting physical touching and passing out masks at the door is what is going to make you feel the most at ease during your big day, then by all means do it.

Setting up Zoom for Guests Who Can’t Attend

Even if all your guests can’t attend your wedding, that doesn’t mean they shouldn’t be a part of your big day! With technology like Zoom, you can include anyone from any part of the world in your wedding celebration.

For $14.99 you can buy Zoom’s Pro Plan and have up to 100 virtual attendees at your wedding. This plan also includes a meeting duration of 24 hours and 1 GB of MP4 video storage, which should be more than enough for your ceremony and reception. You can also upgrade to a more expensive plan if you need room for more participants.

There are some additional considerations to think about when adding a Zoom component to your wedding:

• Where will the laptop, phone or tablet be positioned that is going to record the wedding?
• Will you have a virtual MC helping with the virtual guests?
• Are some of your wedding speakers going to be attending virtually?
• Will there be any music for the virtual guests?
• What view will you use: speaker view or gallery view?
• What time of day will you have your event to account for people in different time zones?

There are a ton of features on Zoom that can help make your wedding an enjoyable experience for your virtual attendees. One of these cool features is the breakout room feature. This allows you to divide up your virtual guests into multiple, separate rooms in the Zoom meeting, and couples are using this feature to divide up their guests for dinner and other mingling, just as if they were seated at the same dinner table at the in-person wedding.

Adding a Zoom component to your wedding is a great way to include guests who can’t attend. Not everyone will know how to use it, so you may want to send an email educating your guests on the etiquette you expect and how to use some of the basic features of Zoom.

Oh, and don’t forget to hit record on your device!

Financial Benefits of a Wedding during COVID-19

While you may have to invite less people to your wedding, this could be an opportunity for you to save a ton of money. The cost per guest can rise quickly when planning a wedding, so fewer guests means less meals, less party favors, less transportation from your reception to the hotel, smaller venues and less of many other aspects of your wedding.

If you plan to scale back your wedding due to the coronavirus, use this as an opportunity to put that extra savings towards your next big goal, whether that is a down payment for a home, your next vacation or even stashing some money into your emergency fund for some extra security.

Know the Policies

One final note when it comes to wedding planning during COVID-19. Before agreeing to work with any vendor or venue, make sure you read the contract, ask questions and understand the refund and postponement policies before you sign any paperwork. Uncertainty is the new normal right now, and you want to feel comfortable with the refund and postponement policies of your vendors before you start working with them.

How to Have a Social Distanced Wedding

On the day of the wedding, venues are getting creative to uphold the social distancing protocols of their state. Families, friends and people arriving together are being seated as groups during the ceremony, making sure that seats between groups are six feet apart. Additionally, venues are reducing the number of people who are sitting at the same dinner table, again spacing the tables out according to social distancing guidelines.

Many venues are also working with brides and grooms to setup multiple seating and gathering areas to accommodate coronavirus weddings. For example, instead of having every guest in the same banquet hall for dinner, there might be a few people sitting inside and a few people sitting outside on a terrace. Using multiple spaces at a venue is a great way to keep your original guest list and ensure everyone is staying safe. Venues might even have multiple bars for people to order drinks from, so people don’t congregate in one area.

Staff at most venues are being required to wear masks and sometimes even gloves, but you and your guests may not have to. It is your decision to determine how you want you and your guests to handle masks and gloves.

Sanitation stations are also replacing self-serve stations. Instead of self-serve coffee and water, venues are replacing these with sanitation stations to help you, your guests and their staff stay healthy during your wedding.

What about Dancing?

No wedding is complete without dancing and music, right?

Some states are not allowing dancing at weddings, however, many venues are leaving it up to the married couple to decide how they want to handle dancing. Bands and DJs are still being booked, and they are following the social distance guidelines set by the state and by the couple getting married. Some couples are putting multiple dance floors at their reception, so small groups can dance together. Other couples are putting socially distanced marks on the dance floor to keep people safe while still dancing the night away. How you want your guests to dance and interact is up to you, unless restricted by the venue.

If having a traditional father/daughter or mother/son dance is important to you, make sure you check with the venues you are looking at before you book it to make sure these dances can happen.

What about Your Honeymoon?

Your honeymoon is a time for you and your spouse to relax after the many months of planning your wedding. But how do you take a honeymoon during COVID-19? Can you travel internationally? Are resorts open? Is it safe to fly? Check out our previous post talking about honeymoons during COVID-19 to see what your options are.

It’s Your Wedding

When it comes down to it, this is your wedding. Coronavirus or not, you can make your wedding how you want it to be. Get creative, have some fun with it and enjoy the process. One day, you will look back on this and smile when you remember that one time you got married during a global pandemic.

The post What You Need to Know About Coronavirus Weddings appeared first on Honeyfund Blog by Honeyfund.com, the free honeymoon registry.