Zola behind the scenes

Covid-19

If your wedding was postponed or affected by Covid-19, look here for resources and guides to change of dates, wedding safety guidelines, virtual weddings and more.

AllSweepstakesInside ZolaCovid-19
Funny Change the Date Ideas
Funny Change the Date IdeasNeed to change your wedding date? Let your guests know it’s no biggie with these funny change the date ideas.

Featured

couple in field on wedding day

How to Change Your Wedding Date: Expert Tips and Tricks

How-To

Do you need to change your wedding date? Don’t stress! This could be a blessing in disguise. Read on for our tips on how to change your wedding date.

Guests, Weddings, and Vaccines: What You Need to Know

Guests, Weddings, and Vaccines: What You Need to Know

Advice

Attending a wedding this summer? Here’s everything you need to know about guests, weddings, and vaccines.

How to Tell Your Wedding Vendors Your Wedding Has Been Postponed

How to Tell Your Wedding Vendors Your Wedding Has Been Postponed

How-To

Postponing a wedding is never ideal, but how do you tell wedding vendors that you've decided to do so? Read on to find out.

bride and groom on brooklyn bridge

Need a Backup Wedding Plan Quick? Here Are a Few to Consider

Inspiration

If you need to change your wedding plans in a hurry, here are five easy backup wedding ideas to pivot to right away.

All Covid-19 articles

COVID Variants & Weddings: Restrictions You Need to Know
Zola behind the scenes

Covid Variants & Weddings: Restrictions You Need to Know

As you plan your wedding, here’s what you need to know about current COVID-19 restrictions surrounding the COVID variants.

How COVID Has Affected Wedding Vendors
Zola behind the scenes

How COVID Has Affected Wedding Vendors

Covid has had a huge impact on the wedding industry, with all its restrictions and protocols. So, how has Covid affected wedding vendors? Read on to find out.

bride and groom on brooklyn bridge
Zola behind the scenes

Need a Backup Wedding Plan Quick? Here Are a Few to Consider

If you need to change your wedding plans in a hurry, here are five easy backup wedding ideas to pivot to right away.

How to Tell Your Wedding Vendors Your Wedding Has Been Postponed
Zola behind the scenes

How to Tell Your Wedding Vendors Your Wedding Has Been Postponed

Postponing a wedding is never ideal, but how do you tell wedding vendors that you've decided to do so? Read on to find out.

change the date
Zola behind the scenes

What If I Need To Postpone My Wedding Again?

You’ve already postponed your wedding once, but what if you have to do it again? Here are five steps you should follow to keep your eyes on the prize.

Funny Change the Date Ideas
Zola behind the scenes

Funny Change the Date Ideas

Need to change your wedding date? Let your guests know it’s no biggie with these funny change the date ideas.

Begin Bach-Party Planning Amid COVID-19
Zola behind the scenes

How to Even Begin Bach-Party Planning Amid COVID-19

Like almost everything wedding-planning related, organizing a bachelorette party looks different this year due to the pandemic. Here’s how to start bach-party planning amid COVID-19.

couple in field on wedding day
Zola behind the scenes

How to Change Your Wedding Date: Expert Tips and Tricks

Do you need to change your wedding date? Don’t stress! This could be a blessing in disguise. Read on for our tips on how to change your wedding date.

virtual wedding guest etiquette
Zola behind the scenes

How to Be a Great Virtual Wedding Event Guest

For guests invited to a virtual wedding, etiquette isn't always obvious. Here's everything you need to know about attending a virtual ceremony—from gift etiquette to technical questions.

Guests, Weddings, and Vaccines: What You Need to Know
Zola behind the scenes

Guests, Weddings, and Vaccines: What You Need to Know

Attending a wedding this summer? Here’s everything you need to know about guests, weddings, and vaccines.

