Don't worry... We Can Help You Through This.
With the news surrounding the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, I am sure you have many questions if your event date is scheduled for this spring. First, it is safe to say that this situation is new to us all, so our expert vendors at The Philadelphia Event Group are happy to provide some clarity and assurance.
Let’s start by taking a deep breath and answer these two questions.
Is your wedding or event scheduled for March or April 2020?
Do most of your guests come from out of town?
If you answered yes to either of these questions, unfortunately you could possibly have to reschedule your event. Right now, the CDC.GOV has recommended that all social events of 50 or higher be postponed to a later date. Most Cities, Counties, and even States have shut down all social venues for the next 8 weeks. If you are not sure where to start, here are some stress free tips:
If you have a planner or coordinator please contact them right away. They are a great resource to make sure that you stay on task and organized.
For Everyone Else
Grab your vendors’ contracts and highlight your cancellation and date change terms.
PLEASE contact all your vendors and let them know that you are thinking about postponing your event and that you will be in touch with new dates from your venue. Start with a conversation with your venue Confirm they will be open for your current event date - if not, keep reading :) Ask if there are any venue restriction due to the COVID-19
Rescheduling/Postponing your Event
Ask for open dates within the current 2020 year. Some venues may offer non-traditional dates like Thursdays in order to accommodate still having your wedding in 2020.
Ask if there will be any additional charges due to the date change. If you reschedule for 2021, there will be additional fees unless otherwise stated by the venue
Selection is going to be limited but be flexible and willing to think outside the box.
Follow up with your other vendors ASAP! The sooner you do this the better. Be prepared that one of your vendors may be booked for your new date. Most vendors are committed to their clients and will support and provide any and all contracted services.
Canceling your Event
If you just cancel your event you will be held to the original terms of your contract, all your contracts.
Please be advised that as of today, the mandated shutdown period related to COVID-19 is scheduled to last through the end of April for any social events. Links to the CDC and other related resources will be provided at the end of this blog.
If you have any questions, need any assistance, or just want to talk through this situation and how it may affect your wedding or event, please feel free to reach out to The Philadelphia Event Group via Facebook, Instagram, or shoot us an email at phleventgroup@gmail.com. Let us hope this will be all behind us in a few weeks.
Be safe and stay healthy. Take it one day at a time.
COVID - 19 Links
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/index.html https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public