Nashville Wedding Planner | Locklane Weddings & Events | Alyssa Joy Photo | Wilburn Street Studio

When I planned this wedding shoot, I had no real concept of a pandemic or any imaginings that the world would be able to shut down for months at a time. (My sister would say I should read more books…). But it’s here, we’re living history out, and we have some not so fun wedding topics to cover. So I thought, even if the topic isn’t beautiful, the image overall should be! Because, at the end of the day, marriage, the commitment of two people to one another, LOVE - that is beautiful.

So let’s get down to it.

You’re engaged, you’ve started planning, you’re mid-planning, you’re about to postpone, you just postponed, your wedding is later this year… Whatever stage you are at, I know you are feeling uncertainty. While I cannot calm all of your fears, or give you absolutes, I will provide the best advice I can.

1. Plan Your Wedding

You have likely dreamt of your wedding day from the moment you were born or the moment you said “yes!.” Either way, the planning process is wrapped up in the excitement of your wedding day. So, keep planning or start planning your wedding.

Even if the process has changed, there is still plenty to do! You can do a “cake tasting to-go” or spend some of your online hours searching for the perfect invitations. Hopefully, you have a planner and the two of you can find creative ways to continue.

2. Get Married

Even if you had to postpone your ceremony and/or reception. Even if it’s just the two of you, go ahead and get married - if you’re ready and you’re able to do so in your county!

While a marriage starts with love and companionship, there is also a lot of practical things tied to your commitment that you do not need to put off just because you’re delaying a large gathering of family and friends. Maybe you’re purchasing a home, moving in to an apartment together, ready to change your name, or want to join financial accounts or insurance - practicality is important and part of doing life together.

Your commitment might only be witnessed by the officials present, but your marriage is rooted in just the two of you, no matter what your ceremony consists of. A pandemic definitely falls into the “in sickness and in health, for richer or poorer” category.

3. Be Prepared

If your wedding is scheduled to occur anywhere from June 2020 to spring 2021, be prepared. The “current” predictions will not be current when this is posted because they are ever changing and really, no one is sure what will happen. Most are assuming Covid-19 will return in the fall and into the 2020-2021 flu season. And until a vaccine is fully established, there may be more periods of social distancing and isolation.

Part of being a planner is preparing for the worst, so that is my advice: prepare for the worst. How? For starters, instead of having a “b list” of guests to invite if your “a list” is unable to attend, have a “c list” of 50 or 25 people who you would invite if small gathering measures are put into place. Again, this may not happen. But it is better to be prepared now by knowing how you would cut your list down, than to be surprised and have to scramble to reduce your guest list.

4. Stay Connected & Keep Celebrating

Just as everyone is recommending, it is good for your mental health to find way to stay connected to your friends and family. Even if you have never been into video chatting, give it a try. Have a virtual happy hour with your friends! Celebrate and find a way to embrace that your wedding will forever be remembered as occurring during a pandemic! I know it’s not fun... but it’s unique!

5. Pray & Know Your Feelings are Valid

We can all use some prayer. Pray this pandemic passes, a vaccine is found, and that we can have the biggest blowout party to celebrate! Pray for peace and patience. It’s just a season, but a hard one.

Lastly, it’s ok to be sad, disappointed, frustrated, scared. We’re all feeling it, but you have the weight of planning a joyous occasion in the midst of it. I’m here for you, my team is here for you.

Thank you to my lovely vendors who never imagined I would use this gorgeous shoot for an informative blog about a pandemic (neither did I)!

Event Planner: Locklane Weddings & Events
Venue: Wilburn Street Studio
Photographer: Alyssa Joy Photography
Rentals, Design, Florals: Mayker
Linens, Tableware: Music City Tents & Events
Paper Goods, Calligraphy: Clover Paper Co.
Models: AMAX Talent & Creative Agency
Makeup: Morgan Jae Beauty
Hair: The Label Closet
Ladies Attire: The Bride Room
Guys Attire: Street Tuxedo

Last summer, we helped Sarah and Jeff plan their adoption fundraiser and we're so grateful that Caley Newberry Photography was on hand to capture the event. But what's better than a great event? On November 7, Sarah and Jeff finalized the adoption of their daughter Melrose! There is no questioning their love of that little girl and goodness she is cute!

Sarah was just a work friend of my husband's when I began helping her plan their fundraiser, but I was excited to be involved because adoption has a special place in my heart. Why? I suppose because my aunt was adopted when I was just a baby. She is part of our family, whether blood or not, and it has always felt normal, it never felt strange or out of place (though we did have fun joking about how my aunt was younger than me, especially when we were in school together).

As an adult, I have had many friends welcome adopted children into their family and it has been beautiful to watch, even when I see how difficult it can be. Being given the opportunity to help a couple find the finances to become a family was such an honor. And I was lucky enough to gain new friends in the process!

Adoption Fundraiser at GranDale Manor by Locklane Weddings & Events, Nashville, TN

Adoption Fundraiser at GranDale Manor, Locklane Weddings & Events, Caley Newberry Photography

I am so thankful to the many vendors who helped us pull off a successful event - we raised over a third of their adoption costs!

How did we thank our vendors?

Prior to the fundraiser, we coordinated a style shoot to give a little thank you to the vendors who gave of their time and resources to put together our event. The shoot was featured on Every Last Detail blog! And of course our couple was Jeff and Sarah. A little celebration of their marriage, the basis for their budding family.

How did we raise the money?

We were able to get most of our items and the space donated, while our food was secured at a reduced cost. Tickets were sold to cover the food, beverage, and other small costs. A few sponsors also helped with our costs and added to their profit. The majority of their fundraising was secured through a wine pull and silent auction.

What did the evening consist of?

GranDale Manor opened their entire downstairs for our use and set up tables and chairs for dinner! We welcomed guests in the foyer where they could buy a ticket for the wine pull.

Two rooms held our silent auction items with an open bar of beer and wine, served by Mangia staff members. Signage from A Mint Macaroon directed and thanked our guests.

In the back, Mangia set up a buffet of salad, pasta, lemon rosemary chicken, seasonal vegetables, focaccia bread, and drinks. Baked in Nashville provided a spread of cookies, French macarons, and a cake (it was ALL delicious).

Rachael Ann's provided a gorgeous arrangement and the main florals, including a mantle piece styled by Feather+Oak. Additional event florals were provided by Kennedy Occasions; Posh Occasions used these to create centerpieces for our dinner tables!

Forrest and The Trees rocked the party with 90's cover songs!

Be sure to watch the above video from Kalimana Film Stories! She did a beautiful job of capturing the joy of the evening.

A special thank you to Jenna Roberts for making Sarah look flawless for both the style shoot and party!

Do you have an adoption fundraiser that you need help planning?

Reach out to us! We hope to give coordination services toward one adoption fundraiser a year.