Creative solutions

For Nicole Froelich, wedding planner and founder of Nicole Please, such adjustments ranged from redesigning the entire color scheme to finding smaller venues to cater to fewer guests.

"On average, there are 35 vendors per wedding… Emotions aside, I come in as a neutral person to understand their priorities, namely which vendor is the most important? If the photographer can't make it on the new date, are we still going ahead?" says Froelich.

"For a lot of couples, the first reschedule was really emotional, but once you show them that there are creative solutions out there, they become more okay with the situation. For example, a smaller guest list means they have money for a second dress or a date-change could actually come with better packages," she points out.

In March 2020, Froelich launched a rescheduling service for non-clients, and in September, joined hands with Exclusive Venue to host weddings at private villas and homes, which "allowed us to be more flexible while still following the restrictions."

While accommodating pandemic-specific demands has not been the easiest of tasks, her company has managed to meet most of them. Froelich remembers having to plan for installing a COVID-19 testing station at the entrance to a wedding reception in the recent past as the client wanted to make sure the venue was virus free.

Adapting to the new normal has also meant a change in the scope of her job. Since the pandemic began, Froelich, who used to be, primarily, a destination-wedding planner, has received almost 30 local wedding-related enquiries.

She notes couples intending to tie the knot have become more flexible in the time of fluctuating social-distancing regulations. The pandemic, by default, has helped speed up the decision-making process. Many vendors appreciate these are hard times and don't mind waiving rescheduling fees to be able to survive in a competitive market.

Froelich says there is a trend of people wanting their wedding to be organized within a few days of their first meeting with a marriage planner.

"They're making gut decisions much faster because they don't have time to waste, and there's less pressure from family members who have become more understanding of the couple's situation."