What is a wedding really like during COVID-19?
You can’t mingle, dance and the guest list is limited. So, what is a wedding in a pandemic really like? This Brisbane couple share why nothing was going to ruin their day.
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They were supposed to elope and marry on a stunning rooftop terrace on 5th Ave, overlooking the Empire State Building in New York. But when the global pandemic hit, Bec Auker and David Moore were forced to make other plans.
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In less than six weeks, the couple threw together an entirely new wedding and tied the knot at The Calile hotel in Brisbane on July 24, two days after their original date.
The pair originally planned for an intimate affair, taking their daughter Henley, six months, with them to New York, so didn’t mind the 20-person guest limit.
But they had planned a party at their home for 70 people on August 22, however at 8am that day, Queensland announced new restrictions banning more than 10 people at home gatherings.
Despite the rocky ride, the couple is grateful for each other and their family including children from previous relationships, Sam, 12, Hudson, 12, Josh, 9 and Archer, 7.
What was it like having a wedding in a pandemic? We only wanted a few people in attendance so the 20-person limit wasn’t an issue. We had the help of friends and family to get it done in a few weeks. The biggest disappointment was not being able to have a dance floor. We performed our first dance but had to keep things pretty quiet due to social distancing. We had planned to have a larger party recently to celebrate with a bigger group and the friends who weren’t able to attend the actual wedding.
When did you decide to change plans?
Qantas cancelled our flights to New York sometime in May and we considered rebooking for a later date in 2020. But with travel looking unlikely, we decided to get married in Brisbane.
Emotions around changing plans? It was very disappointing for a few weeks. We didn’t talk about making new plans and struggled to get excited about any of the local options. We felt like everywhere we looked there was reference to New York. A friend mentioned The Calile, so I (Bec) did a quick Google search and found amazing images posted by Nikita Pere (our photographer) and we booked two days later. The excitement was back. We had planned to celebrate with 70 people at home later but at 8am on the day of the party, the new restrictions were announced banning more than 10 people at homes. I cried then Dave and I had wedding cake and champagne.
What helped you get through the stress of changing plans? Champagne! We weren’t overly stressed, just disappointed about NYC. We had a very clear idea of what we wanted the day to be like, so it wasn’t hard to replicate it in Brisbane. We didn’t want a big, flashy wedding but wanted it to be intimate and about us and our commitment.
First dance song?
Can’t Help Falling In Love – performed by The Famo’s Duo.
Honeymoon? Staycation at The Calile. We plan to have a proper honeymoon when we can travel again.
Best advice for other couples planning a wedding? Remember what is truly important to you as a couple. It is your wedding. Try not to get caught up doing what others want or what you think will make other people happy. You want to look back and know that your wedding was a representation of your relationship and love for each other.
Advice for other couples with weddings impacted by coronavirus? It’s OK to be disappointed but decide what you want to do and what is most important. If you want to be married ASAP then you’ll find a way to make it happen and make it special, even if it isn’t like your original plan. If you choose a venue, ensure they know all of the social distancing rules.