I hope everyone is doing well in what is hopefully the last week of quarantine. It’s been awhile since I’ve updated you on wedding planning and it has certainly been quite the rollercoaster ride, hence the title of this blog post. I’m going to share what’s been going on lately, talking about planning a wedding during a pandemic and expectations vs. reality. If you are a 2020 bride, know that I feel for you and I’m thinking of you. We will get through this together.
In case you are new here, you can read our engagement story here and watch our engagement video here. Last time I shared a planning update, it was at the beginning of our engagement. Here is what has happened since.
Wedding Planning Update #2
So, we originally had a wedding date of June 27, 2020 and unfortunately, we have decided to postpone until the end of August. It was a really hard decision to make because our wedding is not only the start of our lives together, but it is the closing of our long distance chapter and we are so eager to be together. We have been looking forward to this day for so long and the thought of having to prolong it any longer makes my stomach flip upside down.
Our number one priority is the safety of our guests and we didn’t feel that June was safe enough or that people would be comfortable enough. We pushed it back two months and luckily, most of our vendors are able to make the change. My bridal shower in April was postponed to May and I am starting to feel as though that may be cancelled as well. Other than that, not much as changed. We are hoping for the best and preparing for the worst.
The original plan was to move into our new house in June and even with the postponements and cancellations, we still want to be together so I will be moving into the house for the summer and Eddie will join me in August. I am SO excited. The countdown is officially on and I will be moving at the end of May. I have been dying to share home content and updates and that will definitely be coming soon. Subscribe to my weekly newsletter so you don’t miss any updates!
I am going to be better about keeping you guys posted on what is going on in the wedding world but until then, here are some of the things I expected and what the reality actually is.
Expectations vs. Reality
Expectation: Wedding planning is really fun!
Reality: While it can be really fun, it is also incredibly stressful. I am not the best decision maker, but at the same time I am really particular when it comes to knowing exactly what I want. The planning process is much harder than I expected, but I know it will be totally worth it in the end.
Expectation: Finding vendors isn’t very hard.
Reality: When reaching out to vendors, you will get a lot of messages saying “Sorry, we are unavailable on the date.” If you are early in the wedding planning process, research and book the vendors you want as soon as possible. It’s disappointing when you find someone you’d love to work with and they aren’t available on your date.
Expectation: Once the wedding date is set, it’s set!
Reality: Never in a million years did I expect a pandemic to arise a few months before my wedding. I didn’t even know what a pandemic really was until a month ago. I always imagined having a beautiful bridal shower and a big fairytale wedding but this whole situation has caused for us to postpone everything and it has shifted my entire perspective.
Expectation: Finding a wedding dress will be a long process.
Reality: I thought I would visit a few bridal salons before finding my wedding dress but I actually found it on my first visit. It’s different for everyone but for me, it was much easier than anticipated. I am so in love with my dress!
Expectation: Everything would get easier after getting engaged.
Reality: What I thought would get easier, has actually felt harder. Doing long distance with my boyfriend was much easier than doing it with my fiancé. There are so many fun activities in terms of wedding planning (cake tasting, venue searching, purchasing wedding bands, sending invites) that I had always imagined doing together and we have done almost everything individually. We even purchased our house without me seeing it in person.
Read about how I asked my bridesmaids here.
I am hoping and praying that all gets better soon and we can have our wedding in August and I will update you when I have more information! Don’t forget to subscribe to my weekly newsletters so you never miss a post!
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Wedding planning can be incredibly stressful even if you have a wedding planner
I hope you get your wedding in August!
I was just happy to have a courthouse wedding. I wouldn’t have the patience to plan one and spending a bunch of money on one day would make me twitch. We used the money we would have spent on a wedding to go to Hawaii.
I can only imagine the stress of planning a wedding. The expectations are usually nothing like the reality.
So much does go into a wedding. Sounds like you have some great plans
This is a very difficult time for everyone, but especially it has to be hard for you to be trying to plan a wedding when you don’t even know if the dates will work. I do hope this all works out for you, but regardless, you will be living with your Prince Charming! And that is the most important thing of all!!!
Congratulations on your upcoming wedding! <3 I know that it is stressful but, enjoy the preparations because you will surely miss these moments. 🙂
I hated wedding planning when I was engaged. I had no one helping me and my parents didn’t really care, so there was no support there. 3 years in we called it off and chose to buy a house instead. I still have the ring but there’s no pressure of a date.
I’ve been married twice and both times I really disliked wedding planning. My first wedding was full of drama and it left a really bad taste in my mouth. My second we decided to have a very SMALL wedding and apparently we upset a lot of people. Whatever. Let your wedding be about you two and let it be what it is.
Wedding planning is a stressful thine without a pandemic! I can’t imagine dealing with it this year.
Sounds like you are doing a great job of rolling with the punches and you will have a great wedding story to tell for years to come!
Oh my goodness, what a fabulous story. I know of someone who doesn’t believe that long-distance relationship work and I will be sending him a link to your proposal pronto (as they say in Italy). All the best for your wedding day.
OMG I just got engaged in March! congrats !!!! Your ring is SO PRETTY. And also, I have that same mug! I freaking love wedding planning, although my fiance and I decided to elope to Hawaii, but we are still planning lots of activities and a big reception for when we get back!
Congratulations on your upcoming wedding! Wedding planning is so stressful.
I really do commend you for being so brave and selfless in postponing your wedding! It could not have been an easy decision and you made a huge sacrifice.
Wedding planning is an excitement and stress too. anyway congratulation for starting this planning for your upcoming wedding.
very nice post. I didn’t have a ‘proper’ wedding so I can not really relate to this. But it does sound fun
Congratulations in advance for your upcoming wedding! Wedding preparation can be a tedious process, but of course it’s all worth it!
I will pray that you can have a great wedding in August. Have a great time planning it. Though hard to plan, a wedding is once in a lifetime so make the most of it.
I remember dealing with everything when it came to wedding planning. I’m so sorry you had to postpone yours right now because of how difficult things are. I hope you can use the extra time to make things better.
Congrats on your upcoming wedding! I know it’ll look different than what you had originally planned, but I’m sure it will still be amazing!