Postponing a wedding due to reasons beyond your control takes away the excitement you've been building for months. Even if you know you'll still marry the love of your life, the thrill of the actual day is just not quite there anymore. And when your original wedding date draws near, you might find yourself feeling sad.
Allow yourself to feel that. It's okay not to be okay. But here's the thing: your original date can still mean something. Here are 11 ways to make it memorable — because you deserve to celebrate, pandemic or not.
1.Set Up a Live Stream
Have a decent internet connection and a good camera setup on the day of your party. This ensures no lag time once you get started — and your guests will feel genuinely present even from a distance.
2.Invite Family and Friends — Virtually
Send out e-vites for your special day. Ask your loved ones to dress up and be online to witness your commitment ceremony. Even if they live in the same house, ask them to dress up and be present. No kill joys, please!
3.Dress Up
This is a special day, so dress up even if it's just a simple dress or a nice barong. You may opt to wear a white cocktail dress and a veil too. It's your party — your call.
Infinity Closet
4.Invite Guests to Drive By
Social distancing kept people away, but a drive-by is a wonderful reason to go out and show love. Have guests swing by your neighborhood to greet you or drop off a gift.
5.Say Your Vows
A commitment ceremony is the best opportunity to recite personal vows — something Catholic churches typically don't allow during the actual ceremony. Remind each other that through thick or thin, it will be the two of you until the end.
6.Dinner and Cocktails
Celebrate with a simple feast — whether it's a lovingly set table at home, a grazing spread from a food vendor, or your favorite delivery from a nearby restaurant. Support wedding suppliers who pivoted to home delivery. And make sure your online guests eat at the same time as you — a shared meal even through a screen feels surprisingly celebratory.
7.Wedding Cake
Order your favorite cake from your neighborhood bakery or a trusted wedding cake supplier. What's a celebration without cake?
8.Play Games
Make your gathering extra lively with virtual games. "He Said, She Said" trivia about you and your fiancé is a crowd favorite. "Most Likely To..." gets everyone laughing. And "Name That Tune" never gets old.
9.Have a Photoshoot
Document this special day — it's something you'll look back on for years. A phone camera is perfectly fine, or reach out to a professional photographer to capture the day beautifully. The photos from your commitment ceremony can become part of your wedding flashback video later.
10.Open Presents
If guests have sent gifts ahead or dropped them off, open them during your gathering. Opening presents heightens that feeling that you actually got married — and who doesn't love that joy?
11.Dance, Dance, Dance
End with a happy note. Have a dance-off with your online guests. Practice your first dance together. Play your future wedding playlist and sway. Cap the night with music and movement.
While this may not be what you envisioned, it is something you'll always remember. Enjoy. Be happy. Life is too short to be sad on a day this full of love.
If you need help planning your commitment ceremony or your actual wedding, reach out to Simply Beautiful Events or browse our full Browse All Vendors for wedding coordinators and planners.