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\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n ","subtopicPage":{"articles":[{"type":"articlePage","topic":{"name":"Zola behind the scenes","slug":"zola-behind-the-scenes"},"subtopic":{"name":"Covid-19","slug":"covid-19"},"slug":"the-delta-variant-and-weddings","title":"Covid Variants & Weddings: Restrictions You Need to Know","excerpt":"As you plan your wedding, here’s what you need to know about current COVID-19 restrictions surrounding the COVID variants.","author":"Maggy Lehmicke","publishedAt":"2021-12-17T19:13:59.972Z","heroImage":{"src":"//images.ctfassets.net/77l22z9el0aa/4JSeFvSwYKXVApgLB26RvW/b38148550fa533aabede499ae5d09aa1/Hero_Zola.jpg","altText":"COVID Variants & Weddings: Restrictions You Need to Know"},"heroCredit":"Zola","tldr":"## The First Look ✨\n\n- Event-specific guidelines usually vary state by state, so it’s important to make sure you comply with local health guidelines. If you don’t have a planner, consider delegating this job to a friend or family member.\n- Discuss your non-negotiables with your partner, so that making any changes to your event can be a little less stressful.\n- Consider what could change, such as event restrictions or mask mandates—and always have a backup plan.","body":"*__Planning A Wedding During A Pandemic:__ Every wedding planning journey has its twists and turns. To make sure your path is as smooth as possible and to help you keep an eye out for tiny potholes and giant roadblocks, always follow the advice of your local health guidelines and the recommendations set forth by the [CDC](https://www.cdc.gov/). The state of the pandemic can change quickly, but by staying informed, you can make it to your destination—wedded bliss—without a hitch.*\n\nWith the rise of new COVID-19 variants, it’s easy to let your mind race to the worst-case scenario, but don’t fret. While any variant may put a wrench in some of your original plans, that doesn’t mean it has to ruin your big day.\n\n \n When it comes to event planning during the COVID-19 pandemic, education and preparation are key. While most COVID-19 guidelines vary by state, the CDC suggests that all event organizers coordinate with both local and state health departments. Depending on your venue, the size of the event, and your level of comfort, this might mean requesting proof of vaccination or asking your guests to wear masks.\n\nWhen it comes to organizing events during the pandemic, you might have to rethink your [wedding planning](https://www.zola.com/wedding-planning) a bit. If you’re in the midst of planning your big celebration and are worrying about the rise of new variants, here are a few things to keep in mind:\n\n### Consider What Could Change \n\nMost of us are fairly accustomed to the unpredictable nature of the virus and how it influences our day-to-day lives. For this reason, it’s important to consider headcount restrictions and mask mandates as you plan your event. This is particularly prudent if you’re planning a destination wedding or are in an area you’re not particularly familiar with, as COVID-19 regulations vary greatly by country and even state.\n\n### Communicate With Your Guests\n\nWhile sending a simple save-the-date followed by a formal invitation may be the traditional route, it’s quickly becoming the way of the past. With COVID-19 changing the event landscape, it’s important to have a quick way to contact your guests—most likely by email—so that you can keep them updated on any big wedding changes. A simple way to streamline the process is to collect email addresses, phone numbers, or the best point-of-contact when you start tracking down physical addresses for your initial guest list. \n\n### Designate a Point Person to Keep You Informed\n\nWith wedding planning, there’s enough that already falls on the shoulders of the couple. Whether it be a planner, close friend, or family member, designating a point person to help you keep the pandemic-related details in check is a great way to relieve some unnecessary stress. They can help keep you up-to-date on state mandates, event-specific regulations, and the rise of any other unforeseen obstacles, letting you focus on the planning itself.\n\n### Know Your Non-Negotiables \n\nIf the current state of the virus shifts and you need to make changes to your big day, it’s crucial that you know what your priorities are. Were you most looking forward to the big party, or is the idea of a small group just as appealing to you? Is losing a deposit or having to swap a vendor completely out of the question? Do you want to require guests to go through COVID-19 testing (or should they submit a negative test result)? While these might be tough conversations to have, it will greatly reduce your stress in the weeks before your wedding if you and your partner have a firm grasp on your non-negotiables.\n\n### Make Backup Plans in Case Someone Gets Sick\n\nEven if you and everyone in your close circle is vaccinated, it’s a good idea to make backup plans in case a groomsman, officiant, photographer, or other key person gets sick. Vendors, in particular, are in contact with a lot of people during wedding season, so the more precautions you take, the better.\n\nIn today’s ever-changing landscape, continuous communication is key, whether it be with your guests or your actual vendors. Make sure that you have a strategy that allows you to delegate tasks and take some of the unnecessary COVID-19-related stress off of your plate. Most importantly, remember to lean on your partner and trust that your wedding will come together eventually, even if that means shifting your vision","tag":"Advice","widget1":{"marketingModule":{"tag":"EA_WeddingWebsite"}},"nextUp":[{"excerpt":"Before you cut—or feel obligated to include—those on your “maybe” list, here are things to consider when weighing who not to invite to your wedding.","title":"Who NOT to Invite to Your Wedding","slug":"who-not-to-invite-to-your-wedding","topic":"Wedding planning 101","tag":"Advice","heroImage":{"src":"//images.ctfassets.net/77l22z9el0aa/57k97HLajBPOTuvAZzGzwQ/bce61ac78b903b62f285b2c9b0ed3464/Hero_New.jpg","altText":"Who NOT to Invite to Your Wedding"},"type":"articlePage"},{"excerpt":"Attending a wedding this summer? Here’s everything you need to know about guests, weddings, and vaccines.","title":"Guests, Weddings, and Vaccines: What You Need to Know","slug":"guests-weddings-and-vaccines-what-you-need-to-know","topic":"Zola behind the scenes","tag":"Advice","heroImage":{"src":"//images.ctfassets.net/77l22z9el0aa/5ReUuubL41mTVam3Mcwdep/6a81d8e3da664a815c3a1afe920e6487/Hero_Zola__15_.jpg","altText":"Guests, Weddings, and Vaccines: What You Need to Know"},"type":"articlePage"},{"excerpt":"Getting ready to plan a sequel wedding? Check out our top tips and advice with our latest article.","title":"How to Plan Your Sequel Wedding","slug":"how-to-plan-your-sequel-wedding","topic":"Wedding planning 101","tag":"How To","heroImage":{"src":"//images.ctfassets.net/77l22z9el0aa/6c7s6XfM5ULUDGcGHeHZpo/8b4a2252ea64ebfb78122035854bcd33/Hero_ClassicIvoryandBlushDCWeddingattheParkHyattHotel_TerriBaskinPhotography.jpg","altText":"How to Plan Your Sequel Wedding"},"type":"articlePage"},{"excerpt":"We’ll walk you through the steps of online wedding planning, highlighting all of Zola’s incredibly easy and intuitive online wedding planning tools that’ll make planning for the big day more fun and less frustrating.","title":"How to Plan a Wedding: A Step-by-Step Guide","slug":"how-to-plan-a-wedding","topic":"Wedding planning 101","tag":"How-To ","heroImage":{"src":"//images.ctfassets.net/77l22z9el0aa/4dIWp3wUEoOYErrmI2ARMW/7ef19284bfcf930b88487d3c0a562999/How-to-plan-a-Wedding.jpg","altText":"Zola online wedding planning tools as seen on mobile, desktop, and tablet"},"type":"articlePage"}],"featured":[{"excerpt":"Need to change your wedding date? Let your guests know it’s no biggie with these funny change the date ideas.","title":"Funny Change the Date Ideas","slug":"funny-change-the-date-ideas","topic":"Zola behind the scenes","tag":"List","heroImage":{"src":"//images.ctfassets.net/77l22z9el0aa/6TRimMHANNeLrZZEGa2Sje/7541cb0b0d0f60415955f47212bf3dc8/Hero_Zola__1_.jpg","altText":"Funny Change the Date Ideas"},"type":"articlePage"},{"excerpt":"The ins and outs of how to let people know that they’re no longer invited to your wedding.","title":"How To Let People Know They're No Longer Invited To Your Wedding","slug":"how-to-let-people-know-theyre-no-longer-invited-to-your-wedding","topic":"Wedding planning 101","tag":"How-To ","heroImage":{"src":"//images.ctfassets.net/77l22z9el0aa/3aehOfUClCr0j6r9SEDwST/dafed9aedf68d344329d77991c5f7607/Hero_Unsplash_PriscillaDuPreez.jpg","altText":"How To Let People Know They're No Longer Invited To Your Wedding"},"type":"articlePage"},{"excerpt":"Attending a wedding this summer? Here’s everything you need to know about guests, weddings, and vaccines.","title":"Guests, Weddings, and Vaccines: What You Need to Know","slug":"guests-weddings-and-vaccines-what-you-need-to-know","topic":"Zola behind the scenes","tag":"Advice","heroImage":{"src":"//images.ctfassets.net/77l22z9el0aa/5ReUuubL41mTVam3Mcwdep/6a81d8e3da664a815c3a1afe920e6487/Hero_Zola__15_.jpg","altText":"Guests, Weddings, and Vaccines: What You Need to Know"},"type":"articlePage"},{"excerpt":"If you need to postpone, cancel, or otherwise change your wedding details, we're here to help with our guide to updating your wedding guests about changes.","title":"How to Update Guests About Changes to Your Wedding","slug":"how-to-update-guests-about-changes-to-your-wedding","topic":"Wedding planning 101","tag":"How-To ","heroImage":{"src":"//images.ctfassets.net/77l22z9el0aa/5v2y8bTJNkSDFGXqWrI1un/3a497c61d1956ca9b003b25423b56421/How-to-Update-Guests-About-Changes-to-Your-Wedding.jpg","altText":"How to Update Guests About Changes to Your Wedding"},"type":"articlePage"}],"stickyCta":{"copy":"Create Your Free Website","url":"https://www.zola.com/wedding/onboard?product=WEDDING_WEBSITE"},"updatedAt":"2024-02-05T16:56:36.883Z"},{"type":"articlePage","topic":{"name":"Zola behind the scenes","slug":"zola-behind-the-scenes"},"subtopic":{"name":"Covid-19","slug":"covid-19"},"slug":"how-covid-has-affected-wedding-vendors","title":"How COVID Has Affected Wedding Vendors","excerpt":"Covid has had a huge impact on the wedding industry, with all its restrictions and protocols. So, how has Covid affected wedding vendors? Read on to find out.","author":"Anni Irish","publishedAt":"2021-12-15T02:41:40.559Z","heroImage":{"src":"//images.ctfassets.net/77l22z9el0aa/1IZxGZp2eKfpkX5i1W05sT/3b90348a3cd310927791042d7c103fb7/Hero_Zola__3_.jpg","altText":"How COVID Has Affected Wedding Vendors"},"heroCredit":"Zola","tldr":"## The First Look ✨\n\n- COVID has had a profound impact on the wedding industry and those who work in it. Over the last year, more than 400,000 businesses in the U.S. have been affected. \n- We spoke to three wedding vendors from across the U.S. to get their perspective on how their businesses were affected and how they had to change their model. \n- They also offered tips for couples who are planning their weddings now, as well as for those who had to postpone.","body":"*__Planning A Wedding During A Pandemic:__ Every wedding planning journey has its twists and turns. To make sure your path is as smooth as possible and to help you keep an eye out for tiny potholes and giant roadblocks, always follow the advice of your local health guidelines and the recommendations set forth by the [CDC](https://www.cdc.gov/). The state of the pandemic can change quickly, but by staying informed, you can make it to your destination—wedded bliss—without a hitch.*\n\n---\n\nOver the last year and a half, many people have had to drastically change their plans due to the COVID-19 global pandemic—and the wedding industry is no exception. The [$74 billion](https://www.ibisworld.com/united-states/market-research-reports/wedding-services-industry/) dollar-a-year industry has been greatly affected by the virus. In the U.S. alone, over 400,000 businesses ranging from [wedding florists](https://www.zola.com/wedding-vendors/search/wedding-florists) and [wedding photographers](https://www.zola.com/wedding-vendors/search/wedding-photographers) to caterers and wedding planners, and more, have all had to pivot their business models to accommodate the current climate. \n\nNow, as [wedding vendors](https://www.zola.com/wedding-vendors) across the country look to rebuild and make up for lost revenue from closures and postponements, many are optimistic for the future. \n\nAccording to a [recent survey conducted by Zola](https://www.zola.com/expert-advice/the-first-look-report-2022) of over 460 wedding vendors, one in three say they are fully booked—or even overbooked—for 2021. \n\nThough much still remains up in the air, six in 10 vendors believe that the wedding industry will bounce back this year. The proof is in the pudding: 30 percent of the vendors Zola spoke to said they haven’t had any couples with 2021 wedding dates rebook or cancel. \n\nTo get a more comprehensive look at how COVID-19 affected the wedding industry—and how it’s moving forward—we spoke to two wedding professionals: \n\n## What Covid Has Been Like for Wedding Vendors\n\nFor Melisa Imberman, owner of [Event Of A Lifetime, Inc.](https://theeventofalifetime.com/), a full-service event planning company serving the New York City area, COVID has shifted her business model entirely. \n\nFor the first six months of 2020, Imberman had no business. At that time, she was forced to cancel or postpone events on an almost daily basis. This also meant that she had to serve as a therapist of sorts, consoling distraught clients. \n\nAs time wore on, Imberman began to see some movement in booking events, but it was slow, and often they were smaller and last-minute. “The ones that had been postponed had to be totally reimagined, as the celebration that was planned pre-COVID could no longer take place as planned,” she says. \n\nAnother big obstacle she came up against was finding vendors to work with. Due to COVID, many vendors went out of business, merged, or simply relocated. Imberman now had to find new ones and build relationships with them, and for her, this was like starting from scratch. \n\n“Unfortunately, I’ve had to become something of a COVID protocol expert over the past year or so. COVID and the flux of changing regulations, restrictions, and protocols have affected the event industry in unimaginable ways. We have made events smaller, and we have canceled, postponed, and reimagined events. We have to educate ourselves on the ever-changing rules, plan last-minute events, and plan events in unexpected places,” says Imberman. \n\nThe list of Imberman's new responsibilities as an event planner has grown even longer now and has even resulted in her coordinating things like getting guests and staff tested for events. This has also meant checking vaccination cards and test results. She has also introduced sanitation stations into the layout of events, as well as created her own sanitizers for guests. \n\nFlorists have also been greatly affected by the pandemic. Kim Foren, owner of [Geranium Lake Flowers](http://www.geraniumlake.com/) in Portland, Oregon, has had a lot of figure out over the last 18 months. “Before the COVID pandemic, we were a company that focused on lavish weddings and 1,200-plus person galas and events. Well, you can imagine that the pandemic put a wrinkle in that,” she says. \n\nBecause Foren also has a flower shop side of her business that has helped her continue to turn a profit. Also, due to many of her clientele base, Foren has had many custom orders to fill, which has also been another added support. While Foren has been able to keep things going, she has also had to shift what she does to accommodate the times we are in. \n\n“I got to shift towards some charitable causes, and we created a program where our customers could send flowers to strangers in nursing homes, shelters, a Ronald McDonald house, HIV Hospice, etc., and it was so special to give back to those most vulnerable during these scary times,” says Foren. \n\nAs a seasoned floral veteran, Foren has really seen it all over the years and did feel, in some ways, she was prepared for this. “I like to think my years of experience prepared me to weather the storm, be super creative, and go with the flow to make it happen,” she says. \n\nCarrie Zack, owner of [Carrie Zack Events](https://www.carriezack.com/) in Miami, Florida, has also been affected by the pandemic. Zack, who has been in the events industry for over 20 years, saw her business change dramatically over the last year. \n\n“Like everyone in hospitality and events, business came to a halt in March 2020, but we worked with our clients to rebook their events in 2021 and 2022. We also focused on increasing our scope of services to provide continued support to our clients. Especially for our non-local couples, sometimes we represent the couple at other vendor meetings, and are positioned to make decisions for when the couple cannot be present,” Zack says. \n\n## How Vendors Have Navigated State Protocols\nWhile the [Centers for Disease Control](https://www.cdc.gov/) (CDC) has helped implement health safety standards for the U.S. during COVID, many of the day to day aspects have been left up to states. This has had a trickle-down effect on the way it has impacted every part of life, from grocery shopping, to eating out, to hosting events. \n\nAnd how states have reacted to the spread of COVID has also greatly varied. However, on the whole, there has been a limit put on the number of guests at indoor and outdoor events. Last fall, for example, in New York, although many people felt comfortable to get together again, there was still a restriction on the number of people at a social gathering. It went from 75, then down to 25, and then in the spring of this year, the restrictions were loosened. \n\nIn 2020, even if the event was outdoors and there was a tent, 50 percent of the walls had to be up. And masks were required at events until June. Even as the vaccine rollout ramped up, you still had to provide proof of a negative COVID test within 72 hours of an event or provide your full vaccination information until June. \n\nThe protocols also affected the flow of food service, says Imberman. But the procedures that outlined in regards to food service were vague and left open to interpretation. As a result, many event planners and other vendors had to make decisions that made sense for them. For Imberman, this meant having guests go directly to their assigned seat upon arrival, as well as sitting them with others in their pods at socially-distanced tables. \n\nThis also meant eliminating things such as passed hors d'oeuvres and opting for small plates instead. Additionally, food and beverage service for the main course had to change. Unless the host was comfortable with stations, all beverages were served by the waitstaff rather than guests going up to a bar. \n\nForen and her employees also had to change the way they conducted business on several levels. This meant wearing a mask and socially distancing, among other precautions. \n\nFor Zack, things have also been in flux for much of the last year and a half. As things have changed, she has had to remain adaptable and communicate with various [wedding venues](https://www.zola.com/wedding-vendors/search/wedding-venues), hosts, and her staff. \n\n“COVID protocols differ by county and venue. They are ever-changing, so it’s very important the planner or a designated person is staying on top of the latest mandates and is able to communicate essential information to the vendor team and couple. Don’t underestimate the importance of clearly understanding and staying informed of any rules your venue may have in place,” Zack says. \n\n## How Vendors Have Pivoted Their Business Models in COVID\nBeing a wedding industry professional has always meant wearing a lot of hats, but in COVID, this has really taken a new meaning. Many wedding professionals have had to take on new roles and pivot their business models in an effort to remain open and offer the kinds of services people need. This has meant everything from keeping up with protocols and guidelines to be able to host events safely, as well as account for the details to be able to have events, offer new products and services, and more. \n\nImberman says she has had to find new tent vendors, for example, because they were in such high demand. They were in such high demand her regular suppliers couldn't accommodate what she needed at times. Zoom is another element that has come to play a huge role in her new work model. \n\n“Before COVID, I had never heard the term Zoom. Now it’s an integral part of my life. I meet with clients and vendors via Zoom, and I’ve had to figure out how to incorporate Zoom into events, so that guests who are unable to attend can be a part of the celebration virtually,” says Imberman. “Now I’m doing Hybrid events, as there are still people who are unable to celebrate in person.” \n\nThis has also meant a switch from printed invitations to digital ones, which allows for more flexibility if the wedding date has to change, plus allows organizers to easily disperse ever-changing information regarding the kinds of precautions the couple is taking, as well as what’s expected of the guests (i.e., socially distancing, proof of negative COVID tests, etc.) \n\nFor Foren, this has also meant doing weddings on a smaller scale, often with 10 or fewer people. This has resulted in a lot of intimate weddings with a lot of elements to them. “We found that when people didn't have to pay to feed 200 people, they were willing to spend a lot more money on decor, so we had a lot of fun getting to play with fancier linens, more flowers, and getting to tweak the small details a bit more,” says Foren. \n\nLike Foren, Zack has also been digging into the more intimate side of wedding planning. “We really dove into our intimate event service offerings, thinking about how to creatively offer a luxe wedding ceremony in a smaller setting. It’s a new norm that we also focus on lifestyle management for clients,” she says. \n\nZack has also had to rethink many aspects of her job. This has resulted in trying to focus on outdoor events when possible. \n\n## Tips for Couples Going Forward\nDue to the fact that the pandemic has affected all aspects of life, there are some things to keep in mind as you plan your event. Here are some tips all three vendors offered:\n\n- Make sure all contracts have a COVID cancellation clause. This ensures you know what to expect if your event has to be canceled. \n\n- If your vendors don't have a COVID cancellation clause, ask how they’ve previously handled events that need to be canceled or postponed. \n\n- Trust your vendors to make it work. At the end of the day, remember why you are getting married, and the day will be perfect. Vendors have years of experience, so deferring to their expertise and trusting that they know what they are doing can help.\n\n- Flexibility on all parts is required. If anything, the last year has taught people that being flexible is key, and the same applies to wedding planning and working with your vendors. The more you can go with the flow, the less stress there will be all around—ultimately leading to a better event. \n\n- Be sure to read and fully understand your contract so everyone is on the same page. \n\nWhile the COVID virus is still affecting the world and there is no way to really know what the long-term effects will be on the wedding industry overall, wedding professionals and couples remain hopeful for the future. More than 60 percent of vendors surveyed by Zola are optimistic the industry will bounce back in 2021, and 39 percent believe the bounce back will happen in 2022 or later. \n\nWhile the future is unclear, love will always prevail, and there are many more weddings to look forward to.","tag":"Advice","widget1":{"marketingModule":{"tag":"EA_VendorMarketplace"}},"nextUp":[{"excerpt":"Don’t miss a wedding planning detail with our complete, expert-crafted wedding checklist and timeline. Free, printable version inside!","title":"2024/25 Printable Wedding Planning Checklist & Timeline - Zola","slug":"your-ultimate-wedding-planning-checklist","topic":"Wedding planning 101","heroImage":{"src":"//images.ctfassets.net/77l22z9el0aa/4fA6of0jjP7aJqXJRy0JOx/edd3b48f6fea1e273025d3db462dd4be/Ultimate_Wedding_Planning_Checklist.jpg","altText":"wedding planning checklist"},"type":"checklistPage"},{"excerpt":"Attending a wedding this summer? Here’s everything you need to know about guests, weddings, and vaccines.","title":"Guests, Weddings, and Vaccines: What You Need to Know","slug":"guests-weddings-and-vaccines-what-you-need-to-know","topic":"Zola behind the scenes","tag":"Advice","heroImage":{"src":"//images.ctfassets.net/77l22z9el0aa/5ReUuubL41mTVam3Mcwdep/6a81d8e3da664a815c3a1afe920e6487/Hero_Zola__15_.jpg","altText":"Guests, Weddings, and Vaccines: What You Need to Know"},"type":"articlePage"},{"excerpt":"Postponing your wedding is never easy. Get through it with our guide to postponing your wedding—from how to talk to your vendors to how to tell your guests and everything in between.","title":"A Guide to Postponing Your Wedding","slug":"how-to-postpone-your-wedding","topic":"Wedding planning 101","tag":"How-To ","heroImage":{"src":"//images.ctfassets.net/77l22z9el0aa/7AGHcAXKxar4G9VZvzMpml/f6d3d22649dbd0464d8db328c702646c/A-Guide-to-Postponing-Your-Wedding-and-Change-the-Date-Checklist.jpg","altText":"couple walking in the street before wedding"},"type":"articlePage"},{"excerpt":"Attending a wedding this summer? Here’s everything you need to know about guests, weddings, and vaccines.","title":"Guests, Weddings, and Vaccines: What You Need to Know","slug":"guests-weddings-and-vaccines-what-you-need-to-know","topic":"Zola behind the scenes","tag":"Advice","heroImage":{"src":"//images.ctfassets.net/77l22z9el0aa/5ReUuubL41mTVam3Mcwdep/6a81d8e3da664a815c3a1afe920e6487/Hero_Zola__15_.jpg","altText":"Guests, Weddings, and Vaccines: What You Need to Know"},"type":"articlePage"}],"featured":[{"excerpt":"Attending a wedding this summer? Here’s everything you need to know about guests, weddings, and vaccines.","title":"Guests, Weddings, and Vaccines: What You Need to Know","slug":"guests-weddings-and-vaccines-what-you-need-to-know","topic":"Zola behind the scenes","tag":"Advice","heroImage":{"src":"//images.ctfassets.net/77l22z9el0aa/5ReUuubL41mTVam3Mcwdep/6a81d8e3da664a815c3a1afe920e6487/Hero_Zola__15_.jpg","altText":"Guests, Weddings, and Vaccines: What You Need to Know"},"type":"articlePage"},{"excerpt":"Find out our top tips and advice on how to handle a long engagement with this comprehensive guide. Read on to learn more today.","title":"How to Handle a Long Engagement","slug":"how-to-handle-a-long-engagement","topic":"Relationship advice","tag":"How To","heroImage":{"src":"//images.ctfassets.net/77l22z9el0aa/4KpP0bSsj3mXpHF2TIz92Q/c993320a603e9698d9d7bf7a9d8e578a/Hero_Zola__49_.jpg","altText":"How to Handle a Long Engagement"},"type":"articlePage"},{"excerpt":"If you need to change your wedding plans in a hurry, here are five easy backup wedding ideas to pivot to right away.","title":"Need a Backup Wedding Plan Quick? Here Are a Few to Consider","slug":"backup-wedding-plan-quick","topic":"Zola behind the scenes","tag":"Inspiration","heroImage":{"src":"//images.ctfassets.net/77l22z9el0aa/2qSZcEUzoxL8iYT4c9nFA3/d0fa773977732725c5fd41774a0d4da3/4106479.jpg","altText":"bride and groom on brooklyn bridge"},"type":"articlePage"}],"stickyCta":{"copy":"Find Vendors in Your Area","url":"https://www.zola.com/inspiration/onboard?question=intro"},"updatedAt":"2024-02-05T16:56:36.034Z"},{"type":"articlePage","topic":{"name":"Zola behind the scenes","slug":"zola-behind-the-scenes"},"subtopic":{"name":"Covid-19","slug":"covid-19"},"slug":"backup-wedding-plan-quick","title":"Need a Backup Wedding Plan Quick? Here Are a Few to Consider","excerpt":"If you need to change your wedding plans in a hurry, here are five easy backup wedding ideas to pivot to right away.","author":"Maggy Lehmicke","publishedAt":"2020-04-02T22:20:23.377Z","heroImage":{"src":"//images.ctfassets.net/77l22z9el0aa/2qSZcEUzoxL8iYT4c9nFA3/d0fa773977732725c5fd41774a0d4da3/4106479.jpg","altText":"bride and groom on brooklyn bridge"},"heroCredit":"Konrad Brattke Photography","body":"*__Planning A Wedding During A Pandemic:__ Every wedding planning journey has its twists and turns. To make sure your path is as smooth as possible and to help you keep an eye out for tiny potholes and giant roadblocks, always follow the advice of your local health guidelines and the recommendations set forth by the [CDC](https://www.cdc.gov/). The state of the pandemic can change quickly, but by staying informed, you can make it to your destination—wedded bliss—without a hitch.*\n\n“Love in the time of coronavirus” is quickly becoming one of the themes of 2020 with many couples forced to [postpone or rethink their plans](https://www.zola.com/expert-advice/how-to-change-your-wedding-date-expert-tips-and-tricks) due to the pandemic. Though it’s a discouraging time for many, there are certainly bright spots along the way—if you’re open to getting a bit creative. \n\nThankfully, in today’s world, there are so many ways to celebrate a wedding. With everything from intimate elopements to the rise of digital weddings, 2020 brings just as much creativity along with its adversity. Below is a guide to help you celebrate your special day on your own terms while coming up with a new game plan.\n\n## Host a virtual ceremony.\nThough this might seem like the biggest stretch from a traditional wedding, many couples are opting to “get together” and have a ceremony via Zoom or FaceTime in lieu of their original plans. This gives you the opportunity to still dress up, drink, and celebrate, even if it’s over the internet. \n\nNote that you’d still need to have an officiant and follow the legal requirements of your physical location, no matter where your friends and family are dialing in from. After all, unprecedented times call for creative measures… and your virtual guests will more than likely applaud your dedication.\n\n## Elope now and party later.\nOne of the most common wedding alternatives we’re currently seeing is the decision to [get married in private now and postpone the reception](https://www.zola.com/expert-advice/planning-an-elopement). Not only is this a great way to maintain the significance of your original date (and still get married!), but it also ensures the health of you and your guests by waiting to hold the big party until it’s safe to get together again. \n\nTake note that this option may not be possible in cities or states that have a shelter-in-place order, which limits leaving the house to necessary travel only. As necessary as your wedding may seem, it’s best to play it safe. Read up on your state and city-specific regulations or consider calling your city hall for more information.\n\n## Celebrate alone with your fiancé. \nThough it might not be an official wedding, per se, there are still plenty of ways you can celebrate your designated day with your partner. If you’re stuck at home, put on your wedding attire, do your hair and makeup, and make a day out of your original wedding date. Use your wedding hashtag if you’re using social media and alert your friends and family to follow along on as you celebrate at-home. \n\nThere are so many ways to celebrate and enjoy each other’s company. Make a multi-course meal representative of your favorite meal. Have a movie marathon of all the movies you’ve seen in theaters over the course of your relationship. Craft your own at-home signature wedding cocktail or mocktail to toast the occassion. It doesn’t matter how you celebrate, only that you do! Clear your calendars that day and just be together.\n\n## Have a micro wedding (while maintaining social distance).\nAt this stage in the pandemic’s development, it’s highly advised that couples opt for something virtual as oppose to an in-person ceremony. However, if you currently live outside of a COVID-19 hotspot, you may consider a micro wedding. This event should consist of no more than 10 people (per [CDC recommendations for gatherings](https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html)). \n\nThis often includes the couple, an officiant, and maybe parents or a few friends. If you opt for this alternative, make sure you’re complying with CDC and [WHO guidelines](https://www.who.int/health-topics/coronavirus#tab=tab_1) by maintaining the required distance of six feet between each other (including your officiant) and keeping the event short. Be prepared to provide guests with gloves and masks, too.\n\n## Postpone.