Love is patient. Love is kind. … It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. That includes a virus that makes the traditional wedding illegal.
Over the past few months, thousands of engaged couples have been forced to alter their wedding day plans. Many decided to choose a different date and delay a year. Others decided to elope on their original date and hold a large reception some time in the future. But it’s still too soon to tell when these larger receptions will be able to take place since many states plan on restricting large group gatherings for the foreseeable future.
So, soon-to-be-married couples are adjusting their expectations. Courthouse weddings and elopements are in and large, costly events are out — at least for the time being. The Knot, a popular wedding website, has even created an entire section dedicated to “mini-monies,” or miniature wedding ceremonies, for couples looking for a minimalist event that they can share with close family members and friends. These intimate ceremonies are easier to plan, and they’re better able to adjust alongside the states’ restrictions.
And they might just become the new ideal. Big weddings can be difficult, and they’re not for everyone. But grand and festive events have become the societal norm. Indeed, the average wedding in the United States costs about $33,900, according to the latest Real Weddings study from The Knot. Now, couples that aren’t looking to drop a small fortune on their wedding day have an excuse not to, and family members and friends who might otherwise be disappointed will have no choice but to understand.
Still, the decision to cancel the big day has certainly been a source of frustration and disappointment for the vast majority of couples. But the good news is that it hasn’t stopped people from getting married. Indeed, the Manhattan Marriage Bureau in lower Manhattan said it experienced a mad rush of couples eager to tie the knot before the shutdown began, according to the New York Times.
It seems the threat of a life-changing pandemic can bring both a sense of urgency and clarity.
