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Beth LeonGuerro of The Charleston Wedding Studio is here to answer some questions on how Charleston's wedding industry is being affected, how to navigate wedding re-planning, common issues couples are running into and more. She also offered advice for couples still going through with marrying during this time.

Beth LeonGuerrero | Headshot by Ava Moore Photography

How has the pandemic impacted your work so far? How has the nature of your work changed?

We are spending our time working with clients on rescheduling their wedding. A few will still get married and have small personal ceremonies and celebrate with their larger reception at a later date. While spring is typically an extremely busy time for us with events, we have not worked any actual events since mid-March. While we are still receiving a number of inquiries for clients planning future weddings, the numbers are not what they typically are. As of right now even meetings, tastings and venue walk-throughs are being postponed.

What long-term impacts do you think this could have on the wedding industry as a whole?

While I feel confident that Charleston's robust wedding industry will eventually recover, there will definitely be repercussions for at least a year if not a bit longer. As fall, winter and even spring + summer dates of next year are being filled with reschedules, the availability for new weddings to be booked is limited. As contracts shift, so do payment schedules. Many wedding vendors are going to face multiple months without income. Applying for assistance can be a frustrating and fruitless process, which leads me to believe that some of these businesses will struggle to survive.

What kind of issues have your clients run into while trying to rearrange their wedding plans?

The largest issue is finding a new date that works for both the client and all of the contracted vendors. We recommend choosing 2-3 dates that the venue has available and float those dates to your vendors. Choose the new date based on the best availability. Alternately, you could reach out to all your vendors and get the entirety of their availability and choose a date based on that, but that could be an arduous process. I recommend the former scenario as it allows you to move more swiftly and book your new date. With all of the rescheduling, availability is changing rapidly.

Are there any unexpected costs that couples are incurring as a result of postponing or cancelling their wedding plans?

Most venues and vendors are allowing for reschedules without penalty. Some may have small reschedule fees, but most of the ones we work with have waived them if the reschedule is COVID-19 related. Rescheduling is desired and recommended. With a full cancellation, couples would lose out on their retainers and, depending on each of the individual vendor contracts, possibly more. In addition, despite the pandemic, if the couple chooses to cancel instead of reschedule, that is still a voluntary cancellation. They would need to double check with their wedding insurance provider to confirm the cancellation costs would be covered.

What resources do you recommend for couples who were or are planning to wed during this time?

Couples should stay up to date on the regulations of the state in which the wedding is being held, which can be sourced from DHEC or the CDC. If the wedding is early- to mid-summer, it's time to start considering a plan of action for rescheduling. Fall + winter dates should hold tight and wait on ever-changing developments. Check in with your planner for guidance, or reach out to the venue and see their recommendations for rescheduling.

For those who are still trying to marry during this time, what details should they make sure they are considering?

You can certainly still get married via a small elopement, and plan to celebrate with friends and family at a later date. If you do intend on having immediate family in attendance, have a clear seating plan in place to allow for social distancing between families and individuals that do not currently live within the same household. Double check with your officiant and other vendors that you would need for a small ceremony and confirm they are comfortable with a scenario practicing social distancing – wearing masks if applicable and have hand sanitizer at the ready. Additionally, you can live stream your wedding and plan for your reception at a later date, possibly even your anniversary. As soon as you make a decision, be sure to inform everyone involved and update guests on any pertinent reschedule information.

If a couple was previously working without a wedding planner, would you recommend they consider hiring one now to assist with adjusting their plans? Why or why not?

It's always a great idea to have a trusted professional helping you with your wedding. If you already have the majority of it planned, you can obtain partial planning or a month of services from reputable planners. They can assist you with navigating the reschedule. More importantly, on the actual wedding day, you will be able to relax and enjoy your time together as a couple while an experienced wedding specialist manages your timeline and vendors while tending to you and your new spouse.

If a couple is planning a larger wedding, what’s the earliest time you would consider ‘safe’ for them to postpone their wedding?

This is difficult to answer because there is still conflicting information in reference to large gatherings. The larger the wedding, the further out the reschedule is recommended. While I am hopeful groups of 50 or more will be allowed to gather this fall and winter, I am concerned that the ban on larger events of say, 100+, may be extended well beyond that. We've been recommending at least a year for larger weddings and will closely monitor the gathering recommendations of government agencies mentioned above.

How early did this begin impacting wedding ceremonies? Are you already seeing summer, fall or winter weddings postponed?

Our first reschedules started to occur mid-March. Right now, June weddings are in the postponement process.

If a couple is waiting to decide whether or not to postpone their wedding, what factors should they consider when determining when or how to make the call?

They should consider the size of the wedding and any travel bans that may make attendance difficult for friends and family to attend. Also, take into consideration other special circumstances that would warrant a reschedule, including if any primary participants in the military or medical field. If you are financially impacted, you may also consider a reschedule. No one would blame you if you decided to reschedule your wedding. We are all hopeful that things will be back to normal by later summer and fall – we just don't have the facts yet to say definitively. The earlier you decide to reschedule, the more likely you will be able to find a date that works best for everyone. It's a delicate balance and there are unfortunately no definitive guidelines in reference to future events.

Is there anything else you’d like to add?

We understand that this is an uncertain time that can cause additional, unnecessary stress on your wedding planning. Keep in mind that you are not alone! It's okay to feel sad, mad, frustrated or all of the above, however, do not let your emotions override smart decision making in your planning. Relax. Breathe. Be flexible. Be open to new dates or even weekday weddings. Empathize with your vendors – they are going through a difficult time as well. As long as everyone is kind and works together, rescheduling will actually be a fairly smooth process.

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