\nIf you simply can’t envision having a wedding without your friends and family there (or don’t feel a digital alternative is your style), then postponing your wedding is probably in your best interest. This also applies to couples who were planning a destination affair. Intimate or not, [traveling anywhere at the moment is highly discouraged](https://www.zola.com/expert-advice/guests-weddings-and-vaccines-what-you-need-to-know), and in some cases, impossible. \n\nIt probably doesn’t feel great right now, especially if you were only days or weeks away from your original date. But your family and friends will understand, and when the time is right, you’ll enjoy the wedding of your dreams. Plus, there's a lot of good that comes from a ceremony postponement. Extra time gives you a chance to go back and change any elements that you wish you had more time to consider or alter. [For more information on how to postpone your wedding, read here](https://www.zola.com/expert-advice/how-to-postpone-your-wedding).","tag":"Inspiration","widget1":{"marketingModule":{"tag":"EA_Masterbrand"}},"nextUp":[{"excerpt":"Don’t miss a wedding planning detail with our complete, expert-crafted wedding checklist and timeline. Free, printable version inside!","title":"2024/25 Printable Wedding Planning Checklist & Timeline - Zola","slug":"your-ultimate-wedding-planning-checklist","topic":"Wedding planning 101","heroImage":{"src":"//images.ctfassets.net/77l22z9el0aa/4fA6of0jjP7aJqXJRy0JOx/edd3b48f6fea1e273025d3db462dd4be/Ultimate_Wedding_Planning_Checklist.jpg","altText":"wedding planning checklist"},"type":"checklistPage"},{"excerpt":"Postponing your wedding is never easy. Get through it with our guide to postponing your wedding—from how to talk to your vendors to how to tell your guests and everything in between.","title":"A Guide to Postponing Your Wedding","slug":"how-to-postpone-your-wedding","topic":"Wedding planning 101","tag":"How-To ","heroImage":{"src":"//images.ctfassets.net/77l22z9el0aa/7AGHcAXKxar4G9VZvzMpml/f6d3d22649dbd0464d8db328c702646c/A-Guide-to-Postponing-Your-Wedding-and-Change-the-Date-Checklist.jpg","altText":"couple walking in the street before wedding"},"type":"articlePage"},{"excerpt":"Attending a wedding this summer? Here’s everything you need to know about guests, weddings, and vaccines.","title":"Guests, Weddings, and Vaccines: What You Need to Know","slug":"guests-weddings-and-vaccines-what-you-need-to-know","topic":"Zola behind the scenes","tag":"Advice","heroImage":{"src":"//images.ctfassets.net/77l22z9el0aa/5ReUuubL41mTVam3Mcwdep/6a81d8e3da664a815c3a1afe920e6487/Hero_Zola__15_.jpg","altText":"Guests, Weddings, and Vaccines: What You Need to Know"},"type":"articlePage"},{"excerpt":"Do you need to change your wedding date? Don’t stress! This could be a blessing in disguise. Read on for our tips on how to change your wedding date. ","title":"How to Change Your Wedding Date: Expert Tips and Tricks","slug":"how-to-change-your-wedding-date-expert-tips-and-tricks","topic":"Zola behind the scenes","tag":"How-To ","heroImage":{"src":"//images.ctfassets.net/77l22z9el0aa/2jVckUmJuqQHmOHUucffDt/da88dc330a196d975c6ae8612355a3a4/Hero_New.jpg","altText":"couple in field on wedding day"},"type":"articlePage"}],"featured":[{"excerpt":"If you need to postpone, cancel, or otherwise change your wedding details, we're here to help with our guide to updating your wedding guests about changes.","title":"How to Update Guests About Changes to Your Wedding","slug":"how-to-update-guests-about-changes-to-your-wedding","topic":"Wedding planning 101","tag":"How-To ","heroImage":{"src":"//images.ctfassets.net/77l22z9el0aa/5v2y8bTJNkSDFGXqWrI1un/3a497c61d1956ca9b003b25423b56421/How-to-Update-Guests-About-Changes-to-Your-Wedding.jpg","altText":"How to Update Guests About Changes to Your Wedding"},"type":"articlePage"},{"excerpt":"Attending a wedding this summer? Here’s everything you need to know about guests, weddings, and vaccines.","title":"Guests, Weddings, and Vaccines: What You Need to Know","slug":"guests-weddings-and-vaccines-what-you-need-to-know","topic":"Zola behind the scenes","tag":"Advice","heroImage":{"src":"//images.ctfassets.net/77l22z9el0aa/5ReUuubL41mTVam3Mcwdep/6a81d8e3da664a815c3a1afe920e6487/Hero_Zola__15_.jpg","altText":"Guests, Weddings, and Vaccines: What You Need to Know"},"type":"articlePage"},{"excerpt":"Find out our top tips and advice on how to handle a long engagement with this comprehensive guide. Read on to learn more today.","title":"How to Handle a Long Engagement","slug":"how-to-handle-a-long-engagement","topic":"Relationship advice","tag":"How To","heroImage":{"src":"//images.ctfassets.net/77l22z9el0aa/4KpP0bSsj3mXpHF2TIz92Q/c993320a603e9698d9d7bf7a9d8e578a/Hero_Zola__49_.jpg","altText":"How to Handle a Long Engagement"},"type":"articlePage"}],"stickyCta":{"copy":"Start Planning With Zola","url":"https://www.zola.com/wedding/onboard?product=WEDDING_PLANNING"},"updatedAt":"2024-02-05T16:56:35.208Z"},{"type":"articlePage","topic":{"name":"Zola behind the scenes","slug":"zola-behind-the-scenes"},"subtopic":{"name":"Covid-19","slug":"covid-19"},"slug":"tell-your-wedding-vendors-your-wedding-has-been-postponed","title":"How to Tell Your Wedding Vendors Your Wedding Has Been Postponed","excerpt":"Postponing a wedding is never ideal, but how do you tell wedding vendors that you've decided to do so? Read on to find out. ","author":"Anni Irish","publishedAt":"2021-09-29T15:54:20.624Z","heroImage":{"src":"//images.ctfassets.net/77l22z9el0aa/TVgOS0dxcyh3ECMuYcO0d/d56022188090571c7bc6346453791fe1/Hero_New.jpg","altText":"How to Tell Your Wedding Vendors Your Wedding Has Been Postponed"},"heroCredit":"Zola","tldr":"## The First Look ✨\n\n- Postponing a wedding is never ideal. Everyone wants their special day to go off without a hitch but unfortunately that is not always possible.\n- When you are postponing your wedding a huge part of this also has to do with communicating with your vendors. \n- While it is disappointing there are some things you can do to help create a buffer between yourself and your vendors and not make it stressful. \n- Letting them know ASAP is very important. Also being as communicative as possible and checking your event contract can make a huge difference.","body":"Over the last 15 months many things have been up in the air due to the global pandemic. This has also resulted in many major events such as weddings being postponed or even worse canceled. [Almost half of all weddings](https://www.wsj.com/articles/not-included-in-the-wedding-budget-another-pandemic-postponement-11589799600?mod=article_inline) planned in 2020 were postponed due to COVID. \n\nAs a result, many couples have had to navigate this tricky situation and sometimes come up with alternative wedding plans. This has meant a lot of rescheduling and keeping guests, vendors, and other people in the loop about how you and your partner want to move forward for your wedding. \n\nWhile postponing a wedding isn't a great scenario, unfortunately, it has been a situation that millions have found themselves in these circumstances. If you find yourself in that position there's no need to stress. There are several things you can do to help the process if you and your partner have to postpone your wedding and have to sort of everything you have to do with your [wedding vendors](https://www.zola.com/wedding-vendors). \n\nHere are 6 tips to keep in mind when you are deferring your wedding. \n\n## #1 Be communicative \nIf you find yourself in the position of postponing your wedding one of the first things you need to do is communicate with your vendors and wedding planner. Getting in touch with them as soon as you know that your wedding will happen at a later date is imperative. Communicating with your vendors and sending a wedding cancellation letter to your vendor will help to keep them in the loop about what is happening will help save you and them a lot of stress in the long run. And hopefully by canceling ASAP this can help minimize the costs overall that can come with postponing. \n\nThe sooner you are able to let them know what the next alternative plan is, the better. Every situation is different and vendors handle things on a case-by-case basis. You want to and try to give vendors enough lead time when it's possible to deal with the situation. Although 3 months is ideal under normal circumstances for everyone involved, sometimes it is not possible but letting people know ASAP is key. \n\nThere are a lot of moving parts that vendors are dealing with when it comes to your wedding such as ordering supplies, sourcing things, and other details, so the quicker you are able to tell them the better. This way they can stop the order for the original date and be on board for your alternative wedding time. It is vital to reach out to every vendor or service provider you have hired. This way everyone will be on the same page and planning moving forward can go off without a hitch. \n\n## #2 Check your contract \nWhen you are in the process of wedding postponement, it is important to read over your wedding contract for any of your service providers. Every service provider has different wedding vendor contracts so try to be as organized as possible and read them over and familiarize yourself with the fine print. Being aware of any fees you may have to pay or the amount of time they require to be notified of when postponing is something you need to know ahead of time. \n\nWedding vendor contracts, in general, were not written for a global pandemic and now with this new reality, many vendors have written in COVID clauses. So looking them back over and noting what is on them is important. Once you have all the information from your wedding contract with your vendors you can then start to organize what you need and move forward with getting in touch with them. \n\n## #3 Contact your venue\n\nWhen you are postponing your wedding another big thing that needs to be done is contacting your wedding venue. Because your venue is where the wedding or wedding reception will be taking place, communicating with them about your new date is important. The sooner you do this the better because you are setting the stage for your alternative date and you want to ensure you are able to get your chosen [wedding venues](https://www.zola.com/wedding-vendors/search/wedding-venues). \n\n## #4 See if you can get a refund or use your deposit towards your alternative wedding date\nEach vendor will have their own postponement or cancellation policy regarding postponements and given everything that has happened in COVID has made people more flexible. However, it is important to keep in mind that deposits or retainers are usually non-refundable. This is to be able to cover the work that vendors do leading up to your big day and also to reserve their time for the date they have in mind. \n\nBecause vendors have different policies, you may not be able to get a refund. Being flexible and trying to understand where your vendor is coming from is important. However, it is also important for them to be able to work it out on their end with you and your partner as well. As things are getting rescheduled some vendors may not charge a rebooking or cancellation fee and others will. Given the fact that many vendors have been out of business for months, some may charge a rebooking or cancellation fee to help with that. \n\n## #5 Be flexible \nTrying to be as flexible as possible will definitely help save you some headaches. While of course, it is important to get everything you need and want done for your wedding, sometimes it is not possible. If you are able to meet your vendor halfway and are able to be a little flexible in terms of things like what they can do for you and even the alternative date can be very helpful.\n\nOne thing you might need to prepare for is the possibility that your vendor may not be available for your new wedding date. If that is the case, don't stress. They may be able to work around it and find a time that is within the window you want to get married in. If that's not the case, it may be best to try and find a new vendor. \n\n## #6 Get an updated contract \nAs you are locking down the new date for your postponed wedding it is very important to get an updated contact from all vendors. This way you have your new date with the vendor set up and you have a signed event contract with all updated information for all parties. This way everything is clear and you and your vendors can all be on the same page. \n\nPostponing a wedding can be stressful and getting all the information you need to be able to communicate with your vendors is important. Being as organized, up front, and timely as you can with them is key. This way, you are in good shape to be able to book them for your alternative date and have everything run smoothly for your wedding.","tag":"How-To ","widget1":{"marketingModule":{"tag":"EA_VendorMarketplace"}},"stickyCta":{"copy":"Find Vendors in Your Area","url":"https://www.zola.com/inspiration/onboard?question=intro"},"updatedAt":"2024-02-05T16:56:34.490Z"},{"type":"articlePage","topic":{"name":"Zola behind the scenes","slug":"zola-behind-the-scenes"},"subtopic":{"name":"Covid-19","slug":"covid-19"},"slug":"what-if-i-need-to-postpone-my-wedding-again","title":"What If I Need To Postpone My Wedding Again?","excerpt":"You’ve already postponed your wedding once, but what if you have to do it again? Here are five steps you should follow to keep your eyes on the prize.","author":"Jane Chertoff","publishedAt":"2020-10-30T19:16:26.237Z","heroImage":{"src":"//images.ctfassets.net/77l22z9el0aa/2lgD8hs1NWiDljsE4myKCt/136a1b701a8dc00214a6fe270c3d1a42/Hero_Zola__1_.jpg","altText":"change the date"},"heroCredit":"Zola","tldr":"## The First Look ✨ \n\n- Postponing again is a bummer, but you do have options, including picking a new date, having a smaller or virtual ceremony now, or even eloping and having a party later. \n- In order to postpone again, you’ll need to update your immediate family, wedding party, and all guests of any changes—even if you don’t have a new date nailed down yet. \n- You’ll also need to let your venue, vendors, and suppliers know that you’ve decided to postpone again. \n","body":"*__Planning A Wedding During A Pandemic:__ Every wedding planning journey has its twists and turns. To make sure your path is as smooth as possible and to help you keep an eye out for tiny potholes and giant roadblocks, always follow the advice of your local health guidelines and the recommendations set forth by the [CDC](https://www.cdc.gov/). The state of the pandemic can change quickly, but by staying informed, you can make it to your destination—wedded bliss—without a hitch.*\n\nYou’ve already postponed your wedding once, and many feelings were understandably felt. Now, as the pandemic continues on, you’re forced to reckon with potentially needing to put your dream day on hold ... again. Send out for all the delivery ice cream you need.\n\nRemember, deep breaths. You’ll get through this and eventually have the wedding of your dreams. In the meantime, here’s what to do if you need to postpone again.\n\n## Step One: Make a Game Plan\nIf your first rescheduled wedding date is quickly approaching (or even if it’s months away, but it’s looking like you won’t be able to get married then anyway), it’s time to make a new game plan.\n\nYour options are to postpone again with a new date, giving yourselves plenty of time (ideally half a year or another year) to ensure that it’s safe for your guests to attend your wedding. Or, you could also change your plans—potentially having a micro ceremony just for you and your spouse (or immediate family only), holding a virtual wedding, and/or throwing a celebration at a later time with the rest of your invited guests.\n\nNone of these are easy choices, so you and your fiancé should weigh any and all options carefully, while always taking the current public safety guidelines into consideration. You might want to also work with your initial venue when making your decision, as they can let you know what the fees are (if any) for changing your date again, plus they can share what new dates are available for the next year or two. \n\n## Step Two: Notify Your Guests of Any and All Updates\nOnce you’ve made a plan that both you and your partner are fine with, it’s time to [let your guests know what’s going on](https://www.zola.com/expert-advice/how-to-postpone-your-wedding). You may want to first call or email your wedding party and/or immediate family so that they hear the news from you right away.\n\nAs for the rest of your guests, sending another update with a [Change the Date card](https://www.zola.com/wedding-planning/change-the-date/shop) is a polite way to inform everyone of additional changes—this can be done via email or the post. You could also take a humorous approach (at this point it might be called for) with a “Scratch That, New Plan” card, “New Date, Same Wedding” style, or another funny subject line. Or, just go with a traditional “Postponed” card that says you’ll let guests know the new date when you’re ready.\n\n![INLINE Zola (1)](//images.ctfassets.net/77l22z9el0aa/7t98TwwXqYKqdAcdUpdtAc/daa21d84a3967dcfbd3e57c9c036cce3/INLINE_Zola__1_.jpg) *Photo Credit* // Zola\n\n## Step Three: Inform Your Venue, Vendors, and Suppliers\nThis isn’t your first rodeo. You already put in the work to postpone your wedding the first time, so you probably are familiar with the routine. ([Download this checklist to help keep yourself on track.)](https://www.zola.com/expert-advice/how-to-postpone-your-wedding)\n\nYou’ll need to reach out to your venue, vendors, and any suppliers who are involved with the wedding and let them know that you’re postponing again. This team of people is unique to you and is going to help you the most when it [comes to basic logistics](https://www.zola.com/expert-advice/guests-weddings-and-vaccines-what-you-need-to-know). Together, you can work out a plan for the new timeframe and discuss the financial implications.\n\nIf you’re using a wedding planner, they may be able to provide a list of everyone you need to talk to, and/or help with some of these calls and emails. They can also help you read through and navigate the vendor contracts you had in place. If you put in a clause last time in the event of an additional delay, you might not have to pay anything extra. If not, plan to put that in this time in the event of an additional delay.\n\n## Step Four: Review Your Contracts and Arrangements\nSpeaking of, your contracts and arrangements will all need to be updated again to accommodate your new date, so take time to review them thoroughly. Your wedding planner may be a huge help when reading your vendors’ contracts.\n\n![INLINE IntimateElopementWeddingatSanFranciscoCityHall StudioOpia (1)](//images.ctfassets.net/77l22z9el0aa/1SyQwR8xkJsH0BQAgkQV3a/4ce640d462f701a02a100d4c0d59c29a/INLINE_IntimateElopementWeddingatSanFranciscoCityHall_StudioOpia__1_.jpg) *Photo Credit* // Studio Opia\n\n## Step Five: Let It Be\nRemember, there’s a lot going on in the world right now that’s out of your control. Don’t let anyone make you feel guilty for postponing again. Instead, repeat to yourself that you are doing your best to make sure that your family and friends are safe. \n\nWhen you do have your wedding, it will be even more special because you can all be together without worry. In the meantime, practice self care and take time to schedule calls or socially distanced hang outs with your favorite support people who can lift you up during this challenging time. \n","tag":"Advice","widget1":{"marketingModule":{"tag":"EA_Masterbrand"}},"nextUp":[{"excerpt":"Don’t miss a wedding planning detail with our complete, expert-crafted wedding checklist and timeline. Free, printable version inside!","title":"2024/25 Printable Wedding Planning Checklist & Timeline - Zola","slug":"your-ultimate-wedding-planning-checklist","topic":"Wedding planning 101","heroImage":{"src":"//images.ctfassets.net/77l22z9el0aa/4fA6of0jjP7aJqXJRy0JOx/edd3b48f6fea1e273025d3db462dd4be/Ultimate_Wedding_Planning_Checklist.jpg","altText":"wedding planning checklist"},"type":"checklistPage"},{"excerpt":"Attending a wedding this summer? Here’s everything you need to know about guests, weddings, and vaccines.","title":"Guests, Weddings, and Vaccines: What You Need to Know","slug":"guests-weddings-and-vaccines-what-you-need-to-know","topic":"Zola behind the scenes","tag":"Advice","heroImage":{"src":"//images.ctfassets.net/77l22z9el0aa/5ReUuubL41mTVam3Mcwdep/6a81d8e3da664a815c3a1afe920e6487/Hero_Zola__15_.jpg","altText":"Guests, Weddings, and Vaccines: What You Need to Know"},"type":"articlePage"},{"excerpt":"Hosting a virtual wedding or another ceremony online? Make it easy with our guide to hosting a virtual wedding with ease. ","title":"How to Host a Virtual Wedding Event (With Ease!)","slug":"how-to-host-a-virtual-wedding-ceremony-with-ease","topic":"Wedding planning 101","tag":"How-To ","heroImage":{"src":"//images.ctfassets.net/77l22z9el0aa/6fOdskPVOHkRCmAWHWXDZw/725235bb279f53abd12d5b5b65f66922/How-to-Host-a-Virtual-Wedding-Event.jpg","altText":"virtual wedding"},"type":"articlePage"}],"stickyCta":{"copy":"Start Planning With Zola","url":"https://www.zola.com/wedding/onboard?product=WEDDING_PLANNING"},"updatedAt":"2024-02-05T16:56:33.765Z"},{"type":"articlePage","topic":{"name":"Zola behind the scenes","slug":"zola-behind-the-scenes"},"subtopic":{"name":"Covid-19","slug":"covid-19"},"slug":"funny-change-the-date-ideas","title":"Funny Change the Date Ideas","excerpt":"Need to change your wedding date? Let your guests know it’s no biggie with these funny change the date ideas.","author":"Emily Forrest","publishedAt":"2021-09-29T08:50:31.042Z","heroImage":{"src":"//images.ctfassets.net/77l22z9el0aa/6TRimMHANNeLrZZEGa2Sje/7541cb0b0d0f60415955f47212bf3dc8/Hero_Zola__1_.jpg","altText":"Funny Change the Date Ideas"},"heroCredit":"Zola","tldr":"## The First Look ✨\n\n- Updating your guests about changes to your wedding may not be the most fun thing you have to do, but it can the funniest. \n- Use funny and original taglines to ask your guests to save the new date, inventive non-paper options, or lighthearted ways of telling your guests you’ll be postponing your wedding due to COVID.\n- Use your wedding website along with your Change the Dates to causing as minimal confusion as possible with your new wedding details. \n- Whether you’re in the early stages, late stages, or in-between stages of planning your wedding, Zola has an impressive set of tools for you to make the process as simplified and easy to update as possible.","body":"If you’re busy searching the web for funny change the date card ideas, two things are certain:\n\n- You need to change the date of your wedding\n- You’ve maintained an optimistic attitude about this turn of events\n\nThere’s an old saying called Murphy’s Law, which warns that “anything that can go wrong will go wrong,” and while we hope you’ve skirted truly calamitous conditions leading to your postponement, we commend you for having a healthy sense of humor about whatever bumps you’ve encountered.\n\nIn this article, we’ll cover the practical details you’ll need to review in the event of a wedding postponement, and then we’ll get to the good stuff: 19 inventive ways to break the news to your guests while eliciting a hearty laugh or two in the process.\n\n### What to Do Before Sending Out Your Change the Dates\nIf you’re ready to give your guests notice of this change in plans, there are a number of loose ends to tie to ensure that your postponement is as minimally complicated (and costly) as possible.\n\nHere are the main practical details to help you resolve this phase of your [wedding planning](https://www.zola.com/wedding-planning) process as painlessly as possible.\n\n### #1: Check Your Wedding Insurance Policy\nFor couples who purchased wedding insurance, it’s time to check in with your insurance company to get some concrete information on your coverage and how that may affect your business with vendors. There are two types of wedding insurance available to engaged couples:\n\n- __General Liability Insurance:__ This kind of insurance may cover accidents, injuries, or property damage incurred during a wedding. \n\n- __Cancellation Insurance:__ This Insurance protects couples in the event that they need to cancel or postpone their wedding. \n\nWhile the latter may offer you and your partner financial protections for your postponement, remember that the date you purchased your wedding insurance policy is critical to determining whether or not you’ll be entitled to coverage.\n\nIn short, if you purchased your policy after you became aware that you may need to postpone your wedding, it may not be valid. If you purchased your insurance during the coronavirus pandemic, for instance, it’s unlikely that you can petition for postponement protections for reasons related to COVID-19.\n\n### #2: Talk to Your Wedding Planner\nIf you’ve solicited the support of a professional for planning your wedding, they’re the first person you’ll want in the loop before embarking on the process of postponement. There’s a reason you hired them in the first place: their expertise.\n\nIt’s more than likely your wedding planner has been through the process of a wedding delay before, and they may have a hawkish eye for details you may not realize need attending to. They’re an ideal, non-biased party to offer you exactly the practical and financial insights you need and provide a game plan for forging forward.\n\n### #3: Touch Base With Your Venue\nYour next objective is to get in touch with the [wedding venue](https://www.zola.com/wedding-vendors/search/wedding-venues)(s) you’ve selected to host your ceremony and reception in order to discuss their dates and availability for rescheduling your wedding day. \n\nIt’s important to have a concrete and plausible time frame in mind and to come prepared with at least four or five alternative dates.\n\n### #4: Talk to Your Vendors\nOnce you’ve come to an understanding with your host venue, it’s time to explain your circumstances to your wedding vendors. Remember that these are private firms who rely on your business to keep up a hale and hearty enterprise, so do your best to do the following:\n\n- __Familiarize Yourself With Contract Terms:__ Before you drop them a line, re-read your vendor contracts. Depending on the prescribed terms and conditions, you may need to reconcile with the fact that most wedding postponements will inevitably suffer some financial losses.\n\n- __Try to Be Cooperative, Not Combative:__ It’s a hairy situation, but do your best to keep your cool. Work with your vendors, ideally alongside your wedding planner, to come to a cooperative solution that will work for all parties.\n\n- __Be Transparent:__ Remember that you’re working with humans who want you to enjoy your wedding. Keep good faith that they’ve likely seen delays and cancellations before, and that flexibility and kindness will take you a long way in your ensuing negotiations.\n\nIf your circumstances require you to find alternative vendors to accommodate your new wedding date, Zola has curated a catalog of [stringently-vetted vendors](https://www.zola.com/wedding-vendors) all across the United States. Taking some time to surf our list of professionals will mollify some of the stress involved in the process of finding suitable replacements.\n\n## Our Top 11 Funny Taglines for Change the Dates\nIf there’s an appropriate time for your sense of humor to kick in, it’s when your wedding plans didn’t exactly go… according to plan. Perhaps you need a subtle and tongue-in-cheek way to break the news to your guests, or maybe you want to go ham and reach for a full-on dad joke to let them know you and your partner are changing course for now.\n\nWhatever your sense of humor, here are our 11 best one-liners for you to use on your change the dates. \n\n### #1 “Love is patient…”\nThis timeless quote lifted from an oft-read passage of Corinthians 13:4-7 is a crowd favorite, no matter the circumstance. It gets your message of postponement across with a light, classic touch, and lets guests know that your plans are still in the works—you’re just experiencing a bump in the road. \n\n### #2 “No, It’s Not Déjà vu”\n\nThis solution is ideal for those who have both a prankster’s spirit and (understandably) don’t have it in them to come up with an entirely new concept for a change the date design.\n\nRather than printing a whole new batch of cards, we suggest using your former “save-the-date” template–but use this line to introduce your message of postponement instead. Guests will love being in on the joke, and you’ll save yourself the time and energy you need for amending other wedding arrangements.\n\n### #3 “Ahh, the ol’ Switcheroo”\nIf a little bit of dad humor is you and your partner’s thing, this line will surely lighten the mood. Other versions include:\n\n- Psyche!\n- Plot twist!\n- LOL JK\n\nBear in mind these lines will undoubtedly tickle the younger set, but any octogenarian recipients (or more conservative relatives) may not take as well to this particular breed of humor.\n\n#4 “Hope You Penciled Us In!”\nThis is a sweeter, more wholesome way to relate to your guests that you sincerely want to celebrate with them. \n\nIf your budget allows, you may consider having miniature pencils made engraved with the updated date of your wedding. It’s a cute, thoughtful way of letting guests know you appreciate their patience and flexibility.\n\n### #5 “We’re rolling with the punches”\nIf you’re not one to shy away from some tacit toilet humor, we’ve seen couples take the subtle route, printing this change the date line with a cute toilet paper roll illustration—and we’ve seen bolder renditions where guests were mailed an actual customized roll of toilet paper conveying the message of postponement. Either way–no judgment on our end!\n\n### #6 “It Takes Two (Attempts)”\nHere’s another slightly dad-joke flavored wedding pun to convey the delay to your guests. You’ll want to provide a succinct clarification of your change the date message to follow up this headline, with a link to your wedding website to fully flesh out the details of your postponement should your guests have any lingering questions.\n\n### #7 “Post-poned”\nIf you want to mix up your medium while sticking to paper stock, we suggest wedding (pun intended) this play on words with that beloved snail-mail medium of the postcard.\n\nThis approach can work especially well if you were planning a destination wedding or planned to marry out of state, sustaining the romantic getaway theme and giving guests something sweet and unsuspecting as a keepsake.\n\n### #8 “Time for a Plan B?”\nWhen Plan A falls through, it’s always good to have a backup plan, otherwise known as Plan B. \n\nIt’s rare that anything ever goes exactly according to plan—and given how many variables are in play when it comes to planning a wedding, we guarantee your guests will certainly understand that. This funny line sends the message that your plans aren’t kaput, just under renovation.\n\n### #9 “We Still Do (Just Not This Second)”\nEveryone knows what the present tense “I Do” means in wedding land—and while circumstances arise that can change the verb tense, they don’t necessarily change your intention. This message makes it crystal clear to your guests that you and your partner are still intent on holding your wedding, but have elected to take your time.\n\n### #10 “U Still In?”\nTex -message-themed cards are an increasingly popular style of wedding announcements, from Save the Dates, to Change the Dates, to the official [wedding invitations](https://www.zola.com/wedding-planning/invitations/shop) themselves.\n\nWhile a decidedly modern approach, using SMS conventions like speech bubbles, emojis, acronyms, and abbreviations will keep things low key and casual, communicating to guests that the plans are still on—you’re just working out the kinks. \n\n### #11 “We’re Running on Island Time”\nIf you’d planned on throwing a destination wedding somewhere of the tropical variety, this line may be a great way to carry on the theme and lift guest’s spirits.\n\nYes, postponing a destination wedding can get complicated, but if there’s any time to channel that easy, breezy, taking-it-slow attitude for the greater good, it’s with your change the date message.\n\n## Top 5 Funny Non-Card Change the Date Options\nFor those who wish to take the road less traveled and skip a stationery order, there are ample other eclectic ways to let guests know of your postponement.\n\nHere are five other charming methods to deliver your message while keeping it paperless.\n\n### #1 “And Now We Play...the Waiting Game”\nIf you have the budget for it and are looking for a fun, interactive option for your change the date messaging, consider having a custom game printed for guests to play. Prospective crowd-pleasers include:\n\n- Wedding-themed crossword puzzle\n- Word search\n- Sudoku\n- Wedding-themed trivia\n- A classic deck of cards (printed with your new wedding date!)\n\nThis change the date alternative is sure to be more resource and time-intensive than your standard card, but guests will appreciate the extra dose of effort while plans are on pause.\n\n### #2 “Coffee Break!”\nCustom coasters are becoming a classic non-stationery option for couples to send save and change the date notices to their guests. \n\nGiven their growing popularity, coasters come in a range of options from disposable to durable, budget-friendly to costly. Whether your guests are coffee, tea, or kombucha drinkers, nobody likes a water stain, and the coaster makes for a considerate way of breaking the news.\n\n### #3 “Snack Break!”\nAnother increasingly popular alternative to stationary is a bar of chocolate, printed with a customized wrapper bearing your message. \n\nIf you’re trying to get your point across with a note of sweetness and composure, a chocolate bar, M&M’s, or another one of you and your partner’s favorite candies are an excellent way of delivering your message without putting too much pressure on it. There’s no need to save the wrapper and, besides, who doesn’t love chocolate?\n\n### #4 “We’re Experiencing Some Turbulence, Folks” \nIf you’ve Googled “save-the-date” ideas, you’ve likely come across a paper airplane card or two. This version of the common card, reminiscent of first crushes and high school sweethearts, is a perfect specimen to be tailored to a change the date message. Other options include:\n\n- “Slight Flight Delay”\n- “An Announcement From Your Pilots”\n- “Rerouting...”\n\nSo long as no one in your audience has a fear of flying, the paper plane and air-travel humor can be a charming way of telling your guests to remain calm while you and your partner plan for a safe and steady landing.\n\n### #5 “We Hate to Be the Bearers of Bad News”\nSending guests a stuffed bear along with this funny line is a touching (and jocular) way of letting them down easy and asking them for their cooperation while you smooth out your new plans. Who could say no to that face?\n\n## Three Lighthearted Taglines for Weddings Postponed Due to COVID-19\nSince 2020, engaged couples around the world have had to contend with unprecedented challenges to their wedding plans caused by the coronavirus pandemic.\n\nThe global health crisis has inevitably led to worldwide cancellations, postponements, and adaptations for those planning their nuptials—and if there’s any time your friends and family will understand the need to put the brakes on plans, it’s now.\n\nFor a few lighthearted ways to communicate your postponement “due to COVID-19,” here are a few upbeat ways to break the news to your guests.\n\n### #1 “Don’t Blame Us–Blame COVID”\nIt may be 2021, but there’s still plenty of room to riff on this running joke. Here we have an upfront way of conveying the logic behind your change of plans while reminding them that you still plan on following through when it’s safe to do so.\n\n### #2 “Hol(e)d Up!”\nFor those engaged couples who are putting their wedding plans on hold to stock up on toilet paper, batten down the hatches, and wait out the storm, this pun is a humorous way of letting your guests know you and your partner will be honeymooning indoors until it’s safe for you and your guests to celebrate together.\n\n### #3 “Still Going the Distance (Just Not at a Social Distance)\nNow that “social distancing” has filtered its way into the common parlance, it’s time to crack a joke about it. Weddings are highly intimate affairs, so it’s understandable that some couples are delaying their celebrations for a time when hugs, kisses, and dances can be enjoyed without fear of hosting a “super-spreader” event.\n\n## How to Prevent Confusion and “Fake News” When You’re Changing the Date\nNow that you’ve decided on a good-humored way of relating this change of plans to your friends and loved ones, there are a number of other practical considerations you’ll want to get a handle on so that no one winds up misinformed.\n\nHere is your handy change the date checklist, so there’s no chance of any confusion while you’re putting a pause on your wedding plans.\n\n### #1 Update Your Wedding Website\nThe utility of the wedding website becomes particularly apparent in situations where a postponement is in order. After you’ve informed your guests of the change of plans, it’s likely you’ll be swarmed with all kinds of versions of the same question: why?