Our Wedding Co-ordinator Phoebe shares her tops tips for getting the most out of your special day.
We are living in strange times… the rule of 15, hand sanitisers and face coverings were never things that we thought we would have to factor into planning a wedding day! Luckily, weddings are soon going to be able to continue and we can’t wait to welcome couples back to the farm so we can celebrate the River Cottage way.
But how do you plan for a wedding with social distancing restrictions? What was once an easy and fun task can soon become complicated, so we have put together our top tips on planning a safe and secure wedding, while still making it a romantic and unique occasion.
Use the outdoor space
We are so lucky at River Cottage as we have acres of outside space for you and your guests to enjoy at your leisure during your wedding day. Being outside in well ventilated areas is encouraged for weddings during this time, so try and consider this during your planning. Perhaps having the speeches in the kitchen garden while your guests enjoy a glass of fizz and in the evenings, sparklers are a fun way of keeping adults and children alike entertained and can make for some incredible photos.
Smaller guest list… bigger budget!
Having a smaller guest list means more space in your budget. You could treat everyone to an extra glass of bubbly or an additional cheese course. You could even host a wedding brunch for your guests staying in the farmhouse the following morning. There's so many little extras and additions to consider – personalised wedding favours are a nice way of saying thank you to your guests for coming to share your special day with you.
Entertainment
How do you keep your guests entertained when you are unable to dance to your favourite songs or have a photobooth? Couples may worry that they will not be able to keep everyone happy late into the evening, so this is a chance to get creative. Everyone loves a pub quiz – why not put together a quiz based on your life as a couple and see who knows you the best? Design quiz sheets, take turns asking the questions to your guests and award a prize for the most correct answers. Keep the kids entertained at the table with individual colouring pots & activity sheets.
Playlist requests
Taking playlist requests from your guests is a great way of making your whole wedding a more personal affair. Putting together a playlist to plug into the sound system in the barn is a great alternative to live music and by taking requests you can guarantee that your guests will enjoy it!
Keep your guests informed
A huge part of wedding planning in these times is the uncertainty – what if restrictions change and it impacts your day? Keeping your guests informed about restrictions and guidelines is a really great way of making sure your day runs smoothly. At River Cottage we have all the safety measures in place but rules on face coverings and social distancing guidelines being discussed in advance can take away the need for any "Covid chat" throughout the day!
A wedding website is a great way of keeping your guests updated with times, dates and any other information if any details were to change. It's also a great platform to answer any of the FAQ's you may be getting from guests and to set the expectations for the big day.
Find out more about Weddings at River Cottage
Photo Credit: Nigel John
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