Rollin The Dice...

We finally made a decision!

It's been a long few weeks to say the least. Our ( mostly mine lol ) anxiety over thinking about the "what ifs" surrounding our October 16th wedding date has been exhausting. Some people would say that we were crazy for already trying to come up with a new plan, trying to re-configure while still having 8-9 months left before the date. 
Here is the thing though... My A type personality thinks about not just what the state guidelines could be but also how our guests will FEEL at our event. The rules could be lifted and the limits increased but does that mean we can move forward? 

"After drafting at least four different back-up plans we came to a final conclusion."

We have landed at our original plan with a few major COVID adjustments. We will be pushing forward with planning our event at the Belle Isle Casino for October! While we were very reserved in pursuing our original plan we have already started making adjustments to be sure to have a COVID friendly version. Still at the mercy of the state guidelines and our state ran venue's rendition of such, we have accepted that there is a chance we could have to cancel.  

Planning FOR the Pandemic Version

As we gear up to push full steam ahead here are a few things we are working towards to prepare! While the list is much longer than 5 items, here are some of our top priority items! 

1.Cutting our Guest List.
This is not an easy part of the process. We started with a 200 person list and will now be having to cut down to roughly half of this to be best prepared for a smaller event indoors. While we would like to think that a large gathering would be permitted, we know it's unlikely. 

2.Working with our Vendors for payment planning.
When communicating with our vendors the last few weeks our major points of confirmation revolved around..  A new balance to reflect our guest list change, confirming our total already paid, and our FINAL payment dates. Also inquiring about the "what if we get cancelled" situation. Making sure that we are on the same page when it comes to our deposit and procedures for a potential cancellation. 

3. Working through catering options to keep things as individual as possible. 
While we do still plan on having our buffet, we have worked with our caterer to understand the policies they have in place for serving dinner this way. This means no shared serving utensils, masks while in line, and we will also be sure that each guests takes up their plate with them rather than grabbing from the buffet line. 

4. Talking about Masks
While we do not know what the mask policy will be at this time, we are preparing to be sure to communicate to guests where they will be required. We know that this may change and that guests may not be required to wear them, but for now we are outlining these requirements to be sure that we are prepared. We will also have additional masks and sanitation materials at the ready for each area. 

5. Seating 
This will be a very important factor in planning. With a cut guest list and such a large building, we will be utilizing the space to keep a comfortable and socially distant layout. With over 3,000 square feet on each floor we have plenty of space to do such. The goal will be to group guests by their immediate bubbles and be sure to leave the proper spacing between tables. Also we will be considering circulation patterns for staff to keep them spaced as well while drafting this new plan. 

"While we know that there is no telling what October will look like, we are excited to be planning purposeful details to be prepared for anything that is thrown at us. This includes what steps we will have to take to cancel."

We are excited to share our journey with you!
​Next month we talk about the design concept and décor elements! 
Till Then,
Cheers! Slainte! Salud!
Photography: The Focused Soul Photography