Wedding Blog: Tales of a Planner

If it makes you feel any better, there are thousands of brides-to-be feeling the very same way these days. Wedding plans have been canceled or postponed across the country as we all wait for the current crisis to come to an end. In fact, the entire wedding industry is a total mess right now, with many service providers struggling to make ends meet.

But there is hope, and it comes in the form of a virtual wedding! That’s where you and your partner get married and your family and friends join you via video to share in your ceremony! Virtual weddings have skyrocketed lately on Zoom and other video chat apps, giving hope to millions of couples chomping at the bit to tie the knot.  (You can read more about virtual weddings here.)

How To Make a Virtual Wedding More Real

If you and your spouse-to-be have decided on a virtual wedding, congrats! It may not be exactly what you were hoping for but, in many ways, it can be just as fun and fulfilling. One thing it will most likely be is less expensive. Hey, you won’t have to rent a venue, which will save you thousands of dollars! You won’t need a limo either, or thousands of dollars worth of food, drinks, beer and wine.

Of course, your virtual ‘guests’ won’t be nearly as involved in what’s going on since, you know, they’re not actually there with you. They won’t have the champagne to toast you and your newly minted spouse. They won’t be able to sign your guestbook either, or get those oh-so-awesome wedding party favors. (Some people really like collecting them!) And as for wedding cake, well, let’s just say that a virtual wedding cake is virtually unsatisfying.

If you’re highly aware of these facts and feeling unhappy that your friends and family won’t be able to take part, take heart: we’ve got an idea for you that will allow them all to be much more involved!  It’s called the “Wish You Were Here” Box and it can be a real treat! (Emphasis on the ‘real’.)

Here are a few things you can include in your WYWH Box. Keep in mind that it’s your choice completely. If you think of something special you’d like to include, go for it!

• Thinking of You / Missing Your Company Card. You can make these yourself for a personal touch or have them printed. Larger or oversized cards can also be a lot of fun and make a bigger impression.
• A Centerpiece for their Table. This can be as simple or as ornate as you like. One that needs to be put together can add to the fun and make people feel more involved.
• This can add a touch of color and a pleasant aroma to your WYWH Box. One thing to keep in mind is that, since flowers are perishable and can wilt, you may need to send them in an insulated WYWH Box.
• Wedding Favors! Whatever you were thinking of to give as wedding favors at your wedding before can still be sent now in your WYWH Box! (Here’s an article we wrote with some memorable, fun and unique suggestions if you haven’t chosen something yet.)
• Stemware for making a toast! This can be real glass if you like or, if you’re worried about breakage (or breaking the bank) there’s always plastic stemware.
• You can’t send stemware without something to pour into it, so a bottle of bubbly is a must! You can go with mini champagne bottles if you like, or go with a full-size bottle, it’s your choice.
• Sending a playlist on a CD or mini-USB will really add to the mood at home for all your friends and family.
• Engagement Photos! This would be a great way to share one or 2 of your best engagement photos with everyone! (Plus it’s such a nice little gift!)
• Something for the Children. Get the children in your family involved with, say, a coloring book based on weddings, or some printed black and white pictures of a wedding couple to color. Mini bottles of sparkling apple cider will allow them to get in on the toast as well. Fun!
• Your Guest Book #1. This could be really fun. For example, you could send 1 page to everyone and have them sign it with good wishes and attach a picture of themselves on your wedding day as they participated in your virtual wedding. Then they can send it back (don’t forget a postage-paid envelope!) and you can put them all together in an album. Voila, instant wedding album!
• Your Guest Book #2. Another cool idea would be to have a puzzle made from one of your engagement pictures and send a puzzle piece to everyone. (If you can get big puzzle pieces it works best.) Then, they can sign them, send them back and you can put them together and frame it! Sweet!
• Place Settings. If you really wanted to go all-out, an entire place setting could go in your WYWH Box so that your guests could enjoy wedding day food. Speaking of which…
• A Hello Fresh or Blue Apron Box. If you wanted everyone to share the same meal on your wedding day, sending them all a meal-kit from Blue Apron or Hello Fresh would be perfect!
• Wedding Candles. Many wedding traditions involve lighting candles during the ceremony. Sending all your friends and family a wedding candle in their WYWH Box is a great way to share that tradition.
• Wine and Beer. Let’s be honest, booze is a big part of why weddings can be so much fun! (In moderation, of course.) So adding some wine or beer to your WYWH Box simply makes sense and will make lots of people happy too! (Who couldn’t use a drink these days, am I right?!)
• Your Own Hashtag. Starting a hashtag that everyone can use on social media would be a great way for everyone to stay more connected.
• Cake! Sending a cake mix would work, or a couple of cupcakes that could sit-in for wedding cake. That way, everyone could enjoy it at the same time while you and your new spouse feed each other!