How to Inform Your Guests You Are Postponing The Wedding

Wondering how to tell your guests you’re postponing the wedding? Curious about how you should notify them? Asking what you need to say on a change the date? We’ve got the answers for you.

I recognize I love weddings more than most. My Instagram feed is filled with inspiration. My living room hosts wedding magazines, and I’m always stopping to learn about a new flower I’ve discovered. I genuinely love weddings and the love they hold. This year reminded me of how much love these celebrations hold. Couples are making difficult wedding day choices together but in the end, always choose each other. 2020 is the year of rolling with the punches. It’s why I am so excited to be working with couples right now; we have a blank canvas to create something entirely new. One of the challenges couples are facing right now is the need to revisit the guest list. COVID-19 policies require us to consider who to cut and who to keep on these guest lists. The task of informing your guests looms in front of you. We know it’s hard to inform your guests you’re postponing your wedding, so we’ve put together our best advice for you. 

When to send change the dates

Have fun creating your change the dates. Use that engagement photo you almost used for your save the dates, or create custom labels on mini champagne bottles. Since there isn’t a standard for this, the best practice is to send your change the dates promptly. I think this card could be digital, an email, or traditionally mailed. Consider how much time you have to mail out your change the dates. Do guests need to know immediately, or is there at least a week’s notice? Make sure your change the dates clearly state if you are postponing your wedding or kindly requesting guests to stay home. 

What to include in Save The Dates

The next question is, what to include on these change the dates? Again there’s no right or wrong in the event of postponing your wedding, but a change the date should consist of some necessary information such as: 

• Your names
• The new date 
• The location 
• Direct them to your wedding website 
• If you’re requesting they remain home, attend virtually, or to practice social distancing 

Your change the date is not much different from the save the date, so don’t fret. This is a simple, easy, and breezy piece of communication that you can dress up or dress down as you’d like. 

How to cut back a guest list

Cutting back on your guest list is never an easy decision. The best approach to creating your new guest list is first to understand how many guests your state’s mandates will allow you to have. From there, we suggest starting your guest list with the people you can not imagine getting married unless they’re there. Family, best friends, and the people you see regularly who are actively apart of your life. Did that list fill up your available slots? Great! Do not for one second feel any guilt about not having your Great Aunt Nancy from Naples, Florida, attend the wedding. Seriously, it’s okay. Postponing a wedding is difficult enough without the fluff of traditional familial ties. Your wedding guest list is to reflect the people who matter most, sans obligations. 

It’s okay to continue planning your wedding despite this pandemic. It’s okay to be sad about what will not be, and it’s okay to be happy about what is to come. Our most vital piece of advice regarding postponing your wedding or change the dates – stay true to you. If it feels good and warm and excellent to you, then that’s the right choice. If you’re still looking for help planning your wedding amidst this pandemic, please reach out to us by booking a consultation here. We’ll chat with you via Zoom and put to rest all of your postponing a wedding fears!