As you have heard and very well know by now, the rapid spread of COVID-19 has become a serious concern. This outbreak has changed many lives and will continue to do so while we all ride this out together. My heart, thoughts, and prayers go out to those affected and their friends and families.
Moving into this season of uncertainty, as the photographers and filmmakers you entrusted to capture your wedding day, we want to prioritize your health, your well-being, and, of course, we want to be there to celebrate alongside you and your loved ones.
I want to assure you that Haley and I aren’t going anywhere. We want to be by your side through and help you navigate the unknown. Moving forward, we want to be a line for support and encouragement during the unknown, sourcing local vendors, and here to help with rescheduling if it reaches that point. With our wedding also coming up soon, we understand the extra strain this can add to an already intense season of planning.
We are taking precautionary steps to ensure that we will remain safe and be healthy on our wedding day and yours! We want you to also be able to stay healthy, so here are some ideas to put into action as you approach your wedding day.
- Wedding insurance is always a good idea, especially in situations like what we are currently facing. Look into different options and ask about their policies covering instances considered pandemics, epidemics, or acts of God.
- Make sure to take preventative measures for yourselves. Easy ways to do this are to refrain from being in large crowds and wash your hands often. You and your fiance are priority number one as your wedding day quickly approaches, take care of each other!
- A great way to share updates about your plans and any changes is to create or update your wedding website. Places like Zola and The Knot are free and are a great way to start this if you haven’t created a website yet. We just updated our own wedding website so if you need a copy of what we sent our guests for our own wedding, I’m happy to send it to you!
- Through places like Zola and The Knot, send a message to your guests asking if they or a family member are ill, to consider not attending to protect loved ones in attendance.
- If you haven’t already, consider ordering you and your bridesmaids’ dresses from US-based vendors. Early. Due to many companies being based overseas, there are unfortunately many delays on shipments. Here are some U.S. based vendors to check out: Lulu’s, BHLDN.
- Most importantly – confide and trust in your vendors and move forward planning your wedding with confidence. I would encourage you to continue to plan to have your wedding. Lean on your team of vendors during this time. We have all been in the industry for a long time and have the knowledge and expertise to make your day go smoothly. After all – we’re here to make sure you have the most beautiful day possible!
- ***If you are considering postponing your wedding day, speak to your vendors about this IMMEDIATELY. Our availability throughout the remainder of the wedding season is limited and if a reschedule is requested, the sooner we know about this the better the chances are that we can accommodate your request. We want to do everything in our power to be with you and work with you through this time.
We are beyond blessed to be able to have the opportunity to celebrate YOU. We are so thankful you have entrusted us to capture your beautiful memories. As we walk through unknown territory in the coming weeks, please know that Haley and I here to help, always.
-Michael
Owner & Photographer
Michael Rizza Photography