As anyone who had a wedding scheduled in 2020 will tell you, postponing your big day is kinda like the sound effect that goes, wah-wah-wah.
The truth is, life happens. There’s a myriad of reasons—both good and bad—that can result in having to reschedule your big day.
If you’re currently in this situation, your recourse depends on a few factors, one being where you currently are in the planning process.
Those who haven’t even sent out save the dates or booked venues and vendors yet have way less to attend to. Those who’ve already put down multiple deposits and sent out invites have a lot more on their plate.
If you need to reschedule your big day, here’s what you need to do to make it less stressful and painful overall.
How to let your guest know you’re postponing the wedding?
The goal here is to communicate and be as transparent as possible.
If you’ve already sent out invites, make sure you use the same method to send out the postponement notice.
Share the News
Post the change in plans on social media. Text or call loved ones, and go above and beyond to alert everyone who’s already RSVP’d and is planning on being there.
That way no one shows up at the venue on the canceled day…and unwittingly crashes someone else’s union.
Offer an Explanation
Be aware, your guests will likely want an explanation. If you’re able to, let them know why your wedding’s been postponed, and maintain a positive upbeat tone.
Provide a New Date
If you have a new date already picked out, share it with everyone who’s invited to the wedding. Emphasize the importance of getting each guest to re-RSVP. Otherwise, let them know you’ll be sending out updated invitations as soon as the new date is set.
If possible, Help Guests Re-book, or Cancel Accommodation
If you have out-of-town guests who have already booked their lodging, offer to help them reschedule their accommodation for your new wedding date, if you have one planned.
Be Understanding
Finally, be understanding if guests who RSVP’d to the initial date are unable to make it to a newly scheduled one.
Be Positive
Overall, try to remain cheerful. Emphasize how much you’re looking forward to getting together and celebrating with everyone when the big day finally arrives.
How to deal with vendors when postponing your wedding?
If you’ve already put down a deposit on a venue and pre-booked vendors, your course of action differs depending on whether or not you have a new date—or at least an idea of when it will be—than if it’s currently undetermined.
Choose Your New Date Based on Venue Availability
Because your venue is a critical element to the wedding, it’s always a good idea to check their availability prior to rescheduling your wedding. That way you know when they’re available and are able to select a new date accordingly.
Work with Vendors—Check the Contract to See if Your Deposit is Refundable
If some of your vendors have prior engagements on your new date, you may have to look for someone else. If you’ve put down a deposit, check your contract to see if you’re eligible for a refund.
If you are postponing the wedding for a few years, it may just be best to cancel everything, get a deposit if you’re able, and start again when you’re ready.
Confirm New Date and Time with Venue and Vendors
If you are able to reschedule, confirm your new date with the venue and each of your vendors, ensuring they update the info and have the correct date and time in their calendars.
Since postponing a wedding involves additional steps, it’s crucial you keep track of everything: Electronic calendars or a paper planner both work well.
Postponed the wedding? Don’t stop wedding planning
Just because your wedding is postponed, doesn’t mean you have to postpone all the planning. There are certain tasks you can keep working on regardless of if you’ve selected a new date or not.
Here are a few wedding planning tasks you can still attend to, even if the wedding has been postponed.
Dress Shopping
Maximize this extra time—use it to source the perfect wedding gown. Create a Pinterest board if you haven’t already, schedule try-ons, and if some online dress sites let you order your favorites to try on.
Don’t forget your bridesmaids, either. In the frenzy of wedding planning and dealing with it all, bridesmaid’s dresses tend to get forgotten, and brides have to settle with what they find last minute.
Bella Bridesmaids has an incredible variety of bridesmaid dresses, featuring an incredible array of styles. Use this extra time to your advantage and find something both you and your bridesmaids adore.
Décor Details
A postponed wedding buys you more time to nail the wedding décor. If you have a theme or are simply over-the-moon excited about making it as pretty as possible, lean into this extra time. Use it to fully embrace your vision. Again, with Pinterest at your side, you’ll never lack for ideas and inspo.
Whether you’re thrifting, buying online, or excited to DIY, a postponed wedding gives you ample time and space to go all in on the details.
Conclusion
While it may seem like a big deal, a postponed wedding really isn’t. Communicate with both vendors and guests and by the time your special day rolls around everyone will be having so much fun. They’ll totally forget the rescheduling even happened.
