YOUR WEDDING AND CORONAVIRUS

 

Coronavirus has been all over the media and is top-of-mind in the Austin event industry. Beyond SXSW and events, people are now asking questions about weddings. How does it affect your wedding and what should you do now? Here are some tips (inspired by planner colleague Bridal Bliss Event Planning):

  1. Avoid panic, get educated. We are checking in with all of our booked wedding professionals to ensure they have a back up plan in case they (or their staff) are unable to work the wedding. We are reviewing contracts, educating ourselves on rescheduling clauses, and then continuing on with business as usual. Keep yourself educated, stay informed and plan for what we know now. Try to avoid panic.

  2. Ask your wedding planner for advice and trust them to help you. As planners, our utmost priority is taking care of our clients, but we are also respectful of our vendor partners.

  3. Think about a loose back up plan. We have contingency plans in place before each wedding (usually weather related, not for a global pandemic), but in this case it may be worth putting a future date on hold with your venue or some of your key wedding professionals until there is more clarity.

  4. Your wedding dress.  Some designers are having delays, with production in China halted or delayed. That being said, none of us know what will happen so if you are concerned, think about purchasing a discontinued/off-the-rack gown just in case or contacting your retailer.

  5. As you are nearing your date, discuss additional safety protocols and sanitation procedures with your wedding professionals. You may consider having hand sanitizer conveniently placed at the wedding, upgrading soap, serving a plated meal rather than buffet or family style, ensuring ALL staff is free of illness to the most reasonable extent.

  6. Get event insurance, or double check/upgrade your policy. Some of our clients will purchase event insurance via their homeowners insurance providers, and others will purchase a separate policy through an event specific provider (like WedSafe or WedSure). Regardless of Coronavirus, we highly suggest purchasing a policy for your event as it can protect you from circumstances beyond your control.

    Be sure to talk with an insurance specialist to understand what is or is not included. Some wedding insurance policies will cover virus related issues ONLY if the venue cancels the event. As the Coronavirus affect is still in progress, we cannot ensure weddings will be covered.

  7. Inform your guests. Send printed cards, an email blast or even texts if the date is imminent. Update your website and encourage your guests to purchase travel insurance or stay home if there is any sign of illness. What we suspect and are starting to see is that guest counts are lower than expected this wedding season, especially within the older age groups. You can always live-stream for those that are unable to attend. Ask your wedding planner how that can be an option for you. In Austin, since we are a destination wedding market, we have the added complication that many of our couples to be wed live elsewhere.

Most of all, try to stay calm and keep yourself informed. While postponing or rescheduling your wedding might be necessary for some because of Coronavirus, our prediction is that for most the show will go on, just with extra precautionary measures. AWPA and our member businesses, we are closely monitoring the US Department of State for travel restrictions and adhering to guidelines set by World Health Organization and Centers for Disease Control. We encourage you to make decisions based on facts, but not fear.

Finally, keep the Austin event industry in mind as many have lost significant revenue due to the Coronavirus. We are made up of a network of small- and medium-sized businesses and some have been devastated. Please have an open mind when you are talking with your wedding professionals about this situation and see the grass-roots efforts event industry professionals have created.

Disclaimer: AWPA is not an insurance agency or legal firm. This information is not a substitute for professional legal or insurance advice. Please contact your hired professionals in these areas with questions.