To start things off, congratulations! If you are reading this post, you are probably planning your wedding and this is a very exciting time for you!
This past year has been an exciting year seeing happy couples once again getting married. After a rough year for couples in 2020, 2021 was a big improvement... however 2022 is going to be even bigger... It is no joke when you hear vendors talking about the Wedding Boom.
What is a Wedding Boom you may ask? A Wedding Boom is a surge of weddings after a year+ of downsized and postponed weddings.
What does this mean for couples planning during the wedding boom? Due to the increase of w: If you plan on hosting a large event, you may want to consider hosting it at a registered venue versus having a home property event. Currently, Nova Scotia has heavier restrictions on events not hosted at or by a Registered Business or Organization. If your are having your event at home or an unmonitored venue, make sure you are very familiar with the restrictions so you are not in for a surprise! dor in mind, it is never to early to reach out and book them for your big day.
5 Tips for Planning a wedding during this Wedding Boom:
Be flexible with your date: as mentioned above, some vendors are only able to accommodate a specific number of events each day/week. In Nova Scotia, Saturdays between May long weekend until Mid October are the most popular dates and can book up years in advance. If you are open to a non-Saturday or off-season date, you should have more options when it comes to venues and vendors!
Decisions will have to be made fast: Your first steps with planning, after determining your budget and venue, should be building your vendor team. Be prepared to have to make some quick decisions when it comes to picking your vendors. Vendors are booking fast, and just because they were available when you reached out last week, does not mean they will still be available today. Many vendors will not hold a date without a deposit and or contract in place.
Expect some increased costs: When it comes to florals and vendors, we have noticed a large increase in pricing. With florals specifically, we have noticed an increase in cost due to the high demands and difficulties of bringing in specific florals. Having some flexibility in your floral budget and trusting your florist to make appropriate substitutions will go along way!
Events Hosted at or by a Registered Business currently have more flexibility (NS Specific): If you plan on hosting a large event, you may want to consider hosting it at a registered venue versus having a home property event. Currently Nova Scotia has heavier restrictions on events not hosted at or by a Registered Business or Organization. If your are having your event at home or an unmonitored venue, make sure you are very familiar with the restrictions so you are not in for a surprise!
Be prepared for changes in COVID: If we have learned anything over the past two years, it is that anything can happen. There is no predicting exactly how everything will play out, but knowing what could happen, will help you be prepared.
- Make sure to read your contracts and know exactly what your vendors cancellation and postponement policies are.
- Keep up to date with the regulations; Is masking required? Are vaccines required? Is there capacity limits? What rules are a dealbreaker for you? If you have to cut your guest list, will you postpone or move forward? These are all questions to consider if you are planning a wedding during these times. Unfortunately COVID regulations are going to stick for a while, so knowing the possibilities will help you prepare for Plan A, B, and maybe even C.
And one final tip - Take a break once you book your vendors! You need it! The big part is done, sit back, relax, and celebrate your engagement before diving into the details!!
xoxo,
Kathryn
Photo by Michaela Bell