covid-19 policies &
rescheduling your wedding:
CURRENT 2020 COUPLES:
I want you to be aware of my availability before starting the process of rescheduling your wedding date. To make things easy I have created this guide including steps to reschedule, my availability calendar for 2021, and my rescheduling policy.
Venue
You deserve to have your dream wedding. Postpone, don't cancel! Contact your venue first and ask for dates they have available in 2021. Venues typically only book 1 wedding a day so it is important that they are consulted with first about a date change. Some will allow soft holds.
Vendors
Once you have some back up dates, reach out to ALL of your vendors as soon as possible with all the options. Considering Friday and Sunday options is one of the biggest ways you can help your vendors, who are likely already booking up premium 2021 Saturdays. Remember each vendor is a small business so each will have their own rescheduling policies.
Details
Examine which wedding details, if any, you need to alter. This might include:
Sending out new Save the Dates
Examining your guest list
Examining your vendors
Re-reading contracts
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Your retainer payment and any payments made are applied to your new wedding date, subject to availability.
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Your payment due dates will adjust to your rescheduled wedding date.
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You can put a soft hold on a 2021 date if you are unsure about rescheduling at this time. If someone else chooses that soft hold date you will be notified and will then have 72 hours to decide if you want to move forward with officially rescheduling or the date will be released to the other couple.
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Should you cancel your wedding date, or choose a new date that I am already booked, the retainer will remain non-refundable.
Availability
available
unavailable
soft hold
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What are other couples doing?
So far, all March-June couples have postponed to Summer and Fall 2020 (August-November) or have decided to move their wedding date to 2021. After recent news that the gathering limit for the remainder of 2020 is undetermined, more couples have opted to reschedule to 2021. I stay updated on the gathering limit here. The gathering limit is currently 10 people and all large gatherings are banned in Maryland.
What do you think we should do?
First and foremost, read all of your vendor contracts. Next, if you do not have one already, consider hiring a wedding planner. Wedding planners have taken over vendor correspondence, navigating contracts and stay updated on news + current events. After that, determine if you are willing to or able to limit your guest count to whatever the gathering limit may be at the time of your wedding. Consider travel limitations and high risk guests when making that decision.
Stay updated on the gathering limit in Maryland here. If your wedding guest count is expected to be over the gathering limit then you should postpone your wedding, not cancel it. You deserve the wedding day you have planned for and paid for. If you are trying to save money, cancelling is not the way to go about it. Keep in mind you will need to be flexible about date availability.
What vendors should we contact first?
All of them. You have paid a retainer fee with your vendors and are likely on a payment schedule with each of them. You will need to see what each vendors policy is for payments when rescheduling. Here is the order I would consider:
1. Your venue and planner are the most important
2. Your photographer, videographer and any vendor that is a single person business
3. Vendors that have a team and are known to do multiple weddings a day - they will have more flexibility
Once all vendors have confirmed a date, put them all in a group email to send the final confirmation, this is a good way for us to connect! Your vendors are a team of professionals all working together to to serve you!
When should we make a decision?
Some local venues have recommended waiting until you are 2.5 months out from your wedding before deciding to reschedule. This is subject to the gathering limit changing. The longer you wait the less date options your venue will have.
What happens if we choose a date you are not available?
We will move forward with signing a cancellation agreement, and the retainer will remain non-refundable. Please know that I want to be at your wedding! I'm excited to celebrate with you and I can't wait to capture your day as we planned!
Questions?
Concerns?
Please don't hesitate to reach out!
NEW Elopement Package
This package only applies to couples (already booked with Abidoodle Productions AND new inquiries) whose original wedding plans have been affected by COVID-19.
$1,300
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ceremony and portrait coverage
up to three hours -
instagram teaser
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2-3 min highlight reel
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full ceremony edit
no travel fees up to 75 miles from 21409
NEW Bookings
If you are a couple affected by COVID-19 and need a videographer for your rescheduled wedding, your FULL PACKAGE (Standard, Deluxe, or Premium) contract will include:
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complimentary engagement video
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complimentary next day teaser