Tips for planning a wedding in a pandemic

It’s wedding season and with alert levels changing, case numbers fluctuating and a general sense of uncertainty in the air, many couples have had or are having to make the tough decision—push pause or roll the dice?

Planning an event with total certainty is a luxury we don’t currently have, but that doesn’t mean that you should put off living… or loving! Planning for the unplannable can be stressful, particularly with something as important as a wedding; but there are steps you can take to mitigate risk. These are our tips for planning a wedding in a pandemic.

1. Keep it small You might have to get a little ruthless with your invites, but really, what couple doesn’t when they’re planning a wedding? This is your excuse to leave your obnoxious uncle off the guestlist! Opting for a smaller wedding gives you a lot more options for venues—think restaurants, Airbnb's, or public spaces like parks and beaches. These options tend to come with a smaller price tag than traditional wedding venues and have more flexible cancellation policies. Which brings us to our next tip…
2. Check the cancellation policy Celebrants, caterers, hair and makeup artists, florists, photographers, videographers—before your hire anyone or anything, ask what happens if you have to postpone or cancel. With the current climate, most companies will be used to this by now and will have a policy in place one way or the other. Try to find companies that have minimal deposits, a money-back cancellation policy or who will endeavor to be flexible if your plans change.
3. Do it yourself At the end of the day, you want to avoid spending a bomb on an event that could get moved (or cancelled). If you can avoid hiring someone for something you could DIY, you’ll save money and cover yourself for any change of plans. Music, flowers, cake, hair and makeup, invitations—where there’s a will, there’s a YouTube tutorial or a free online template. Better yet, enlist the help of talented friends. Most people are happy to help their mates, and it can be their wedding present to you.
   
4. Skip the trivial stuff Hold onto your wallet, cause we’re going to keep going on this budgeting theme for the next few tips. There are a lot of things that significantly add to the cost of a wedding but go largely unnoticed. Skip the wedding party presents, the guest favours, the fancy menus and printed invites—nobody will miss them and if the unthinkable happens, they won’t go to waste.
   
5. Get a sale or return policy with your booze There isn’t much that’s worse than running out of booze at a wedding but buying too much can blow the budget. Stores such as Liquorland offer a Sale or Return policy, whereby you pay for what you use and get a refund on what you don’t. Not only does this mean you’ll have exactly the right number of drinks for the wedding; you also won’t get caught out if your plans change. They can even deliver in a freezer trailer straight to your venue. On that note—remember to check whether you can bring your own alcohol when selecting a venue!
6. Reduce, reuse, recycle Things like decorations, table settings, dresses and accessories are often used once at a wedding, then live at the back of someone’s cupboard for eternity. Be kind to your wallet and the environment by sourcing pre-loved wedding items—TradeMe is a good start. Then when you no longer need them, put them back into the second-hand cycle by reselling them or giving them to a charity shop. Easy.
7. Buy off the rack or go vintage A custom wedding dress or suit can cost thousands of dollars. For something that’s used for less than 12 hours, there are better ways to spend your hard-earned cash. Buying your outfit off the rack will cost far less. Vintage outfits, from somewhere like Etsy, can also provide something completely unique without the extortionate price tag. It can also be worth shopping around for something that isn’t specifically designed for a wedding. If you’re not the traditional type, who says you have to wear a white dress or a suit? Opting for something a little more versatile gives you the option to wear it again or resell it more easily.
8. Have we hammered home the budget point yet? Watching what you spend will remove a lot of the stress from your wedding planning, and if you have to postpone or cancel, it won’t sting so much. But even with a strict budget and flexible cancellation policies, weddings are expensive events. If you get into a position where you need a little help, try to avoid using your credit card. Credit cards tend to come with huge interest rates that can take an age to pay off. We work with some of New Zealand’s most trusted lenders to offer personal loans as low as $5,000 and interest rates as low as 6.95% p.a. Keep the option in your back pocket. If you need us, apply online and you’ll have your answer in 60 seconds.

Happy planning!

This blog is provided for general information purposes and is not a recommendation you enter into or exit any particular loans or insurance policy. Information on the website does not consider your particular circumstances, including your objectives, financial situation or needs. We recommend you seek advice from a financial adviser before taking any action as appropriate. The Lending People Limited (FSP240365) is a licensed financial advice provider and can provide advice on some types of personal loans. Find out more about The Lending People and how we may be able to help you.