Weddings in Level 2

The good news that South Africans received recently, when our President announced that we would be moving to Level 2 of our lockdown, was welcomed by more than just the tobacco and liquor industries. Wedding venues, caterers and other service providers have been waiting for many months to say that they can start providing you with the services that you need for your special day. Add to that the fact that loved ones living in other provinces will also be able to travel, and the possibility of still having your special day in 2020 might not be so far fetched anymore.

It is important, however, to realise that there are still restrictions as to how many attendees (50 max) there may be, as well as curfews. Picking the venue location, accommodation for guests, as well as the time of day that the wedding may take place, is therefore very important. The most important thing, is to still make sure that you and your guests are all safe, because level 2 does not mean that we as a country are out of the woods yet.Keep taking into account that when socialising, we take bigger risks, and start getting creative with your wedding.

Venue location:

Look for a venue that is closer to home or that is central to where most of your loved ones live. This makes travel time less, and it also means that your guests would not have to drive far at night in order to make the curfew. It also means that in a generally cash-strapped situation you might not burden your guests with the obligation of having to book accommodation.

Accommodation for guests:

If your venue has accommodation, it could be worthwhile to make this option available for your guests, but like I said in the previous paragraph, remember that most people are having to endure a tough financial season, so be considerate towards them. Venues and guesthouses are ready to accommodate people, and if you were to shop around for a good rate, you will find that most providers won’t overcharge despite the hardships facing their industry.

Time of the day:

Consider a morning wedding or an early afternoon wedding. This would give your guests time to get home, and it would also help the venues and their suppliers to be able to provide you with more options for longer periods of time (remember there is still a curfew).

Seeing that we are entering a time of the year where our lovely climate makes an outdoor picnic wedding an attractive option for many, consider how you will keep your guests entertained, if for instance you opt to limit dancing to a first dance, and only a handful of the other traditions in order to keep your guests safe. Most venues and planners will be able to give advice and make options available, as they have been working hard behind the scenes so as to prepare for the level 2 scenario.

Or…

You might feel that a larger wedding is still your choice, so making a booking for 2021 or beyond would be your next step. But this needs to happen now! Remember that venues and suppliers will now be accommodating postponed weddings from 2020 as well, so your first choice venue might start to fill up as far as two years in advance.Starting the search for suppliers and booking them, might be a good idea, as they are opening up for business again and can start helping you with your planning. Many are also running specials on their rates at the moment in order to kick-start things, so it is definitely worthwhile to start making contact with them

If your would like to make contact with us in order to book a marriage officer (the person that officiates at your wedding) or to enquire about rates and services, you are welcome to send an email to admin@thatmarriageofficer.co.za

We look forward to celebrating life with you!