BBB Tip: What to keep in mind when planning or rescheduling a wedding

There are always a lot of moving parts when it comes to planning a wedding. Add a sudden illness or disruptive life event to the mix, and it can easily feel overwhelming. That said, many couples have proven that with a little ingenuity, flexibility, and a few precautions, it is still possible to pull off a beautiful wedding.

You can make a success of your wedding. To do so, BBB recommends the following tips:

Wedding planning tips

• Come up with a plan. You want your wedding to be memorable and fun, but most importantly, you want it to be safe for you and your guests. If someone falls ill, decide how to protect the most important people in your life by setting up some clear guidelines and then sticking to them. Having clear expectations and communicating those to your guests will make everyone happier in the long run. 
  
  
• Come up with a “Plan B.” Despite your best-laid plans, things may still go awry. Come up with a plan B you really love. For example, if your venue falls through, have a tiny backyard wedding with immediate family members while planning a larger gathering for later. Other couples who don’t want to skip the big wedding may decide to get legally married now and celebrate later-  or simply postpone their wedding to a future date.
  
  
• Hire an event planner. Event planners can be invaluable at this time. They have open lines of communication with wedding vendors and venues, keep local restrictions in mind, and likely already have experience making changes on the fly. Get recommendations from friends and family who have used a wedding planner in the past, or look up wedding planners on BBB.org to find local event planners that run BBB Accredited Businesses. Be sure to research each company’s business rating and read consumer reviews as well.
  
  
• Always read the contracts. Reading contracts is critical. Fortune.com reminds brides- and grooms-to-be that in today’s fluid situation, it’s important to check with vendors and venues to find out “what the cancellation and rescheduling policy is, when you have to make the decision, and whether your deposit will transfer over to the new date.”
  
  
• Communicate with your venue and vendors. With florists, photographers, DJs, caterers, venue staff, and many other vendors to take into account, it’s important to make sure everyone is on the same page when it comes to your big day. Only hire vendors who have good communication skills and talk about the big what-ifs up front. What is the vendor’s backup plan if something goes wrong? What will happen to your deposit if you have to reschedule? Make sure you understand and feel comfortable with a vendor’s answers before you hire.
  
  
• Order everything you need well in advance. Supply chain issues can affect shipping times for many companies, so if you’ll be making the bulk of your purchases online or at stores that need to place an order, start early. Experts recommend ordering wedding dresses, for example, at least six months early, which will allow plenty of time for a return, exchanges, and/or alterations.
  
  
• Give guests gifting options. An online gift registry will allow guests to purchase gifts from their homes and ship them straight to yours. If you have to postpone or reschedule your wedding and you are already registered at a store, WeddingWire.com offers advice.
  
  
• Go virtual. One creative solution for sick attendees is to allow a virtual option. Having a live stream of your event can be a fun and safe way to celebrate your marriage with the ones you love.
  
  
• Keep your guests in the know. As soon as possible, inform them about any changes to your wedding plans. Be completely transparent about the number of guests who will attend your wedding and any changes you’ll be implementing during the ceremony and reception. This will put your guests at ease and give them the information they need as they decide whether or not to attend.
  
  
• Stay positive. If you start feeling down when you have to change your plans, know that you aren’t alone.  Remember, your wedding is just the beginning - you still have plenty of meaningful milestones ahead that you will be able to celebrate with all your friends and family.

For more information

Read BBB Wedding Tips and visit View BBB's Wedding Resources page for more helpful tips.