Love in the time of COVID | Michigan Wedding Photographer

I wrote this back in August 2020 after experiencing my first few weddings during COVID – not much has changed and this information is still important.

Your wedding can be both safe and spectacular, in spite of COVID.

The last few weeks have been a whirlwind – for us as photographers and definitely for our couples who are (and were) in the throes of wedding planning. From the state closing down to reopening with restrictions, engaged couples have been forced to plan and replan weddings during COVID. 

Here are a few things that I know: 

1. Guests should wear a mask – it’s required right now, and simply safer for everyone. 

2. Tents with walls are still considered indoors and should not house more than 10 people from different households according to current orders. 

3. Outdoor gatherings should consist of less than 100 people…and those people should be doing their best to social distance and wear masks.

As a photographer and simply a normal human being, I can say that following these rules can be stressful and difficult and, at times, really seem to suck the fun out of your plans. However, the guidelines that have been put into place are really acting in all of our best interests. 

I can’t stress enough how important it is to stay in touch with your vendors during planning at this time! Part of what I like to do as your photographer is help you out with building your timeline for the day, so if you have changes to make – please let me know! We can work together to keep your day running as smoothly as possible. As always, my couples are my priority and I do my very best to gently lead them through their wedding day so stress is not something they feel at all on the day of their marriage.

Here are some ideas for compliance that I’ve learned from the weddings that I’ve photographed during this pandemic thus far: 

1. Ask that guests wear a mask. 

2. Encourage socially distanced dancing – Socially distanced Cupid Shuffle, anyone?

3. Bring backyard games into your outdoor wedding – beer pong and corn hole are games that everyone can get behind!

4. Enjoy a smaller, simpler, more intimate wedding day – a big party is surely fun, but at the end of the day, marrying your person is the whole point. 

While the state of the world today may seem daunting, I hope that if you are currently planning a wedding, you are taking all of this in stride. Find simple pleasures in what you are doing. Spend time outdoors. Let your loved ones know they are loved. And marry your person if you want to. 

At the end of the day, it’s all about LOVE and what you decide to do with it. It’s not about the big party.