Is your wedding planned in 2020 or 2021? Read this blog!
KEY POINTS
- Whats happening in the Industry
- What to expect
- Your Options
- How Alpha Decor can help?
Reading this Blog: Skim through highlights, additional information is provided under each section.
1. Whats happening in the Industry
As you may know, your wedding is one of the most life-changing, exciting, and nerve-racking days you'll have in your life. You've probably prepared for a long time and worked hard to make sure that everything will go according to plan. However, nobody expected that your wedding would be postponed by a global pandemic!
As of March 15, 2020, the CDC has recommended that weddings be cancelled in the United States for eight weeks. Unfortunate as it may be, these circumstances are not something we can control. Although, what you can do now is figure out how to properly respond to this situation. We will help you sort through this incredibly stressful situation by laying out some suggestions you can apply right now.
- Wedding industry Size: 74 Billion in US
- Number of Businesses: 400,000
- Average Profit Margin: Less than 10%
We anticipate return to normalcy by June. Refer to CDC and other sources for more information. But that normalcy will most likely exclude large gathering such as wedding and events.
2. Whats to Expect
Your Financial Situation: It's possible that coronavirus affected your financial situation as well. If that's the case it's best that you focus on securing your finances for immediate expenses such as bills instead of spending more on wedding plans.
Family and other Situations: May be you were trying to move in together after your marriage, paid deposit, may be you have a contract to buy a matrimonial home, may be you have parent or grandparents with unfavorable health condition they want to see you get married, personal situations vary. Consider the personal situations to decide best option. Accept the new normal and decide best course.
Who moved my Cheese? We Can't Predict!! First thing, try to get this written in the contract, such as moving the date without any additional penalty. Even then, understand that it only helps when your vendor have a very very strong disaster recovery plan and able to sustain the financial turbulence. Government SBA loan and Paycheck Protection Program will sustain some of the businesses, but yet to be seen how it will affect the wedding industry. Keep it mind, its a non-essential business.
Refunds?
"Popular wedding venue chain abruptly closes, leaving thousands of couples stranded, No Refunds". Technically you are supposed to get a refund. However if there is nothing to be refunded from (meaning company don't have assets), you are out of luck! One option is to pay your deposit and payments with credit card, and you can ask for credit card company to refund (you may incur a credit card fee in this scenario).
Dilatoriness: Isn't it smart to wait? Not really!! Every year, all vendors run at full capacity. Since its getting backlogged now (for months), vendors will not be able to meet future demand. Most (if not all) vendors are taking a first come first serve approach. So waiting without booking only puts you at the back of the line! If you were planning the end of year 2020 or even 2021, its time to accelerate your planning.
Rebooking has become a game for many couples who are deciding how far out they’re comfortable rescheduling their wedding while not knowing when quarantines will lift. It’s possible some couples may need to reschedule twice if they rebook too early. No one knows exactly, but think about logically. Do we want to open up the supply chain with food, medication first or start events that would spike the pandemic without vaccine and treatment? We do expect the social distancing to stay in effect for a while.
Christian Wedding: Ceremony is often done at churches and on Saturday. However once you reschedule, you may not be able to reschedule your reception on Saturday, since reception venue may be booked. Most churches will not allow wedding on Sunday. Now you run into gridlock. Consider this when planning your reschedule. As a plan B, you might want to look into venues that can support a plan B, such as another location for ceremony.
Not All Vendors Will Line Up: The hardest part of this process is lining up your vendors with your rescheduled date. Most likely, it's going to be very difficult to get all of your vendors to reschedule for the same day. If that's the case you'll have to make some hard decisions. You need to figure out which vendors are the most important to you. For example, you may have to choose between your venue and your photographer, your church and your reception venue. Make sure you prioritize whichever vendors you find most important and keep in consistent contact with them.
