2022 NC Wedding Guide

COVID Still Affecting Weddings Two Years Later

By Janice Lane Palko

Like many brides, Alicia (Simpson) Sullivan, formerly of Pine Township, knows what it’s like to have the COVID-19 pandemic interfere with her wedding plans. She was originally supposed to marry husband, Eric, in March of 2020, but then the lockdowns came, and the date was pushed back until that summer, but then things were postponed again.

“I always say that planning a wedding during the Covid-19 pandemic should be considered an Olympic sport. Virtually every detail of our wedding was changed in some way because of the pandemic. At first, it was sad, frustrating and overwhelming, even though we knew we were making the best decision by prioritizing the health and safety of our family, friends, and community,” said Alicia.

Alicia and Eric finally did get married this past June 2021. “When our big day (finally!) arrived, it was better than we ever could have hoped for. Our indoor hotel ballroom wedding reception scheduled for a Saturday in March turned into a warm Friday evening in June, under a beautifully lit outdoor tent. While these changes felt like sacrifices when we initially made them, they ended up giving us an entire extra day of celebrating with our out-of-town guests and a quiet day of relaxation before leaving for our honeymoon. Looking back, our wedding couldn’t have been more perfect, and I couldn’t envision it any other way.”

Photos courtesy of Amber Marie Photography

Now, brides are facing a new conundrum of a bridal boom and supply bust. According to the Knot Worldwide, there is a 25% increase in wedding demand this year because there is a backlog of brides whose weddings were postponed combined with those couples who have been recently engaged, and they are competing with so many other brides for dresses, venues, etc. To complicate matters even further, the supply chain crisis is making goods scarce—everything from paper shortages for invitations to flowers for bouquets. Pair that with a labor shortage that is impacting everything from dress manufacturers to floral designers to servers at wedding venues and you have a sticky situation that is expected to last throughout 2022. So, what’s a bride to do? Industry experts are advising several things. First, be flexible. You may not be able to secure the venue of your dreams for a summer wedding on a Saturday, but if you consider getting married on an “off day” like a Thursday, you may have a chance. Another tip is to plan far in advance. The average time to wedding is now taking 14 months. If you are recently engaged, you can’t start planning too early.

Also, be sure to stash more cash in your wedding budget because a simple rule of economics shows that when things are in short supply, prices rise. Expect to pay a bit more for everything. Therefore, it’s wise to sign contracts now before prices rise even more.

This may all seem a bit discouraging, but as we know, love will find a way!

The Camelot Event Center

The Camelot has been a part of the community for over 30 years, and Ryan and Valerie Sarel take pride carrying on this local tradition for the past 8 years and into the future. The original Warrendale venue is a charming historic building surrounded by the original stained glass windows, and The Camelot has recently added a larger and newly renovated venue in Wexford into their offerings. Executive Chef Ryan Sarel has over 15 years of professional, high-end catering and leadership experience, and Event Manager Valerie Sarel has over 20 years of customer service and design experience. Together, they strive to provide their community with elegant, expertly-catered, professionally executed events ranging from weddings to sports banquets, corporate functions, and everything in between.

The Camelot Event Center - Wexford & Warrendale is proud to be a local family-run small business! www.thecameloteventcenter.com | 724-935-4550

Betsy’s Barn

Betsy’s Barn is the perfect rustic, yet modern venue to host a variety of events including weddings, receptions, proms, graduation parties and more! With the capacity to accommodate up to 300 people, it is available as an all-inclusive venue “where memories are made.” Located in Portersville, PA surrounded by beautiful McConnell’s Mill State Park, Betsy’s Barn has been providing an original and unique venue to celebrate one of the most important days of your life for over 20 years. Betsy’s Barn now features a large wrap around porch completely under roof that houses modern bathroom facilities, a bar area, open air lounge and a glass enclosed deck. This gives you approximately 7000 sq. feet of rustic beauty. Regardless of the weather outside, you can relax and know that rain or shine your event will go on as planned. Social events are held from May through the end of August.

If you would like to tour our facility, reserve your date, or need additional information, please give us a call at (724) 368-3233 or visit our website at: www.betsysbarn.com We can help make your dreams become memories.

General Rental Center

General Rental Center

We are the area’s most professional, prompt, reliable party rental store with over decades of experience in creating excellence, and generations of service. We have everything you need to make your dreams come true.

We can handle anything from large weddings to small intimate affairs, or bridal showers and rehearsal dinners. Located in Cranberry Township, you can visit our showroom or website, www.General- Rental-Center.com, to browse our broad array of products and services. We carry tents, tables, chairs, liners, dancefloor, and more. We understand that wedding planning can be stressful that’s why we’re the experts and here to help. Whether you’re an event pro planning for a client or visualizing your own big day, we can help you every step of the way. Planning is our passion. Call 724-776-6990 or visit us online today, at www.General-Rental-Center.com, to speak with one of our event specialists. We will assist you with finding the right wedding rental essentials based on your vision and budget. We can’t wait to get started with you.

www.northernconnectionmag.com | FEBRUARY 2022