Knowing proper wedding postponement etiquette can save a lot of frustration for you and your guests.
We can't deny that something is bound to happen between the day you accept a marriage proposal and the wedding day itself. Military deployments, illnesses, injuries, job changes, and other circumstance-altering events can occur, which requires a couple to move their wedding date. COVID-19, for example, threw millions of couples for a loop all over the world and left them having to re-work so many wedding-day details or make do with a few alternatives.
Postponing a wedding requires a lot of moving parts—alerting family members and guests and dealing with vendor contracts, travel and lodging arrangements, venue availability, and honeymoon plans. If you have found yourself in this situation, our heart goes out to you. Even amid all of this frustration, know that there are steps to take to stay in line with proper wedding postponement protocol and get you back on your way to looking forward to the wedding of your dreams.
Wedding Postponement Etiquette Rule #1: Alert Everyone ASAP
After determining a new wedding date, contact family, bridal party, guests, vendors, hotels via phone and let them know of the situation and about the new arrangements. Emails and text messages get lost in the mix all too often and verbal confirmation is the best route to go in this case. If you have a wedding website, be sure to update the details therein as well.
Wedding Postponement Etiquette Rule #2: Contact Your Vendors and See What Details Can Be Moved
Don't be surprised if you incur a cost for a re-booking or can't get a full refund on a deposit. Remember that they have other events booked throughout the year, so don't be shocked if your vendor can't agree to the new date. Even so, many vendors can make recommendations for other reputable businesses to get you what you need. We recommend getting in touch with the new vendors as quickly as you can.
Wedding Postponement Etiquette Rule #3: Keep Writing Thank-You Notes
You do not have to take down your registry nor do you have to return any gifts due to a postponement. You do, however, have to keep writing thank-you notes for all gifts. Manners are never postponed.
Wedding Postponement Etiquette Rule #4: Don't Throw Anything Away!
Keep your table cards, programs, and any other paper goods that still have relevant information—even with the original wedding date. Stickers or wax seals can be made to tastefully cover the old date or you can just make do with the originals. The important thing is that the couple is there to get hitched.
Wedding Postponement Etiquette Rule #5: Send a New Save-the-Date
You don't need to send out another round of formal invites, but a new save-the-date with time, date, and location and any other changes should be sent out. Be sure to include an RSVP card to see if your guests can still make the new event date.
Have any additional wedding postponement advice? Let us know in the comments!
