How to Plan a Virtual Wedding & Keep Your Sanity
Today’s weddings, like most things, don’t look quite the same as they did pre-pandemic. While many couples have canceled or postponed their big days, others are looking for ways to celebrate without risking the health of their family and friends.
A virtual wedding is a great way to enjoy all the fun of your day and let your loved ones share in the festivities without worrying about how to prevent the spread of COVID-19. While every couple would love to have all their friends present to dance the night away, that’s a near impossible in some places right now. With a virtual wedding, you can still see everyone’s joy and happiness, just a little differently.
Choose a virtual platform
When it comes to live streaming your big day, you have a variety of options, especially as more and more events move from the real world to the virtual world. Zoom is one of the most common video conference services, and with their paid subscription model, you can host 100 attendees, allowing everyone to view your wedding.
Another free option is Facebook Live, which allows you to stream in a private group and create a private event for guests to RSVP to. Your guests can even leave comments and well wishes, allowing you to have a virtual guestbook.
Get your tech gear
Obviously, with a virtual wedding, technology is going to be your best friend. Make sure you have all the items you need to live stream, such as a laptop or tablet and maybe a tripod to stabilize your device for recording. Be sure to test everything out to make sure there aren’t any hiccups. The last thing you want is to be scrambling to fix technical issues on your wedding day!
Coordinate with your vendors
Even if you don’t have a full wedding ceremony and reception, you may still want to include vendors to make your day special. You can work with your photographer, florist and other vendors to find ways to safely include them as part of your day.
Keep your guests updated
Once you have your plan in place for your virtual wedding, you need to let all your guests know how they can join in. If you have a wedding website, that’s the perfect place to inform everyone of how they can tune in to your wedding day and join you in the festivities from wherever they are in the world.
Practice makes perfect
In the days leading up to your wedding, you probably will want to do a couple test runs to make sure everything is camera-ready and your technology functions properly. Talk to your partner and officiant and make sure you have a clear plan for how the ceremony will go. Know exactly who will do what, especially when it comes to running the live stream.
With some thought and planning, you can create a virtual wedding that’s just as special as pre-pandemic celebration!
