First off, I never thought I would ever have to write that heading!

Things are a little scary right now, there’s no point in pretending everything is all candy floss and unicorns at the moment. However, we are all in this together and we will come out the other side.

We have been speaking with our couples over the last few weeks and so many of you share the same concerns. We thought it might be helpful to share some tips on what to do during this time to help you feel a bit better and get you back into that pre wedding bubble of excitement you should all be in.

It’s Ok not to be Ok.

You have had to postpone your wedding. The day you have been planning for months, maybe even years. This was not an easy decision to make, but it was the correct one. Thank you for choosing your guests health ahead of your big day. Having to postpone was hard, we know. It’s ok to feel how you feel about it. It’s normal to feel disappointed but try not to dwell on this. Instead, focus on your new wedding date.

“Ní ceart go cur le chéile”

— Irish proverb

2. Your Big Day is Coming

So you have set a new date . Remember you will have your wedding, the one you have dreamed of, surrounded by your family and friends, soon. It may be a different date, but does that realy matter? Your guests wont remember it was a Tuesday in November that they celebrated your wedding. They will remember the beautiful day they spent celebrating you both and your love for each other. It doesn’t matter the date, what matters is: it’s coming!

Something to consider for your old wedding date, is to mark it. Don’t try to pretend it doesn’t exist, we all know it does. Don’t let the day pass unacknowledged. The last thing you want is for that date to have negative feelings associated with it forever. Instead embrace it. Plan something for the day. Mark it in your own way and then look forward to your actual wedding day. This way when the date comes next year you can say, that was the day we… ‘made a home cooked meal and ate it on the floor by candlelit’ not ‘that was the day we were supposed to have our wedding’. Make a new memory. Make it a good one.

3. Get Prepared

New date: tick. What’s next? Contact all your suppliers, if you haven’t already done so and notify them of the change of date. Hopefully they are all available on your new date. If not, get in touch maybe we can help recommend someone.

You may have some free time on your hands right about now so why not make the most of it and get prepared. Make a list of the jobs that need to be done before the wedding, I personally love a list (it’s the Monica in me)! Decide who is responsible for overseeing which tasks and at least you will feel organised so that when the day comes to speak with your vendors/ venue again you are prepared.

Now’s the time to think about decor. If you had planned a Summer wedding and now you’ll be having a Winter wedding maybe your decor needs adjusting. Those pinterest boards you’ve been planning may need to be updated with winter florals etc. Will the bridesmaids need a shawl or leather coat now? These are the things you have time to think about and research.

4. Mind Yourself

This has been a stressful bump in the wedding planning journey, one nobody could have foreseen and hopefully one not to be repeated. We know that and we understand all the feelings you have experienced. We won’t dwell on those right now, but if you do need to talk, reach out to us. We’re good listeners here in CJH!

We would recommend that you and your partner look after each other at this time. Maybe unplug for a night or two and relax. Have a date night at home or a movie day under the duvet, whatever it is that makes you feel better, do it. Unless it’s large social gatherings, I’m sorry that you will have to wait another little while for :)

Be mindful of each other, listen and talk, it helps. Too much stress is not healthy. So take a moment to feel how you feel, breathe and relax. There are certain things we cannot control, this is one of those things. For now all we can do is mind each other, stay safe and stay home.

5. Be Excited

You get to be a bride-to-be/ groom-to-be for a little while longer. Embrace it. Forget about the C word, you are getting married! Enjoy the build up to your day. All your family and friends are so looking forward to celebrating with you, to being under the one roof together after all this.

Enjoy the planning, albeit it is now prolonged, enjoy it! Once it’s all over you will wonder where the time went and you will want to do it all again. I know I do.

Remember, your wedding day is coming, be excited!

For more tips and useful information check out One Fab Day’s post on all things wedding admin.

To all you CJH brides and grooms, we want to say we appreciate you continuing to choose to celebrate your wedding day with us and we will do everything in our power to make it the best day for you when it arrives.

Stay safe everyone and #stayhome

Planning a wedding?