\n\nStating your message loud and clear on your wedding portal is the best way to minimize the amount of text traffic your phone will be besieged with after your change the date has been issued.\n\nIf you haven’t put together your wedding website yet, now is the perfect time to do so. Zola has more than 300 [website designs](https://www.zola.com/wedding/onboard/wedding-website?question=NAME) ready to go, so that you can get the message out there to your guests as swiftly as possible and have some fun dabbling in personalized design once your celebration is back up and running.\n\nRemember that you and your partner are in full control of what to disclose, and how to disclose it. The online motherboard of your wedding—the website—is an ideal platform to express what you want to, to the degree of privacy that you and your partner are comfortable with.\n\n### #2 Use an RSVP Manager\nDepending on when you need to issue a change the date card, you may need to start the RSVP process from scratch. If you’ve already disbursed your wedding invitations, it’s likely you already have a list of yeses, nos, and maybes, which can make the prospect of starting the whole procedure over again incredibly frustrating.\n\nFortunately, there are tools available to streamline the process of collecting RSVPs from your guests digitally, even if you’re sending out stationery save-the-dates, change the dates, and wedding invitations via mail.\n\nZola’s [Wedding Guest List Manager](https://www.zola.com/wedding-planning/guests) is a user-friendly tool designed to collate guests’ addresses and emails, track their RSVPs for your new wedding date, and even message guests as details continue to develop when your plans reboot. Even if you’re not ready to relaunch the RSVP phase, it’s an excellent tool to have at your fingertips to keep things simple down the line.\n\n### #3 Above All, Take It Easy\nNo matter the circumstances that led to your postponement, rescheduling your wedding can be a let-down. If you’re fielding messages of condolence or confusion from guests, try your best to maintain calm, composure, and optimism in the interim.\n\nThat can start with a funny, buoyant change thedate notice—but it’s also important to give yourself permission to take time for some much-needed TLC before resuming the planning process with your partner.\n\n## Take Two: Zola Style\nZola was built to give couples an entire artillery of tools for every stage of the wedding process. From post-engagement, to post-nuptials, to postponement, we’re here to guide you through the whole process with style, skill, and simplicity.\n\nFor couples pushing their wedding date a little further into the future, take some time to visit our website and discover the myriad of utilities for guest list management, establishing a [wedding registry](https://www.zola.com/wedding-registry), and putting together your wedding website.\n\nDevoting a little extra time to setting your celebrations up for success now will ensure a seamless, streamlined process when it’s time to resume the wedding planning.","tag":"List","widget1":{"marketingModule":{"tag":"EA_SaveTheDates"}},"stickyCta":{"copy":"Explore Save the Dates","url":"https://www.zola.com/wedding-planning/save-the-date/shop"},"updatedAt":"2024-02-05T16:56:32.931Z"},{"type":"articlePage","topic":{"name":"Zola behind the scenes","slug":"zola-behind-the-scenes"},"subtopic":{"name":"Covid-19","slug":"covid-19"},"slug":"how-to-even-begin-bach-party-planning-amid-covid-19","title":"How to Even Begin Bach-Party Planning Amid COVID-19","excerpt":"Like almost everything wedding-planning related, organizing a bachelorette party looks different this year due to the pandemic. Here’s how to start bach-party planning amid COVID-19.","author":"Lisa Wong Macabasco","publishedAt":"2021-05-10T15:05:32.814Z","heroImage":{"src":"//images.ctfassets.net/77l22z9el0aa/1IzbSJ67qQSlPlzw7Nl4Hy/d0e92140de3dca53df0164128ad85ade/Hero_Zola__99_.jpg","altText":"Begin Bach-Party Planning Amid COVID-19"},"heroCredit":"Zola","tldr":"## The First Look ✨ \n\n- Forget the traditional time to have a bachelorette party—you can have it long before, or even well after, the actual wedding.\n- Make sure that guests are all on the same page and comfort level in regards to activities.\n- In lieu of clubbing or bar-hopping, consider exploring wineries or renting a boat for a day out on the water.","body":"Like almost everything wedding-planning related, organizing a bachelorette party looks different this year due to COVID-19. A big girls’ trip to a sunny or glitzy destination, with days and nights packed with relaxation and revelry, may not be in the cards right now. But, that doesn’t mean that there isn’t still plenty you can start to think about, nor that it’s impossible to have an equally meaningful gathering, whether in person or virtual. Here’s how to start bach-party planning amid COVID-19.\n\n## Forget Traditional\nFor many, the pandemic has provided the opportunity to do things differently, or at least to reassess how important (or not important) it is to do things in the way they’ve always been done. That includes the bachelorette party, which is traditionally held shortly before the wedding. \n\nNow, you can do whatever feels right for your timeline, including a bachelorette party long before your wedding (who knows when your dream venue will open up again) or well after your official celebration or microwedding (whenever travel and larger gatherings will be greenlighted again). As long as your party is planned with safety in mind, you can be sure that your besties will be ready to celebrate, no matter when you choose. \n\n## Keep It BFFs Only\nIf your heart is set on an in-person bachelorette party, be extremely mindful and discerning about your guest list: Now is not the time to invite more distant friends or acquaintances to an in-person gathering. Pare it down to just your nearest and dearest. Remember, the more people, the greater the risk. Mitigate the risks by asking people to quarantine in the weeks before, then make sure that all partygoers test negative before you get together. Furthermore, be considerate of those who are at higher risk for COVID-19 or who are frequently in contact with high-risk people—think about doing a virtual gathering for them if they’re a part of your inner circle so that they don’t feel left out.\n\n## Teamwork Makes the Dream (Bach Party) Work\nIt’s more important than ever to make sure that your guests are on the same page and comfort level. Gone are the days when a few bridesmaids would draw up the entire itinerary, including surprises. \n\nNow, you should gauge guests’ comfort level for all the planned activities, or make sure that there are fun options for everyone, because the last thing you want is for anyone to feel anxious or uncomfortable with the risk involved. (And there’s a good chance that there will be some level of risk involved.) The outdoors is a great place to start: hiking, a decadent picnic, a day at the beach or lake, surfing or paddle boarding, lessons, sailing, or stargazing are all great options. Work through the schedule together and keep everyone informed about the plans well in advance.\n\n## Carefully Choose Your Accommodations, With Plenty of Outdoor Amenities\nSeek out locations within driving distance, and look at renting a house with lots of outdoor spaces, such as a deck, patio, garden, lawn, pool, and/or hot tub. A property that’s outside shouting distance of neighbors is also ideal. See if you can plan a bachelorette party that’s mostly spent at the house, thus reducing the number of times that you cross paths with people outside of your group.\n\n## Rethink the Budget\nIn pre-COVID times, most of the guests’ budget would have been spent on travel, accommodations, dining/entertainment, and drinks. Now, you can reallocate the funds that would have been spent on a big night on the town toward stocking the house with higher quality snacks, wine, and liquor, setting up a decadent dessert bar, or hiring a private chef. Or, book an alfresco meal at a nicer restaurant. But, don’t forget to include rapid-testing costs.\n\n## Go for Some New—and Improved—Favors\nGoodbye matching T-shirts, tiaras, and personalized martini glasses; hello, cozy slippers or PJs and custom face masks and hand sanitizer. Going the extra step for health and safety will be a smart move for a while.\n\n## Embrace the New Night on the Town\nClubbing and bar-hopping may be out of the question for now, but you can still look for activities with a similarly festive tone. Explore a local wine region or book a visit to a brewery or distillery. In warm-weather areas, look into private boat tours for a day of sun and sailing, or consider a night of dancing under the stars. \n\nRemember, even with COVID-19, there are plenty of fantastic, and more importantly safe, ways to have an unforgettable bachelorette party, as long as you keep in mind testing, group size, social distancing, and activities that everyone feels comfortable enjoying. Still better is if you can hold out until next year, when hopefully there will be even more, and improved bachelorette party options.\n","tag":"How To","widget1":{"marketingModule":{"tag":"EA_Masterbrand"}},"nextUp":[{"excerpt":"No matter what you have in mind for your special night, we’ve created a list of our favorite bachelorette party games for a celebration you and your party guests won’t forget.","title":"28 Bachelorette Party Games the Whole Squad Will Love + Free Printables","slug":"bachelorette-party-games","topic":"Parties & events","tag":"Inspiration","heroImage":{"src":"//images.ctfassets.net/77l22z9el0aa/1B8QpFhLdsBbKrmd6RrtN8/459ea1e6c3c3bded7406b6303d4ae9ea/24-Bachelorette-Party-Games.jpg","altText":"Bachelorette Party Game Printables"},"type":"articlePage"},{"excerpt":"What's the difference between a wedding party & a bridal party? Learn more & get expert planning tips to help you prepare for the big day.","title":"Bridal Party vs. Wedding Party: What's the Difference? ","slug":"what-is-a-wedding-party-and-do-you-need-one","topic":"Wedding planning 101","tag":"Inspiration","heroImage":{"src":"//images.ctfassets.net/77l22z9el0aa/68X8glzRII6myuoYsI6E0S/f9b9a7d44f481f5628e374b6b0c1e744/Hero_New_GildedGlamWeddingatSkyRoomatCrownePlazaMidtown_LoveInMotionLLC.jpg","altText":"formal portrait of wedding party. Bride and bride maids with bouquet are sitting on stair in the front , Groom and groom men are standing at the back"},"type":"articlePage"},{"excerpt":"Fill your bachelor party with groom-approved activities. From weekend getaways to nighttime options, explore the best and most unique bachelor party ideas.","title":"55 Bachelor Party Ideas for Every Groom","slug":"bachelor-party-ideas","topic":"Parties & events","tag":"Inspiration","heroImage":{"src":"//images.ctfassets.net/77l22z9el0aa/3tsqFK8yqAYtlWDMjoh4FA/7633b0eb185f8df51dfe0d0ae0cedef8/kats-weil-CLD1i8hp008-unsplash.jpg","altText":"Low angle of groomsmen holding beer bottles and having a celebratory toast"},"type":"articlePage"},{"excerpt":"Are the bridal shower and the bachelorette party the same? What happens at a bridal shower vs. a bachelorette party? Find out in our latest guide.","title":"Bridal Shower vs. Bachelorette Party","slug":"bachelorette-party-vs-bridal-shower","topic":"Parties & events","tag":"Advice","heroImage":{"src":"//images.ctfassets.net/77l22z9el0aa/LIMh0JnOloe51GM6q34L0/3326f8e7211fde5ad12d79776a17b8f6/Hero_IndustrialWeddingAtStAugustineChurchAnd26Bridge_SarahZimmermanPhoto.jpg","altText":"Bachelorette Party vs Bridal Shower"},"type":"articlePage"}],"featured":[{"excerpt":"Discover the 60 best bachelorette party themes of 2024 with ideas for activities, drinks, and food. Find the perfect party for every bride!","title":"60 Best Bachelorette Party Themes of 2024","slug":"bachelorette-party-themes","topic":"Parties & events","tag":"Bride's Crew","heroImage":{"src":"//images.ctfassets.net/77l22z9el0aa/33vA9FilPkEXnDkMjTkg5F/e698249214e8c6ce0673ab8fbee59392/pexels-yuliia-auer-5303406.jpg","altText":"Bachelorette Party Themes & Party Names"},"type":"articlePage"},{"excerpt":"Planning a destination bachelorette party? Check out these ideas for the ultimate girls trip before you say “I do.” Read on to get inspired.","title":"Top 15 Places to Go to For a Bachelorette Party","slug":"top-15-places-to-go-to-for-a-bachelorette-party","topic":"Parties & events","tag":"Inspiration","heroImage":{"src":"//images.ctfassets.net/77l22z9el0aa/1Za08plUYTsJgT0hnlrf1k/809447b4b82e5ecf0264dd3846eb08b6/unnamed__1_.jpg","altText":"Top 15 Places to Go to For a Bachelorette Party"},"type":"articlePage"},{"excerpt":"Bachelorette trips can get expensive quick. If you can't afford to make the trip, talk to the bride. Here's what to say and how to handle the situation.","title":"I Can't Afford the Bachelorette Trip. What Do I Do?","slug":"cant-afford-the-bachelorette-trip","topic":"Parties & events","tag":"Advice","heroImage":{"src":"//images.ctfassets.net/77l22z9el0aa/JNu4gq5JlOThOxAZJ0Bls/724d647deb7e89a2de9835e748310fc0/I-Can-t-Afford-the-Bachelorette-Trip.jpg","altText":"bride with bridesmaids before wedding"},"type":"articlePage"},{"excerpt":"From financial planning and taxes to insurance and legal documents, follow this 10-step list to help you get your newlywed life up and running smoothly in no time. \n","title":"10 Things You Should Do as a Newlywed","slug":"10-things-you-should-do-as-a-newlywed","topic":"Relationship advice","tag":"List","heroImage":{"src":"//images.ctfassets.net/77l22z9el0aa/7ouLurjdpXyrD5Wf448iu6/e0004f2020a3752a6fb4e111f3431d4e/pexels-hong-son-5542265.jpg","altText":"newlywed couple man and woman embracing and touching foreheads right after their wedding ceremony"},"type":"articlePage"}],"stickyCta":{"copy":"Start Planning With Zola","url":"https://www.zola.com/wedding/onboard?product=WEDDING_PLANNING"},"updatedAt":"2024-02-05T16:56:32.030Z"},{"type":"articlePage","topic":{"name":"Zola behind the scenes","slug":"zola-behind-the-scenes"},"subtopic":{"name":"Covid-19","slug":"covid-19"},"slug":"how-to-change-your-wedding-date-expert-tips-and-tricks","title":"How to Change Your Wedding Date: Expert Tips and Tricks","excerpt":"Do you need to change your wedding date? Don’t stress! This could be a blessing in disguise. Read on for our tips on how to change your wedding date. ","author":"Emily Forrest","publishedAt":"2020-03-30T17:17:20.984Z","heroImage":{"src":"//images.ctfassets.net/77l22z9el0aa/2jVckUmJuqQHmOHUucffDt/da88dc330a196d975c6ae8612355a3a4/Hero_New.jpg","altText":"couple in field on wedding day"},"heroCredit":"Andria Lo","body":"You sent your [save the dates](https://www.zola.com/wedding-planning/save-the-date/shop), and they were gorgeous, weren’t they? You got some compliments from your friends, a phone call from your grandparents, and your Instagram mentions were popping off. Everything was going as planned! But now, everything’s spiralling. \n\nSomething, someone, or some event has caused the date of your wedding to change. We know what you’re going through is stressful and difficult but Zola is here to help. Marriage is a lifetime course on learning how to live in the moment, and lesson number one is learning how to gracefully pivot when things go awry. \n\nWhether your wedding date has been postponed, changed, adjusted, or pushed, your wedding is still going to happen and Zola has everything you need to make your wedding a success. \n\n## Change Of Plans\nWe know that changing plans is annoying, especially when those changes affect the day you’ve been planning your whole life. We’re here to tell you that everything is going to be OK! With your talent, and our resources, you can come out of this looking like a genius. Your job is to stay as cool as you’ve always been while we work behind the scenes to make it seem like this was all part of the plan. You are a champion wedding planner and now you get to put your incredible talents into action.\n\nEspecially when the planning gets complicated, you have to remember that this is going to be one of the greatest days of your life. When your wedding day happens—and it will happen—it will be amazing for two important reasons; neither of which have anything to do with the date it takes place. First, it will be wonderful because of the love you share with your partner, and second, it will be surreal because of the people gathered around you to celebrate your happiness. \n\n## Update what you want.\nWeddings are fun, and planning is part of that fun. Sure licking envelopes and sending thank you notes can get a bit tedious, but for the most part, this is the greatest party you will ever attend and you are completely in charge. Even when things don’t go as planned, a wedding is as fun as you allow it to be. \n\nSo what’s so fun about calling an audible and changing the date? Well for starters, you get to change anything you may have been upset about. Didn’t love the appetizer menu? Change it up! Had your heart set on a beautiful overbooked venue? Maybe it’s available now. \n\nA Change the Date is basically a free redo on anything you wanted to change but were locked into because of your date. Having to change the date may feel like a curse, but the freedom it allows you is a total blessing. Plus, Zola makes it easy to send out a wedding date change announcement with our fully customizable suite of [Invites + Paper](https://www.zola.com/wedding-planning/paper).\n\n## Insider Tips For Wedding Success\nWhether you are ready to pull the trigger on a new date or not, a change of date announcement is a great way to buy some extra time. Plus, sending out change the dates is a polite way to inform your guests that you care about their calendar while reminding them that you want your wedding to be a priority. Even if there is no set date, just a quick update is a classy, formal way to keep people excited and engaged. We’ll address some fun ways to break the news in just a bit, but for now here are some important steps for changing your date:\n\n### Contact your venue.\nWhen dealing with venues it’s crucial that you remain patient and pleasant. The easier you are to work with the more likely they are to give you preferential treatment. Plus if you’re willing to be flexible about changing your date you may even be able to work out a discounted price.\n\nIf your venue is being stubborn or stingy, call some other venues. Was there a venue you really wanted but weren’t able to book? Your luck may have recently changed. Whatever events that have turned your life upside down may be affecting others too so don’t be afraid to be daring while others are being timid. The key things to remember here are to be pleasant and flexible. Your date is already changing, use this opportunity to get everything you want without the need to be tied to a specific date. \n\n### Contact your caterer.\nThe foodservice industry is all too familiar with date changes, it’s part of the reason deposits are so popular amongst caterers. Your caterer does not want you to cancel your wedding, and most are amenable to helping you move your special day to a new date. \n\nOnce you get a feel for the rough timeline of a new date, contact your caterer and ask them what their schedule looks like. Again, be patient and flexible to ensure you get the friendly service you deserve in return. \n\n### Announcing the Date Change\nNow it’s time to announce the date change. There are so many fun ways you can share the news of a date change. Try to take bits and pieces of your personality and tie them into your announcement. Remember, your guests want to have fun and humor is a great way to remind them that you and your fiance are all about making fun a top priority. \n\nFor example, are you or your spouse notoriously late? Send out an announcement like “Isn’t it just like us to be running late? We’re changing the date and it’s TBD!” Or, tie in one of your go-to excuses for being late for group activities like: “Traffic is so bad right now. Waze says we’re gonna be a couple months late ;)” \n\n__Here are some more of our favorite fun “change of date” announcements:__\n\n- “We’re planning our forever... better late than never! Change of date TBD!”\n- “Our date stood us up! Good thing we have each other! We’re changing the date to_____ see you there!”\n- “The show must go on! We just need to find the understudy. New wedding date TBD!”\n- “Our calendar never got the save the date we sent. Our new date is ______!”\n- “If you think you’ve been going crazy, remember my fiance has had to deal with me changing the date of our wedding. Please save this new date!”\n- “New date, same bride and groom. Join us on _____!”\n\n__If you don’t want to go for a humorous approach, a standard please and thank you message goes a long way:__\n\n- “Please join us on our new day______ .Thank you for being flexible.”\n- “We hope you’re still able to join us, our date is now_______”\n- “Thanks for all your patience, please save this new date in your calendar_____”\n- “We’re excited to see you on our new day _____ ! Thank you for being part of our lives.”\n\nHowever you choose to break the news, change of date notices are a must, especially if you have already sent out save the dates. Though you may be tempted to pull a fast one and send out the invites with updated date and time, be warned that a move like that could induce chaos. \n\n## Control the chaos.\nNobody wants chaos associated with their wedding, which is why sending out a change of date notice is crucial in preventing your wedding guests from being confused or misinformed. Do your guests, and yourself a favor and send another round of pre-invites letting people know that the plan has changed. This also gives your out-of-town guests ample time to adjust their travel arrangements so they can attend your beautiful wedding on its new date. \n\nWe want you to remember that everyone who was planning a 2020 wedding is in the same boat. However, you have the resources and know-how to seize this opportunity. When the world finally gets back to normal, you'll be on cruise control after gracefully pivoting to a new date with the help of your change of date announcements. \n\n## Enjoy the ride.\nTake solace knowing that one of the first things people are going to be able to do after quarantine is going to your wedding! Whatever you do is going to be amplified by the collective excitement of socializing again, and there is a real possibility your wedding may go down as the social event of the year. \n\nHunger makes things taste better, absence makes the heart grow fonder, and weddings post-quarantine make history. So don't wait to make the wedding date change announcement, send out those “Change The Date” cards, and enjoy the ride.","tag":"How-To ","widget1":{"marketingModule":{"tag":"EA_Masterbrand"}},"nextUp":[{"excerpt":"Postponing your wedding is never easy. Get through it with our guide to postponing your wedding—from how to talk to your vendors to how to tell your guests and everything in between.","title":"A Guide to Postponing Your Wedding","slug":"how-to-postpone-your-wedding","topic":"Wedding planning 101","tag":"How-To ","heroImage":{"src":"//images.ctfassets.net/77l22z9el0aa/7AGHcAXKxar4G9VZvzMpml/f6d3d22649dbd0464d8db328c702646c/A-Guide-to-Postponing-Your-Wedding-and-Change-the-Date-Checklist.jpg","altText":"couple walking in the street before wedding"},"type":"articlePage"},{"excerpt":"Attending a wedding this summer? Here’s everything you need to know about guests, weddings, and vaccines.","title":"Guests, Weddings, and Vaccines: What You Need to Know","slug":"guests-weddings-and-vaccines-what-you-need-to-know","topic":"Zola behind the scenes","tag":"Advice","heroImage":{"src":"//images.ctfassets.net/77l22z9el0aa/5ReUuubL41mTVam3Mcwdep/6a81d8e3da664a815c3a1afe920e6487/Hero_Zola__15_.jpg","altText":"Guests, Weddings, and Vaccines: What You Need to Know"},"type":"articlePage"},{"excerpt":"If you need to postpone, cancel, or otherwise change your wedding details, we're here to help with our guide to updating your wedding guests about changes.","title":"How to Update Guests About Changes to Your Wedding","slug":"how-to-update-guests-about-changes-to-your-wedding","topic":"Wedding planning 101","tag":"How-To ","heroImage":{"src":"//images.ctfassets.net/77l22z9el0aa/5v2y8bTJNkSDFGXqWrI1un/3a497c61d1956ca9b003b25423b56421/How-to-Update-Guests-About-Changes-to-Your-Wedding.jpg","altText":"How to Update Guests About Changes to Your Wedding"},"type":"articlePage"}],"featured":[{"excerpt":"Master the art of addressing wedding invitations with proper etiquette. Learn formal and modern approaches to create elegant and inviting cards.","title":"How to Address Wedding Invitations: Etiquette & Examples ","slug":"how-to-address-wedding-invitations","topic":"Invites & paper","tag":"How-To ","heroImage":{"src":"//images.ctfassets.net/77l22z9el0aa/13bpWVURYrrvQwpySxNZSw/65e5ad02aad6f00301a4fd489b36746b/Zola-05.04.20-Colored-Envelopes-_-Letterpress2332_CROPPED-e.jpg","altText":"A metal calligrapher's pen resting next to a wedding invitation envelope addressed using ink calligraphy"},"type":"articlePage"},{"excerpt":"Learn the how-to's of wedding invitation wording, plus formal and casual wedding invitation examples from the experts.","title":"Wedding Invitation Wording: A Complete How-To Guide","slug":"how-to-word-wedding-invitations","topic":"Invites & paper","tag":"How-To ","heroImage":{"src":"//images.ctfassets.net/77l22z9el0aa/5rENN5B7RPAn14pYP75HgH/d457816cdf42b12cc74b3e7d88b73513/Wedding_Invitaion_Wording_Etiquette.jpg","altText":"green and white wedding invitation on green background"},"type":"articlePage"},{"excerpt":"Here are a few wedding invitation dos and don’ts to keep in mind, organized by the different wording components such as names, dates, and times.","title":"The Dos and Don'ts of Wedding Invitation Wording","slug":"the-dos-and-donts-of-wedding-invitation-wording","topic":"Invites & paper","tag":"Invitation Wording","heroImage":{"src":"//images.ctfassets.net/77l22z9el0aa/4Et2URXPNegMRSCivBHutQ/ae2c3244927ec8fb5c015365837e090b/The-Dos-and-Donts-of-Wedding-Invitation-Wording.jpg","altText":"Green themed wedding invitation on marble top"},"type":"articlePage"},{"excerpt":"Create a beautiful, shareable free wedding website that will keep all your information in one place and make you and your SO's life easier.","title":"How to Build a Wedding Website: Guide + Tips","slug":"make-wedding-website","topic":"Wedding planning 101","tag":"Inspiration","heroImage":{"src":"//images.ctfassets.net/77l22z9el0aa/1ivfWCLfICZzRAlSL2XROu/d275878391dec1bf789fae38c8c5d62b/7-Reasons-to-Make-a-Wedding-Website.jpg","altText":"free wedding websites on zola.com"},"type":"articlePage"}],"stickyCta":{"copy":"Start Planning With Zola","url":"https://www.zola.com/wedding/onboard?product=WEDDING_PLANNING"},"updatedAt":"2024-02-05T16:56:31.260Z"},{"type":"articlePage","topic":{"name":"Zola behind the scenes","slug":"zola-behind-the-scenes"},"subtopic":{"name":"Covid-19","slug":"covid-19"},"slug":"how-to-be-a-great-virtual-wedding-guest","title":"How to Be a Great Virtual Wedding Event Guest","excerpt":"For guests invited to a virtual wedding, etiquette isn't always obvious. Here's everything you need to know about attending a virtual ceremony—from gift etiquette to technical questions.","author":"Maggy Lehmicke","publishedAt":"2020-06-23T19:53:19.034Z","heroImage":{"src":"//images.ctfassets.net/77l22z9el0aa/fe90zLtnAvdiMehaAE22K/47765eac57a937a25467ccd349607525/How-to-Be-a-Great-Virtual-Wedding-Event-Guest.jpg","altText":"virtual wedding guest etiquette"},"heroCredit":"Zola","body":"*__Planning A Wedding During A Pandemic:__ Every wedding planning journey has its twists and turns. To make sure your path is as smooth as possible and to help you keep an eye out for tiny potholes and giant roadblocks, always follow the advice of your local health guidelines and the recommendations set forth by the [CDC](https://www.cdc.gov/). The state of the pandemic can change quickly, but by staying informed, you can make it to your destination—wedded bliss—without a hitch.*\n\nWith quarantine and social distancing throwing many engaged and wedding planning couples for a loop, [virtual weddings have stepped up](https://www.zola.com/expert-advice/backup-wedding-plan-quick) to the plate. Since these all-digital ceremonies are somewhat new in nature, the ins and outs of virtual weddings can not only be a bit complex but unfamiliar to many.\n\nIf you’ve never attended a digital event before, there are plenty of tips and tricks to push beyond the awkwardness and make it enjoyable for everyone in attendance. What’s most important is to acknowledge the reason you’re there—the couple themselves—and embrace the moment as-is.\n\nBelow are a few general rules and considerations for anyone attending a [virtual wedding](https://www.zola.com/expert-advice/how-to-host-a-virtual-wedding-ceremony-with-ease).\n\n## Follow the typical RSVP protocol.\nJust because everything is online doesn’t make the wedding any less official. RSVPing on time is a simple way to acknowledge the hard work that your loved ones have put into their special day and [show your appreciation for being included](https://www.zola.com/expert-advice/invited-to-a-spring-wedding-heres-what-guests-should-do-now). \n\nIf a [“change the date”](https://www.zola.com/expert-advice/how-to-change-your-wedding-date-expert-tips-and-tricks) was sent, make sure to double-check for any changes to RSVP instructions. If the couple has a website, that’s often a good place to start as well.\n\n## Show up on time.\nAgain, digital weddings aren’t an excuse to be nonchalant or informal. The couple has likely made a lot of changes to their plans and special arrangements so you could see them on their big day, quarantine and all. By showing up on time, you’re paying your respects to the couple and their hard work. Plus, who would want to miss out on any of the virtual fun they have planned?\n\n![virtual wedding](//images.ctfassets.net/77l22z9el0aa/5Udl3dm36EUU9KFJDou4rS/7fb699775d8fe0aef9f75eb60d2c3f3c/arnel-hasanovic-MNd-Rka1o0Q-unsplash.jpg)\n*Photo Credit* // Unsplash\n\n## Send a gift.\nIf the couple has a registry or cash fund, it’s a good idea to consider giving them a gift. Chances are, the couple still invested a lot of time, money, and energy to making the virtual day happen, even if you couldn’t be there in person. \n\nPurchasing something from their registry (no matter how small) is acknowledging the investment they made and helping them work toward a future together. Just make sure not to feel guilty about the size or cost of the gift. Particularly in these unique times, it really is the thought that counts.\n\n## Follow the dress code (or ask for it if there wasn’t one).\nIt doesn’t matter that you’re attending the wedding from the comfort of your own home. Dressing in the appropriate attire helps set the ambiance for the event and is a great way to show your respect for the couple. \nThis includes following any traditional wedding “rules,” including straying away from wearing white. If you think the couple won’t notice that you’re in your sweats or wearing the same color as the bride, you’re probably mistaken. \n\n## Remove all distractions.\nPhones, TVs, food, and work can all wait until after the ceremony. This is not the time to multitask. Be engaged and create an environment without distractions. If you’re worried about your dog howling at the delivery person or your kids doing acrobatics in the background, make sure to express those concerns with your family members and set aside a quiet spot in your home where you can observe the wedding in relative peace.\n\nIf this simply isn’t a possibility for you (hey, we get it), then you can always leave your video off to limit any potential distractions. Just make sure to let the couple know your plan in advance so they don’t think you’re simultaneously eating ice cream and binging Queer Eye instead.\n\n## Mute yourself! \nThough someone on the organizing end might do this for you, it’s best to make sure you’re on mute before the ceremony starts. If you’re not all that tech-savvy or are using a platform you’re unfamiliar with, make sure to ask for advice or do some reading in advance so you don’t disrupt the ceremony after it starts. Then, remember to unmute yourself if it’s time for the reception or your turn to give a speech.\n\n## Remember, this isn’t your wedding to share.\nAs tempting as it may be to post that screenshot of the couple’s first kiss to social media, let them be the first ones to share their big moments with the world. It’s thoughtful to check with the couple first to see if they’re OK with posting anything until they do. \n\nIf they were initially opting for an “unplugged” ceremony, then they might prefer their guests to simply be engaged and let a professional photographer handle the rest.\n\nAnd though it shouldn’t have to be said, please do not share the video link with anyone who wasn’t invited to the wedding. That’s not your job, and your loved ones are sure to notice when 900 people are suddenly streaming their event.\n\n![virtual wedding](//images.ctfassets.net/77l22z9el0aa/5xwLfFkwD8oYcXsawAvUi7/8b1416590836c3e1dab4f1f4561b56c2/austin-distel-jpHw8ndwJ_Q-unsplash.jpg)\n*Photo Credit* // Unsplash\n\n## Send congratulations.\nEven if the couple is passing on gifts, sending some type of congratulatory note—whether it be a handwritten letter or a short video—is a great way to show your support. \n\nWith social distancing and quarantine having swallowed the first half of the year, any way to [express your gratitude, excitement, and appreciation](https://www.zola.com/expert-advice/guests-weddings-and-vaccines-what-you-need-to-know) for your loved ones is much appreciated, especially those who have had to make the difficult decision to move their celebration online.\n\n## Pay attention to any additional directions (and follow them!).\nBeing punctual, following the dress code, and keeping the attention away from yourself are all some of the more obvious rules to adhere to. However, make sure to read all the details on the invitation and acknowledge any additional requests. \n\nIf the couple sent along a cocktail recipe for you to enjoy during the ceremony, then go ahead and make yourself a drink in their honor. If they asked for each person to send in a song request in advance, please do. Every little thing counts when it comes to virtual weddings, so just make sure to read the fine print and be as respectful as possible.