COVID-19 creates more uncertainty for B.C. couples this wedding season

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – Wedding season is quickly approaching, but with COVID-19 continuing to spread, it looks like couples will have to navigate another year of restrictions while planning to say “I do.”

“For people that are looking for that big celebration, I think if they’re willing to wait, I would say postponing would be a better option,” explained Crystal Chiang, the principal planner, designer, and coordinator at Luxe Weddings.

With current health orders restricting weddings to only 10 people, including the officiant, many couples who already postponed their weddings from 2020 are holding off for another year.

“I carried 21 weddings over that were booked from last year into this year,” explained Maureen Brown, the principal planner at Emerald Events. “Three of those still haven’t decided what they’re going to do — one’s for June. We’ve had a couple of people book for August and most people are moving to next year because they’re just so not sure what’s going to happen.”

Brown says many vendors may not be able to make it through another tough year.

“If you have any office or anything like that without income coming in, that’s going to be really difficult,” she added. “Some vendors have gone out and found new careers, or quit completely.”

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Then there are vendors who are adapting to accommodate pandemic needs.

Chiang says Luxe Weddings in Vancouver is offering a new service to her clients this year in light of the continuing health crisis.

“We have decided to offer all-inclusive elopement packages to basically help couples plan and also have a safe wedding if they want to make it official this year,” she explained.

With B.C. set to provide more details on its COVID-19 travel ban on Friday, there will be even more for couples to consider.

“People that are even planning like small backyard (weddings) with 10 people and stuff, if you can’t travel … you’re not going to be able to do it. So even the very, very small weddings are going to be affected by these restrictions,” Brown told CityNews.

When CityNews spoke with wedding experts last spring, they had expected 2021 to be a busy wedding season. However, it looks like 2022 is going to take the cake.

“2022, I’ve got Tuesday weddings, and Thursday weddings, and Sunday weddings, because you’ve got the brides that booked in 2020, the brides that booked in 2021, and then people that are just engaged just want to get married next year. So all those sort of three are all coming together in one season,” Brown said.

However, her ultimate advice to couples: do what makes you happy.

“You know, you only get married once, and you only have a reception once, and you should do it and be able to enjoy it,” she said.