Spare a Thought & Be Kind

The Year 2020

A Year full of Love, Celebration and Excitement

Now a Year of Worry, Anxiety, Disappointment & Stress for so many people.

I don’t think anyone could have ever imagined back in March that we would be going through a World Pandemic this year. For me, it came as quite a shock at the beginning and with no real understanding. I don’t know if it was me trying to put it at the back of my mind and hope for the best but I thought by June / July Weddings would be back up and running and that I would be in full wedding mode these days. Things have changed and we are now in what we know as our “new normal”

Its been 138 days since my last wedding, 4 long months. Right around this time of year I am normally racing around looking at table plans, printing menus, confirming the last details with couples, rolling out the red carpet, fixing buttonholes on the bridal party, collecting sand for ceremonies but instead I am sitting in my office doing admin, taking calls with couples, postponing weddings, talking about regulations and what our “new normal” is for Weddings.
It’s a strange time, its also a very sad time. You countdown a day with your couples and look forward to the excitement and now you are trying to fight back tears as you talk to them on the phone as they move their dates to 2021/ 2022. You feel like you are letting them down and that its your fault that their special day cannot go ahead. They look for answers and we simply don’t have them but its still lovely to be there for them, be that support. Sometimes its good to talk it out, look at options and get a clearer picture. So if you are in doubt, if you have worries pick up that phone and call your wedding coordinator for the chats and believe me you will feel so much better after releasing all the emotion and thoughts with someone else.

Not only do I feel for each couple planning their wedding, I also feel for all the wedding suppliers out there, The Photographers, The Videographers, The Bands & Musicians, The Florists, The Car Companies, The Photobooths, The Suit Hire Companies, The Dress Shops, The Make Up Artists, The Hairdressers and the many many more who contribute to a special Wedding Day. We are all in this together and each of these amazing suppliers have devoted so much time and effort into each of their bookings. These Suppliers have lost bookings, got bookings cancelled or postponed. They have worked tirelessly to accommodate all their couples and I want anyone who reads this to take a moment to appreciate their suppliers. The Wedding Industry might be their only income. It might be a family run business, it might be a couple who work together and their income has been reduced to nothing and they may not know when they will have another income until their next wedding. It is a hard time for all these people so please be kind, be nice and be understanding to all your suppliers. Think back to when you booked them at the beginning and the excitement of securing them for your date, the joy and happiness and of course your suppliers where just as happy as you to be apart of your day. So don’t forget about that when you are dealing with them now.  
 
For now, there are lots of questions but not many answers.
Some couples ask me
“Why is it so difficult to get married?”
And really it should be so simply but for now things are hard for couples right now who are in the planning for their special day in 2020.
They all want answers:
How many guests can they have?
What restrictions will be in place?
will it still be two metre distancing?
Any updates on numbers?
And to be honest – no one knows. We do not have the answers and really its true to say no one really knows what Ireland will be like in 2 months time. The future lies solely on us, the whole island of Ireland.  We need to focus on following guidelines and restrictions so that we can get the rate down and move forward. We need to work together, unite and be conscious of everything we do.
I recall when we were in lock down and we appreciated everything around us, the sound of birds singing, the beauty of our daily walks, our own gardens, our little villages and towns but now since we have come out of lock down I think people have been blind sighted and need a reminder to open up your eyes and take time to appreciate what is around us again.
 
So tonight, in my parting thoughts
Be Nice
Be Kind
Be Thoughtful
Keep Positive
Be Grateful for What you have
 
Good Night and God Bless
 
 Grainne