4 Tips for planning the perfect pandemic wedding

“The truth is, weddings have changed, and we are unlikely to see a 100+ guest wedding for many more months to come. Planning a wedding under normal circumstances is tough, so I truly sympathise with couples who are navigating the uncertainties that have come with having to plan a wedding during a pandemic,” he says. Lamont adds that while we must all ensure that we’re doing our part to limit the spread of COVID-19, couples shouldn’t rule out their fairytale wedding altogether just yet. “As the numbers start to lesson, the lockdown measures will loosen, and a dream wedding with the opportunity to make lasting, magical memories will be back on the cards,” he says.

The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in widespread changes, including wedding cancellations and postponements. In fact, a study revealed that 96% of couples were not willing to cancel their weddings in 2020, but rather move them to a later date in 2021. Shaun Lamont, Managing Director of First Group Hotels and Resorts, says that as a result of 2020 postponements, 2021 will most likely become the year of the wedding boom.

He also offers four tips to couples looking to plan the perfect pandemic wedding:

1 Follow the health and safety protocols:

Masks, sanitiser, and social distancing are now a daily feature in our lives, and your wedding should be no different. Not only must you ensure that your guests follow the health and safety protocols, but you also need to ensure that your selected venue is compliant with COVID-19 regulations too! First Group, for example, has transformed every resort and hotel into a COVID-safe zone that boasts disinfectant tunnels to sanitise the whole body at the entrance.

2 Keep your numbers small and embrace

tech: Under Level 1 of the lockdown, social gatherings are now limited to 100 people or less for indoor venues, and 250 people or less for outdoor venues. If the venue is too small to hold the prescribed number of persons observing social distancing, then not more than 50 % of the capacity of the venue may be used.

Hotels, lodges. bed and breakfasts. timeshare facilities, resorts, and guest houses are allowed full capacity of the available rooms for accommodation.

The plus side is that you will not only save on cost, but you will also have the opportunity to share your special day with those closest to you (yes, that means no distant cousins or dodgy uncles!) And, if you embrace technology and get a hot-shot videographer, the rest of your invited guests can still join your special day online ensuring that no one misses out (not even Uncle Kenneth and Cousin Zethu)!

3 Reduce touchpoints: Limiting the spread of COVID-19 means you must reduce the number of touchpoints on your wedding day, and this includes décor. Less is more when it comes to pandemic wedding décor, so instead of spending a fortune on table centrepieces and draping, rather choose a venue with breath-taking views to provide a beautiful, natural backdrop for your day.

4 Turn your wedding day to wedding

weekend: Less people at your wedding means that you are likely to save on cost. Use the extra cash to make a wedding weekend away with those you love the most. You can spend quality time with those who mean the world to you, making magical, lasting memories, not just for a couple of hours but for an entire weekend!

“Life has changed, but that doesn’t mean we stop living or stop loving or stop planning. It simply means that we adapt accordingly,” Lamont concludes. 10% Discount on all wedding packages, booked/enquired via Rove SA. Use code in email subject: Rove SA Wedding Enquiry

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Augrabies Falls National Park

Augrabies Falls National Park is located at the Augrabies Falls, about 120km west of Upington. It was established in 1966. The Augrabies Falls National Park covers an area of 820km² and stretches along the Orange River. The area is very arid. The waterfall is about 60 metres high and is awe-inspiring when the river is in flood. The gorge below the falls averages about 240m deep and runs for 18km. The gorge provides an impressive example of erosion into a granitic basement. The original Khoikhoi people named the waterfall 'Ankoerebis', meaning the 'place of big noises'.

www.experiencenortherncape.com

Augrabies Falls National Park Northern Cape South Africa