Wedding Insurance: If you have a pre-existing insurance policy that you purchased prior to the news of COVID-19, you might be eligible for claims. You will need to check the details of your policies. Most event insurance policies will only cover if you are forced to cancel or postpone your wedding (ie because the venue closes or you or immediate family are ill.) If your venue is the one to make the call to close down or cancel, then you should be covered. If the government puts a true ban on public events in place, you would likely be covered. Only policies purchased in advance of the knowledge of any serious potential issue would be honored, so purchasing a policy now WILL NOT cover you.
Your Flexibility: Yes, its your BIG DAY!! During this time, you may have to be flexible to work around too.
Normalcy: We don't anticipate Normalcy in the industry for a year. Unless you are truly willing to wait, you may want to plan smaller event.
3. Your Options
These are our recommendations based on our experience, you should consider your personal situation and decide accordingly.
Get Married NOW? Considering this is going to be a while, might be an option you want to consider. Alpha Decor can help with simple backdrop set up and other complimentary setting.
Local Wedding vs Destination Wedding: Move out your destination wedding if possible, a year or more out. If you have personal situations, consider a small function now, and plan for your reception later.
Funds/Payments: Negotiate with vendors if they can hold your spot with a deposit (usually 25% of total, the higher the total, lower the % varies from 5% to 25% or a flat fee), instead of making a payment plan for full payment. This give you a safety net, in case the vendor is not able to cater to your needs in future OR your personal situation changes. If you significantly change your plan, don't expect any of your vendor to refund immediately, as it might take much longer. In most cases, if you cancel, you will lose your deposit. Note that this is for cancellation only, not reschedule. Many contracts only require full refunds if the vendor cancels, rather than the couple. That can lead to a game of chicken between the two parties, with each side pushing their coronavirus tolerance to the maximum. The vendor have spent time with you to consult, contract, invoices etc. If you cancel, you are asking for money the vendor already spent for you. Thats the challenge. See if you can settle for an administrative fee.
Rescheduling: Get it in writing, ensure there is no penalty for rescheduling. If at all any, understand what the cost is, before signing the contract.
Your Time Block: Get it in writing. You will see that venues will start shrinking down your total time block available for your event. All vendors will need their set up and teardown times. Lack of enough time, vendors will be forced to cut down quality or charge extra. Often times venues will say, "If there is nothing ahead or after your event", you can, often that works too. But for remainder of this year and even 2021, thats happening is very very unlikely.
4. How Alpha Decor can help?
Local Wedding vs Destination Wedding: We can help you with local decoration needs, ceremony and/reception for small gathering. We follow CDC and local guidelines.
Small/Simple Decor Services: We are offering small decor services to our clients, such as backyard/in-house wedding.
Backdrop for Professional Meetings and Wedding: We provide backdrop for conference calls, wedding and engagement at very reasonable price. Clients must be willing to meet social distancing guideline with decorator.
Video conference services for Extended family and friends: We will provide set up and teardown as part of our decor package.
No up charge or Penalty for Rescheduling within 2 years: Given the special situations, we are not charging clients any change fees. We will also credit back a reasonable fees if your guest count is significantly lower. In return, we ask that you work with us as you plan for new dates so we can ensure availability of our services.
Your Financial Situation: It's possible that coronavirus affected your financial situation as well. If that's the case it's best that you focus on securing your finances for immediate expenses such as bills instead of spending more on wedding plans.
Family and other Situations: May be you were trying to move in together after your marriage, paid deposit, may be you have a contract to buy a matrimonial home, may be you have parent or grandparents with unfavorable health condition they want to see you get married, personal situations vary. Consider the personal situations to decide best option. Accept the new normal and decide best course.
Who moved my Cheese? We Can't Predict!! First thing, try to get this written in the contract, such as moving the date without any additional penalty. Even then, understand that it only helps when your vendor have a very very strong disaster recovery plan and able to sustain the financial turbulence. Government SBA loan and Paycheck Protection Program will sustain some of the businesses, but yet to be seen how it will affect the wedding industry. Keep it mind, its a non-essential business.
