Love is incredible! It can bring laughter in times of sadness, clarity in times of uncertainty and strength in times of difficulty. A wedding is a showcase of you and your partner’s unique love, and while there’s no denying that COVID-19 has taken center stage for many couples with spring/summer weddings, the truth is, the spotlight will always be yours and love will transpire in the end.

If you are having trouble seeing the light at the end of the tunnel and feel like you could use some help with getting yourself reorganized and ready to map out Plan B, you are in the right place! Who better to lean on in this time than wedding professionals who are pros at handling curve balls! Discover Saratoga is happy to share with you the following advice and tips from our trusted wedding members:

 

Katie O’Malley Maloney, Owner of Katie O Events:

"Always remember to keep the love that brought you together at the forefront during this uncertain time. Lean on one another, support each other and know that you will say "I do" and celebrate, even if it looks a little different than originally planned."  

 

Amanda Trackey, Wedding and Social Event Planner at Saratoga National Golf Club:

“As anyone in the event industry would say, COVID-19 is a new ‘what if.’ However, when planning any event, we strive to have a plan A, B, C, and so on. To any engaged, married, or soon to be engaged couples, read the policies of all your potential vendors, ask the what if questions, and ask how they handled this unforeseen pandemic. Then, plan for an B and a C, and hope you never need it!”

 

Alayne Curtiss, Owner of Make Me Fabulous:

“For reschedules, I'm finding it is working best for brides who consider dates for next year and we will give them the best options. They will most likely be able to keep most, if not all the same vendors. Plus, it gives the couple more time to save money, so maybe they can treat themselves and splurge in an area that they would have liked to, but originally were not able to! Remember, life will always be filled with obstacles, if you can get through this, you can get through anything! As my mom always said, try to enjoy the process, it makes the end goal even better!”

 

Leslie Miller, Director of Sales, Hampton Inn & Suites:

“As the COVID-19 situation continues to unfold, we stay focused on helping our bridal parties adjust to the unknown and remain diligent in our health and cleanliness policies. All aspects of interaction between staff and guests will continue to be examined with a focus on maximum safety, even more frequent cleaning of public areas and social distancing. The Hampton Inn & Suites has a number of features that help reduce contact with surfaces, including hands free fixtures in public bathrooms and a digital key that allows guests to check in without coming to the front desk. We will continue to make guest safety a priority, allowing you to enjoy your special day!”

 

Check out these great blog posts:

Wedding Crasher COVID-19 by Tonya Pellegrini, Owner of Pellegrini Events

How to Plan Your Wedding During the Coronavirus Pandemic by Colin Cowie, Colin Cowie Lifestyle

 

Special COVID-19 offers:

Tech Valley Shuttle is offering a 10% discount to all weddings booked between June 2020-Aug 2020. For more information, please contact Trent Braaf at trent@techvalleyshuttle.com or (518) 878-3136.
 

Saratoga National Golf Club is offering a sweetheart package, valid through April 2021. This is especially good for anyone who has to postpone or is looking for a more affordable option. For more information, please contact Amanda Trackey at atrackey@golfsaratoga.com or (518) 306-2333.
 

This year only, given the present COVID-19 circumstances, Universal Preservation Hall is available for weddings from September-December 2020. The Adelphi Hotel is their in house preferred caterer. For more information, contact Teddy Foster at tfoster@universalpreservationhall.org or (518) 584-2627.

 

Like what you see above? There is more where that came from. Contact me, Alyssa Aufiero at alyssa@discoversaratoga.org and I’d be happy to connect you with one of our incredible wedding planners for additional information and personalized conversations about your specific wedding details.