\n\nVirtual weddings and ceremonies are becoming more and more common. So keep this guide to virtual wedding guest etiquette handy as you and your loved ones attend more of these types of celebrations.","tag":"How-To ","widget1":{"marketingModule":{"tag":"EA_Masterbrand"}},"nextUp":[{"excerpt":"Don’t miss a wedding planning detail with our complete, expert-crafted wedding checklist and timeline. Free, printable version inside!","title":"2024/25 Printable Wedding Planning Checklist & Timeline - Zola","slug":"your-ultimate-wedding-planning-checklist","topic":"Wedding planning 101","heroImage":{"src":"//images.ctfassets.net/77l22z9el0aa/4fA6of0jjP7aJqXJRy0JOx/edd3b48f6fea1e273025d3db462dd4be/Ultimate_Wedding_Planning_Checklist.jpg","altText":"wedding planning checklist"},"type":"checklistPage"},{"excerpt":"Attending a wedding this summer? Here’s everything you need to know about guests, weddings, and vaccines.","title":"Guests, Weddings, and Vaccines: What You Need to Know","slug":"guests-weddings-and-vaccines-what-you-need-to-know","topic":"Zola behind the scenes","tag":"Advice","heroImage":{"src":"//images.ctfassets.net/77l22z9el0aa/5ReUuubL41mTVam3Mcwdep/6a81d8e3da664a815c3a1afe920e6487/Hero_Zola__15_.jpg","altText":"Guests, Weddings, and Vaccines: What You Need to Know"},"type":"articlePage"}],"featured":[{"excerpt":"Hosting a virtual wedding or another ceremony online? Make it easy with our guide to hosting a virtual wedding with ease. ","title":"How to Host a Virtual Wedding Event (With Ease!)","slug":"how-to-host-a-virtual-wedding-ceremony-with-ease","topic":"Wedding planning 101","tag":"How-To ","heroImage":{"src":"//images.ctfassets.net/77l22z9el0aa/6fOdskPVOHkRCmAWHWXDZw/725235bb279f53abd12d5b5b65f66922/How-to-Host-a-Virtual-Wedding-Event.jpg","altText":"virtual wedding"},"type":"articlePage"},{"excerpt":"Attending a wedding this summer? Here’s everything you need to know about guests, weddings, and vaccines.","title":"Guests, Weddings, and Vaccines: What You Need to Know","slug":"guests-weddings-and-vaccines-what-you-need-to-know","topic":"Zola behind the scenes","tag":"Advice","heroImage":{"src":"//images.ctfassets.net/77l22z9el0aa/5ReUuubL41mTVam3Mcwdep/6a81d8e3da664a815c3a1afe920e6487/Hero_Zola__15_.jpg","altText":"Guests, Weddings, and Vaccines: What You Need to Know"},"type":"articlePage"},{"excerpt":"If you need to postpone, cancel, or otherwise change your wedding details, we're here to help with our guide to updating your wedding guests about changes.","title":"How to Update Guests About Changes to Your Wedding","slug":"how-to-update-guests-about-changes-to-your-wedding","topic":"Wedding planning 101","tag":"How-To ","heroImage":{"src":"//images.ctfassets.net/77l22z9el0aa/5v2y8bTJNkSDFGXqWrI1un/3a497c61d1956ca9b003b25423b56421/How-to-Update-Guests-About-Changes-to-Your-Wedding.jpg","altText":"How to Update Guests About Changes to Your Wedding"},"type":"articlePage"},{"excerpt":"If you're a guest at a postponed wedding this spring, you probably have some questions. We answered common wedding guest FAQs to help you update or change your plans, if necessary. ","title":"Invited to a Spring Wedding? Here's What Guests Should Do Now","slug":"invited-to-a-spring-wedding-heres-what-guests-should-do-now","topic":"Wedding planning 101","tag":"Advice","heroImage":{"src":"//images.ctfassets.net/77l22z9el0aa/679kfVQER3VPuJSSigrxEW/c9e0985050509f41a7f76560f51f5ea7/DAGIMAGES_1080x720_Liang_Bella.jpg","altText":"couple enjoys outdoor wedding"},"type":"articlePage"}],"stickyCta":{"copy":"Start Planning With Zola","url":"https://www.zola.com/wedding/onboard?product=WEDDING_PLANNING"},"updatedAt":"2024-02-05T16:56:30.368Z"},{"type":"articlePage","topic":{"name":"Zola behind the scenes","slug":"zola-behind-the-scenes"},"subtopic":{"name":"Covid-19","slug":"covid-19"},"slug":"guests-weddings-and-vaccines-what-you-need-to-know","title":"Guests, Weddings, and Vaccines: What You Need to Know","excerpt":"Attending a wedding this summer? Here’s everything you need to know about guests, weddings, and vaccines.","author":"Ruksana Hussain","publishedAt":"2021-05-19T15:17:09.486Z","heroImage":{"src":"//images.ctfassets.net/77l22z9el0aa/5ReUuubL41mTVam3Mcwdep/6a81d8e3da664a815c3a1afe920e6487/Hero_Zola__15_.jpg","altText":"Guests, Weddings, and Vaccines: What You Need to Know"},"heroCredit":"Zola","tldr":"## The First Look ✨\n- According to a recent survey from Zola and Modern Fertility, the majority of couples want their guests to be vaccinated before their wedding.\n- Even if you’re fully vaccinated, you still need to take precautions at the wedding to protect yourself and other wedding guests.\n- If you’re worried about other guests not respecting your COVID-related boundaries, having a plan in place for how to deal with those interactions before the wedding can help ease some of that anxiety.\n","body":"*__Planning A Wedding During A Pandemic:__ Every wedding planning journey has its twists and turns. To make sure your path is as smooth as possible and to help you keep an eye out for tiny potholes and giant roadblocks, always follow the advice of your local health guidelines and the recommendations set forth by the [CDC](https://www.cdc.gov/). The state of the pandemic can change quickly, but by staying informed, you can make it to your destination—wedded bliss—without a hitch.*\n\nIn 2020, COVID-19 forced a huge percentage of engaged couples to [postpone their weddings](https://www.zola.com/expert-advice/how-to-postpone-your-wedding) and adjust their [wedding planning timeline](https://www.zola.com/expert-advice/checklist/your-ultimate-wedding-planning-checklist)—with many pushing their [save the dates](https://www.zola.com/wedding-planning/save-the-date/shop) into 2021, in the hopes that the Covid-19 pandemic would be under better control, and that it would be safer for them to bring their loved ones together to celebrate their “[I dos.](https://www.zola.com/expert-advice/wedding-vows)” \n\nWith the loosening of Covid-19 restrictions for a private event and the Covid-19 vaccine rollout in full swing, it looks like weddings will be safer in the coming months. But, if you’re on the [guestlist](https://www.zola.com/expert-advice/how-to-make-a-wedding-guest-list) for a wedding (or multiple weddings!) in the near future, or you’re in the middle of your own [wedding planning](https://www.zola.com/wedding-planning), you probably have some questions on how things are going to play out—both with the vaccine and at the actual event. \n\nDo you need to get vaccinated before you attend any weddings? What safety precautions will you need to take [wedding venues](https://www.zola.com/wedding-vendors/search/wedding-venues)? And how do you interact with other guests who may or may not be vaccinated—but aren’t taking the same safety precautions that you are? \n\nLet’s take a look at everything you need to know about guests, weddings, and vaccinations in 2021:\n\n## The Couple May Want You to Get Tested and/or Vaccinated Before the Big Day \n\nThe COVID-19 vaccine is optional; no one can force you to get vaccinated. But, if you’re attending weddings this year, chances are, the couples are at least going to ask. \n\nAccording to a recent survey from Zola and Modern Fertility, more than half of the survey respondents (52.8 percent) said they wanted the majority of their [wedding guests](https://www.zola.com/expert-advice/dos-and-donts-for-wedding-guests) to get the Covid-19 vaccine before their big day. \n\nAfter sending out [wedding invitations](https://www.zola.com/wedding-vendors) and choosing [wedding vendors](https://www.zola.com/wedding-vendors), the couple may also want you to get a pre-wedding COVID test before you attend (according to the survey, 23.10 percent of people said they wanted their entire guest list to have a negative COVID-19 test before attending their wedding reception).\n\nAlthough couples may look for cost-efficient options that they can change in their [wedding checklist](https://www.zola.com/expert-advice/checklist/your-ultimate-wedding-planning-checklist) such as using free [wedding websites](https://www.zola.com/wedding-planning/website), clearly, keeping COVID-19 out of their big day—and keeping themselves and their guests safe—is top of mind for many couples. So, if you have any weddings on the calendar in the coming months, you should be prepared for a test and/or vaccination request from the couple, and be sure to check their [wedding website](https://www.zola.com/wedding-planning/website) for more updates.\n\n## Even If You’re Vaccinated, You Still Need to Take Safety Precautions \n\nGetting the COVID-19 vaccine offers a layer of protection that can make you (and the soon-to-be-married couple) feel safer about your attendance at the wedding. \n\nBut, the vaccine isn’t a free pass to throw caution to the wind, ditch your mask, and run up to every person at [cocktail hour](https://www.zola.com/expert-advice/top-10-tips-for-successful-cocktail-hour) (forget social distancing!) for a high-five or handshake. Even if you are vaccinated before the wedding, you still need to play it safe.\n\nThere are a few different reasons why COVID-related safety precautions are a must—even if you’re fully vaccinated before the wedding. According to the [CDC’s recommendations](https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/fully-vaccinated.html#:~:text=After%20you've%20been%20fully,places%20until%20we%20know%20more.), fully vaccinated people can be inside without a mask with other vaccinated people and with unvaccinated people who aren’t at high risk for serious COVID-related complications—but the CDC strongly recommends wearing masks and social distancing in public places and around unvaccinated people who are at an increased risk for serious illness if they catch COVID-19.\n\nWhen you’re at a wedding, you have no way of knowing who is fully vaccinated, who is not fully vaccinated, and who might be at risk for developing serious complications if they catch COVID-19. And, because you have no way of distinguishing between vaccinated and unvaccinated, or at risk and not at risk guests, you have to take safety precautions with all guests. This means that you should wear a mask, keep six feet of distance, and wash your hands regularly.\n\n## Have a Plan in Place Before the Wedding for Dealing With Guests Respecting Other’s Space \n\nYou can make masks and social distancing a priority when you’re at a wedding, but other guests might not take safety as seriously as you do, which can lead to potential uncomfortable (and unsafe!) interactions, such as guests going in for a hug or handshake, sliding their chair right next to yours for the [wedding ceremony](https://www.zola.com/expert-advice/a-guide-to-wedding-ceremony-programs), or getting a little too close for comfort during a conversation at the [wedding reception](https://www.zola.com/expert-advice/wedding-reception-timeline).\n\nIf you’re the kind of person who has no problem telling someone that their behavior makes you uncomfortable, you’ll have no problem shutting down these interactions in real-time. But, if you’re someone who struggles with setting boundaries or being perceived as rude, coming up with the right thing to say when someone tries to hug you or initiate a conversation without a mask will probably feel challenging at the moment. This is why you need to have a plan for how to deal with those interactions ahead of time.\n\nBefore the wedding, brainstorm all the ways other wedding guests might cross your COVID-related boundaries—and develop a plan for how to deal with them. For example, if someone tries to give you a greeting hug, you might take a step back and say, “It’s so great to see you, but I’m still practicing social distancing. Sending you a big air hug!” Or, if someone tries to talk to you without a mask, you can say, “Would you mind putting a mask on? I’m still concerned about COVID-19.” However, if that feels uncomfortable, politely excuse yourself and head to another area of the wedding venue. \n\nThe point is that you can’t control other wedding attendees’ behavior—but you can have a plan in place to make yourself feel more comfortable and safe in how you deal with that behavior. \n\n## Enjoy the Wedding, Safely\n\nVaccine distribution is ramping up every day, and it’s only going to get safer to gather in large groups—including at weddings. So, if you’re gearing up to attend a wedding in the coming months, have a good time, and enjoy yourself; just make sure to do it safely.\n","tag":"Advice","widget1":{"marketingModule":{"tag":"EA_Masterbrand"}},"nextUp":[{"excerpt":"Keep your wedding intimate with a smaller guest list of only the most special people in your life. Read our guide to an intimate wedding.","title":"How to Create a Small Intimate Wedding","slug":"how-to-create-a-small-intimate-wedding","topic":"Wedding planning 101","tag":"How-To ","heroImage":{"src":"//images.ctfassets.net/77l22z9el0aa/12iuph3TqovyGeSrgp0ziK/724c13632e3032afd4b47c7d3173ec75/inline_unsplash.jpg","altText":"Small Intimate Wedding table setting"},"type":"articlePage"},{"excerpt":"Don’t miss a wedding planning detail with our complete, expert-crafted wedding checklist and timeline. Free, printable version inside!","title":"2024/25 Printable Wedding Planning Checklist & Timeline - Zola","slug":"your-ultimate-wedding-planning-checklist","topic":"Wedding planning 101","heroImage":{"src":"//images.ctfassets.net/77l22z9el0aa/4fA6of0jjP7aJqXJRy0JOx/edd3b48f6fea1e273025d3db462dd4be/Ultimate_Wedding_Planning_Checklist.jpg","altText":"wedding planning checklist"},"type":"checklistPage"}],"stickyCta":{"copy":"Start Planning With Zola","url":"https://www.zola.com/wedding/onboard?product=WEDDING_PLANNING"},"updatedAt":"2024-02-05T16:56:29.307Z"}],"pagination":{"currentPage":1,"total":10},"subtopic":{"featuredArticles":[{"type":"articlePage","topic":{"name":"Zola behind the scenes","slug":"zola-behind-the-scenes"},"subtopic":{"name":"Covid-19","slug":"covid-19"},"slug":"funny-change-the-date-ideas","title":"Funny Change the Date Ideas","excerpt":"Need to change your wedding date? Let your guests know it’s no biggie with these funny change the date ideas.","author":"Emily Forrest","publishedAt":"2021-09-29T08:50:31.042Z","heroImage":{"src":"//images.ctfassets.net/77l22z9el0aa/6TRimMHANNeLrZZEGa2Sje/7541cb0b0d0f60415955f47212bf3dc8/Hero_Zola__1_.jpg","altText":"Funny Change the Date Ideas"},"heroCredit":"Zola","tldr":"## The First Look ✨\n\n- Updating your guests about changes to your wedding may not be the most fun thing you have to do, but it can the funniest. \n- Use funny and original taglines to ask your guests to save the new date, inventive non-paper options, or lighthearted ways of telling your guests you’ll be postponing your wedding due to COVID.\n- Use your wedding website along with your Change the Dates to causing as minimal confusion as possible with your new wedding details. \n- Whether you’re in the early stages, late stages, or in-between stages of planning your wedding, Zola has an impressive set of tools for you to make the process as simplified and easy to update as possible.","body":"If you’re busy searching the web for funny change the date card ideas, two things are certain:\n\n- You need to change the date of your wedding\n- You’ve maintained an optimistic attitude about this turn of events\n\nThere’s an old saying called Murphy’s Law, which warns that “anything that can go wrong will go wrong,” and while we hope you’ve skirted truly calamitous conditions leading to your postponement, we commend you for having a healthy sense of humor about whatever bumps you’ve encountered.\n\nIn this article, we’ll cover the practical details you’ll need to review in the event of a wedding postponement, and then we’ll get to the good stuff: 19 inventive ways to break the news to your guests while eliciting a hearty laugh or two in the process.\n\n### What to Do Before Sending Out Your Change the Dates\nIf you’re ready to give your guests notice of this change in plans, there are a number of loose ends to tie to ensure that your postponement is as minimally complicated (and costly) as possible.\n\nHere are the main practical details to help you resolve this phase of your [wedding planning](https://www.zola.com/wedding-planning) process as painlessly as possible.\n\n### #1: Check Your Wedding Insurance Policy\nFor couples who purchased wedding insurance, it’s time to check in with your insurance company to get some concrete information on your coverage and how that may affect your business with vendors. There are two types of wedding insurance available to engaged couples:\n\n- __General Liability Insurance:__ This kind of insurance may cover accidents, injuries, or property damage incurred during a wedding. \n\n- __Cancellation Insurance:__ This Insurance protects couples in the event that they need to cancel or postpone their wedding. \n\nWhile the latter may offer you and your partner financial protections for your postponement, remember that the date you purchased your wedding insurance policy is critical to determining whether or not you’ll be entitled to coverage.\n\nIn short, if you purchased your policy after you became aware that you may need to postpone your wedding, it may not be valid. If you purchased your insurance during the coronavirus pandemic, for instance, it’s unlikely that you can petition for postponement protections for reasons related to COVID-19.\n\n### #2: Talk to Your Wedding Planner\nIf you’ve solicited the support of a professional for planning your wedding, they’re the first person you’ll want in the loop before embarking on the process of postponement. There’s a reason you hired them in the first place: their expertise.\n\nIt’s more than likely your wedding planner has been through the process of a wedding delay before, and they may have a hawkish eye for details you may not realize need attending to. They’re an ideal, non-biased party to offer you exactly the practical and financial insights you need and provide a game plan for forging forward.\n\n### #3: Touch Base With Your Venue\nYour next objective is to get in touch with the [wedding venue](https://www.zola.com/wedding-vendors/search/wedding-venues)(s) you’ve selected to host your ceremony and reception in order to discuss their dates and availability for rescheduling your wedding day. \n\nIt’s important to have a concrete and plausible time frame in mind and to come prepared with at least four or five alternative dates.\n\n### #4: Talk to Your Vendors\nOnce you’ve come to an understanding with your host venue, it’s time to explain your circumstances to your wedding vendors. Remember that these are private firms who rely on your business to keep up a hale and hearty enterprise, so do your best to do the following:\n\n- __Familiarize Yourself With Contract Terms:__ Before you drop them a line, re-read your vendor contracts. Depending on the prescribed terms and conditions, you may need to reconcile with the fact that most wedding postponements will inevitably suffer some financial losses.\n\n- __Try to Be Cooperative, Not Combative:__ It’s a hairy situation, but do your best to keep your cool. Work with your vendors, ideally alongside your wedding planner, to come to a cooperative solution that will work for all parties.\n\n- __Be Transparent:__ Remember that you’re working with humans who want you to enjoy your wedding. Keep good faith that they’ve likely seen delays and cancellations before, and that flexibility and kindness will take you a long way in your ensuing negotiations.\n\nIf your circumstances require you to find alternative vendors to accommodate your new wedding date, Zola has curated a catalog of [stringently-vetted vendors](https://www.zola.com/wedding-vendors) all across the United States. Taking some time to surf our list of professionals will mollify some of the stress involved in the process of finding suitable replacements.\n\n## Our Top 11 Funny Taglines for Change the Dates\nIf there’s an appropriate time for your sense of humor to kick in, it’s when your wedding plans didn’t exactly go… according to plan. Perhaps you need a subtle and tongue-in-cheek way to break the news to your guests, or maybe you want to go ham and reach for a full-on dad joke to let them know you and your partner are changing course for now.\n\nWhatever your sense of humor, here are our 11 best one-liners for you to use on your change the dates. \n\n### #1 “Love is patient…”\nThis timeless quote lifted from an oft-read passage of Corinthians 13:4-7 is a crowd favorite, no matter the circumstance. It gets your message of postponement across with a light, classic touch, and lets guests know that your plans are still in the works—you’re just experiencing a bump in the road. \n\n### #2 “No, It’s Not Déjà vu”\n\nThis solution is ideal for those who have both a prankster’s spirit and (understandably) don’t have it in them to come up with an entirely new concept for a change the date design.\n\nRather than printing a whole new batch of cards, we suggest using your former “save-the-date” template–but use this line to introduce your message of postponement instead. Guests will love being in on the joke, and you’ll save yourself the time and energy you need for amending other wedding arrangements.\n\n### #3 “Ahh, the ol’ Switcheroo”\nIf a little bit of dad humor is you and your partner’s thing, this line will surely lighten the mood. Other versions include:\n\n- Psyche!\n- Plot twist!\n- LOL JK\n\nBear in mind these lines will undoubtedly tickle the younger set, but any octogenarian recipients (or more conservative relatives) may not take as well to this particular breed of humor.\n\n#4 “Hope You Penciled Us In!”\nThis is a sweeter, more wholesome way to relate to your guests that you sincerely want to celebrate with them. \n\nIf your budget allows, you may consider having miniature pencils made engraved with the updated date of your wedding. It’s a cute, thoughtful way of letting guests know you appreciate their patience and flexibility.\n\n### #5 “We’re rolling with the punches”\nIf you’re not one to shy away from some tacit toilet humor, we’ve seen couples take the subtle route, printing this change the date line with a cute toilet paper roll illustration—and we’ve seen bolder renditions where guests were mailed an actual customized roll of toilet paper conveying the message of postponement. Either way–no judgment on our end!\n\n### #6 “It Takes Two (Attempts)”\nHere’s another slightly dad-joke flavored wedding pun to convey the delay to your guests. You’ll want to provide a succinct clarification of your change the date message to follow up this headline, with a link to your wedding website to fully flesh out the details of your postponement should your guests have any lingering questions.\n\n### #7 “Post-poned”\nIf you want to mix up your medium while sticking to paper stock, we suggest wedding (pun intended) this play on words with that beloved snail-mail medium of the postcard.\n\nThis approach can work especially well if you were planning a destination wedding or planned to marry out of state, sustaining the romantic getaway theme and giving guests something sweet and unsuspecting as a keepsake.\n\n### #8 “Time for a Plan B?”\nWhen Plan A falls through, it’s always good to have a backup plan, otherwise known as Plan B. \n\nIt’s rare that anything ever goes exactly according to plan—and given how many variables are in play when it comes to planning a wedding, we guarantee your guests will certainly understand that. This funny line sends the message that your plans aren’t kaput, just under renovation.\n\n### #9 “We Still Do (Just Not This Second)”\nEveryone knows what the present tense “I Do” means in wedding land—and while circumstances arise that can change the verb tense, they don’t necessarily change your intention. This message makes it crystal clear to your guests that you and your partner are still intent on holding your wedding, but have elected to take your time.\n\n### #10 “U Still In?”\nTex -message-themed cards are an increasingly popular style of wedding announcements, from Save the Dates, to Change the Dates, to the official [wedding invitations](https://www.zola.com/wedding-planning/invitations/shop) themselves.\n\nWhile a decidedly modern approach, using SMS conventions like speech bubbles, emojis, acronyms, and abbreviations will keep things low key and casual, communicating to guests that the plans are still on—you’re just working out the kinks. \n\n### #11 “We’re Running on Island Time”\nIf you’d planned on throwing a destination wedding somewhere of the tropical variety, this line may be a great way to carry on the theme and lift guest’s spirits.\n\nYes, postponing a destination wedding can get complicated, but if there’s any time to channel that easy, breezy, taking-it-slow attitude for the greater good, it’s with your change the date message.\n\n## Top 5 Funny Non-Card Change the Date Options\nFor those who wish to take the road less traveled and skip a stationery order, there are ample other eclectic ways to let guests know of your postponement.\n\nHere are five other charming methods to deliver your message while keeping it paperless.\n\n### #1 “And Now We Play...the Waiting Game”\nIf you have the budget for it and are looking for a fun, interactive option for your change the date messaging, consider having a custom game printed for guests to play. Prospective crowd-pleasers include:\n\n- Wedding-themed crossword puzzle\n- Word search\n- Sudoku\n- Wedding-themed trivia\n- A classic deck of cards (printed with your new wedding date!)\n\nThis change the date alternative is sure to be more resource and time-intensive than your standard card, but guests will appreciate the extra dose of effort while plans are on pause.\n\n### #2 “Coffee Break!”\nCustom coasters are becoming a classic non-stationery option for couples to send save and change the date notices to their guests. \n\nGiven their growing popularity, coasters come in a range of options from disposable to durable, budget-friendly to costly. Whether your guests are coffee, tea, or kombucha drinkers, nobody likes a water stain, and the coaster makes for a considerate way of breaking the news.\n\n### #3 “Snack Break!”\nAnother increasingly popular alternative to stationary is a bar of chocolate, printed with a customized wrapper bearing your message. \n\nIf you’re trying to get your point across with a note of sweetness and composure, a chocolate bar, M&M’s, or another one of you and your partner’s favorite candies are an excellent way of delivering your message without putting too much pressure on it. There’s no need to save the wrapper and, besides, who doesn’t love chocolate?\n\n### #4 “We’re Experiencing Some Turbulence, Folks” \nIf you’ve Googled “save-the-date” ideas, you’ve likely come across a paper airplane card or two. This version of the common card, reminiscent of first crushes and high school sweethearts, is a perfect specimen to be tailored to a change the date message. Other options include:\n\n- “Slight Flight Delay”\n- “An Announcement From Your Pilots”\n- “Rerouting...”\n\nSo long as no one in your audience has a fear of flying, the paper plane and air-travel humor can be a charming way of telling your guests to remain calm while you and your partner plan for a safe and steady landing.\n\n### #5 “We Hate to Be the Bearers of Bad News”\nSending guests a stuffed bear along with this funny line is a touching (and jocular) way of letting them down easy and asking them for their cooperation while you smooth out your new plans. Who could say no to that face?\n\n## Three Lighthearted Taglines for Weddings Postponed Due to COVID-19\nSince 2020, engaged couples around the world have had to contend with unprecedented challenges to their wedding plans caused by the coronavirus pandemic.\n\nThe global health crisis has inevitably led to worldwide cancellations, postponements, and adaptations for those planning their nuptials—and if there’s any time your friends and family will understand the need to put the brakes on plans, it’s now.\n\nFor a few lighthearted ways to communicate your postponement “due to COVID-19,” here are a few upbeat ways to break the news to your guests.\n\n### #1 “Don’t Blame Us–Blame COVID”\nIt may be 2021, but there’s still plenty of room to riff on this running joke. Here we have an upfront way of conveying the logic behind your change of plans while reminding them that you still plan on following through when it’s safe to do so.\n\n### #2 “Hol(e)d Up!”\nFor those engaged couples who are putting their wedding plans on hold to stock up on toilet paper, batten down the hatches, and wait out the storm, this pun is a humorous way of letting your guests know you and your partner will be honeymooning indoors until it’s safe for you and your guests to celebrate together.\n\n### #3 “Still Going the Distance (Just Not at a Social Distance)\nNow that “social distancing” has filtered its way into the common parlance, it’s time to crack a joke about it. Weddings are highly intimate affairs, so it’s understandable that some couples are delaying their celebrations for a time when hugs, kisses, and dances can be enjoyed without fear of hosting a “super-spreader” event.\n\n## How to Prevent Confusion and “Fake News” When You’re Changing the Date\nNow that you’ve decided on a good-humored way of relating this change of plans to your friends and loved ones, there are a number of other practical considerations you’ll want to get a handle on so that no one winds up misinformed.\n\nHere is your handy change the date checklist, so there’s no chance of any confusion while you’re putting a pause on your wedding plans.\n\n### #1 Update Your Wedding Website\nThe utility of the wedding website becomes particularly apparent in situations where a postponement is in order. After you’ve informed your guests of the change of plans, it’s likely you’ll be swarmed with all kinds of versions of the same question: why?\n\nStating your message loud and clear on your wedding portal is the best way to minimize the amount of text traffic your phone will be besieged with after your change the date has been issued.\n\nIf you haven’t put together your wedding website yet, now is the perfect time to do so. Zola has more than 300 [website designs](https://www.zola.com/wedding/onboard/wedding-website?question=NAME) ready to go, so that you can get the message out there to your guests as swiftly as possible and have some fun dabbling in personalized design once your celebration is back up and running.\n\nRemember that you and your partner are in full control of what to disclose, and how to disclose it. The online motherboard of your wedding—the website—is an ideal platform to express what you want to, to the degree of privacy that you and your partner are comfortable with.\n\n### #2 Use an RSVP Manager\nDepending on when you need to issue a change the date card, you may need to start the RSVP process from scratch. If you’ve already disbursed your wedding invitations, it’s likely you already have a list of yeses, nos, and maybes, which can make the prospect of starting the whole procedure over again incredibly frustrating.\n\nFortunately, there are tools available to streamline the process of collecting RSVPs from your guests digitally, even if you’re sending out stationery save-the-dates, change the dates, and wedding invitations via mail.\n\nZola’s [Wedding Guest List Manager](https://www.zola.com/wedding-planning/guests) is a user-friendly tool designed to collate guests’ addresses and emails, track their RSVPs for your new wedding date, and even message guests as details continue to develop when your plans reboot. Even if you’re not ready to relaunch the RSVP phase, it’s an excellent tool to have at your fingertips to keep things simple down the line.\n\n### #3 Above All, Take It Easy\nNo matter the circumstances that led to your postponement, rescheduling your wedding can be a let-down. If you’re fielding messages of condolence or confusion from guests, try your best to maintain calm, composure, and optimism in the interim.\n\nThat can start with a funny, buoyant change thedate notice—but it’s also important to give yourself permission to take time for some much-needed TLC before resuming the planning process with your partner.\n\n## Take Two: Zola Style\nZola was built to give couples an entire artillery of tools for every stage of the wedding process. From post-engagement, to post-nuptials, to postponement, we’re here to guide you through the whole process with style, skill, and simplicity.\n\nFor couples pushing their wedding date a little further into the future, take some time to visit our website and discover the myriad of utilities for guest list management, establishing a [wedding registry](https://www.zola.com/wedding-registry), and putting together your wedding website.\n\nDevoting a little extra time to setting your celebrations up for success now will ensure a seamless, streamlined process when it’s time to resume the wedding planning.","tag":"List","widget1":{"marketingModule":{"tag":"EA_SaveTheDates"}},"stickyCta":{"copy":"Explore Save the Dates","url":"https://www.zola.com/wedding-planning/save-the-date/shop"},"updatedAt":"2024-02-05T16:56:32.931Z"},{"type":"articlePage","topic":{"name":"Zola behind the scenes","slug":"zola-behind-the-scenes"},"subtopic":{"name":"Covid-19","slug":"covid-19"},"slug":"how-to-change-your-wedding-date-expert-tips-and-tricks","title":"How to Change Your Wedding Date: Expert Tips and Tricks","excerpt":"Do you need to change your wedding date? Don’t stress! This could be a blessing in disguise. Read on for our tips on how to change your wedding date. ","author":"Emily Forrest","publishedAt":"2020-03-30T17:17:20.984Z","heroImage":{"src":"//images.ctfassets.net/77l22z9el0aa/2jVckUmJuqQHmOHUucffDt/da88dc330a196d975c6ae8612355a3a4/Hero_New.jpg","altText":"couple in field on wedding day"},"heroCredit":"Andria Lo","body":"You sent your [save the dates](https://www.zola.com/wedding-planning/save-the-date/shop), and they were gorgeous, weren’t they? You got some compliments from your friends, a phone call from your grandparents, and your Instagram mentions were popping off. Everything was going as planned! But now, everything’s spiralling. \n\nSomething, someone, or some event has caused the date of your wedding to change. We know what you’re going through is stressful and difficult but Zola is here to help. Marriage is a lifetime course on learning how to live in the moment, and lesson number one is learning how to gracefully pivot when things go awry. \n\nWhether your wedding date has been postponed, changed, adjusted, or pushed, your wedding is still going to happen and Zola has everything you need to make your wedding a success. \n\n## Change Of Plans\nWe know that changing plans is annoying, especially when those changes affect the day you’ve been planning your whole life. We’re here to tell you that everything is going to be OK! With your talent, and our resources, you can come out of this looking like a genius. Your job is to stay as cool as you’ve always been while we work behind the scenes to make it seem like this was all part of the plan. You are a champion wedding planner and now you get to put your incredible talents into action.\n\nEspecially when the planning gets complicated, you have to remember that this is going to be one of the greatest days of your life. When your wedding day happens—and it will happen—it will be amazing for two important reasons; neither of which have anything to do with the date it takes place. First, it will be wonderful because of the love you share with your partner, and second, it will be surreal because of the people gathered around you to celebrate your happiness. \n\n## Update what you want.