Booking a Wedding Photographer and Videographer in the Covid19 era
10 tips for “safe” bookings
We live in the Covid19 era… The last few months we have been through lockdown, closed shops, social distancing etc, etc, but you have a wedding to look after too, your wedding!! The last few months it’s been a real headache for you. You have been through many Facebook groups trying to find answers to your questions but now you are more confused than ever. So, what’s a safe date for my wedding? What do I have to check before booking a photographer and/or videographer? Am I going to lose my money if the lockdown continues the over the next few months? These are some questions you try to answer, but…
So, here we have some great tips for you. Not answers, but a guide to follow to avoid wrong decisions which will cost money and time.
1. Find a “safe” date to schedule your wedding. I know that your wedding was supposed to take place this summer but there is no point to schedule a wedding and then having to postpone it. September and the following months look like a good starting point for weddings. September is still a warm month (second summer period) and it’s better to schedule something safe as a date rather to try to re-schedule everything.
2. Find a “safe” place for your wedding. We know that you may have dreamed of an exotic place or a Mediterranean island for your wedding, but the closer the better at this period. Bookings outside the country are getting more difficult during Corona virus period, and nobody really knows what is happening with flights, different countries rules, etc. On the other hand you can save some money from booking a wedding outside the country and use those places for a nice honeymoon trip in the months ahead.
3. Be sure that you always book with professionals. In other words, maybe you’ve had a nice price from someone that is photographing weddings as a second job, but nobody can guarantee that you will have the results you expect especially in an unsecure period.
4. Be sure that everything you‘ve been told will be fully described in a contract. That means not only for the price, but dates, duration of coverage, possibility of delay etc.
5. Ask for a voucher in case of a second lockdown. That can be easily written in your contract. Our team always describes the possibility of a delay or postponement of the ceremony in our contracts. In other words, even if your wedding is postponed you will not lose your money but you can have a voucher and use it when you re-schedule your wedding. This voucher can be used by yourself, or even for a friend of yours!! This is like a win-win situation.
6. Avoid large amounts of guests at your wedding. I know you dreamed of having a wedding with many friends and guests but… the first re-opened wedding ceremonies will almost surely have a limit of people you are allowed to invite, so the less you have the better it is…
7. Find a larger place for your ceremony. One thing is sure, social distancing changes day by day, but it’s here to stay for a while, so it is much better to book your wedding in a larger space. Everyone will feel much safer and they will have much more fun on your wedding day without considering the possibility of virus infection.
8. If it’s possible ask for an outdoors ceremony. Of course that includes a plan B in case the weather it’s not so good, but outdoors is always going to be much safer than indoors.
9. Keep in touch with your professionals. Keep in touch with all the people who are involved in your special day. If you have additional questions try to write them down and send them an email. Avoid continuously messaging them, because as you may have problems in this period, they may have too. Try to build a true and friendly relationship with them.
10. Keep your head up… It’s all about psychology… If you feel anxious and nervous you’ll make all the people around you feel the same. Finally, everything is going to be just fine and you’ll enjoy one of the very best days in your life.
UK Wedding photographer and videographer