If you’ve stumbled upon my blog post, congratulations on your engagement! I hope you are happily planning for one of the best days of your life!

Now, I don’t want to be naive and ignore all of the circumstances you may be going through with your wedding planning currently. COVID-19 has caused so much disappointment, and my heart goes out to every couple who has been affected in any way. You may have had your wedding planned for earlier this year and had to postpone. You maybe be planning for a new date but you are so unsure of where to start or if you should just cancel all together. You may be planning your wedding for later this year and are confused and fearful of how to move forward. All of these are valid feelings, and I am here to help!

Three months ago I would have never imagined our world this way. COVID-19 has stolen what was supposed to be one of our most popular wedding years for couples. Through the sadness, difficult decisions, and postponements, we have all gotten through this together one day and one step at a time. I, along with many of my other fellow wedding vendors, have chosen to stay positive and roll with the punches and protocols. In planning for the future, we have seen a huge shift towards Intimate Weddings (less than 50 guests) and Los Angeles Elopements or Micro-Weddings (less than 10 guests), and it has remained my goal to help marry sweet couples with the most love and happiness present, no matter the circumstances. You may be feeling a little defeated, but remember your love cannot be canceled and you still deserve the most beautiful and memorable celebration. My hope is to provide a little guidance for you with these following three steps!

Step 1: Know the Guidelines & Plan for the Best

If you have postponed your wedding date already or maybe you are still planning for a later 2020 wedding, make sure to keep your already hired vendors on board and updated with your concerns and plans. During these times and in my experience, most vendors have been so understanding and flexible with changes. If you have hired a wedding planner, make sure to utilize their services and expertise and ask for advice on how to change your date, reduce your guest count, reduce your orders, and much more, if needed. Ask your vendors for their advice, their COVID-19 policies and postponement information, and keep them in your corner if you need any help navigating these times. We are here for you!

Photography by Courage & Dash Photography

Make sure to know the updated guidelines and strict mandates in your County for limiting public gatherings in the state of California. Keep this link to the California Resilience Roadmap in your browser and refresh it from time to time to stay current on the progress. It is so important to be aware of the guidelines and restrictions before you start planning for your safety and the safety of your family, friends, and vendors.

Stay updated about where you can obtain your marriage license and have your ceremony. Each County will have varying policies UPDATED HERE ON (5/27/2020):

Los Angeles County

The County Clerks Office is currently offering Remote Marriage License and Civil Ceremony Appointments. All couples getting married will purchase their marriage license and have their civil ceremony on the same video conferencing call (booking on a first-come, first-serve basis). You can find more information about how to apply for marriage licenses online through the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk website.

Ventura County

The Ventura County Clerk-Recorder website also mentions a few restrictions. These include, only one couple will be allowed inside at a time, one person must be a resident of Ventura County to apply at this time, and they will not be performing any marriage ceremonies at this time.

Santa Barbara County

The Santa Barbara County Clerk-Recorder website is currently booking appointments for marriage services using their wait list system. You can find more information about how to apply for marriage licenses online through the Santa Barbara County Clerk-Recorder website.

Orange County

The Orange County Clerk-Recorder is offering marriage licenses at its Honda Center pop-up location. More details are available on the Orange County Clerk-Recorder Website.

At this point, my main recommendation would be to take it day by day, or even week by week. If your wedding is planned for June or July 2020, I am suggesting to consider postponing due to safety guidelines and the comfort of you, your guests, and your vendors. If your wedding is planned for August 2020 or later, I am suggesting to wait to make any large wedding decsions until late June or July 2020. Every day comes with new information, and it is in your best interest to take your time and consult with your venue and vendor team before changing any plans. My top recommendation is to keep in touch with your venue and, if they are willing, to put a soft hold on a new date in later 2020 or 2021. There is no saying how weddings will be affected long-term, but considering a Smaller Wedding or Los Angeles Elopement with your closest family may be the best option for you currently. You can always consider having a larger ceremony or celebration later!

Step 2: Your Top Priorities

In moving forward with Intimate Weddings and Elopements, my first piece of advice is to take a deep breath, grab a pen and paper, and, if you haven’t already, write down a list of your top three to five must-haves for your wedding day. These are your main priorities for moving forward. During these times and restrictions, dig a little deeper towards the necessities. These might include having your parents and siblings present, having an amazing Officiant to marry you, having someone livestream and record your ceremony for your guests who are unable to be present, and other details. If having some more celebratory details is important to you, consider having a small cake for cutting, a special toast with your champagne flutes over a Zoom call with your families, a private first dance as newlyweds, a drive-by parade in celebration, or set up your home with a sweetheart table and special meal for two to celebrate your new commitment to each other! I know it may not be the big wedding you imagined, but keep remembering what matters most is your partner beside you vowing, “in good times and in bad.” Your love is the number one priority.

Step 3: Let’s get you lovebirds married!

For the purpose of this educational article, let’s define an Elopement as a non-secretive, 10 to 20 people or less marriage cermeony. These are currently happening in couple’s or family homes and backyards, but they can also happen in other private, romantic locations, such as smaller wedding venues, open outdoor spaces, or Airbnbs. In this case of the pandemic, we are stretching the “rules” of an elopement to include other people present, such as your photographer, close family, and witnesses, with social distancing, elbow touches, and face masks, of course.

Your marriage is still cause for celebration, even if it has to look a little different. As a seasoned Los Angeles wedding planner, I am here to help you plan an intimate wedding that is still full of joy. That’s why we are offering a high-touch, customizable Los Angeles Elopement Package for couples who won’t let a big speed bump get in the way of their Big Day.

This inclusive package includes everything you need to have an amazing marriage ceremony and “party for two” including me as your coordinator for helping you hire a photographer and other vendors you may want, a wedding officiant, vow booklets, floral arrangements, a small cake and custom topper, custom flutes with champagne, and much more! These events are limited to 10-20 guests & social distancing protocols will be required to ensure everyone’s safety and comfort. Browse our new Los Angeles Elopement Package here — and then get ready to celebrate!

I hope this article has helped you in some way navigate these hard times of wedding planning and has brought you some ease of mind! Marriage and love are still and will always be a reason to celebrate! If you have any updated information feel free to email me at samantha@tobelovedevents.com. I will be updating this post as frequently as new information becomes available!

Love always,