It’s no secret that Coronavirus has pretty much canceled 2020 as we know it. In just a few short months, the trickle-down effect of this global pandemic has touched everything in its wake. That includes the wedding industry, which has many brides faced with the decision to postpone or cancel their wedding altogether. That’s why The Knot Worldwide has launched a 24/7 hotline for soon-to-be-married couples who might be panicking about their upcoming wedding plans.
According to The Knot, 845,000 weddings are scheduled to take place between March and May 2020 worldwide. The CDC is now recommending that gatherings of more than 50 people be canceled for the next eight weeks. That leaves soon-to-be-married couples at a loss of what to do about one of the biggest events in their lives.
ESSENCE spoke exclusively with The Knot’s Editor in Chief Kristen Maxwell Cooper, who says, “The [hotline team] is composed of wedding experts on our customer service team and event planners working every day of the week to help with any questions, make recommendations and be a sounding board.”
One thing that makes postponing or canceling a wedding complicated is having to rearrange contracts with vendors. Maxwell Cooper says getting a wedding insurance policy will protect a couple’s investment from circumstances beyond their control, though each policy and provider offers different types of coverage. “Couples can work with their vendors to find a common date in the future, which could potentially help save costs for both the couple and the vendors,” she says.
Having to cancel or postpone one of the happiest days of your life is a big deal. Maxwell Cooper says the emotional toll this might take is to be expected. “We want [couples] to know that it’s okay to feel disappointed or upset and that it’s important to acknowledge their feelings and understand that they are valid,” Maxwell Cooper concludes. “We encourage couples to voice them to us, their wedding planner, to their partner or a close friend who can help with the coping process.”
The Knot Worldwide notes that couples have found creative solutions to their wedding day, like keeping their original wedding date and only inviting immediate family, or eloping and planning a bigger celebration for a future date.
If you need The Knot’s help re-organizing your wedding day in light of coronavirus, call (833) 998-2865.