\nWeddings are fun, and planning is part of that fun. Sure licking envelopes and sending thank you notes can get a bit tedious, but for the most part, this is the greatest party you will ever attend and you are completely in charge. Even when things don’t go as planned, a wedding is as fun as you allow it to be. \n\nSo what’s so fun about calling an audible and changing the date? Well for starters, you get to change anything you may have been upset about. Didn’t love the appetizer menu? Change it up! Had your heart set on a beautiful overbooked venue? Maybe it’s available now. \n\nA Change the Date is basically a free redo on anything you wanted to change but were locked into because of your date. Having to change the date may feel like a curse, but the freedom it allows you is a total blessing. Plus, Zola makes it easy to send out a wedding date change announcement with our fully customizable suite of [Invites + Paper](https://www.zola.com/wedding-planning/paper).\n\n## Insider Tips For Wedding Success\nWhether you are ready to pull the trigger on a new date or not, a change of date announcement is a great way to buy some extra time. Plus, sending out change the dates is a polite way to inform your guests that you care about their calendar while reminding them that you want your wedding to be a priority. Even if there is no set date, just a quick update is a classy, formal way to keep people excited and engaged. We’ll address some fun ways to break the news in just a bit, but for now here are some important steps for changing your date:\n\n### Contact your venue.\nWhen dealing with venues it’s crucial that you remain patient and pleasant. The easier you are to work with the more likely they are to give you preferential treatment. Plus if you’re willing to be flexible about changing your date you may even be able to work out a discounted price.\n\nIf your venue is being stubborn or stingy, call some other venues. Was there a venue you really wanted but weren’t able to book? Your luck may have recently changed. Whatever events that have turned your life upside down may be affecting others too so don’t be afraid to be daring while others are being timid. The key things to remember here are to be pleasant and flexible. Your date is already changing, use this opportunity to get everything you want without the need to be tied to a specific date. \n\n### Contact your caterer.\nThe foodservice industry is all too familiar with date changes, it’s part of the reason deposits are so popular amongst caterers. Your caterer does not want you to cancel your wedding, and most are amenable to helping you move your special day to a new date. \n\nOnce you get a feel for the rough timeline of a new date, contact your caterer and ask them what their schedule looks like. Again, be patient and flexible to ensure you get the friendly service you deserve in return. \n\n### Announcing the Date Change\nNow it’s time to announce the date change. There are so many fun ways you can share the news of a date change. Try to take bits and pieces of your personality and tie them into your announcement. Remember, your guests want to have fun and humor is a great way to remind them that you and your fiance are all about making fun a top priority. \n\nFor example, are you or your spouse notoriously late? Send out an announcement like “Isn’t it just like us to be running late? We’re changing the date and it’s TBD!” Or, tie in one of your go-to excuses for being late for group activities like: “Traffic is so bad right now. Waze says we’re gonna be a couple months late ;)” \n\n__Here are some more of our favorite fun “change of date” announcements:__\n\n- “We’re planning our forever... better late than never! Change of date TBD!”\n- “Our date stood us up! Good thing we have each other! We’re changing the date to_____ see you there!”\n- “The show must go on! We just need to find the understudy. New wedding date TBD!”\n- “Our calendar never got the save the date we sent. Our new date is ______!”\n- “If you think you’ve been going crazy, remember my fiance has had to deal with me changing the date of our wedding. Please save this new date!”\n- “New date, same bride and groom. Join us on _____!”\n\n__If you don’t want to go for a humorous approach, a standard please and thank you message goes a long way:__\n\n- “Please join us on our new day______ .Thank you for being flexible.”\n- “We hope you’re still able to join us, our date is now_______”\n- “Thanks for all your patience, please save this new date in your calendar_____”\n- “We’re excited to see you on our new day _____ ! Thank you for being part of our lives.”\n\nHowever you choose to break the news, change of date notices are a must, especially if you have already sent out save the dates. Though you may be tempted to pull a fast one and send out the invites with updated date and time, be warned that a move like that could induce chaos. \n\n## Control the chaos.\nNobody wants chaos associated with their wedding, which is why sending out a change of date notice is crucial in preventing your wedding guests from being confused or misinformed. Do your guests, and yourself a favor and send another round of pre-invites letting people know that the plan has changed. This also gives your out-of-town guests ample time to adjust their travel arrangements so they can attend your beautiful wedding on its new date. \n\nWe want you to remember that everyone who was planning a 2020 wedding is in the same boat. However, you have the resources and know-how to seize this opportunity. When the world finally gets back to normal, you'll be on cruise control after gracefully pivoting to a new date with the help of your change of date announcements. \n\n## Enjoy the ride.\nTake solace knowing that one of the first things people are going to be able to do after quarantine is going to your wedding! Whatever you do is going to be amplified by the collective excitement of socializing again, and there is a real possibility your wedding may go down as the social event of the year. \n\nHunger makes things taste better, absence makes the heart grow fonder, and weddings post-quarantine make history. So don't wait to make the wedding date change announcement, send out those “Change The Date” cards, and enjoy the ride.","tag":"How-To ","widget1":{"marketingModule":{"tag":"EA_Masterbrand"}},"nextUp":[{"excerpt":"Postponing your wedding is never easy. Get through it with our guide to postponing your wedding—from how to talk to your vendors to how to tell your guests and everything in between.","title":"A Guide to Postponing Your Wedding","slug":"how-to-postpone-your-wedding","topic":"Wedding planning 101","tag":"How-To ","heroImage":{"src":"//images.ctfassets.net/77l22z9el0aa/7AGHcAXKxar4G9VZvzMpml/f6d3d22649dbd0464d8db328c702646c/A-Guide-to-Postponing-Your-Wedding-and-Change-the-Date-Checklist.jpg","altText":"couple walking in the street before wedding"},"type":"articlePage"},{"excerpt":"Attending a wedding this summer? Here’s everything you need to know about guests, weddings, and vaccines.","title":"Guests, Weddings, and Vaccines: What You Need to Know","slug":"guests-weddings-and-vaccines-what-you-need-to-know","topic":"Zola behind the scenes","tag":"Advice","heroImage":{"src":"//images.ctfassets.net/77l22z9el0aa/5ReUuubL41mTVam3Mcwdep/6a81d8e3da664a815c3a1afe920e6487/Hero_Zola__15_.jpg","altText":"Guests, Weddings, and Vaccines: What You Need to Know"},"type":"articlePage"},{"excerpt":"If you need to postpone, cancel, or otherwise change your wedding details, we're here to help with our guide to updating your wedding guests about changes.","title":"How to Update Guests About Changes to Your Wedding","slug":"how-to-update-guests-about-changes-to-your-wedding","topic":"Wedding planning 101","tag":"How-To ","heroImage":{"src":"//images.ctfassets.net/77l22z9el0aa/5v2y8bTJNkSDFGXqWrI1un/3a497c61d1956ca9b003b25423b56421/How-to-Update-Guests-About-Changes-to-Your-Wedding.jpg","altText":"How to Update Guests About Changes to Your Wedding"},"type":"articlePage"}],"featured":[{"excerpt":"Master the art of addressing wedding invitations with proper etiquette. Learn formal and modern approaches to create elegant and inviting cards.","title":"How to Address Wedding Invitations: Etiquette & Examples ","slug":"how-to-address-wedding-invitations","topic":"Invites & paper","tag":"How-To ","heroImage":{"src":"//images.ctfassets.net/77l22z9el0aa/13bpWVURYrrvQwpySxNZSw/65e5ad02aad6f00301a4fd489b36746b/Zola-05.04.20-Colored-Envelopes-_-Letterpress2332_CROPPED-e.jpg","altText":"A metal calligrapher's pen resting next to a wedding invitation envelope addressed using ink calligraphy"},"type":"articlePage"},{"excerpt":"Learn the how-to's of wedding invitation wording, plus formal and casual wedding invitation examples from the experts.","title":"Wedding Invitation Wording: A Complete How-To Guide","slug":"how-to-word-wedding-invitations","topic":"Invites & paper","tag":"How-To ","heroImage":{"src":"//images.ctfassets.net/77l22z9el0aa/5rENN5B7RPAn14pYP75HgH/d457816cdf42b12cc74b3e7d88b73513/Wedding_Invitaion_Wording_Etiquette.jpg","altText":"green and white wedding invitation on green background"},"type":"articlePage"},{"excerpt":"Here are a few wedding invitation dos and don’ts to keep in mind, organized by the different wording components such as names, dates, and times.","title":"The Dos and Don'ts of Wedding Invitation Wording","slug":"the-dos-and-donts-of-wedding-invitation-wording","topic":"Invites & paper","tag":"Invitation Wording","heroImage":{"src":"//images.ctfassets.net/77l22z9el0aa/4Et2URXPNegMRSCivBHutQ/ae2c3244927ec8fb5c015365837e090b/The-Dos-and-Donts-of-Wedding-Invitation-Wording.jpg","altText":"Green themed wedding invitation on marble top"},"type":"articlePage"},{"excerpt":"Create a beautiful, shareable free wedding website that will keep all your information in one place and make you and your SO's life easier.","title":"How to Build a Wedding Website: Guide + Tips","slug":"make-wedding-website","topic":"Wedding planning 101","tag":"Inspiration","heroImage":{"src":"//images.ctfassets.net/77l22z9el0aa/1ivfWCLfICZzRAlSL2XROu/d275878391dec1bf789fae38c8c5d62b/7-Reasons-to-Make-a-Wedding-Website.jpg","altText":"free wedding websites on zola.com"},"type":"articlePage"}],"stickyCta":{"copy":"Start Planning With Zola","url":"https://www.zola.com/wedding/onboard?product=WEDDING_PLANNING"},"updatedAt":"2024-02-05T16:56:31.260Z"},{"type":"articlePage","topic":{"name":"Zola behind the scenes","slug":"zola-behind-the-scenes"},"subtopic":{"name":"Covid-19","slug":"covid-19"},"slug":"guests-weddings-and-vaccines-what-you-need-to-know","title":"Guests, Weddings, and Vaccines: What You Need to Know","excerpt":"Attending a wedding this summer? Here’s everything you need to know about guests, weddings, and vaccines.","author":"Ruksana Hussain","publishedAt":"2021-05-19T15:17:09.486Z","heroImage":{"src":"//images.ctfassets.net/77l22z9el0aa/5ReUuubL41mTVam3Mcwdep/6a81d8e3da664a815c3a1afe920e6487/Hero_Zola__15_.jpg","altText":"Guests, Weddings, and Vaccines: What You Need to Know"},"heroCredit":"Zola","tldr":"## The First Look ✨\n- According to a recent survey from Zola and Modern Fertility, the majority of couples want their guests to be vaccinated before their wedding.\n- Even if you’re fully vaccinated, you still need to take precautions at the wedding to protect yourself and other wedding guests.\n- If you’re worried about other guests not respecting your COVID-related boundaries, having a plan in place for how to deal with those interactions before the wedding can help ease some of that anxiety.\n","body":"*__Planning A Wedding During A Pandemic:__ Every wedding planning journey has its twists and turns. To make sure your path is as smooth as possible and to help you keep an eye out for tiny potholes and giant roadblocks, always follow the advice of your local health guidelines and the recommendations set forth by the [CDC](https://www.cdc.gov/). The state of the pandemic can change quickly, but by staying informed, you can make it to your destination—wedded bliss—without a hitch.*\n\nIn 2020, COVID-19 forced a huge percentage of engaged couples to [postpone their weddings](https://www.zola.com/expert-advice/how-to-postpone-your-wedding) and adjust their [wedding planning timeline](https://www.zola.com/expert-advice/checklist/your-ultimate-wedding-planning-checklist)—with many pushing their [save the dates](https://www.zola.com/wedding-planning/save-the-date/shop) into 2021, in the hopes that the Covid-19 pandemic would be under better control, and that it would be safer for them to bring their loved ones together to celebrate their “[I dos.](https://www.zola.com/expert-advice/wedding-vows)” \n\nWith the loosening of Covid-19 restrictions for a private event and the Covid-19 vaccine rollout in full swing, it looks like weddings will be safer in the coming months. But, if you’re on the [guestlist](https://www.zola.com/expert-advice/how-to-make-a-wedding-guest-list) for a wedding (or multiple weddings!) in the near future, or you’re in the middle of your own [wedding planning](https://www.zola.com/wedding-planning), you probably have some questions on how things are going to play out—both with the vaccine and at the actual event. \n\nDo you need to get vaccinated before you attend any weddings? What safety precautions will you need to take [wedding venues](https://www.zola.com/wedding-vendors/search/wedding-venues)? And how do you interact with other guests who may or may not be vaccinated—but aren’t taking the same safety precautions that you are? \n\nLet’s take a look at everything you need to know about guests, weddings, and vaccinations in 2021:\n\n## The Couple May Want You to Get Tested and/or Vaccinated Before the Big Day \n\nThe COVID-19 vaccine is optional; no one can force you to get vaccinated. But, if you’re attending weddings this year, chances are, the couples are at least going to ask. \n\nAccording to a recent survey from Zola and Modern Fertility, more than half of the survey respondents (52.8 percent) said they wanted the majority of their [wedding guests](https://www.zola.com/expert-advice/dos-and-donts-for-wedding-guests) to get the Covid-19 vaccine before their big day. \n\nAfter sending out [wedding invitations](https://www.zola.com/wedding-vendors) and choosing [wedding vendors](https://www.zola.com/wedding-vendors), the couple may also want you to get a pre-wedding COVID test before you attend (according to the survey, 23.10 percent of people said they wanted their entire guest list to have a negative COVID-19 test before attending their wedding reception).\n\nAlthough couples may look for cost-efficient options that they can change in their [wedding checklist](https://www.zola.com/expert-advice/checklist/your-ultimate-wedding-planning-checklist) such as using free [wedding websites](https://www.zola.com/wedding-planning/website), clearly, keeping COVID-19 out of their big day—and keeping themselves and their guests safe—is top of mind for many couples. So, if you have any weddings on the calendar in the coming months, you should be prepared for a test and/or vaccination request from the couple, and be sure to check their [wedding website](https://www.zola.com/wedding-planning/website) for more updates.\n\n## Even If You’re Vaccinated, You Still Need to Take Safety Precautions \n\nGetting the COVID-19 vaccine offers a layer of protection that can make you (and the soon-to-be-married couple) feel safer about your attendance at the wedding. \n\nBut, the vaccine isn’t a free pass to throw caution to the wind, ditch your mask, and run up to every person at [cocktail hour](https://www.zola.com/expert-advice/top-10-tips-for-successful-cocktail-hour) (forget social distancing!) for a high-five or handshake. Even if you are vaccinated before the wedding, you still need to play it safe.\n\nThere are a few different reasons why COVID-related safety precautions are a must—even if you’re fully vaccinated before the wedding. According to the [CDC’s recommendations](https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/fully-vaccinated.html#:~:text=After%20you've%20been%20fully,places%20until%20we%20know%20more.), fully vaccinated people can be inside without a mask with other vaccinated people and with unvaccinated people who aren’t at high risk for serious COVID-related complications—but the CDC strongly recommends wearing masks and social distancing in public places and around unvaccinated people who are at an increased risk for serious illness if they catch COVID-19.\n\nWhen you’re at a wedding, you have no way of knowing who is fully vaccinated, who is not fully vaccinated, and who might be at risk for developing serious complications if they catch COVID-19. And, because you have no way of distinguishing between vaccinated and unvaccinated, or at risk and not at risk guests, you have to take safety precautions with all guests. This means that you should wear a mask, keep six feet of distance, and wash your hands regularly.\n\n## Have a Plan in Place Before the Wedding for Dealing With Guests Respecting Other’s Space \n\nYou can make masks and social distancing a priority when you’re at a wedding, but other guests might not take safety as seriously as you do, which can lead to potential uncomfortable (and unsafe!) interactions, such as guests going in for a hug or handshake, sliding their chair right next to yours for the [wedding ceremony](https://www.zola.com/expert-advice/a-guide-to-wedding-ceremony-programs), or getting a little too close for comfort during a conversation at the [wedding reception](https://www.zola.com/expert-advice/wedding-reception-timeline).\n\nIf you’re the kind of person who has no problem telling someone that their behavior makes you uncomfortable, you’ll have no problem shutting down these interactions in real-time. But, if you’re someone who struggles with setting boundaries or being perceived as rude, coming up with the right thing to say when someone tries to hug you or initiate a conversation without a mask will probably feel challenging at the moment. This is why you need to have a plan for how to deal with those interactions ahead of time.\n\nBefore the wedding, brainstorm all the ways other wedding guests might cross your COVID-related boundaries—and develop a plan for how to deal with them. For example, if someone tries to give you a greeting hug, you might take a step back and say, “It’s so great to see you, but I’m still practicing social distancing. Sending you a big air hug!” Or, if someone tries to talk to you without a mask, you can say, “Would you mind putting a mask on? I’m still concerned about COVID-19.” However, if that feels uncomfortable, politely excuse yourself and head to another area of the wedding venue. \n\nThe point is that you can’t control other wedding attendees’ behavior—but you can have a plan in place to make yourself feel more comfortable and safe in how you deal with that behavior. \n\n## Enjoy the Wedding, Safely\n\nVaccine distribution is ramping up every day, and it’s only going to get safer to gather in large groups—including at weddings. So, if you’re gearing up to attend a wedding in the coming months, have a good time, and enjoy yourself; just make sure to do it safely.\n","tag":"Advice","widget1":{"marketingModule":{"tag":"EA_Masterbrand"}},"nextUp":[{"excerpt":"Keep your wedding intimate with a smaller guest list of only the most special people in your life. Read our guide to an intimate wedding.","title":"How to Create a Small Intimate Wedding","slug":"how-to-create-a-small-intimate-wedding","topic":"Wedding planning 101","tag":"How-To ","heroImage":{"src":"//images.ctfassets.net/77l22z9el0aa/12iuph3TqovyGeSrgp0ziK/724c13632e3032afd4b47c7d3173ec75/inline_unsplash.jpg","altText":"Small Intimate Wedding table setting"},"type":"articlePage"},{"excerpt":"Don’t miss a wedding planning detail with our complete, expert-crafted wedding checklist and timeline. Free, printable version inside!","title":"2024/25 Printable Wedding Planning Checklist & Timeline - Zola","slug":"your-ultimate-wedding-planning-checklist","topic":"Wedding planning 101","heroImage":{"src":"//images.ctfassets.net/77l22z9el0aa/4fA6of0jjP7aJqXJRy0JOx/edd3b48f6fea1e273025d3db462dd4be/Ultimate_Wedding_Planning_Checklist.jpg","altText":"wedding planning checklist"},"type":"checklistPage"}],"stickyCta":{"copy":"Start Planning With Zola","url":"https://www.zola.com/wedding/onboard?product=WEDDING_PLANNING"},"updatedAt":"2024-02-05T16:56:29.307Z"},{"type":"articlePage","topic":{"name":"Zola behind the scenes","slug":"zola-behind-the-scenes"},"subtopic":{"name":"Covid-19","slug":"covid-19"},"slug":"tell-your-wedding-vendors-your-wedding-has-been-postponed","title":"How to Tell Your Wedding Vendors Your Wedding Has Been Postponed","excerpt":"Postponing a wedding is never ideal, but how do you tell wedding vendors that you've decided to do so? Read on to find out. ","author":"Anni Irish","publishedAt":"2021-09-29T15:54:20.624Z","heroImage":{"src":"//images.ctfassets.net/77l22z9el0aa/TVgOS0dxcyh3ECMuYcO0d/d56022188090571c7bc6346453791fe1/Hero_New.jpg","altText":"How to Tell Your Wedding Vendors Your Wedding Has Been Postponed"},"heroCredit":"Zola","tldr":"## The First Look ✨\n\n- Postponing a wedding is never ideal. Everyone wants their special day to go off without a hitch but unfortunately that is not always possible.\n- When you are postponing your wedding a huge part of this also has to do with communicating with your vendors. \n- While it is disappointing there are some things you can do to help create a buffer between yourself and your vendors and not make it stressful. \n- Letting them know ASAP is very important. Also being as communicative as possible and checking your event contract can make a huge difference.","body":"Over the last 15 months many things have been up in the air due to the global pandemic. This has also resulted in many major events such as weddings being postponed or even worse canceled. [Almost half of all weddings](https://www.wsj.com/articles/not-included-in-the-wedding-budget-another-pandemic-postponement-11589799600?mod=article_inline) planned in 2020 were postponed due to COVID. \n\nAs a result, many couples have had to navigate this tricky situation and sometimes come up with alternative wedding plans. This has meant a lot of rescheduling and keeping guests, vendors, and other people in the loop about how you and your partner want to move forward for your wedding. \n\nWhile postponing a wedding isn't a great scenario, unfortunately, it has been a situation that millions have found themselves in these circumstances. If you find yourself in that position there's no need to stress. There are several things you can do to help the process if you and your partner have to postpone your wedding and have to sort of everything you have to do with your [wedding vendors](https://www.zola.com/wedding-vendors). \n\nHere are 6 tips to keep in mind when you are deferring your wedding. \n\n## #1 Be communicative \nIf you find yourself in the position of postponing your wedding one of the first things you need to do is communicate with your vendors and wedding planner. Getting in touch with them as soon as you know that your wedding will happen at a later date is imperative. Communicating with your vendors and sending a wedding cancellation letter to your vendor will help to keep them in the loop about what is happening will help save you and them a lot of stress in the long run. And hopefully by canceling ASAP this can help minimize the costs overall that can come with postponing. \n\nThe sooner you are able to let them know what the next alternative plan is, the better. Every situation is different and vendors handle things on a case-by-case basis. You want to and try to give vendors enough lead time when it's possible to deal with the situation. Although 3 months is ideal under normal circumstances for everyone involved, sometimes it is not possible but letting people know ASAP is key. \n\nThere are a lot of moving parts that vendors are dealing with when it comes to your wedding such as ordering supplies, sourcing things, and other details, so the quicker you are able to tell them the better. This way they can stop the order for the original date and be on board for your alternative wedding time. It is vital to reach out to every vendor or service provider you have hired. This way everyone will be on the same page and planning moving forward can go off without a hitch. \n\n## #2 Check your contract \nWhen you are in the process of wedding postponement, it is important to read over your wedding contract for any of your service providers. Every service provider has different wedding vendor contracts so try to be as organized as possible and read them over and familiarize yourself with the fine print. Being aware of any fees you may have to pay or the amount of time they require to be notified of when postponing is something you need to know ahead of time. \n\nWedding vendor contracts, in general, were not written for a global pandemic and now with this new reality, many vendors have written in COVID clauses. So looking them back over and noting what is on them is important. Once you have all the information from your wedding contract with your vendors you can then start to organize what you need and move forward with getting in touch with them. \n\n## #3 Contact your venue\n\nWhen you are postponing your wedding another big thing that needs to be done is contacting your wedding venue. Because your venue is where the wedding or wedding reception will be taking place, communicating with them about your new date is important. The sooner you do this the better because you are setting the stage for your alternative date and you want to ensure you are able to get your chosen [wedding venues](https://www.zola.com/wedding-vendors/search/wedding-venues). \n\n## #4 See if you can get a refund or use your deposit towards your alternative wedding date\nEach vendor will have their own postponement or cancellation policy regarding postponements and given everything that has happened in COVID has made people more flexible. However, it is important to keep in mind that deposits or retainers are usually non-refundable. This is to be able to cover the work that vendors do leading up to your big day and also to reserve their time for the date they have in mind. \n\nBecause vendors have different policies, you may not be able to get a refund. Being flexible and trying to understand where your vendor is coming from is important. However, it is also important for them to be able to work it out on their end with you and your partner as well. As things are getting rescheduled some vendors may not charge a rebooking or cancellation fee and others will. Given the fact that many vendors have been out of business for months, some may charge a rebooking or cancellation fee to help with that. \n\n## #5 Be flexible \nTrying to be as flexible as possible will definitely help save you some headaches. While of course, it is important to get everything you need and want done for your wedding, sometimes it is not possible. If you are able to meet your vendor halfway and are able to be a little flexible in terms of things like what they can do for you and even the alternative date can be very helpful.\n\nOne thing you might need to prepare for is the possibility that your vendor may not be available for your new wedding date. If that is the case, don't stress. They may be able to work around it and find a time that is within the window you want to get married in. If that's not the case, it may be best to try and find a new vendor. \n\n## #6 Get an updated contract \nAs you are locking down the new date for your postponed wedding it is very important to get an updated contact from all vendors. This way you have your new date with the vendor set up and you have a signed event contract with all updated information for all parties. This way everything is clear and you and your vendors can all be on the same page. \n\nPostponing a wedding can be stressful and getting all the information you need to be able to communicate with your vendors is important. Being as organized, up front, and timely as you can with them is key. This way, you are in good shape to be able to book them for your alternative date and have everything run smoothly for your wedding.","tag":"How-To ","widget1":{"marketingModule":{"tag":"EA_VendorMarketplace"}},"stickyCta":{"copy":"Find Vendors in Your Area","url":"https://www.zola.com/inspiration/onboard?question=intro"},"updatedAt":"2024-02-05T16:56:34.490Z"},{"type":"articlePage","topic":{"name":"Zola behind the scenes","slug":"zola-behind-the-scenes"},"subtopic":{"name":"Covid-19","slug":"covid-19"},"slug":"backup-wedding-plan-quick","title":"Need a Backup Wedding Plan Quick? Here Are a Few to Consider","excerpt":"If you need to change your wedding plans in a hurry, here are five easy backup wedding ideas to pivot to right away.","author":"Maggy Lehmicke","publishedAt":"2020-04-02T22:20:23.377Z","heroImage":{"src":"//images.ctfassets.net/77l22z9el0aa/2qSZcEUzoxL8iYT4c9nFA3/d0fa773977732725c5fd41774a0d4da3/4106479.jpg","altText":"bride and groom on brooklyn bridge"},"heroCredit":"Konrad Brattke Photography","body":"*__Planning A Wedding During A Pandemic:__ Every wedding planning journey has its twists and turns. To make sure your path is as smooth as possible and to help you keep an eye out for tiny potholes and giant roadblocks, always follow the advice of your local health guidelines and the recommendations set forth by the [CDC](https://www.cdc.gov/). The state of the pandemic can change quickly, but by staying informed, you can make it to your destination—wedded bliss—without a hitch.*\n\n“Love in the time of coronavirus” is quickly becoming one of the themes of 2020 with many couples forced to [postpone or rethink their plans](https://www.zola.com/expert-advice/how-to-change-your-wedding-date-expert-tips-and-tricks) due to the pandemic. Though it’s a discouraging time for many, there are certainly bright spots along the way—if you’re open to getting a bit creative. \n\nThankfully, in today’s world, there are so many ways to celebrate a wedding. With everything from intimate elopements to the rise of digital weddings, 2020 brings just as much creativity along with its adversity. Below is a guide to help you celebrate your special day on your own terms while coming up with a new game plan.\n\n## Host a virtual ceremony.\nThough this might seem like the biggest stretch from a traditional wedding, many couples are opting to “get together” and have a ceremony via Zoom or FaceTime in lieu of their original plans. This gives you the opportunity to still dress up, drink, and celebrate, even if it’s over the internet. \n\nNote that you’d still need to have an officiant and follow the legal requirements of your physical location, no matter where your friends and family are dialing in from. After all, unprecedented times call for creative measures… and your virtual guests will more than likely applaud your dedication.\n\n## Elope now and party later.\nOne of the most common wedding alternatives we’re currently seeing is the decision to [get married in private now and postpone the reception](https://www.zola.com/expert-advice/planning-an-elopement). Not only is this a great way to maintain the significance of your original date (and still get married!), but it also ensures the health of you and your guests by waiting to hold the big party until it’s safe to get together again. \n\nTake note that this option may not be possible in cities or states that have a shelter-in-place order, which limits leaving the house to necessary travel only. As necessary as your wedding may seem, it’s best to play it safe. Read up on your state and city-specific regulations or consider calling your city hall for more information.\n\n## Celebrate alone with your fiancé. \nThough it might not be an official wedding, per se, there are still plenty of ways you can celebrate your designated day with your partner. If you’re stuck at home, put on your wedding attire, do your hair and makeup, and make a day out of your original wedding date. Use your wedding hashtag if you’re using social media and alert your friends and family to follow along on as you celebrate at-home. \n\nThere are so many ways to celebrate and enjoy each other’s company. Make a multi-course meal representative of your favorite meal. Have a movie marathon of all the movies you’ve seen in theaters over the course of your relationship. Craft your own at-home signature wedding cocktail or mocktail to toast the occassion. It doesn’t matter how you celebrate, only that you do! Clear your calendars that day and just be together.\n\n## Have a micro wedding (while maintaining social distance).\nAt this stage in the pandemic’s development, it’s highly advised that couples opt for something virtual as oppose to an in-person ceremony. However, if you currently live outside of a COVID-19 hotspot, you may consider a micro wedding. This event should consist of no more than 10 people (per [CDC recommendations for gatherings](https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html)). \n\nThis often includes the couple, an officiant, and maybe parents or a few friends. If you opt for this alternative, make sure you’re complying with CDC and [WHO guidelines](https://www.who.int/health-topics/coronavirus#tab=tab_1) by maintaining the required distance of six feet between each other (including your officiant) and keeping the event short. Be prepared to provide guests with gloves and masks, too.\n\n## Postpone.