Amidst a confusing and unprecedented time for the US and the entire world, weddings, travel, and the very way we all interact has been altered more than we could have imagined. As the coronavirus swept around the world, plans inevitably changed and shifted as families quarantined and everyone had to seek a new way of navigating these difficult and often traumatic times. At Suncoast Weddings we see it as our role to support our couples as we focus on wedding planning. We would like to share a story of love which saw Erick and Erica say “I Do” at the Sunset Beach House last week. All of the social distancing rules were followed and the wedding was a smaller, more intimate ceremony than had been planned.

Erick and Erica

It was three and a half years ago that Erick and Erica fell in love. This is their story.

If ever there was a poster child for a positive that could come from the effects that COVID 19 has had on the wedding plans of thousands of couples, then Erica would be it.

Like many couples, Erica and her fiancée Erick were devasted when the realization dawned that the big, beautiful beach-front wedding and reception they had planned was in jeopardy as the whole country began to lock-down.

But one thing they were 100% certain of was that their wedding was going to happen on the day they had planned.

“It didn’t enter our heads to cancel the wedding, not at all. I am a firm believer that tomorrow isn’t promised so no matter what happened, even if it was just the two of us he wanted that day and I wanted that day.

“True, we had to make a lot of changes and as time went on there was the gradual acceptance that our wedding day was not at all going to be as planned. But we wouldn’t let it get us down. After all, weddings should be a positive – Erick and I were not going to let it turn into a negative because of what was going on.

“The last few weeks would normally be that perfect time to enjoy all the last minute planning and all the fun stuff that you usually do just before a wedding. But we had to cope with a lot, including people we knew who passed away. It was a prayerful time.

“When the day came, it was to us both, the true meaning of what marrying the love of your life is all about and just what really is important on your wedding day.

“Because our ceremony had become so small we were able to really involve our kids in the day, we had so much more time for them on the day too – it was the true meaning of family.

“Our vows to each other were very deep and so emotional and intimate, a true exchange of love and I think all the more so because of what we’d been through to make the wedding happen.

“I’m not an overly religious person, but I believe that not only did God bring Erick and I together, I truly believe that He was present on the day. It was just all so very special.

“So yes, our wedding day was entirely different from what we had planned, but I wouldn’t go back and change a thing. There’s a reason why things happen in your life”

Photo credits: GMP Photography (thank you for allowing us to share them, Erica)

If you have a story that we could share with our Suncoast Weddings family, drop us an email to sue@suncoastweddings.com

With so much focus on wedding planning, it’s important to also learn from others. When regrets occur on a such a carefully orchestrated day, there are lessons to be learned and we know a few tips and tricks to help the wedding day stay a regret-free zone!

Make time to interact with your guests

Let’s face it, the day is primarily about the two of you. Having said that, if you choose to invite family and friends who are important to you and your future, taking time just to say a quick hello should figure somewhere in the day. Traditionally, this was in the form of a (sometimes stuffy and awkward) receiving line. Do you have to do that? Absolutely not! The more modern approach is to mix and mingle either on the beach after the ceremony or when you have eaten at the reception. Beach weddings are perfect for this as they tend to be a more relaxed setting anyway. A few heartfelt words will be remembered forever and you won’t regret not saying how wonderful it is they made the effort to celebrate with you.

Too many cooks

We’ve all seen the pictures where the bride is looking straight at the camera and the groom is looking at someone at a slightly different angle! When you hire a wedding photographer, trust them and let there be one focus. This is especially important when there are group portraits. Well-meaning guests trying to catch your attention and get their own snapshots will result in confusion and will compromise the professional shots. If you are not hiring a photographer for the reception, then designate someone you know who loves to take pictures and let them snap away!

1-2-3 Eyes on me!

It is a sign of the times that many people now regard life through the lens of their phone. If you want people to see the details and engage in person, consider an ‘unplugged ceremony’. Not only will they not feel any pressure to try and capture the perfect moment, your pictures will look better without a sea of phones in the image.

Not taking notes

When you’re opening the gifts, make sure to make a note of who gave what. It sounds basic but will enable you to personalize each thank you note instead of sending a generic ‘thank you’ to everyone.

Not hiring a professional

Not everything may go to plan. It could be the weather, it could be an extra few guests being able to attend, it could be the florist is late, it could be that the paperwork is missing … the list goes on. Did you know you need a permit to marry on many of the beaches, even though they are public beaches? This is a one-off event for you and an important day. We are finding that more and more couples are hiring a coordinator for the day just to make sure that if something unexpected crops up, they are not the ones who have to troubleshoot and save the day. Professionals who have coordinated many weddings are more likely to have ready-made solutions or know the local vendors and venues to remedy any issues. As we often say – “Go be a bride” – it’s hard to enjoy the day when you’re worrying if a vendor has arrived.

Breaking the budget

We’ve seen a lot of advice on this subject and still, it often gets broken. Perhaps the best we’ve heard from our couples is to set a budget, then build in 5-10% ‘wiggle room’ for the unexpected. It’s a day that shouldn’t feel about compromise so plan carefully and look for beach wedding packages or deals that will help with overall costs. A couple of really easy ways to potentially save money:

Rent beach wedding signs instead of buying them
Use silk floral accents in your decor
Re-purpose bouquets as centerpieces at the reception
Ask about military / first responder discounts

Do you have any more ideas to share with couples? We’d love to hear them! If you’re looking to say “I Do” in sunny Florida, give us a call to start planning. 727-443-0039