So many couples had their hearts broken this year. Their wedding plans were dashed – for the foreseeable future, no less – and those that continued with their weddings had to make great sacrifices. However, it is still possible to have a beautiful and intimate wedding during a pandemic. Despite all the setbacks, Katie and Steph did a COVID wedding right.
What was originally supposed to be a big celebration at the Belle Isle Boat House with a hefty guest list was no longer a possibility. Katie and Steph had to make the hard decisions to not only abandon their dream venue, but cut down their guest list substantially. Katie and Steph’s plan B: a backyard wedding with only their closest friends and family present.
But that wasn’t all. Even with a guest list of less than 20, Katie and Steph still wanted to make sure everyone was as safe as possible. Spearheaded by the one and only Ryan Abney, Katie and Steph implemented the following:
- Every family member had to take a COVID test to ensure they were negative before attending.
- No dancing – they made up for it with socially distanced lawn games instead.
- All tables were six feet apart with the seating chart arranged by the guests’ individual pods and immediate family.
- Instead of one large shared bar, each table got their own, meaning all bottles and utensils were used safely and not shared.
- Masks on, even during the ceremony.
- Frequent sanitizing and hand sanitizer everywhere.
- And they still found a way to include all of their original guests by having the ceremony and speeches live-streamed directly to their friends and family around the globe.
It may not have been what they’d dreamed initially, but Katie and Steph managed to have a unique, intimate, and safe wedding day that could not have happened had the pandemic not been present. It’s proof that when it comes to weddings, there is no bad option – the love builds the rest of the day, and it will always be amazing.
Detroit wedding photographer