\nIf you simply can’t envision having a wedding without your friends and family there (or don’t feel a digital alternative is your style), then postponing your wedding is probably in your best interest. This also applies to couples who were planning a destination affair. Intimate or not, [traveling anywhere at the moment is highly discouraged](https://www.zola.com/expert-advice/guests-weddings-and-vaccines-what-you-need-to-know), and in some cases, impossible. \n\nIt probably doesn’t feel great right now, especially if you were only days or weeks away from your original date. But your family and friends will understand, and when the time is right, you’ll enjoy the wedding of your dreams. Plus, there's a lot of good that comes from a ceremony postponement. Extra time gives you a chance to go back and change any elements that you wish you had more time to consider or alter. [For more information on how to postpone your wedding, read here](https://www.zola.com/expert-advice/how-to-postpone-your-wedding).","tag":"Inspiration","widget1":{"marketingModule":{"tag":"EA_Masterbrand"}},"nextUp":[{"excerpt":"Don’t miss a wedding planning detail with our complete, expert-crafted wedding checklist and timeline. Free, printable version inside!","title":"2024/25 Printable Wedding Planning Checklist & Timeline - Zola","slug":"your-ultimate-wedding-planning-checklist","topic":"Wedding planning 101","heroImage":{"src":"//images.ctfassets.net/77l22z9el0aa/4fA6of0jjP7aJqXJRy0JOx/edd3b48f6fea1e273025d3db462dd4be/Ultimate_Wedding_Planning_Checklist.jpg","altText":"wedding planning checklist"},"type":"checklistPage"},{"excerpt":"Postponing your wedding is never easy. Get through it with our guide to postponing your wedding—from how to talk to your vendors to how to tell your guests and everything in between.","title":"A Guide to Postponing Your Wedding","slug":"how-to-postpone-your-wedding","topic":"Wedding planning 101","tag":"How-To ","heroImage":{"src":"//images.ctfassets.net/77l22z9el0aa/7AGHcAXKxar4G9VZvzMpml/f6d3d22649dbd0464d8db328c702646c/A-Guide-to-Postponing-Your-Wedding-and-Change-the-Date-Checklist.jpg","altText":"couple walking in the street before wedding"},"type":"articlePage"},{"excerpt":"Attending a wedding this summer? Here’s everything you need to know about guests, weddings, and vaccines.","title":"Guests, Weddings, and Vaccines: What You Need to Know","slug":"guests-weddings-and-vaccines-what-you-need-to-know","topic":"Zola behind the scenes","tag":"Advice","heroImage":{"src":"//images.ctfassets.net/77l22z9el0aa/5ReUuubL41mTVam3Mcwdep/6a81d8e3da664a815c3a1afe920e6487/Hero_Zola__15_.jpg","altText":"Guests, Weddings, and Vaccines: What You Need to Know"},"type":"articlePage"},{"excerpt":"Do you need to change your wedding date? Don’t stress! This could be a blessing in disguise. Read on for our tips on how to change your wedding date. ","title":"How to Change Your Wedding Date: Expert Tips and Tricks","slug":"how-to-change-your-wedding-date-expert-tips-and-tricks","topic":"Zola behind the scenes","tag":"How-To ","heroImage":{"src":"//images.ctfassets.net/77l22z9el0aa/2jVckUmJuqQHmOHUucffDt/da88dc330a196d975c6ae8612355a3a4/Hero_New.jpg","altText":"couple in field on wedding day"},"type":"articlePage"}],"featured":[{"excerpt":"If you need to postpone, cancel, or otherwise change your wedding details, we're here to help with our guide to updating your wedding guests about changes.","title":"How to Update Guests About Changes to Your Wedding","slug":"how-to-update-guests-about-changes-to-your-wedding","topic":"Wedding planning 101","tag":"How-To ","heroImage":{"src":"//images.ctfassets.net/77l22z9el0aa/5v2y8bTJNkSDFGXqWrI1un/3a497c61d1956ca9b003b25423b56421/How-to-Update-Guests-About-Changes-to-Your-Wedding.jpg","altText":"How to Update Guests About Changes to Your Wedding"},"type":"articlePage"},{"excerpt":"Attending a wedding this summer? Here’s everything you need to know about guests, weddings, and vaccines.","title":"Guests, Weddings, and Vaccines: What You Need to Know","slug":"guests-weddings-and-vaccines-what-you-need-to-know","topic":"Zola behind the scenes","tag":"Advice","heroImage":{"src":"//images.ctfassets.net/77l22z9el0aa/5ReUuubL41mTVam3Mcwdep/6a81d8e3da664a815c3a1afe920e6487/Hero_Zola__15_.jpg","altText":"Guests, Weddings, and Vaccines: What You Need to Know"},"type":"articlePage"},{"excerpt":"Find out our top tips and advice on how to handle a long engagement with this comprehensive guide. Read on to learn more today.","title":"How to Handle a Long Engagement","slug":"how-to-handle-a-long-engagement","topic":"Relationship advice","tag":"How To","heroImage":{"src":"//images.ctfassets.net/77l22z9el0aa/4KpP0bSsj3mXpHF2TIz92Q/c993320a603e9698d9d7bf7a9d8e578a/Hero_Zola__49_.jpg","altText":"How to Handle a Long Engagement"},"type":"articlePage"}],"stickyCta":{"copy":"Start Planning With Zola","url":"https://www.zola.com/wedding/onboard?product=WEDDING_PLANNING"},"updatedAt":"2024-02-05T16:56:35.208Z"}],"name":"Covid-19","slug":"covid-19","description":"If your wedding was postponed or affected by Covid-19, look here for resources and guides to change of dates, wedding safety guidelines, virtual weddings and more."},"topic":{"name":"Zola behind the scenes","slug":"zola-behind-the-scenes","description":"Come behind the scenes of the Zola Community! Learn about product launches, Z-team updates, Zola Sweepstake official rules, and advice and guidelines on Covid-19 weddings.","subtopics":[{"featuredArticles":[],"name":"Sweepstakes","slug":"sweepstakes","description":"Read Zola Sweepstakes official rules and terms and conditions."},{"featuredArticles":[{"type":"articlePage","topic":{"name":"Zola behind the scenes","slug":"zola-behind-the-scenes"},"subtopic":{"name":"Inside Zola","slug":"inside-zola"},"slug":"an-update-on-the-zola-community","title":"What’s happening with the Zola Community?","excerpt":"Here's everything you need to know.","author":"Emily Forrest","publishedAt":"2023-09-12T19:20:09.458Z","heroImage":{"src":"//images.ctfassets.net/77l22z9el0aa/5T5bLwdTgMUKpvzezNZnBN/f84f38252588342b5ef6789f235df358/Zola_All_the_Days.jpeg","altText":"Zola"},"heroCredit":"Zola","body":"As of 10/1, the Zola App Community will no longer be available. But, not to worry - we have an amazing community of couples that are looking to share, connect, and vent on Facebook! Join them [HERE](https://www.facebook.com/groups/zolacommunity/).\n\n### Why are you moving the Community to Facebook?\n\nWe created the [Zola Community](https://www.facebook.com/groups/zolacommunity/) on Facebook in 2017, with the goal of building community and fostering connection amongst the thousands of engaged couples that are going through the wedding planning process. Since then, this community has grown to over 10,000 people - all having the same experiences, looking for inspiration, and ready to ask their questions!\n\n### Will there be a new Community?\n\nWe love hearing from you and finding new ways to connect with our couples. If you have any ideas for where you’d like to see us pop up, please let us know! For now, you can find us in our [Facebook Community](https://www.facebook.com/groups/zolacommunity/), which has thousands of other engaged couples, ready to ask, answer, share, and vent. \n\n### What if I need help with my wedding planning?\n\nTalk to Team-Z, we’re always here for you! Email us anytime at __advisor@zola.com__, DM us on [IG](https://www.instagram.com/zola) or [TikTok](https://www.tiktok.com/@zola), or visit us at https://www.zola.com/advisor.\n\n### And if I need more wedding inspo?\n\nFollow us on [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/zola) or [TikTok](https://www.tiktok.com/@zola). You’ll find all the latest wedding trends, Team-Z’s hottest hot takes, and have a chance to share what’s on your mind! Also, look out for [“Pop the Questions”](https://www.zola.com/expert-advice/topic/ask-us-anything) where our Team-Z advisors and guest experts answer all your burning wedding planning questions. \n","tag":"Advice","updatedAt":"2024-02-05T16:54:33.638Z"}],"name":"Inside Zola","slug":"inside-zola","description":"Get to know Zola! See what's up in the Zola Community, learn about product launches, Team-Z updates and more."},{"featuredArticles":[{"type":"articlePage","topic":{"name":"Zola behind the scenes","slug":"zola-behind-the-scenes"},"subtopic":{"name":"Covid-19","slug":"covid-19"},"slug":"funny-change-the-date-ideas","title":"Funny Change the Date Ideas","excerpt":"Need to change your wedding date? Let your guests know it’s no biggie with these funny change the date ideas.","author":"Emily Forrest","publishedAt":"2021-09-29T08:50:31.042Z","heroImage":{"src":"//images.ctfassets.net/77l22z9el0aa/6TRimMHANNeLrZZEGa2Sje/7541cb0b0d0f60415955f47212bf3dc8/Hero_Zola__1_.jpg","altText":"Funny Change the Date Ideas"},"heroCredit":"Zola","tldr":"## The First Look ✨\n\n- Updating your guests about changes to your wedding may not be the most fun thing you have to do, but it can the funniest. \n- Use funny and original taglines to ask your guests to save the new date, inventive non-paper options, or lighthearted ways of telling your guests you’ll be postponing your wedding due to COVID.\n- Use your wedding website along with your Change the Dates to causing as minimal confusion as possible with your new wedding details. \n- Whether you’re in the early stages, late stages, or in-between stages of planning your wedding, Zola has an impressive set of tools for you to make the process as simplified and easy to update as possible.","body":"If you’re busy searching the web for funny change the date card ideas, two things are certain:\n\n- You need to change the date of your wedding\n- You’ve maintained an optimistic attitude about this turn of events\n\nThere’s an old saying called Murphy’s Law, which warns that “anything that can go wrong will go wrong,” and while we hope you’ve skirted truly calamitous conditions leading to your postponement, we commend you for having a healthy sense of humor about whatever bumps you’ve encountered.\n\nIn this article, we’ll cover the practical details you’ll need to review in the event of a wedding postponement, and then we’ll get to the good stuff: 19 inventive ways to break the news to your guests while eliciting a hearty laugh or two in the process.\n\n### What to Do Before Sending Out Your Change the Dates\nIf you’re ready to give your guests notice of this change in plans, there are a number of loose ends to tie to ensure that your postponement is as minimally complicated (and costly) as possible.\n\nHere are the main practical details to help you resolve this phase of your [wedding planning](https://www.zola.com/wedding-planning) process as painlessly as possible.\n\n### #1: Check Your Wedding Insurance Policy\nFor couples who purchased wedding insurance, it’s time to check in with your insurance company to get some concrete information on your coverage and how that may affect your business with vendors. There are two types of wedding insurance available to engaged couples:\n\n- __General Liability Insurance:__ This kind of insurance may cover accidents, injuries, or property damage incurred during a wedding. \n\n- __Cancellation Insurance:__ This Insurance protects couples in the event that they need to cancel or postpone their wedding. \n\nWhile the latter may offer you and your partner financial protections for your postponement, remember that the date you purchased your wedding insurance policy is critical to determining whether or not you’ll be entitled to coverage.\n\nIn short, if you purchased your policy after you became aware that you may need to postpone your wedding, it may not be valid. If you purchased your insurance during the coronavirus pandemic, for instance, it’s unlikely that you can petition for postponement protections for reasons related to COVID-19.\n\n### #2: Talk to Your Wedding Planner\nIf you’ve solicited the support of a professional for planning your wedding, they’re the first person you’ll want in the loop before embarking on the process of postponement. There’s a reason you hired them in the first place: their expertise.\n\nIt’s more than likely your wedding planner has been through the process of a wedding delay before, and they may have a hawkish eye for details you may not realize need attending to. They’re an ideal, non-biased party to offer you exactly the practical and financial insights you need and provide a game plan for forging forward.\n\n### #3: Touch Base With Your Venue\nYour next objective is to get in touch with the [wedding venue](https://www.zola.com/wedding-vendors/search/wedding-venues)(s) you’ve selected to host your ceremony and reception in order to discuss their dates and availability for rescheduling your wedding day. \n\nIt’s important to have a concrete and plausible time frame in mind and to come prepared with at least four or five alternative dates.\n\n### #4: Talk to Your Vendors\nOnce you’ve come to an understanding with your host venue, it’s time to explain your circumstances to your wedding vendors. Remember that these are private firms who rely on your business to keep up a hale and hearty enterprise, so do your best to do the following:\n\n- __Familiarize Yourself With Contract Terms:__ Before you drop them a line, re-read your vendor contracts. Depending on the prescribed terms and conditions, you may need to reconcile with the fact that most wedding postponements will inevitably suffer some financial losses.\n\n- __Try to Be Cooperative, Not Combative:__ It’s a hairy situation, but do your best to keep your cool. Work with your vendors, ideally alongside your wedding planner, to come to a cooperative solution that will work for all parties.\n\n- __Be Transparent:__ Remember that you’re working with humans who want you to enjoy your wedding. Keep good faith that they’ve likely seen delays and cancellations before, and that flexibility and kindness will take you a long way in your ensuing negotiations.\n\nIf your circumstances require you to find alternative vendors to accommodate your new wedding date, Zola has curated a catalog of [stringently-vetted vendors](https://www.zola.com/wedding-vendors) all across the United States. Taking some time to surf our list of professionals will mollify some of the stress involved in the process of finding suitable replacements.\n\n## Our Top 11 Funny Taglines for Change the Dates\nIf there’s an appropriate time for your sense of humor to kick in, it’s when your wedding plans didn’t exactly go… according to plan. Perhaps you need a subtle and tongue-in-cheek way to break the news to your guests, or maybe you want to go ham and reach for a full-on dad joke to let them know you and your partner are changing course for now.\n\nWhatever your sense of humor, here are our 11 best one-liners for you to use on your change the dates. \n\n### #1 “Love is patient…”\nThis timeless quote lifted from an oft-read passage of Corinthians 13:4-7 is a crowd favorite, no matter the circumstance. It gets your message of postponement across with a light, classic touch, and lets guests know that your plans are still in the works—you’re just experiencing a bump in the road. \n\n### #2 “No, It’s Not Déjà vu”\n\nThis solution is ideal for those who have both a prankster’s spirit and (understandably) don’t have it in them to come up with an entirely new concept for a change the date design.\n\nRather than printing a whole new batch of cards, we suggest using your former “save-the-date” template–but use this line to introduce your message of postponement instead. Guests will love being in on the joke, and you’ll save yourself the time and energy you need for amending other wedding arrangements.\n\n### #3 “Ahh, the ol’ Switcheroo”\nIf a little bit of dad humor is you and your partner’s thing, this line will surely lighten the mood. Other versions include:\n\n- Psyche!\n- Plot twist!\n- LOL JK\n\nBear in mind these lines will undoubtedly tickle the younger set, but any octogenarian recipients (or more conservative relatives) may not take as well to this particular breed of humor.\n\n#4 “Hope You Penciled Us In!”\nThis is a sweeter, more wholesome way to relate to your guests that you sincerely want to celebrate with them. \n\nIf your budget allows, you may consider having miniature pencils made engraved with the updated date of your wedding. It’s a cute, thoughtful way of letting guests know you appreciate their patience and flexibility.\n\n### #5 “We’re rolling with the punches”\nIf you’re not one to shy away from some tacit toilet humor, we’ve seen couples take the subtle route, printing this change the date line with a cute toilet paper roll illustration—and we’ve seen bolder renditions where guests were mailed an actual customized roll of toilet paper conveying the message of postponement. Either way–no judgment on our end!\n\n### #6 “It Takes Two (Attempts)”\nHere’s another slightly dad-joke flavored wedding pun to convey the delay to your guests. You’ll want to provide a succinct clarification of your change the date message to follow up this headline, with a link to your wedding website to fully flesh out the details of your postponement should your guests have any lingering questions.\n\n### #7 “Post-poned”\nIf you want to mix up your medium while sticking to paper stock, we suggest wedding (pun intended) this play on words with that beloved snail-mail medium of the postcard.\n\nThis approach can work especially well if you were planning a destination wedding or planned to marry out of state, sustaining the romantic getaway theme and giving guests something sweet and unsuspecting as a keepsake.\n\n### #8 “Time for a Plan B?”\nWhen Plan A falls through, it’s always good to have a backup plan, otherwise known as Plan B. \n\nIt’s rare that anything ever goes exactly according to plan—and given how many variables are in play when it comes to planning a wedding, we guarantee your guests will certainly understand that. This funny line sends the message that your plans aren’t kaput, just under renovation.\n\n### #9 “We Still Do (Just Not This Second)”\nEveryone knows what the present tense “I Do” means in wedding land—and while circumstances arise that can change the verb tense, they don’t necessarily change your intention. This message makes it crystal clear to your guests that you and your partner are still intent on holding your wedding, but have elected to take your time.\n\n### #10 “U Still In?”\nTex -message-themed cards are an increasingly popular style of wedding announcements, from Save the Dates, to Change the Dates, to the official [wedding invitations](https://www.zola.com/wedding-planning/invitations/shop) themselves.\n\nWhile a decidedly modern approach, using SMS conventions like speech bubbles, emojis, acronyms, and abbreviations will keep things low key and casual, communicating to guests that the plans are still on—you’re just working out the kinks. \n\n### #11 “We’re Running on Island Time”\nIf you’d planned on throwing a destination wedding somewhere of the tropical variety, this line may be a great way to carry on the theme and lift guest’s spirits.\n\nYes, postponing a destination wedding can get complicated, but if there’s any time to channel that easy, breezy, taking-it-slow attitude for the greater good, it’s with your change the date message.\n\n## Top 5 Funny Non-Card Change the Date Options\nFor those who wish to take the road less traveled and skip a stationery order, there are ample other eclectic ways to let guests know of your postponement.\n\nHere are five other charming methods to deliver your message while keeping it paperless.\n\n### #1 “And Now We Play...the Waiting Game”\nIf you have the budget for it and are looking for a fun, interactive option for your change the date messaging, consider having a custom game printed for guests to play. Prospective crowd-pleasers include:\n\n- Wedding-themed crossword puzzle\n- Word search\n- Sudoku\n- Wedding-themed trivia\n- A classic deck of cards (printed with your new wedding date!)\n\nThis change the date alternative is sure to be more resource and time-intensive than your standard card, but guests will appreciate the extra dose of effort while plans are on pause.\n\n### #2 “Coffee Break!”\nCustom coasters are becoming a classic non-stationery option for couples to send save and change the date notices to their guests. \n\nGiven their growing popularity, coasters come in a range of options from disposable to durable, budget-friendly to costly. Whether your guests are coffee, tea, or kombucha drinkers, nobody likes a water stain, and the coaster makes for a considerate way of breaking the news.\n\n### #3 “Snack Break!”\nAnother increasingly popular alternative to stationary is a bar of chocolate, printed with a customized wrapper bearing your message. \n\nIf you’re trying to get your point across with a note of sweetness and composure, a chocolate bar, M&M’s, or another one of you and your partner’s favorite candies are an excellent way of delivering your message without putting too much pressure on it. There’s no need to save the wrapper and, besides, who doesn’t love chocolate?\n\n### #4 “We’re Experiencing Some Turbulence, Folks” \nIf you’ve Googled “save-the-date” ideas, you’ve likely come across a paper airplane card or two. This version of the common card, reminiscent of first crushes and high school sweethearts, is a perfect specimen to be tailored to a change the date message. Other options include:\n\n- “Slight Flight Delay”\n- “An Announcement From Your Pilots”\n- “Rerouting...”\n\nSo long as no one in your audience has a fear of flying, the paper plane and air-travel humor can be a charming way of telling your guests to remain calm while you and your partner plan for a safe and steady landing.\n\n### #5 “We Hate to Be the Bearers of Bad News”\nSending guests a stuffed bear along with this funny line is a touching (and jocular) way of letting them down easy and asking them for their cooperation while you smooth out your new plans. Who could say no to that face?\n\n## Three Lighthearted Taglines for Weddings Postponed Due to COVID-19\nSince 2020, engaged couples around the world have had to contend with unprecedented challenges to their wedding plans caused by the coronavirus pandemic.\n\nThe global health crisis has inevitably led to worldwide cancellations, postponements, and adaptations for those planning their nuptials—and if there’s any time your friends and family will understand the need to put the brakes on plans, it’s now.\n\nFor a few lighthearted ways to communicate your postponement “due to COVID-19,” here are a few upbeat ways to break the news to your guests.\n\n### #1 “Don’t Blame Us–Blame COVID”\nIt may be 2021, but there’s still plenty of room to riff on this running joke. Here we have an upfront way of conveying the logic behind your change of plans while reminding them that you still plan on following through when it’s safe to do so.\n\n### #2 “Hol(e)d Up!”\nFor those engaged couples who are putting their wedding plans on hold to stock up on toilet paper, batten down the hatches, and wait out the storm, this pun is a humorous way of letting your guests know you and your partner will be honeymooning indoors until it’s safe for you and your guests to celebrate together.\n\n### #3 “Still Going the Distance (Just Not at a Social Distance)\nNow that “social distancing” has filtered its way into the common parlance, it’s time to crack a joke about it. Weddings are highly intimate affairs, so it’s understandable that some couples are delaying their celebrations for a time when hugs, kisses, and dances can be enjoyed without fear of hosting a “super-spreader” event.\n\n## How to Prevent Confusion and “Fake News” When You’re Changing the Date\nNow that you’ve decided on a good-humored way of relating this change of plans to your friends and loved ones, there are a number of other practical considerations you’ll want to get a handle on so that no one winds up misinformed.\n\nHere is your handy change the date checklist, so there’s no chance of any confusion while you’re putting a pause on your wedding plans.\n\n### #1 Update Your Wedding Website\nThe utility of the wedding website becomes particularly apparent in situations where a postponement is in order. After you’ve informed your guests of the change of plans, it’s likely you’ll be swarmed with all kinds of versions of the same question: why?\n\nStating your message loud and clear on your wedding portal is the best way to minimize the amount of text traffic your phone will be besieged with after your change the date has been issued.\n\nIf you haven’t put together your wedding website yet, now is the perfect time to do so. Zola has more than 300 [website designs](https://www.zola.com/wedding/onboard/wedding-website?question=NAME) ready to go, so that you can get the message out there to your guests as swiftly as possible and have some fun dabbling in personalized design once your celebration is back up and running.\n\nRemember that you and your partner are in full control of what to disclose, and how to disclose it. The online motherboard of your wedding—the website—is an ideal platform to express what you want to, to the degree of privacy that you and your partner are comfortable with.\n\n### #2 Use an RSVP Manager\nDepending on when you need to issue a change the date card, you may need to start the RSVP process from scratch. If you’ve already disbursed your wedding invitations, it’s likely you already have a list of yeses, nos, and maybes, which can make the prospect of starting the whole procedure over again incredibly frustrating.\n\nFortunately, there are tools available to streamline the process of collecting RSVPs from your guests digitally, even if you’re sending out stationery save-the-dates, change the dates, and wedding invitations via mail.\n\nZola’s [Wedding Guest List Manager](https://www.zola.com/wedding-planning/guests) is a user-friendly tool designed to collate guests’ addresses and emails, track their RSVPs for your new wedding date, and even message guests as details continue to develop when your plans reboot. Even if you’re not ready to relaunch the RSVP phase, it’s an excellent tool to have at your fingertips to keep things simple down the line.\n\n### #3 Above All, Take It Easy\nNo matter the circumstances that led to your postponement, rescheduling your wedding can be a let-down. If you’re fielding messages of condolence or confusion from guests, try your best to maintain calm, composure, and optimism in the interim.\n\nThat can start with a funny, buoyant change thedate notice—but it’s also important to give yourself permission to take time for some much-needed TLC before resuming the planning process with your partner.\n\n## Take Two: Zola Style\nZola was built to give couples an entire artillery of tools for every stage of the wedding process. From post-engagement, to post-nuptials, to postponement, we’re here to guide you through the whole process with style, skill, and simplicity.\n\nFor couples pushing their wedding date a little further into the future, take some time to visit our website and discover the myriad of utilities for guest list management, establishing a [wedding registry](https://www.zola.com/wedding-registry), and putting together your wedding website.\n\nDevoting a little extra time to setting your celebrations up for success now will ensure a seamless, streamlined process when it’s time to resume the wedding planning.","tag":"List","widget1":{"marketingModule":{"tag":"EA_SaveTheDates"}},"stickyCta":{"copy":"Explore Save the Dates","url":"https://www.zola.com/wedding-planning/save-the-date/shop"},"updatedAt":"2024-02-05T16:56:32.931Z"},{"type":"articlePage","topic":{"name":"Zola behind the scenes","slug":"zola-behind-the-scenes"},"subtopic":{"name":"Covid-19","slug":"covid-19"},"slug":"how-to-change-your-wedding-date-expert-tips-and-tricks","title":"How to Change Your Wedding Date: Expert Tips and Tricks","excerpt":"Do you need to change your wedding date? Don’t stress! This could be a blessing in disguise. Read on for our tips on how to change your wedding date. ","author":"Emily Forrest","publishedAt":"2020-03-30T17:17:20.984Z","heroImage":{"src":"//images.ctfassets.net/77l22z9el0aa/2jVckUmJuqQHmOHUucffDt/da88dc330a196d975c6ae8612355a3a4/Hero_New.jpg","altText":"couple in field on wedding day"},"heroCredit":"Andria Lo","body":"You sent your [save the dates](https://www.zola.com/wedding-planning/save-the-date/shop), and they were gorgeous, weren’t they? You got some compliments from your friends, a phone call from your grandparents, and your Instagram mentions were popping off. Everything was going as planned! But now, everything’s spiralling. \n\nSomething, someone, or some event has caused the date of your wedding to change. We know what you’re going through is stressful and difficult but Zola is here to help. Marriage is a lifetime course on learning how to live in the moment, and lesson number one is learning how to gracefully pivot when things go awry. \n\nWhether your wedding date has been postponed, changed, adjusted, or pushed, your wedding is still going to happen and Zola has everything you need to make your wedding a success. \n\n## Change Of Plans\nWe know that changing plans is annoying, especially when those changes affect the day you’ve been planning your whole life. We’re here to tell you that everything is going to be OK! With your talent, and our resources, you can come out of this looking like a genius. Your job is to stay as cool as you’ve always been while we work behind the scenes to make it seem like this was all part of the plan. You are a champion wedding planner and now you get to put your incredible talents into action.\n\nEspecially when the planning gets complicated, you have to remember that this is going to be one of the greatest days of your life. When your wedding day happens—and it will happen—it will be amazing for two important reasons; neither of which have anything to do with the date it takes place. First, it will be wonderful because of the love you share with your partner, and second, it will be surreal because of the people gathered around you to celebrate your happiness. \n\n## Update what you want.\nWeddings are fun, and planning is part of that fun. Sure licking envelopes and sending thank you notes can get a bit tedious, but for the most part, this is the greatest party you will ever attend and you are completely in charge. Even when things don’t go as planned, a wedding is as fun as you allow it to be. \n\nSo what’s so fun about calling an audible and changing the date? Well for starters, you get to change anything you may have been upset about. Didn’t love the appetizer menu? Change it up! Had your heart set on a beautiful overbooked venue? Maybe it’s available now. \n\nA Change the Date is basically a free redo on anything you wanted to change but were locked into because of your date. Having to change the date may feel like a curse, but the freedom it allows you is a total blessing. Plus, Zola makes it easy to send out a wedding date change announcement with our fully customizable suite of [Invites + Paper](https://www.zola.com/wedding-planning/paper).\n\n## Insider Tips For Wedding Success\nWhether you are ready to pull the trigger on a new date or not, a change of date announcement is a great way to buy some extra time. Plus, sending out change the dates is a polite way to inform your guests that you care about their calendar while reminding them that you want your wedding to be a priority. Even if there is no set date, just a quick update is a classy, formal way to keep people excited and engaged. We’ll address some fun ways to break the news in just a bit, but for now here are some important steps for changing your date:\n\n### Contact your venue.\nWhen dealing with venues it’s crucial that you remain patient and pleasant. The easier you are to work with the more likely they are to give you preferential treatment. Plus if you’re willing to be flexible about changing your date you may even be able to work out a discounted price.\n\nIf your venue is being stubborn or stingy, call some other venues. Was there a venue you really wanted but weren’t able to book? Your luck may have recently changed. Whatever events that have turned your life upside down may be affecting others too so don’t be afraid to be daring while others are being timid. The key things to remember here are to be pleasant and flexible. Your date is already changing, use this opportunity to get everything you want without the need to be tied to a specific date. \n\n### Contact your caterer.\nThe foodservice industry is all too familiar with date changes, it’s part of the reason deposits are so popular amongst caterers. Your caterer does not want you to cancel your wedding, and most are amenable to helping you move your special day to a new date. \n\nOnce you get a feel for the rough timeline of a new date, contact your caterer and ask them what their schedule looks like. Again, be patient and flexible to ensure you get the friendly service you deserve in return. \n\n### Announcing the Date Change\nNow it’s time to announce the date change. There are so many fun ways you can share the news of a date change. Try to take bits and pieces of your personality and tie them into your announcement. Remember, your guests want to have fun and humor is a great way to remind them that you and your fiance are all about making fun a top priority. \n\nFor example, are you or your spouse notoriously late? Send out an announcement like “Isn’t it just like us to be running late? We’re changing the date and it’s TBD!” Or, tie in one of your go-to excuses for being late for group activities like: “Traffic is so bad right now. Waze says we’re gonna be a couple months late ;)” \n\n__Here are some more of our favorite fun “change of date” announcements:__\n\n- “We’re planning our forever... better late than never! Change of date TBD!”\n- “Our date stood us up! Good thing we have each other! We’re changing the date to_____ see you there!”\n- “The show must go on! We just need to find the understudy. New wedding date TBD!”\n- “Our calendar never got the save the date we sent. Our new date is ______!”\n- “If you think you’ve been going crazy, remember my fiance has had to deal with me changing the date of our wedding. Please save this new date!”\n- “New date, same bride and groom. Join us on _____!”\n\n__If you don’t want to go for a humorous approach, a standard please and thank you message goes a long way:__\n\n- “Please join us on our new day______ .Thank you for being flexible.”\n- “We hope you’re still able to join us, our date is now_______”\n- “Thanks for all your patience, please save this new date in your calendar_____”\n- “We’re excited to see you on our new day _____ ! Thank you for being part of our lives.”\n\nHowever you choose to break the news, change of date notices are a must, especially if you have already sent out save the dates. Though you may be tempted to pull a fast one and send out the invites with updated date and time, be warned that a move like that could induce chaos. \n\n## Control the chaos.\nNobody wants chaos associated with their wedding, which is why sending out a change of date notice is crucial in preventing your wedding guests from being confused or misinformed. Do your guests, and yourself a favor and send another round of pre-invites letting people know that the plan has changed. This also gives your out-of-town guests ample time to adjust their travel arrangements so they can attend your beautiful wedding on its new date. \n\nWe want you to remember that everyone who was planning a 2020 wedding is in the same boat. However, you have the resources and know-how to seize this opportunity. When the world finally gets back to normal, you'll be on cruise control after gracefully pivoting to a new date with the help of your change of date announcements. \n\n## Enjoy the ride.