Refunds?
"Popular wedding venue chain abruptly closes, leaving thousands of couples stranded, No Refunds". Technically you are supposed to get a refund. However if there is nothing to be refunded from (meaning company don't have assets), you are out of luck! One option is to pay your deposit and payments with credit card, and you can ask for credit card company to refund (you may incur a credit card fee in this scenario).
Dilatoriness: Isn't it smart to wait? Not really!! Every year, all vendors run at full capacity. Since its getting backlogged now (for months), vendors will not be able to meet future demand. Most (if not all) vendors are taking a first come first serve approach. So waiting without booking only puts you at the back of the line! If you were planning the end of year 2020 or even 2021, its time to accelerate your planning.
Rebooking has become a game for many couples who are deciding how far out they’re comfortable rescheduling their wedding while not knowing when quarantines will lift. It’s possible some couples may need to reschedule twice if they rebook too early. No one knows exactly, but think about logically. Do we want to open up the supply chain with food, medication first or start events that would spike the pandemic without vaccine and treatment? We do expect the social distancing to stay in effect for a while.
Christian Wedding: Ceremony is often done at churches and on Saturday. However once you reschedule, you may not be able to reschedule your reception on Saturday, since reception venue may be booked. Most churches will not allow wedding on Sunday. Now you run into gridlock. Consider this when planning your reschedule. As a plan B, you might want to look into venues that can support a plan B, such as another location for ceremony.
Not All Vendors Will Line Up: The hardest part of this process is lining up your vendors with your rescheduled date. Most likely, it's going to be very difficult to get all of your vendors to reschedule for the same day. If that's the case you'll have to make some hard decisions. You need to figure out which vendors are the most important to you. For example, you may have to choose between your venue and your photographer, your church and your reception venue. Make sure you prioritize whichever vendors you find most important and keep in consistent contact with them.
Wedding Insurance: If you have a pre-existing insurance policy that you purchased prior to the news of COVID-19, you might be eligible for claims. You will need to check the details of your policies. Most event insurance policies will only cover if you are forced to cancel or postpone your wedding (ie because the venue closes or you or immediate family are ill.) If your venue is the one to make the call to close down or cancel, then you should be covered. If the government puts a true ban on public events in place, you would likely be covered. Only policies purchased in advance of the knowledge of any serious potential issue would be honored, so purchasing a policy now WILL NOT cover you.
Your Flexibility: Yes, its your BIG DAY!! During this time, you may have to be flexible to work around too.
Normalcy: We don't anticipate Normalcy in the industry for a year. Unless you are truly willing to wait, you may want to plan smaller event.
3. Your Options
These are our recommendations based on our experience, you should consider your personal situation and decide accordingly.
Get Married NOW? Considering this is going to be a while, might be an option you want to consider. Alpha Decor can help with simple backdrop set up and other complimentary setting.
Local Wedding vs Destination Wedding: Move out your destination wedding if possible, a year or more out. If you have personal situations, consider a small function now, and plan for your reception later.
Funds/Payments: Negotiate with vendors if they can hold your spot with a deposit (usually 25% of total, the higher the total, lower the % varies from 5% to 25% or a flat fee), instead of making a payment plan for full payment. This give you a safety net, in case the vendor is not able to cater to your needs in future OR your personal situation changes. If you significantly change your plan, don't expect any of your vendor to refund immediately, as it might take much longer. In most cases, if you cancel, you will lose your deposit. Note that this is for cancellation only, not reschedule. Many contracts only require full refunds if the vendor cancels, rather than the couple. That can lead to a game of chicken between the two parties, with each side pushing their coronavirus tolerance to the maximum. The vendor have spent time with you to consult, contract, invoices etc. If you cancel, you are asking for money the vendor already spent for you. Thats the challenge. See if you can settle for an administrative fee.
