WEDDINGDATES IS HERE TO SUPPORT AND GUIDE YOU DURING COVID-19 AND ITS EFFECTS – HERE’S HOW

We find ourselves in unprecedented times, and we face some unprecedented challenges.  

Firstly, we must take care of ourselves, our families and our colleagues and stay safe. 

Secondly, we must try to help our clients as best we can and minimise the impact to our businesses.

I want to reassure you that at WeddingDates, we are well set up to continue to support you through this uncertain period.  

Be consistent 

It’s important to continue to market your venue or service, as more people will be working from home and confined to home and we could even see a spike in searches! You need to keep filling that pipeline for the future.

Times of crisis challenge us to be creative so try to think outside the box for solutions – here are some that we came up with while brainstorming:

Be proactive 

Communication with your couples is key at this time and while we are all focusing on the immediate, couples with weddings further out may still be panicking. 

For events that are still going ahead, give your clients something to send to their guests – a document that reassures them of the measures you are taking and the measures they can take to keep everyone safe during the event. Tell them how you’ve increased your cleaning schedule, or how you’ve considered social distancing.

Reach out to the couples that have booked with you over the next few months, sooner rather than later. Have that difficult discussion, and if cancellation is required try to work with them to come up with alternative solutions.

If a couple has an upcoming booking for 120 -130 people, it may be that some of their guests can’t/won’t now attend, and their number may be reduced – so the wedding can still go ahead? Or would the couple consider splitting guests between 2 rooms in the venue if space allows? Staggering the drinks reception may also be a consideration. 

Be creative 

Compile a list of your available dates for the rest of the year, that you can give to your couples, and also publish on your website & social, so other couples can see them too – their venue may not be able to assist so you may pick up some business that way or from foreign weddings now relocating their wedding to Ireland. 

Apart from your quieter week days are Sunday civil weddings an option for your venue? Get in touch with your book of celebrants to see if they can facilitate and have availability.

Liaise with your approved suppliers (bands/Florists/MUAs) about those dates too, to see if you can line up availability and put together a complete package for couples that may be trying to re-organise every element of their day. .

In the event the period is extended for limited gatherings as the weather improves, are outdoor weddings an option you could facilitate with tents/marquees?

It’s difficult for businesses but remember that it’s heartbreaking for the couples involved too. Let’s bring the humanity and see how we can support them and make their dream day happen.

We are here for you, get in touch if there’s anything we can do.