Your Guest Communication Plan for Postponed Weddings due to COVID-19
Communicating with your wedding guests about your postponement is important. Remember, your guests’ lives have been turned upside too. They may be worried about traveling to your wedding, may be experiencing a loss of income, or just be worried about gathering in large groups. They will be happy to know that you are thinking about their well being and relieved to know there is a plan. People worry about uncertainty, so communicating your plans with your guests, even if you don’t yet have a new date, will be welcome.
If you are postponing your wedding, there are two possible scenarios:
- You have selected a new wedding date.
- You have decided to postpone your wedding, but have not yet selected a new date
In both situations, communicating with your guests is important. You do not need to wait until you have a new wedding date to communicate with your guests.
You have selected a new wedding date
If you have already postponed your wedding and selected a new wedding date, your guest communication plan will focus on communicating your new date to your guests.
- Update your wedding web site. The easiest and quickest way to update your guests is to update your wedding web site with your new date, location and any other details your guests need to know. Guests can then be directed to your wedding web site to stay up to date on any changes. Email your guests with a note about your decision to postpone your wedding and a link to your web site.
- Send change the date cards. Similar to save the date cards, change the date cards simply inform your guests that your wedding date has changed. There are lots of creative options for change the date cards on Minted and etsy Check with your stationary designer for options as well.
- Send (or resend) your invitations. If you have already sent your invitations, especially if they included an RSVP card, you will need to resend them. A new date may change some guest’s ability to attend, so asking for a new RSVP card is reasonable. If only the date has changed, but the locations and details have not, you may be able to collect the RSVP information electronically without resending new invitations. If your wedding date and location has changed, we recommend sending new invitations and RSVP cards reflecting the new information. If you have not yet sent your invitations, you will design them with the updated date and information and send them as usual.
Suggested wording for change the date cards or emails
Due to the uncertainty of COVID-19 (coronavirus), we are taking every precaution to make our wedding safe for our guests. We have decided, to postpone our wedding until [date]. Please check our wedding web site [URL] for updates. More information and new RSVP cards to come. Thank you for your understanding and support. We cannot wait to celebrate with you!
You are postponing your wedding, but have not yet selected a new wedding date
If you are postponing your wedding, but have not yet selected a new wedding date, your guest communication plan will focus on communicating your postponement decision to your guests.
- Update your wedding web site. The easiest and quickest way to update your guests is to update your wedding web site with a note that your wedding is being postponed and more information will be coming. Guests can then be directed to your wedding web site to stay up to date on any changes. Email your guests with a note about your decision to postpone your wedding and a link to your web site.
Suggested wording for postponement emails
Due to the uncertainty of COVID-19 (coronavirus), we are taking every precaution to make our wedding safe for our guests. For this reason, we have decided to postpone our wedding. Please check our wedding web site [URL] for updates as we work to find a new wedding date to celebrate with you. More information to come. Thank you for your understanding and support.