Over the last 12 months, many couples have made the difficult decision to put their wedding plans on hold due of the Covid-19 pandemic, often rescheduling the date multiple times as restrictions chop and change. It's important to remember that your day will come, and it will be incredible! But in the meantime, lots of you will turn the calendar on the day that was supposed to be your wedding day - a date likely etched in your minds, that you were working towards for months - and it's going to sting! To help you get through it, we've come up with some tips for what to do when your wedding date arrives.

1. Don't Try to Ignore It

It might seem like all the days of the week run into one at the moment, but it's highly unlikely that your postponed wedding date is going to pass by without you noticing. I've seen talk on forums of 'that's no longer your wedding date, put it out of your head' but for me, that's unrealistic. Don't bury your head in the sand, acknowledge the date, acknowledge your feelings, and make a plan to get through it. It's not 'just another day', it was supposed to be 'your big day' so it's worth marking, in whatever way you can.

2. Don't Feel Guilty About Being Sad

We've all had to make sacrifices in this unprecedented time. It's important to acknowledge that there are people who have it harder than you, but having perspective doesn't mean you're not also allowed to be sad, disappointed, or angry.

You can have solidarity with health workers and supermarket staff, be aware of those who have lost their jobs or had their incomes reduced, and keep in mind those who are critically ill, while still lamenting your own sacrifice. It doesn't mean you're spoiled or selfish, you've had to press pause on something that was massively important to you, and you shouldn't feel guilty about having a bad day.

3. Make a Plan to Do Something Fun

So you might not be able to book a table in your favourite restaurant or steal away for a couple's spa treatment but that doesn't mean you and your other have can't make a date of your would-be-wedding day.

• Get properly dressed up and have a date night at home.
• You could order takeaway (with all the sides!) from your favourite place and crack open a bottle of Champagne or the wine you're planning to have on your wedding day.
• You can plan a really indulgent duvet day with a stack of your favourite films and lots of popcorn.
• You can head off for a drive or go for a walk somewhere secluded.
• If you'd already bought them, you could exchange your wedding gifts.
• You could plan a virtual celebration with your family or wedding party.
• Make a plan for a trip you'll take when the pandemic is over.

4. Switch Your Phone Off If You Need To

You might receive texts and calls from friends and family on the day, to let you know you're in their thoughts. It's really heartwarming to feel so supported, and many of you will take a lot of comfort in people reaching out. But for others, feeling obliged to respond on the day will be overwhelming. If you're the latter, don't be afraid to turn your phone off for the day or even just a few hours, the messages will still be there to respond to tomorrow.

Likewise, you might be busy rescheduling your plans or liaising with suppliers, but take the day off and skip the wedmin on your would-be wedding date.

5. Onwards and Upwards

As we said, there's nothing wrong with feeling your feelings and being glum about having to change your wedding plans. But finding the positivity is crucial too! Concentrate on the things you can be grateful for; your other half, your supportive pals, any helpful suppliers or venues you've experienced, and the wedding day you will have when all this is over.

These are challenging times, but there's a lot to be excited about and hopeful for - so even if your plans are up in the air, know that it's only temporary, and your day is still coming, and even if it looks a bit different to your original plan, it's going to be worth the wait!

Feature image: Photo by Jazmin Quaynor on Unsplash