Last updated August 26th 2020. Click here for the latest information on Covid and weddings in Ireland.

It's been a crazy six months since the Coronavirus crisis kicked off. Life and weddings have been turned on their heads; we've all been chopping and changing like there's no tomorrow and frankly it's all getting a bit much now. The confusion factor is set to high and it's exhausting everyone. So today we want to take a step back and consider how to make this situation work as best it can: it's time for a rethink of weddings for Covid times.

First of all, just to be clear: we've been fighting against the idea of "wedding rules" for the last 10 years. The whole reason One Fab Day came to be was that Sue and I didn't want to have weddings that conformed to old-fashioned ideas and obligations. Joyfully, things have changed dramatically over the last decade and people are having the weddings that suit them. But let's face it, Coronavirus has changed everything we knew about weddings. We're getting emails every day from exasperated and confused brides and grooms wondering what they can and can't, should or should not do. So while there are restrictions on guest numbers, travelling, social distancing etc, it's time to throw out the old "wedding rules" and embrace some new ideas.

The New Rules for Covid Weddings

1. You can have a Wedding Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

If ever there’s been an excuse to get the party started early, and indulge in a bit of day-drinking, then this is it. Consider bringing the wedding ceremony forward and having a wedding lunch. Or having your wedding dinner earlier so you have more time with your guests before the 11pm cut-off time.

2. You can have Tayto Sambos and Cake for your Wedding Meal if you want

Smaller weddings, especially if you’re having the wedding celebration in a private venue or your home, with a limited group, doesn’t have to mean a fancy five course meal. If you want to have a picnic or bbq in the garden, or get special delivery boxes in, then do. Or you could just eat cake. I think I’d just eat cake…

3. You can get Married on a Beach (and noone can say anything)

Outdoors is the new indoors in Ireland right now. We’ve gone fully 1980s and embraced the rain and wind on our “staycations” this summer, basically time-travelling back to childhood when the South of France didn’t exist and all we knew about Italy was that the Pope lived there. So noone (of the older generation) is going to raise an eyebrow if you say you’re getting married on a beach. Of course it’s only legal if a humanist or other solemniser will do it for you, but you can always have your own ceremony and do the legal bit another time.

4. Have Two Weddings Because… you deserve it

We’ve been banging this drum for a while, but look, if you want to split the wedding into two parts and have something to look forward to after this is all over then do it. Have a smaller wedding now, and plan a big fat celebration for a year or more from now. You deserve it. We all need a party. Just please invite me!

5. You can Elope (and everyone will be fine about it)

So eloping to New York or Las Vegas might not be on the cards, but if you've always dreamed of escaping, just the two of you; tying the knot and just telling everyone after the fact, then this is the time to do it. Even if it means eloping to Mayo or Donegal (just make your arrangements with a celebrant, priest or solemniser there rather than close to home), have your wedding just as you dreamed, and if anyone asks just use that magic word... "restrictions".

Discussion over. Just make sure you get great pictures!

6. You can Sneak off Early

For those of us who are not big party animals, the ones who start checking the watch before midnight and have to pick the right moment to escape before the carnage starts, having a wedding right now has a big silver lining: a reasonable hometime. Your guests can’t object and call you a party-pooper because everyone is aware of the restrictions. In bed by midnight if you want. It's your wedding, you can go to sleep early if you want to.

7. Embrace being a Pregnant Bride

Being pregnant is a joy, but not always the easiest. Being pregnant at your wedding is something that few brides plan, because it can throw up additional problems that just make the whole thing that bit harder. Morning/all-day sickness, avoiding alcohol and/or pretending to drink and extra fittings as the bump grows ahead of the wedding can be extra headaches. But this year, noone should bat an eyelid. You can plan the day around how you’re feeling. Right now, fewer guests and time restrictions mean the event should be less tiring, and you can relax and take your leisure with the smaller group you have.

8. You can Gleefully Ditch all those Plus Ones, Random Relations and Work Frenemies

Gone are the worries about offending people you felt you “had” to invite, but really didn’t want to. With such tight restrictions in place for guest numbers, noone expects to be invited to a wedding any more, so you’ve got the best 'get out of jail' card with those people you didn’t want to invite. "So sorry, would loooovvve to have had you at the wedding but you know… restrictions"

Essential Rule No. 9

You can Wear What you Want, Do What you Want, Celebrate How you Want*

Basically what we're saying is that the old wedding “rules” are dead and gone, you can officially reinvent the wedding celebration whatever way you want. Speeches, cake, bouquets, dancing, ceremony format, outfits, who you invite, who you don’t, music, dancing, hen parties, stag dos, traditions, timelines and set pieces - it’s ALL up to you now. Design the wedding you really want with the bits you enjoy, and that will work for the size of wedding, style of celebration and venue you’re working with.

Make your own rules.  Enjoy a celebration tailored just to the two of you and your nearest and dearest. You deserve it: you’ve had enough with Covid at this stage, make it work for you now!

And We're Happy to Help

With all that in mind, you know we're always happy to help, so if you have questions about the guidelines and restrictions in place right now, check out our post about covid-19 wedding guidelines. We've also got a wealth of features on every element of wedding planning and some special coronavirus wedding articles. If you can't find what you're looking for drop us a line at hello@onefabday.com or dm us on instagram.

*within the guest number guidelines/social distancing measures obviously!

Feature image by Anna Groniecka Photography via One Fab Day