A year of altered wedding plans, postponements, and simpler ceremonies seems like it will continue following the Alberta government decision this week to not move ahead with Step 3 of the COVID-19 recovery.
With the numbers of cases trending back up, it’s a decision in line with the overall plan, and the right move to make at this time. But what does that mean if you have a ceremony planned in the coming months?
Well, I guess that’s very much a personal decision. Looking at the months to come, I can tell you that I’ve certainly seen a decrease in the number of weddings compared to what I would say is usual. The numbers started falling right about this time a year ago.
Some couples who decided to postpone last year are going ahead this year rather than continuing to wait for things to get back more to normal. Others continue to delay their plans in hopes of being able to invite more family and friends to their ceremony.
That’s understandable if you’ve been dreaming of a big wedding and really want to see that come true. Regulations in Alberta still mean a ceremony can only have a maximum of 10 people in attendance. That includes the couple, their witnesses, and their marriage commissioner, meaning only a maximum of five other people can attend.
If you’ve decided you don’t want to wait, boy oh boy, will you have a great story to tell years from now. Image being able to tell people, “We loved each other so much we got married in the middle of a global pandemic!”
And you can always plan for a big bash in celebration of an anniversary at a later date.
Something to keep in mind is, of course, the well-being of everyone in attendance.
Having some hand sanitizer available could be a good idea.
Social distancing – that six-foot rule – is something that should be observed whenever possible. So, if I stand a bit further away from you … relax, it’s not your breath!
As your marriage commissioner, I wear a mask right up until we’re ready to start the ceremony. Then, the mask comes off as we’ll need to ensure what we say is clearly understood.
Speaking of masks, you might want to consider having some disposables available in case anyone forgets to bring one along. Back near the beginning of the pandemic when you could still have 50 people attend, I performed a wedding ceremony where the couple had custom-made masks at the venue entrance as gifts for their guests. Now that’s a unique memento from a wedding held at a very specific time in history!
Guests should leave soon after the ceremony as receptions are among the social gatherings currently prohibited in Alberta. That could be something for that big anniversary bash later on!
Whether you opt to have a small, intimate ceremony now or hold off until you can go big, as a marriage commissioner serving couples in Lethbridge and southern Alberta, my goal remains the same. I want to help you have a wedding ceremony that you can always look back at with fond memories in the years to come.
If you’d like to connect, you can email me at derekbly57@gmail.com or phone me at either 403-328-7710 or 403-380-7722.
Take care!