Rescheduling: Get it in writing, ensure there is no penalty for rescheduling. If at all any, understand what the cost is, before signing the contract.
Your Time Block: Get it in writing. You will see that venues will start shrinking down your total time block available for your event. All vendors will need their set up and teardown times. Lack of enough time, vendors will be forced to cut down quality or charge extra. Often times venues will say, "If there is nothing ahead or after your event", you can, often that works too. But for remainder of this year and even 2021, thats happening is very very unlikely.
4. How Alpha Decor can help?
20% Off for Heroes through May 2021: We wants to thank all the front line workers by offering 20% discount on decor services for a year. Either bride or groom needs to be a front-line worker. These include doctors, nurses, medical staff, police officers, fire fighters, paramedics, and front line individuals. Please have a work ID badge or other proof to show!
Small/Simple Decor Services: We are offering small decor services to our clients, such as backyard/in-house wedding.
Backdrop for Professional Meetings and Wedding: We provide backdrop for conference calls, wedding and engagement at very reasonable price. Clients must be willing to meet social distancing guideline with decorator.
Video conference services for Extended family and friends: We will provide set up and teardown as part of our decor package.
No up charge or Penalty for Rescheduling within 2 years: Given the special situations, we are not charging clients any change fees. We will also credit back a reasonable fees if your guest count is significantly lower. In return, we ask that you work with us as you plan for new dates so we can ensure availability of our services.
We know that this a difficult time for everyone globally and for the wedding industry but we will all make it through this crisis together!! We will do everything we can to help and support you. We only ask that you keep and open mind and be willing to make some compromises. We hope this gave you an understanding of what you should do.
About Alpha Events and Decor:
The talented team of Alpha Events and Decor provides a detailed and artistic perspective on creating your ideal event. Beginning with your first meeting, our design team will create a personalized event that is the perfect reflection of your vision.
Each wedding tells a different story, a love story that belongs to each couple, a reflection of the personality and vision of the couple that is uniting as one. It is a privilege to get to watch all the planning come to life and provide the behind the scenes work that ensures bride, groom, and family get to fully enjoy the entire day.
It's very nice of you to share your knowledge through posts. I love to read stories about your experiences. They're very useful and interesting. I am excited to read the next posts. I'm so grateful for all that you've done. Keep plugging. Many viewers like me fancy your writing. Thank you for sharing precious information with us. Best Weddings naples service provider.
ReplyDeleteYou have a genuine capacity to compose a substance that is useful for us. You have shared an amazing post aboutacrylic plinths for saleMuch obliged to you for your endeavors in sharing such information with us.
ReplyDeleteExcellent post. I really enjoy reading and also appreciate your work. This concept is a good way to enhance knowledge. Keep sharing this kind of articles, Thank you. Wedding Matchmaking Site India
ReplyDeleteLiberty Palace is Sydney’s most exciting wedding reception, functions and restaurant destination. Having opened in early 2011 it is proving to be highly popular amongst couples looking for a modern elegant venue with fantastic banquet menus and professional staff located in Sydney’s West (only 30mins from CBD). Liberty Palace in Sydney offers a 5 star facility with excellent service and delicious wedding banquet menus to make your wedding reception a delightful experience for your family and friends.
ReplyDeleteCasino de Monte-Carlo, CA (Cavetton, CA) - Mapyro
ReplyDeleteCasino de 남원 출장샵 Monte-Carlo, CA. Mapyro. View details for 아산 출장마사지 Casino de 경상북도 출장마사지 Monte-Carlo 남원 출장안마 in California. 울산광역 출장샵 18 Highway 89 in Cabazon County, CA.
This information is so useful and informative which you have shared here. It is beneficial for beginners to develop their knowledge. It is very gainful information. Thanks for sharing Marriage Counselling Singapore.
ReplyDeleteRoyal Wedding in udaipur
ReplyDeleteTrendy Gourmet Idea in Jaipur