For brides- and grooms-to-be, the Wedding Industrial Complex (WIC) is a B.F.D. Some couples spend years planning their perfect wedding, down to the last minuscule-but-vitally-important-to-color-match-perfectly detail. Tens of thousands are spent. Tears are shed. Some brides go so crazy planning their nuptials that a moniker was coined and a long-running reality TV series launched (and then ended and then re-launched).
But love in the time of pandemic might just change all of that.
(Foto Pettine, Unsplashed) 
(Tikkho Maciel, Unsplash)
Two months after New York State went on PAUSE (back when the U.S. pandemic deaths were under 500), all 50 states are beginning to reopen. U.S. pandemic deaths have reached almost 100,000, but the rates of infection and deaths have declined in most parts of the country. Despite some parts of society returning to business as usual, it may be a long time before large-scale events like weddings can be safely held everywhere.
Couples with pending wedding plans are reassessing their priorities in the midst of an economic and health crisis never before faced by the WIC. There are tons of online resources to help couples navigate these uncertain times, especially when it comes to safely postponing weddings without knowing for sure when the pandemic will end.
But the beautiful thing about marriage is that it has nothing to do with a lavish wedding or Pinterest-worthy floral arrangements or an Instagram-enviable destination. Marriage is about two people who want to celebrate the commitment of their lives together—and the officiant who makes it legally binding (for like taxes and health insurance and stuff).
And in the time of pandemic, couples are finding unexpected joy in reimagined celebrations. Here are some of their stories.
- Paula and Ken marry on a Brooklyn rooftop with their guest list of 200 trimmed to 5 and their loved ones watching on FaceTime while neighbors cheered from nearby rooftops. Their wedding photographer was still able to capture their magical, impromptu day.
- Elizabeth and Jonathan marry in their Arlington front yard with the help of neighbors who were excited to take part in the special day while loved ones dressed up at home and joined in virtually.
- With their families in the United States and Lebanon, Rana and Ivan marry in Hong Kong, knowing that they had endured much worse and the coronavirus had only brought them closer together.
- Although they had to postpone their wedding, Marie and Jay were treated to a surprise blessing on what would have been their wedding day. The blessing was arranged by their colleagues and friends at the Greater Manchester Police.
- Jameila and Andre marry in one of Washington D.C.’s first virtual ceremonies during the pandemic after D.C. court marriages resumed earlier in May.
- In Scotland, Laura and Ruaridh celebrated a “not our wedding day” with a humorous mock-wedding streamed for their loved ones to lighten spirits and tide everyone over until their rescheduled wedding in November.
- Walter Street neighbors on Capitol Hill helped make Amanda and Aaron‘s wedding memorable, decorating trees and sidewalks, dressing up, and cheering safely from their front porches along with the couple’s streamed-in loved ones.
However you decide to celebrate a pandemic-interrupted wedding, you can’t go wrong if you do what’s right for you and your betrothed, even if it’s different than you originally planned. Take the time to adjust to your new reality, and then make the best of it. And remember: you can always elope!