As much as I don’t wish this on anyone, sometimes it might happen and you see yourself forced to find a new wedding date. But how to go about rescheduling your wedding day? Whilst the reasons can be many, the below tips apply to every couple who needs some advice on how to tackle this challenging topic.
1. Don’t rush into your decision
Stay calm and focused, and ask yourself – is rescheduling really our only option at this stage? If the reason for finding a new date is due to circumstances out of your control, such as severe weather events or border closures, listen to government advice and politely ask friends and family members to not fall into panic. Once you make the call to reschedule, you cannot go back. It can also be helpful to keep your favourite vendors (venue, planner, celebrant, photographer, …) in the loop and ask their opinion, as this gives more clarity about how hard or easy finding a new date might be.
It’s also important to understand what financial consequences your decision might have. The first thing you should do when considering a postponement, is reading back through all contracts you have signed with your vendors. Will they transfer your deposits to a new date? Or will the money be forfeited? How much notice do the vendors need?
2. Inform your vendors
Whilst you might be a little disheartened by your decision, it is important to let your vendors know as soon as possible. This does not only help having everyone on the same page, but it can avoid having to pay further instalments or forfeiting deposits if notice is given too late. That way, your vendors have the chance to book someone else in for your day.
3. Inform your guests
After speaking to your vendors, don’t forget to let your guests know that a new wedding date is currently pending! Even if you don’t have a new date set yet, your guests might be making arrangements to travel to your location, taking time off work or hiring babysitters. Give them the heads up as soon as possible. If you decide to reschedule very close to your date, you might want to give your guests a personal phone call and inform them of your decision.
Can’t seem to find the right words? A message of postponement could look like this: “Dear guests, due to unforeseen circumstances (you can also elaborate on this, e.g. “unanticipated damage from the recent storms” or “the happy occasion of welcoming a new family member in the near future”), we have decided to postpone our wedding. The new date is currently TBC, however we’ll be in touch as soon as it is time to mark your calendars – once again! Thank you for your understanding and we cannot wait to celebrate with you (feel free to add “once it is safe to do so” or “once our newest addition is earthside”).”
4. List all available dates
Ask yourselves what other dates you can imagine to tie the knot at. If you have booked a venue, see what their availability looks like and try to list about 3-5 dates. Rather than locking in the next best thing, this gives you the chance to check in with your vendors and see what day most of them can do. You may also want to ask your wedding party and close family members for their availability on future dates.
5. Consider a weekday
Weekends are looking pretty full? Unfortunately, this is something a lot of vendors and couples are facing heading into the next season, with most weddings being booked 12-18 months in advance. Whilst the wait for a weekend might be months, lots of vendors still have plenty of weekdays available and will be happy to accommodate your request. I’m sure your guests won’t mind to take a day off and celebrate your love!
6. Check with your vendors
We most definitely want to make your day amazing and are here to help! The wedding industry consists of small businesses, so it is very appreciated if you think of us while making your new plans. Rather than messaging each individual vendor, you can use an online scheduling tool like Doodle. Alternatively, you can create an Excel spreadsheet with colour codes (red = not available, orange = pending, green = available) and share it with all vendors in Google drive. This makes it so much faster to compare everyone’s availability and find a date that works for most.
7. Make it official
Found a date that works for most or all of you? Lock it in, inform your vendors and guests, and put the tough days behind you. It’s time to be looking forward to your new date and embrace the extended period you get to spend engaged to your soulmate!
For more alternatives on what you can do if your wedding can’t go ahead as planned, check out this article I’ve written.
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