No doubt about it, these are some unprecedented times, and life has gotten pretty damn weird. I feel the uncertainty and concern just the same as you do, but we need to remember that life hasn’t stopped - we just need to do things a little differently right now.
It’s totally normal to feel disheartened about all this, and I’m officially giving you permission to spend a day or two in mourning with copious amounts of wine and chocolate. But then it’s time to pick yourself up, put on your big-girl pants, and get on with things.
Whether you’ve postponed your original plans and haven’t finished contracting suppliers, or if you’re newly engaged (hurrah!) but haven’t pulled the trigger on your fave venue or picked a planner yet - let’s do it! More than ever, you need a few great wedding professionals in your corner.
Here are few tasks you can check off from the comfort of your own couch (in between episodes of Tiger King of course!)
Pin, Pin, Pin…
Pinterest is every bride’s best friend. I have regularly jumped on ‘just for a few minutes’ and then spent hours pinning my fave wedding inspo. It’s a fun but slippery slope my friends so clear some space in your at-home schedule. Check out Sparrow’s Pinterest page to get you started.
Get Web-Ready
If you’re planning on creating your very own wedding website, now is the time to get started. Let your guests know where to find all the intel on your wedding day from postponement dates, to gift registry, to places to stay, and engagement photos. We’ve updated our 2019 blog post on creating your own wedding website here.
Write Your Vows
Take this opportunity to start writing your wedding vows to your partner. The extra time will allow you to really create something considered and beautiful, as well as being a great reminder of why you love your other half (something you may need when you’re driving each other crazy after a month in isolation, haha!).
Make Lists
This is my fave thing to do - bring me alllll the fresh notebooks and coloured pens! #selfconfessednerd
It’s time to get super-organised and there are soooo many lists that will make your future planning work easier - music playlists for different parts of the day, things to pack for your ‘getting ready’ location, family group shot lists for your photographer, ceremony traditions you’d like to consider, and favourite wedding cake flavours. Get it all written down so that when it comes to booking appointments, you’re prepared.
Short-List Your Fave Suppliers
Yay, more lists! It’s likely that you were planning on attending a wedding expo or event to discover potential suppliers. Even though those sort of events aren’t going ahead right now, your search for the perfect supplier team doesn’t need to be put on hold! You can still browse for a range of suppliers online. I know it can be overwhelming and if you don’t know where to start, why not head over to the Love Cherish Adore vendor directory to find some of our most-trusted industry friends.
Keep Supporting Local Business
Many of your fave vendors may have had to close their shop-front to the public, but they’re still working away behind the scenes to help plan future weddings. Send off inquiries to your possible vendors so that you can still gather all the info you need, and avoid the awfulness of last minute wedding planning. We’re very lucky in South Australia that our isolation rules are not quite so strict as the eastern states, so many venues are still able to give you a private, socially-distanced tour of their space, and lots of suppliers are conducting meetings with clients online (including us, pj pants on and coffee in hand!) Fill in your inquiry form here)
Lovelies, you know I like to keep it real and I’ll always give it to you straight. So here’s the deal -
If you don’t plan your dream wedding, someone else will.
Read that sentence again and let it sink in. I know the world feels like it is at a standstill right now, but the reality is it very much is not. We’ve welcomed two new Sparrow couples into our tribe just this week alone, and you know what? Those couples are booking your chosen wedding date, and scooping up your favourite suppliers. And this is on top of the couples who have sadly had to postpone their autumn/winter weddings, and are rapidly filling our spring/summer diaries.
Use this time wisely, because before we know it we’ll be back to normal, fast-paced life. Plus, planning a wedding is exciting stuff, all this activity and planning will make you happy! So send those emails, make those phone calls, and narrow down your Pinterest vision.
We’re ready and waiting for you! Love, Emma xo