Who says you can’t plan a dream wedding during the new normal?
The pandemic may be causing the big fat Indian wedding to take on a learner avatar, but that doesn’t mean it won’t be the most special occasion of your life. For it is the very restrictions of the time that open up the endless possibilities of planning the perfect intimate romantic gathering that’s beautiful and unforgettable.
Here’s a lovely guide to help you do just that. Read on to discover how you can plan the most memorable intimate wedding, with all the details on ensuring a smooth, safe event that you and your guests can enjoy without the slightest worry.
Get Wedding Insurance
If there’s one thing this time has taught us, is that protecting oneself is important. Wedding Insurance covers almost everything that could go wrong during a wedding including damage or loss due to fire, theft, explosion, burglary and even natural disasters.
The sum insured under the policy covers the costs of cards printed, any advance paid to the caterers, venue, decorators, for hotel reservations or travel tickets. Wedding Insurance can be availed in the form of specific plans. The premium can vary depending on various factors like total sum insured, wedding venue, guest list, number of days of the event and add-ons like extra cover for jewellery and other precious articles. While some insurers offer insurance for jewellery as an add-on, others have in-built cover for jewellery or valuables. You can also get personal accident cover and public liability cover to ensure protection against injury or death arising out of accidents at the wedding venue.
Choose an Open-air Venue with Spacious Table Arrangements
Source: maharaniweddings.com
In the post-pandemic era, people will look forward to socialising again, however, safe distancing still remains paramount at mass gatherings. In such a world full of heightened cautiousness, weddings are to be organised in a new way. An open-air or outdoor wedding is the best for now, which offers natural ventilation and space between people. Also, a well-thought-out seating arrangement is essential to reduce risk. Venues should organise bigger tables with limited seating to maintain distance between people. For instance, a table for 10 should be assigned to 5 guests only. We can even expect more creative seating arrangements like a circular seating or theatre seating, allowing guests to have a 360-degree view of the ceremony.
Send Out E-Cards / Website Invites
Delivery providers may be hard pressed to deliver your cards on time and many people would prefer to not receive a physical card at this time. Instead, opt for E-cards or Website Invites that allow you to be super creative with your own personal touch and also environmentally conscious!
Skip The Buffet!
The highlight and the most budget consuming aspect of any Indian wedding is its lavish buffet. However, with the current situation, sit down meals are the new norm as buffets are highly discouraged due to physical distancing measures. While some couples may still opt for buffet-style service, precautionary measures like contactless serving of dishes and maintaining distance must be ensured. For example, one designated server will be assigned to serve a dish at the buffet to avoid guests touching the cutlery/spoons, or line marking to maintain six feet distance between two people. Besides this, caterers will also have to ensure that the raw materials or ingredients for food preparation are sourced from trustworthy suppliers, who ensure utmost cleanliness while delivering the stock from the markets to the venue.
Enforce Health & Safety Measures
On the day, you want to have well integrated health and safety measures so as to ensure your guests have a comfortable experience. At the venue, install sanitisation fans that work effortlessly, have a temperature reading station at the entrance and provide individual hygiene kits to all guests. Keep a designated area by the washrooms for people to wait their turn and avoid overcrowding inside. The venue must provide staff for frequent sanitisation of commonly used touch points. And most importantly, all additional vendors be it make-up artists or photographers, must be health-checked prior to the event.
Get Make-up & Hair Done Safely
Many brides and guests are choosing to wear masks for the wedding. This has seen an increasing trend in eye make-up and hairstyles. But of course, one can choose not to wear a mask and opt for traditional full bridal looks. It is important that the make-up team always wears masks, face shields and PPE kits for all appointments since they will be spending a prolonged period of close proximity with you.
Post-COVID-19 Culture
Societal norms call for handshakes and hugs during milestones and celebrations such as weddings. With the entire world maintaining social distancing, it is preferred to skip the gift-exchange and photo sessions that typically occur at wedding receptions. The new normal for weddings across the world is going to be significantly different. In the meantime, it’s time to stay educated, make more informed decisions and rethink safer ways to celebrate.
Virtual Weddings
During this time when couples are going local instead of destination weddings, there’s a way out for overseas guests to be part of the celebration virtually. Also, live streaming wedding ceremonies are a foreseeable trend in the near future. And it’s a great way to ensure all your well-wishers are part of the celebrations, whether near or far.
Weddings in Shifts
Most couples who do not want any change in plans and would still prefer a full guest list can consider celebrating in shifts. With shift weddings, couples can host their wedding day festivities at their original venue and with their full team of wedding vendors, but the guests come in shifts, allowing them to adhere to social-distancing guidelines.
Mask Fashion
In the age of a pandemic that shows no signs of abating and has completely altered the way we live and interact with our surroundings as well as socialise with the people around us, one item has risen the ranks of all forms of protective coverings and is now geared to make its global fashion debut — the face mask. And in India, there is no platform bigger than the great Indian wedding.
The wedding wear market is also taking the trend seriously, as couples and their families are showing interest in custom-made face masks that complement their wedding look. Matching masks with different blends of fabrics, interesting thread detailing are high in demand.
Source: Paran Singh Photography
Approaching Wedding Vendors
It is best to avoid meeting people in person, customers can interact with vendors via Hangouts or Zoom video calls. Closer to the date, updates can be exchanged and finalised via WhatsApp, call or videos. Similar to selecting other wedding vendors, make-up artists and mehendi artists too can be chosen online by browsing their Instagram or Facebook portfolios. Customers can easily write to them and have a video discussion to finalise the details.
Virtual Selection of Wedding Ensembles
At the moment, it is best to embrace technology and the many perks it offers. Most designers, boutique owners and even tailors now have an online presence, or have the means to come online on a video call, discuss designs, size and measures online and have clothes and even accessories delivered well before time.
Bridal jewellery is at the heart of the wedding ensemble for a woman. So it is important to be able to find the right pieces for the occasion, even in these trying times. Choose a brand with a legacy in bridal jewellery, but also one that’s modern in their offerings. Many jewellers have now begun online stores, digital, virtual showcases and purchases, presenting a truly safe and secure way to complete every element of a radiant bridal look.
Final Touches!
Create a card insert along with your invitation card that lays down the expectations — on covering their faces, carrying sanitisers, food service, social distancing, gifting and other safety measures. This can be a digitally shared poster too. So your guests can prepare beforehand, and have a smooth experience on the day through the entire process of checking, thermal screening and more.
Weddings have always been extravagant affairs, especially in India. It’s been that one occasion where everyone you and your family knows all come together. The virus and social distancing has swiftly brought about change, as to how we celebrate holy unions. But change is never bad, it’s just different. Look at the positive side, the many technological conveniences to help with the planning, the genuine intimate occasion you get to have with only your nearest and dearest, and the money you can save too.
Of course, less guests doesn’t mean that the celebration is less fun! Instead, you can celebrate your precious wedding moments more intimately, and more beautiful memories can be created on your special day!
