Celebrate now, party later. It’s a motto we can definitely get behind! With so many of you dealing with wedding postponements because of the global health crisis, it’s no surprise that your original wedding date makes you a little blue. Although you’ve put a wonderful contingency plan in place for later this year or 2021, you feel the significance of your ‘first’ I do date.
Recognize this: your original wedding date will always be meaningful! Embrace this relevant day and all those heavy emotions by celebrating now + partying later. We chatted with wedding professionals across the US who suggested 10 super-sweet ways to celebrate your ‘OG’ wedding day. Champagne + cake, of course, included!
1. Get Dressed Up
“One of the easiest ways to feel that ‘big day’ glow is with a poppin’ outfit. You don’t have to wear your actual wedding gown around the house, but a sparkling mini with a cute updo or a crisp white button down with those special-order cufflinks will help you set the tone for a special day at home.” – Noelle Ahmad-Snedegar, Lily & Grayson Events
2. Order-In
“Small businesses like caterers, bars, and restaurants are looking for ways to stay busy and feed their fans. Find out if your favorite restaurant (or even your wedding caterer) is doing curbside pickup and get your favorite dishes from them! Supporting small businesses and treating yourselves? Win-win.” – Noelle Ahmad-Snedegar, Lily & Grayson Events
3. Find Fresh Flowers
“Buy a gift card from your floral vendor or order a small version of your wedding flowers” – Jamie Bohlin & Stephanie Diaz Eldredge, Cape Cod Celebrations ….”or keep it really simple and take a walk earlier in the day to forage flowers together!”
4. Pop Some Bubbly 🍾
Bring on the champagne and have a toast to surviving this crazy time together + your upcoming wedding!
5. Have a First Dance
“Why not dance it out? This can also serve as a sentimental run-through for the new date’s dance… just to make sure your rhythm is still in check!” – Racquel Guyton, St. Germain Design & Co.
6. Exchange Love Letters
“This is a fabulous way to remind each other why you’re enduring all this stress in the first place—you’re on your way to declaring your eternal love for each other soon. You’ll be celebrating that lifetime commitment with all of your favorite people eventually; but until then you can reiterate your feelings with a sweet letter exchange.” – Noelle Ahmad-Snedegar, Lily & Grayson Events
7. Zoom Party With Family + Friends
“Follow your romantic dinner date up with a virtual Zoom party that includes your closest family + friends. When you send out the virtual invite, you can get creative and include a recipe for your signature wedding cocktail so your guests can toast to you from afar! You might also include a prompt for guests to share their favorite wedding advice, or a heartfelt story about your relationship on the video call. End the night with a virtual dance party!” – Jessica Carrillo, Owner & Lead Planner, Art & Soul Events
8. Cut Some Cake
“Order your favorite flavor for two from your wedding cake vendor, and dive in with some champagne! With that in mind, reach out to your other vendors too! They are working so hard to stay busy during these tough times—giving your florist and bakery some new business and a chance to help your mini-celebration at the same time is such a meaningful way to spread the love. Plus, you deserve cake!” – Noelle Ahmad-Snedegar, Lily & Grayson Events
9. Take Photos!
“Learn to work the iPhone selfie timer, and take lots of photos to commemorate this odd night in history (and share with your future grandchildren).” – Jessica Carrillo, Owner & Lead Planner, Art & Soul Events. “Another idea is to reach out to a local photographer who might be doing a Front Porch Session. Have you heard of them? It’s a great way to have some professional photos taken, while keeping with social distancing during this time.”
10. Practice Your First Kiss!
Ooh la la, this one takes no explaining – have fun 🙂
Thanks so much to By Bridget Photography for all the lovely photos!