If you were in wedding planning mode before the coronavirus outbreak, you've probably been used to cocktails after dress fittings and menu tastings with your venue. You may have had hen or stag party plans, and been excited for all your pre-wedding gatherings with friends and family. While uncertainty over wedding plans is hard enough to deal with, with all the fun of the build-up to suddenly halting too, well, disappointment is too small a word! Which is why we're here to help! Lots of groups of pals are getting together online during self-isolation as we all do our bit to stay apart. But that doesn't mean we can't have fun and cheer ourselves, or our loved-ones, up. We've come up with a quick crash course in how to plan a virtual social gathering - and make it really special!
1. Pick Your Platform
There are countless conference-calling websites, apps and software you and your friends can avail of, but the main thing you want is for it to be accessible to everyone, so keep anyone with slow internet, using a mobile device, or who isn't very techy in mind.
Great free tools that are super-easy to work for group calls, are Google Hangouts Meet and Zoom. We've seen lots of people using the House Party app on Instagram. For smaller get togethers, you can't go wrong with Facetime, Skype, or WhatsApp Video.
2. Put in Some Prep Time
The best parties take a little preparation, so make sure you book in your friends, and clear time in your day, just as you would if you were meeting for dinner and drinks. Groups up to 8 or 10 work well (once you get the hang of not talking over each other!) any more than that and it could be messy to have a coherent conversation.
Decide ahead of time on the platform you'll use and make sure it works smoothly on your device - this might mean downloading a program and testing your mic and camera.
Get in some supplies for your gathering of choice (more on this below, but right now I'm thinking, wine and cheese!). It's also a good idea to prep your space, find a nice backdrop to sit in front of, get comfy on the couch, open a window or light some candles; do as you would if you had friends coming over.
3. Dress Up!
While this is in no way compulsory, if it makes you feel better, a virtual gathering is a great excuse to get properly dressed, brush your hair, and wear some mascara (for the first time in days!).
In this weird Christmas-in-March state when we're all rocking 24/7 loungewear and going braless, (rejoice!), it can be so refreshing to invest some time in yourself and dress up for a special occasion, even if you're not leaving the house!
4. Make It An Occasion
Friday night cocktails, the aforementioned wine and cheese, curry night, afternoon tea; the options for your virtual gathering are endless. Of course you can have a quick call with friends any time, but when it comes to replacing some of your pre-wedding get-togethers, whether it's a catch-up with your bridesmaids, a dinner party with your in-laws, an online hen party, or a virtual night out with friends from around the world, it's worth properly syncing up and making a plan to all be doing the same thing. Not only is it a bit of fun, (imagine all pressing play on the Spice Girls to dance around your respective living rooms!) but it will also go a long way into making you feel like you really are all there together.
5. Be There for Friends Who've Postponed Their Wedding
If you're planning the virtual gathering for a friend whose big day has been postponed, make the effort to go above and beyond - as much as you can from the confines of your own home! You can send them a takeaway or leave a bottle of bubbly outside their door, plan an outfit theme, or dress up your individual spaces to make the gathering as festive as possible. In these make-and-do times, a little effort makes a big impact and will help your pal feel really special.
Read our note from us, at One Fab Day, to our readers
Feature image: Elvira Kalviste Photography via One Fab Day
