We all have questions. Humans are curious by nature. We analyze, rearrange, and rethink information until it makes sense to us. We are seekers of patterns, especially during times of uncertainty.
To help us all make sense of these crazy times, I reached out to a handful of event planners in New Orleans to bring you unfiltered, honest, and experienced advice and encouragement.
The general consensus? LOVE IS NOT CANCELED and your wedding doesn’t have to be either!
Overall, the New Orleans area community of wedding professionals has remained flexible, proactive and enthusiastic. We are eager to work together to reach a common goal – SEE YOU HAPPILY MARRIED!
Going forward, it seems success will come from flexibility. Whether that flexibility manifests in the form of postponing to an alternate date in order to keep your original plans, getting hitched in a private ceremony and celebrating later, or scaling your guest list to avoid having to wait.
Since we don’t know exactly what the recommendations will be for private events yet, it is extremely important to stay informed on state and local regulations as well as reach out to your vendors (as each have their own sets of unique restrictions to deal with based on the nature of their services).
First we’re going to hear from Adrienne of Uncommon Camellia.
Right: Back From Left: Maria Pohto, Amelie Pizza, Angela Tucker, Natalie Atkinson, Alexis Nelson, Tori Heier, Amber Wallace | Front From Left: Heather Schwaner, Gabrielle Unda, Adrienne Brink, Amelia Jeanmarie, Ashley Brien
Photos by: Emily Green
I have settled on the belief that the future is better.
Adrienne Brink | Uncommon Camellia
What has been your number one challenge in the midst of the COVID-19 crisis as it relates to weddings?
I’ve focused daily on preparing myself and my team for what happens when this cloud lifts. It’s a challenge to work tirelessly on a goal when the future is unknown. This is a similar challenge for our couples. It takes courage to plan a wedding during this time.
What advice would you like to offer to those in the planning process now?
For weddings in 2020 that have most of the planning complete, my advice is to hold tight until about 6-8 weeks prior to your wedding. The more time goes by, the more information you will have, and the better decisions you will be able to make.
For couples who are just starting to plan a wedding, I encourage them to do as much of that planning as possible now before wedding professionals move into the busy wedding season. This fall, the industry would have been busy even without the influx of weddings added from the spring because of COVID-19.
Another concern is venue and vendor availability in 2021. Many vendors are already reporting limited dates left for 2021
Of the couples that are postponing, are they keeping their original plans or scaling back guest lists / making other adjustments?
Several of our couples did get married on their original wedding date but will go through with a larger celebration later. The most popular adjustment has been to postpone with similar wedding plans on the original date.
What have you been doing to reassure/accommodate your couples during this difficult time?
I’m listening closely to the communication from our Governor and the New Orleans Mayor. Many of our clients are not living in New Orleans, so we are sending them updates, particularly related to restrictions. And we are hoping to send good news of those lifting over the next coming weeks.
What do you wish other vendors were doing to help?
I’ve been inspired and reassured by the team approach of the vendors we work alongside. Everyone I’ve spoken to has been flexible, fair, and most importantly open to making things happen differently…Our clients are looking to us for solutions. Luckily, most the wedding pros I know are natural problem solvers!
What do you miss most about weddings right now?
The contagious laughter during a good toast, people storming the dance floor for their favorite song, rowdy bridesmaids and groomsmen, mothers of the bride letting loose and being the life of the party, the satisfaction of finishing a complex bustle (lol), using radio talk on our two-way radios … I miss it all.
What are you most looking forward to when weddings do start taking place again?
Remember when the Saints came back to the Superdome? I still cry every time I hear that Green Day, U2 version of The Saints are Coming, that was unforgettable. Every wedding is going to feel like that for me, like a great comeback story that the couple and their guests will never forget.
- Visit uncommoncamellia.com
- or follow along in IG @theuncommoncamellia to learn more!
Next up…Christie Roueche of Mise En Place Events.
Photos by Tasha Rae
What has been your number one challenge in the midst of the COVID-19 crisis as it relates to weddings?
The biggest challenge has been accommodating our clients’ desire to move to prime Fall (October) 2020 dates when we were already booked. We have really leaned on our team to expect to work very hard for several months…
What advice would you like to offer to those in the planning process now?
Be flexible! Things may change, and that’s OK. If at the end of all this, you are married: mission accomplished!
What have you been doing to reassure/accommodate your couples during this difficult time?
In addition to expanding our staffing to accommodate the October rescheduled dates, we have also worked with our couples to assist them with rescheduling their venues and vendors regardless of the level or service we were hired for. So far, we have waived all rebooking fees.
What do you miss most about weddings right now?
I miss the joy we get to experience every weekend with our couples. We have so much fun celebrating with them and their families! Also, the food!
What are you most looking forward to when weddings do start taking place again?
The hardes part of this for me is feeling like I am not serving my purpose. I love what I do and I love being able to make a living doing it. So I am looking forward to getting back to a business that I love.
- See what Mise en Place can do for you by following along on Instagram @mepeventsnola
Finally we’ll hear from Cj + Dominick of Lonney Jane Productions.
Photo by Mateo & Co
– Cj | Lonney Jane Productions
The New Orleans community has truly come together during this unprecedented time and has gone above and beyond for their clients and fellow vendors.
Of the couples that are postponing, are they keeping their original plans or scaling back guest lists / making other adjustments?
All of our couples that were booked from March through May of 2020 have opted to postpone with the intentions of sticking to their original plans!
We’re optimistic moving forward with that as our goal, however we do have options outlined for our clients to consider, should the need arise.
What do you miss most about weddings right now?
Can we say everything? If I had to choose, it would probably be the first look. I tear up every time. That, and listening to our couples exchange vows during the ceremony.
What are you most looking forward to when weddings do start taking place again?
We love this question! We are READY and cannot wait to see and experience events happening again. To see all of the tiny details put in place, to hear the happy and excited chatter…to re-experience that soothing calm right before the ceremony.. and to work as a team again with all of our vendor friends.
Things that used to seem so small are what we’re looking forward to the most!
- Follow along on Instagram: @LonneyJaneProductions
- Or visit their website Lonney Jane Productions
I am a doer. So, naturally this time at home has left my flat surfaces littered with ‘to do’ lists bearing titles like “Around the House”, “In the Garden”, “For School”, and “Work”. Well, six weeks in and I have decluttered those closets, planted and established the largest garden I’ve ever maintained, kept up with our homeschooling (this is normal for us – thankfully!), baked bread, hit the pavement with my running shoes, done far too few burpees and helped handfuls of couples reschedule and rearrange their wedding plans so that everything – almost – can make sense again sooner rather than later.
THANK YOU for spending some time here with me today – if you have questions please reach out to info@gabbychapin.com. I would love to serve you and help you find those answers!
Also a BIG THANKS to the dedicated professionals who contributed to this article. Be sure to give them a follow in Instagram or browse their websites to learn more about how having a wedding planner can help lighten the load!
Until next time!
-Gabby