\nTake solace knowing that one of the first things people are going to be able to do after quarantine is going to your wedding! Whatever you do is going to be amplified by the collective excitement of socializing again, and there is a real possibility your wedding may go down as the social event of the year. \n\nHunger makes things taste better, absence makes the heart grow fonder, and weddings post-quarantine make history. So don't wait to make the wedding date change announcement, send out those “Change The Date” cards, and enjoy the ride.","tag":"How-To ","widget1":{"marketingModule":{"tag":"EA_Masterbrand"}},"nextUp":[{"excerpt":"Postponing your wedding is never easy. Get through it with our guide to postponing your wedding—from how to talk to your vendors to how to tell your guests and everything in between.","title":"A Guide to Postponing Your Wedding","slug":"how-to-postpone-your-wedding","topic":"Wedding planning 101","tag":"How-To ","heroImage":{"src":"//images.ctfassets.net/77l22z9el0aa/7AGHcAXKxar4G9VZvzMpml/f6d3d22649dbd0464d8db328c702646c/A-Guide-to-Postponing-Your-Wedding-and-Change-the-Date-Checklist.jpg","altText":"couple walking in the street before wedding"},"type":"articlePage"},{"excerpt":"Attending a wedding this summer? Here’s everything you need to know about guests, weddings, and vaccines.","title":"Guests, Weddings, and Vaccines: What You Need to Know","slug":"guests-weddings-and-vaccines-what-you-need-to-know","topic":"Zola behind the scenes","tag":"Advice","heroImage":{"src":"//images.ctfassets.net/77l22z9el0aa/5ReUuubL41mTVam3Mcwdep/6a81d8e3da664a815c3a1afe920e6487/Hero_Zola__15_.jpg","altText":"Guests, Weddings, and Vaccines: What You Need to Know"},"type":"articlePage"},{"excerpt":"If you need to postpone, cancel, or otherwise change your wedding details, we're here to help with our guide to updating your wedding guests about changes.","title":"How to Update Guests About Changes to Your Wedding","slug":"how-to-update-guests-about-changes-to-your-wedding","topic":"Wedding planning 101","tag":"How-To ","heroImage":{"src":"//images.ctfassets.net/77l22z9el0aa/5v2y8bTJNkSDFGXqWrI1un/3a497c61d1956ca9b003b25423b56421/How-to-Update-Guests-About-Changes-to-Your-Wedding.jpg","altText":"How to Update Guests About Changes to Your Wedding"},"type":"articlePage"}],"featured":[{"excerpt":"Master the art of addressing wedding invitations with proper etiquette. Learn formal and modern approaches to create elegant and inviting cards.","title":"How to Address Wedding Invitations: Etiquette & Examples ","slug":"how-to-address-wedding-invitations","topic":"Invites & paper","tag":"How-To ","heroImage":{"src":"//images.ctfassets.net/77l22z9el0aa/13bpWVURYrrvQwpySxNZSw/65e5ad02aad6f00301a4fd489b36746b/Zola-05.04.20-Colored-Envelopes-_-Letterpress2332_CROPPED-e.jpg","altText":"A metal calligrapher's pen resting next to a wedding invitation envelope addressed using ink calligraphy"},"type":"articlePage"},{"excerpt":"Learn the how-to's of wedding invitation wording, plus formal and casual wedding invitation examples from the experts.","title":"Wedding Invitation Wording: A Complete How-To Guide","slug":"how-to-word-wedding-invitations","topic":"Invites & paper","tag":"How-To ","heroImage":{"src":"//images.ctfassets.net/77l22z9el0aa/5rENN5B7RPAn14pYP75HgH/d457816cdf42b12cc74b3e7d88b73513/Wedding_Invitaion_Wording_Etiquette.jpg","altText":"green and white wedding invitation on green background"},"type":"articlePage"},{"excerpt":"Here are a few wedding invitation dos and don’ts to keep in mind, organized by the different wording components such as names, dates, and times.","title":"The Dos and Don'ts of Wedding Invitation Wording","slug":"the-dos-and-donts-of-wedding-invitation-wording","topic":"Invites & paper","tag":"Invitation Wording","heroImage":{"src":"//images.ctfassets.net/77l22z9el0aa/4Et2URXPNegMRSCivBHutQ/ae2c3244927ec8fb5c015365837e090b/The-Dos-and-Donts-of-Wedding-Invitation-Wording.jpg","altText":"Green themed wedding invitation on marble top"},"type":"articlePage"},{"excerpt":"Create a beautiful, shareable free wedding website that will keep all your information in one place and make you and your SO's life easier.","title":"How to Build a Wedding Website: Guide + Tips","slug":"make-wedding-website","topic":"Wedding planning 101","tag":"Inspiration","heroImage":{"src":"//images.ctfassets.net/77l22z9el0aa/1ivfWCLfICZzRAlSL2XROu/d275878391dec1bf789fae38c8c5d62b/7-Reasons-to-Make-a-Wedding-Website.jpg","altText":"free wedding websites on zola.com"},"type":"articlePage"}],"stickyCta":{"copy":"Start Planning With Zola","url":"https://www.zola.com/wedding/onboard?product=WEDDING_PLANNING"},"updatedAt":"2024-02-05T16:56:31.260Z"},{"type":"articlePage","topic":{"name":"Zola behind the scenes","slug":"zola-behind-the-scenes"},"subtopic":{"name":"Covid-19","slug":"covid-19"},"slug":"guests-weddings-and-vaccines-what-you-need-to-know","title":"Guests, Weddings, and Vaccines: What You Need to Know","excerpt":"Attending a wedding this summer? Here’s everything you need to know about guests, weddings, and vaccines.","author":"Ruksana Hussain","publishedAt":"2021-05-19T15:17:09.486Z","heroImage":{"src":"//images.ctfassets.net/77l22z9el0aa/5ReUuubL41mTVam3Mcwdep/6a81d8e3da664a815c3a1afe920e6487/Hero_Zola__15_.jpg","altText":"Guests, Weddings, and Vaccines: What You Need to Know"},"heroCredit":"Zola","tldr":"## The First Look ✨\n- According to a recent survey from Zola and Modern Fertility, the majority of couples want their guests to be vaccinated before their wedding.\n- Even if you’re fully vaccinated, you still need to take precautions at the wedding to protect yourself and other wedding guests.\n- If you’re worried about other guests not respecting your COVID-related boundaries, having a plan in place for how to deal with those interactions before the wedding can help ease some of that anxiety.\n","body":"*__Planning A Wedding During A Pandemic:__ Every wedding planning journey has its twists and turns. To make sure your path is as smooth as possible and to help you keep an eye out for tiny potholes and giant roadblocks, always follow the advice of your local health guidelines and the recommendations set forth by the [CDC](https://www.cdc.gov/). The state of the pandemic can change quickly, but by staying informed, you can make it to your destination—wedded bliss—without a hitch.*\n\nIn 2020, COVID-19 forced a huge percentage of engaged couples to [postpone their weddings](https://www.zola.com/expert-advice/how-to-postpone-your-wedding) and adjust their [wedding planning timeline](https://www.zola.com/expert-advice/checklist/your-ultimate-wedding-planning-checklist)—with many pushing their [save the dates](https://www.zola.com/wedding-planning/save-the-date/shop) into 2021, in the hopes that the Covid-19 pandemic would be under better control, and that it would be safer for them to bring their loved ones together to celebrate their “[I dos.](https://www.zola.com/expert-advice/wedding-vows)” \n\nWith the loosening of Covid-19 restrictions for a private event and the Covid-19 vaccine rollout in full swing, it looks like weddings will be safer in the coming months. But, if you’re on the [guestlist](https://www.zola.com/expert-advice/how-to-make-a-wedding-guest-list) for a wedding (or multiple weddings!) in the near future, or you’re in the middle of your own [wedding planning](https://www.zola.com/wedding-planning), you probably have some questions on how things are going to play out—both with the vaccine and at the actual event. \n\nDo you need to get vaccinated before you attend any weddings? What safety precautions will you need to take [wedding venues](https://www.zola.com/wedding-vendors/search/wedding-venues)? And how do you interact with other guests who may or may not be vaccinated—but aren’t taking the same safety precautions that you are? \n\nLet’s take a look at everything you need to know about guests, weddings, and vaccinations in 2021:\n\n## The Couple May Want You to Get Tested and/or Vaccinated Before the Big Day \n\nThe COVID-19 vaccine is optional; no one can force you to get vaccinated. But, if you’re attending weddings this year, chances are, the couples are at least going to ask. \n\nAccording to a recent survey from Zola and Modern Fertility, more than half of the survey respondents (52.8 percent) said they wanted the majority of their [wedding guests](https://www.zola.com/expert-advice/dos-and-donts-for-wedding-guests) to get the Covid-19 vaccine before their big day. \n\nAfter sending out [wedding invitations](https://www.zola.com/wedding-vendors) and choosing [wedding vendors](https://www.zola.com/wedding-vendors), the couple may also want you to get a pre-wedding COVID test before you attend (according to the survey, 23.10 percent of people said they wanted their entire guest list to have a negative COVID-19 test before attending their wedding reception).\n\nAlthough couples may look for cost-efficient options that they can change in their [wedding checklist](https://www.zola.com/expert-advice/checklist/your-ultimate-wedding-planning-checklist) such as using free [wedding websites](https://www.zola.com/wedding-planning/website), clearly, keeping COVID-19 out of their big day—and keeping themselves and their guests safe—is top of mind for many couples. So, if you have any weddings on the calendar in the coming months, you should be prepared for a test and/or vaccination request from the couple, and be sure to check their [wedding website](https://www.zola.com/wedding-planning/website) for more updates.\n\n## Even If You’re Vaccinated, You Still Need to Take Safety Precautions \n\nGetting the COVID-19 vaccine offers a layer of protection that can make you (and the soon-to-be-married couple) feel safer about your attendance at the wedding. \n\nBut, the vaccine isn’t a free pass to throw caution to the wind, ditch your mask, and run up to every person at [cocktail hour](https://www.zola.com/expert-advice/top-10-tips-for-successful-cocktail-hour) (forget social distancing!) for a high-five or handshake. Even if you are vaccinated before the wedding, you still need to play it safe.\n\nThere are a few different reasons why COVID-related safety precautions are a must—even if you’re fully vaccinated before the wedding. According to the [CDC’s recommendations](https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/fully-vaccinated.html#:~:text=After%20you've%20been%20fully,places%20until%20we%20know%20more.), fully vaccinated people can be inside without a mask with other vaccinated people and with unvaccinated people who aren’t at high risk for serious COVID-related complications—but the CDC strongly recommends wearing masks and social distancing in public places and around unvaccinated people who are at an increased risk for serious illness if they catch COVID-19.\n\nWhen you’re at a wedding, you have no way of knowing who is fully vaccinated, who is not fully vaccinated, and who might be at risk for developing serious complications if they catch COVID-19. And, because you have no way of distinguishing between vaccinated and unvaccinated, or at risk and not at risk guests, you have to take safety precautions with all guests. This means that you should wear a mask, keep six feet of distance, and wash your hands regularly.\n\n## Have a Plan in Place Before the Wedding for Dealing With Guests Respecting Other’s Space \n\nYou can make masks and social distancing a priority when you’re at a wedding, but other guests might not take safety as seriously as you do, which can lead to potential uncomfortable (and unsafe!) interactions, such as guests going in for a hug or handshake, sliding their chair right next to yours for the [wedding ceremony](https://www.zola.com/expert-advice/a-guide-to-wedding-ceremony-programs), or getting a little too close for comfort during a conversation at the [wedding reception](https://www.zola.com/expert-advice/wedding-reception-timeline).\n\nIf you’re the kind of person who has no problem telling someone that their behavior makes you uncomfortable, you’ll have no problem shutting down these interactions in real-time. But, if you’re someone who struggles with setting boundaries or being perceived as rude, coming up with the right thing to say when someone tries to hug you or initiate a conversation without a mask will probably feel challenging at the moment. This is why you need to have a plan for how to deal with those interactions ahead of time.\n\nBefore the wedding, brainstorm all the ways other wedding guests might cross your COVID-related boundaries—and develop a plan for how to deal with them. For example, if someone tries to give you a greeting hug, you might take a step back and say, “It’s so great to see you, but I’m still practicing social distancing. Sending you a big air hug!” Or, if someone tries to talk to you without a mask, you can say, “Would you mind putting a mask on? I’m still concerned about COVID-19.” However, if that feels uncomfortable, politely excuse yourself and head to another area of the wedding venue. \n\nThe point is that you can’t control other wedding attendees’ behavior—but you can have a plan in place to make yourself feel more comfortable and safe in how you deal with that behavior. \n\n## Enjoy the Wedding, Safely\n\nVaccine distribution is ramping up every day, and it’s only going to get safer to gather in large groups—including at weddings. So, if you’re gearing up to attend a wedding in the coming months, have a good time, and enjoy yourself; just make sure to do it safely.\n","tag":"Advice","widget1":{"marketingModule":{"tag":"EA_Masterbrand"}},"nextUp":[{"excerpt":"Keep your wedding intimate with a smaller guest list of only the most special people in your life. Read our guide to an intimate wedding.","title":"How to Create a Small Intimate Wedding","slug":"how-to-create-a-small-intimate-wedding","topic":"Wedding planning 101","tag":"How-To ","heroImage":{"src":"//images.ctfassets.net/77l22z9el0aa/12iuph3TqovyGeSrgp0ziK/724c13632e3032afd4b47c7d3173ec75/inline_unsplash.jpg","altText":"Small Intimate Wedding table setting"},"type":"articlePage"},{"excerpt":"Don’t miss a wedding planning detail with our complete, expert-crafted wedding checklist and timeline. Free, printable version inside!","title":"2024/25 Printable Wedding Planning Checklist & Timeline - Zola","slug":"your-ultimate-wedding-planning-checklist","topic":"Wedding planning 101","heroImage":{"src":"//images.ctfassets.net/77l22z9el0aa/4fA6of0jjP7aJqXJRy0JOx/edd3b48f6fea1e273025d3db462dd4be/Ultimate_Wedding_Planning_Checklist.jpg","altText":"wedding planning checklist"},"type":"checklistPage"}],"stickyCta":{"copy":"Start Planning With Zola","url":"https://www.zola.com/wedding/onboard?product=WEDDING_PLANNING"},"updatedAt":"2024-02-05T16:56:29.307Z"},{"type":"articlePage","topic":{"name":"Zola behind the scenes","slug":"zola-behind-the-scenes"},"subtopic":{"name":"Covid-19","slug":"covid-19"},"slug":"tell-your-wedding-vendors-your-wedding-has-been-postponed","title":"How to Tell Your Wedding Vendors Your Wedding Has Been Postponed","excerpt":"Postponing a wedding is never ideal, but how do you tell wedding vendors that you've decided to do so? Read on to find out. ","author":"Anni Irish","publishedAt":"2021-09-29T15:54:20.624Z","heroImage":{"src":"//images.ctfassets.net/77l22z9el0aa/TVgOS0dxcyh3ECMuYcO0d/d56022188090571c7bc6346453791fe1/Hero_New.jpg","altText":"How to Tell Your Wedding Vendors Your Wedding Has Been Postponed"},"heroCredit":"Zola","tldr":"## The First Look ✨\n\n- Postponing a wedding is never ideal. Everyone wants their special day to go off without a hitch but unfortunately that is not always possible.\n- When you are postponing your wedding a huge part of this also has to do with communicating with your vendors. \n- While it is disappointing there are some things you can do to help create a buffer between yourself and your vendors and not make it stressful. \n- Letting them know ASAP is very important. Also being as communicative as possible and checking your event contract can make a huge difference.","body":"Over the last 15 months many things have been up in the air due to the global pandemic. This has also resulted in many major events such as weddings being postponed or even worse canceled. [Almost half of all weddings](https://www.wsj.com/articles/not-included-in-the-wedding-budget-another-pandemic-postponement-11589799600?mod=article_inline) planned in 2020 were postponed due to COVID. \n\nAs a result, many couples have had to navigate this tricky situation and sometimes come up with alternative wedding plans. This has meant a lot of rescheduling and keeping guests, vendors, and other people in the loop about how you and your partner want to move forward for your wedding. \n\nWhile postponing a wedding isn't a great scenario, unfortunately, it has been a situation that millions have found themselves in these circumstances. If you find yourself in that position there's no need to stress. There are several things you can do to help the process if you and your partner have to postpone your wedding and have to sort of everything you have to do with your [wedding vendors](https://www.zola.com/wedding-vendors). \n\nHere are 6 tips to keep in mind when you are deferring your wedding. \n\n## #1 Be communicative \nIf you find yourself in the position of postponing your wedding one of the first things you need to do is communicate with your vendors and wedding planner. Getting in touch with them as soon as you know that your wedding will happen at a later date is imperative. Communicating with your vendors and sending a wedding cancellation letter to your vendor will help to keep them in the loop about what is happening will help save you and them a lot of stress in the long run. And hopefully by canceling ASAP this can help minimize the costs overall that can come with postponing. \n\nThe sooner you are able to let them know what the next alternative plan is, the better. Every situation is different and vendors handle things on a case-by-case basis. You want to and try to give vendors enough lead time when it's possible to deal with the situation. Although 3 months is ideal under normal circumstances for everyone involved, sometimes it is not possible but letting people know ASAP is key. \n\nThere are a lot of moving parts that vendors are dealing with when it comes to your wedding such as ordering supplies, sourcing things, and other details, so the quicker you are able to tell them the better. This way they can stop the order for the original date and be on board for your alternative wedding time. It is vital to reach out to every vendor or service provider you have hired. This way everyone will be on the same page and planning moving forward can go off without a hitch. \n\n## #2 Check your contract \nWhen you are in the process of wedding postponement, it is important to read over your wedding contract for any of your service providers. Every service provider has different wedding vendor contracts so try to be as organized as possible and read them over and familiarize yourself with the fine print. Being aware of any fees you may have to pay or the amount of time they require to be notified of when postponing is something you need to know ahead of time. \n\nWedding vendor contracts, in general, were not written for a global pandemic and now with this new reality, many vendors have written in COVID clauses. So looking them back over and noting what is on them is important. Once you have all the information from your wedding contract with your vendors you can then start to organize what you need and move forward with getting in touch with them. \n\n## #3 Contact your venue\n\nWhen you are postponing your wedding another big thing that needs to be done is contacting your wedding venue. Because your venue is where the wedding or wedding reception will be taking place, communicating with them about your new date is important. The sooner you do this the better because you are setting the stage for your alternative date and you want to ensure you are able to get your chosen [wedding venues](https://www.zola.com/wedding-vendors/search/wedding-venues). \n\n## #4 See if you can get a refund or use your deposit towards your alternative wedding date\nEach vendor will have their own postponement or cancellation policy regarding postponements and given everything that has happened in COVID has made people more flexible. However, it is important to keep in mind that deposits or retainers are usually non-refundable. This is to be able to cover the work that vendors do leading up to your big day and also to reserve their time for the date they have in mind. \n\nBecause vendors have different policies, you may not be able to get a refund. Being flexible and trying to understand where your vendor is coming from is important. However, it is also important for them to be able to work it out on their end with you and your partner as well. As things are getting rescheduled some vendors may not charge a rebooking or cancellation fee and others will. Given the fact that many vendors have been out of business for months, some may charge a rebooking or cancellation fee to help with that. \n\n## #5 Be flexible \nTrying to be as flexible as possible will definitely help save you some headaches. While of course, it is important to get everything you need and want done for your wedding, sometimes it is not possible. If you are able to meet your vendor halfway and are able to be a little flexible in terms of things like what they can do for you and even the alternative date can be very helpful.\n\nOne thing you might need to prepare for is the possibility that your vendor may not be available for your new wedding date. If that is the case, don't stress. They may be able to work around it and find a time that is within the window you want to get married in. If that's not the case, it may be best to try and find a new vendor. \n\n## #6 Get an updated contract \nAs you are locking down the new date for your postponed wedding it is very important to get an updated contact from all vendors. This way you have your new date with the vendor set up and you have a signed event contract with all updated information for all parties. This way everything is clear and you and your vendors can all be on the same page. \n\nPostponing a wedding can be stressful and getting all the information you need to be able to communicate with your vendors is important. Being as organized, up front, and timely as you can with them is key. This way, you are in good shape to be able to book them for your alternative date and have everything run smoothly for your wedding.","tag":"How-To ","widget1":{"marketingModule":{"tag":"EA_VendorMarketplace"}},"stickyCta":{"copy":"Find Vendors in Your Area","url":"https://www.zola.com/inspiration/onboard?question=intro"},"updatedAt":"2024-02-05T16:56:34.490Z"},{"type":"articlePage","topic":{"name":"Zola behind the scenes","slug":"zola-behind-the-scenes"},"subtopic":{"name":"Covid-19","slug":"covid-19"},"slug":"backup-wedding-plan-quick","title":"Need a Backup Wedding Plan Quick? Here Are a Few to Consider","excerpt":"If you need to change your wedding plans in a hurry, here are five easy backup wedding ideas to pivot to right away.","author":"Maggy Lehmicke","publishedAt":"2020-04-02T22:20:23.377Z","heroImage":{"src":"//images.ctfassets.net/77l22z9el0aa/2qSZcEUzoxL8iYT4c9nFA3/d0fa773977732725c5fd41774a0d4da3/4106479.jpg","altText":"bride and groom on brooklyn bridge"},"heroCredit":"Konrad Brattke Photography","body":"*__Planning A Wedding During A Pandemic:__ Every wedding planning journey has its twists and turns. To make sure your path is as smooth as possible and to help you keep an eye out for tiny potholes and giant roadblocks, always follow the advice of your local health guidelines and the recommendations set forth by the [CDC](https://www.cdc.gov/). The state of the pandemic can change quickly, but by staying informed, you can make it to your destination—wedded bliss—without a hitch.*\n\n“Love in the time of coronavirus” is quickly becoming one of the themes of 2020 with many couples forced to [postpone or rethink their plans](https://www.zola.com/expert-advice/how-to-change-your-wedding-date-expert-tips-and-tricks) due to the pandemic. Though it’s a discouraging time for many, there are certainly bright spots along the way—if you’re open to getting a bit creative. \n\nThankfully, in today’s world, there are so many ways to celebrate a wedding. With everything from intimate elopements to the rise of digital weddings, 2020 brings just as much creativity along with its adversity. Below is a guide to help you celebrate your special day on your own terms while coming up with a new game plan.\n\n## Host a virtual ceremony.\nThough this might seem like the biggest stretch from a traditional wedding, many couples are opting to “get together” and have a ceremony via Zoom or FaceTime in lieu of their original plans. This gives you the opportunity to still dress up, drink, and celebrate, even if it’s over the internet. \n\nNote that you’d still need to have an officiant and follow the legal requirements of your physical location, no matter where your friends and family are dialing in from. After all, unprecedented times call for creative measures… and your virtual guests will more than likely applaud your dedication.\n\n## Elope now and party later.\nOne of the most common wedding alternatives we’re currently seeing is the decision to [get married in private now and postpone the reception](https://www.zola.com/expert-advice/planning-an-elopement). Not only is this a great way to maintain the significance of your original date (and still get married!), but it also ensures the health of you and your guests by waiting to hold the big party until it’s safe to get together again. \n\nTake note that this option may not be possible in cities or states that have a shelter-in-place order, which limits leaving the house to necessary travel only. As necessary as your wedding may seem, it’s best to play it safe. Read up on your state and city-specific regulations or consider calling your city hall for more information.\n\n## Celebrate alone with your fiancé. \nThough it might not be an official wedding, per se, there are still plenty of ways you can celebrate your designated day with your partner. If you’re stuck at home, put on your wedding attire, do your hair and makeup, and make a day out of your original wedding date. Use your wedding hashtag if you’re using social media and alert your friends and family to follow along on as you celebrate at-home. \n\nThere are so many ways to celebrate and enjoy each other’s company. Make a multi-course meal representative of your favorite meal. Have a movie marathon of all the movies you’ve seen in theaters over the course of your relationship. Craft your own at-home signature wedding cocktail or mocktail to toast the occassion. It doesn’t matter how you celebrate, only that you do! Clear your calendars that day and just be together.\n\n## Have a micro wedding (while maintaining social distance).\nAt this stage in the pandemic’s development, it’s highly advised that couples opt for something virtual as oppose to an in-person ceremony. However, if you currently live outside of a COVID-19 hotspot, you may consider a micro wedding. This event should consist of no more than 10 people (per [CDC recommendations for gatherings](https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html)). \n\nThis often includes the couple, an officiant, and maybe parents or a few friends. If you opt for this alternative, make sure you’re complying with CDC and [WHO guidelines](https://www.who.int/health-topics/coronavirus#tab=tab_1) by maintaining the required distance of six feet between each other (including your officiant) and keeping the event short. Be prepared to provide guests with gloves and masks, too.\n\n## Postpone.\nIf you simply can’t envision having a wedding without your friends and family there (or don’t feel a digital alternative is your style), then postponing your wedding is probably in your best interest. This also applies to couples who were planning a destination affair. Intimate or not, [traveling anywhere at the moment is highly discouraged](https://www.zola.com/expert-advice/guests-weddings-and-vaccines-what-you-need-to-know), and in some cases, impossible. \n\nIt probably doesn’t feel great right now, especially if you were only days or weeks away from your original date. But your family and friends will understand, and when the time is right, you’ll enjoy the wedding of your dreams. Plus, there's a lot of good that comes from a ceremony postponement. Extra time gives you a chance to go back and change any elements that you wish you had more time to consider or alter. [For more information on how to postpone your wedding, read here](https://www.zola.com/expert-advice/how-to-postpone-your-wedding).","tag":"Inspiration","widget1":{"marketingModule":{"tag":"EA_Masterbrand"}},"nextUp":[{"excerpt":"Don’t miss a wedding planning detail with our complete, expert-crafted wedding checklist and timeline. Free, printable version inside!","title":"2024/25 Printable Wedding Planning Checklist & Timeline - Zola","slug":"your-ultimate-wedding-planning-checklist","topic":"Wedding planning 101","heroImage":{"src":"//images.ctfassets.net/77l22z9el0aa/4fA6of0jjP7aJqXJRy0JOx/edd3b48f6fea1e273025d3db462dd4be/Ultimate_Wedding_Planning_Checklist.jpg","altText":"wedding planning checklist"},"type":"checklistPage"},{"excerpt":"Postponing your wedding is never easy. Get through it with our guide to postponing your wedding—from how to talk to your vendors to how to tell your guests and everything in between.","title":"A Guide to Postponing Your Wedding","slug":"how-to-postpone-your-wedding","topic":"Wedding planning 101","tag":"How-To ","heroImage":{"src":"//images.ctfassets.net/77l22z9el0aa/7AGHcAXKxar4G9VZvzMpml/f6d3d22649dbd0464d8db328c702646c/A-Guide-to-Postponing-Your-Wedding-and-Change-the-Date-Checklist.jpg","altText":"couple walking in the street before wedding"},"type":"articlePage"},{"excerpt":"Attending a wedding this summer? Here’s everything you need to know about guests, weddings, and vaccines.","title":"Guests, Weddings, and Vaccines: What You Need to Know","slug":"guests-weddings-and-vaccines-what-you-need-to-know","topic":"Zola behind the scenes","tag":"Advice","heroImage":{"src":"//images.ctfassets.net/77l22z9el0aa/5ReUuubL41mTVam3Mcwdep/6a81d8e3da664a815c3a1afe920e6487/Hero_Zola__15_.jpg","altText":"Guests, Weddings, and Vaccines: What You Need to Know"},"type":"articlePage"},{"excerpt":"Do you need to change your wedding date? Don’t stress! This could be a blessing in disguise. Read on for our tips on how to change your wedding date. ","title":"How to Change Your Wedding Date: Expert Tips and Tricks","slug":"how-to-change-your-wedding-date-expert-tips-and-tricks","topic":"Zola behind the scenes","tag":"How-To ","heroImage":{"src":"//images.ctfassets.net/77l22z9el0aa/2jVckUmJuqQHmOHUucffDt/da88dc330a196d975c6ae8612355a3a4/Hero_New.jpg","altText":"couple in field on wedding day"},"type":"articlePage"}],"featured":[{"excerpt":"If you need to postpone, cancel, or otherwise change your wedding details, we're here to help with our guide to updating your wedding guests about changes.","title":"How to Update Guests About Changes to Your Wedding","slug":"how-to-update-guests-about-changes-to-your-wedding","topic":"Wedding planning 101","tag":"How-To ","heroImage":{"src":"//images.ctfassets.net/77l22z9el0aa/5v2y8bTJNkSDFGXqWrI1un/3a497c61d1956ca9b003b25423b56421/How-to-Update-Guests-About-Changes-to-Your-Wedding.jpg","altText":"How to Update Guests About Changes to Your Wedding"},"type":"articlePage"},{"excerpt":"Attending a wedding this summer? Here’s everything you need to know about guests, weddings, and vaccines.","title":"Guests, Weddings, and Vaccines: What You Need to Know","slug":"guests-weddings-and-vaccines-what-you-need-to-know","topic":"Zola behind the scenes","tag":"Advice","heroImage":{"src":"//images.ctfassets.net/77l22z9el0aa/5ReUuubL41mTVam3Mcwdep/6a81d8e3da664a815c3a1afe920e6487/Hero_Zola__15_.jpg","altText":"Guests, Weddings, and Vaccines: What You Need to Know"},"type":"articlePage"},{"excerpt":"Find out our top tips and advice on how to handle a long engagement with this comprehensive guide. Read on to learn more today.","title":"How to Handle a Long Engagement","slug":"how-to-handle-a-long-engagement","topic":"Relationship advice","tag":"How To","heroImage":{"src":"//images.ctfassets.net/77l22z9el0aa/4KpP0bSsj3mXpHF2TIz92Q/c993320a603e9698d9d7bf7a9d8e578a/Hero_Zola__49_.jpg","altText":"How to Handle a Long Engagement"},"type":"articlePage"}],"stickyCta":{"copy":"Start Planning With Zola","url":"https://www.zola.com/wedding/onboard?product=WEDDING_PLANNING"},"updatedAt":"2024-02-05T16:56:35.208Z"}],"name":"Covid-19","slug":"covid-19","description":"If your wedding was postponed or affected by Covid-19, look here for resources and guides to change of dates, wedding safety guidelines, virtual weddings and more."}],"featured":[{"type":"articlePage","topic":{"name":"Zola behind the scenes","slug":"zola-behind-the-scenes"},"subtopic":{"name":"Inside Zola","slug":"inside-zola"},"slug":"an-update-on-the-zola-community","title":"What’s happening with the Zola Community?","excerpt":"Here's everything you need to know.","author":"Emily Forrest","publishedAt":"2023-09-12T19:20:09.458Z","heroImage":{"src":"//images.ctfassets.net/77l22z9el0aa/5T5bLwdTgMUKpvzezNZnBN/f84f38252588342b5ef6789f235df358/Zola_All_the_Days.jpeg","altText":"Zola"},"heroCredit":"Zola","body":"As of 10/1, the Zola App Community will no longer be available. But, not to worry - we have an amazing community of couples that are looking to share, connect, and vent on Facebook! Join them [HERE](https://www.facebook.com/groups/zolacommunity/).\n\n### Why are you moving the Community to Facebook?\n\nWe created the [Zola Community](https://www.facebook.com/groups/zolacommunity/) on Facebook in 2017, with the goal of building community and fostering connection amongst the thousands of engaged couples that are going through the wedding planning process. Since then, this community has grown to over 10,000 people - all having the same experiences, looking for inspiration, and ready to ask their questions!\n\n### Will there be a new Community?\n\nWe love hearing from you and finding new ways to connect with our couples. If you have any ideas for where you’d like to see us pop up, please let us know! For now, you can find us in our [Facebook Community](https://www.facebook.com/groups/zolacommunity/), which has thousands of other engaged couples, ready to ask, answer, share, and vent. \n\n### What if I need help with my wedding planning?\n\nTalk to Team-Z, we’re always here for you! Email us anytime at __advisor@zola.com__, DM us on [IG](https://www.instagram.com/zola) or [TikTok](https://www.tiktok.com/@zola), or visit us at https://www.zola.com/advisor.\n\n### And if I need more wedding inspo?\n\nFollow us on [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/zola) or [TikTok](https://www.tiktok.com/@zola). You’ll find all the latest wedding trends, Team-Z’s hottest hot takes, and have a chance to share what’s on your mind! Also, look out for [“Pop the Questions”](https://www.zola.com/expert-advice/topic/ask-us-anything) where our Team-Z advisors and guest experts answer all your burning wedding planning questions. \n","tag":"Advice","updatedAt":"2024-02-05T16:54:33.638Z"}]}},"userAgent":"Mozilla/5.0 AppleWebKit/537.36 (KHTML, like Gecko; compatible; ClaudeBot/1.0; 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