Dreaming of her wedding her whole life: the dress style, flower type, and venue. And then imagine one of life’s biggest days coming to a halt due to a pandemic. This is what many brides of 2020 have faced. The restrictions and precautions across the U.S. forced many brides to either postpone or completely change their wedding plans. Regrettably, I was one of those brides.
Beachside Marriage Proposal
On August 13th, 2019, the man of my dreams proposed on the beach where we met a decade ago in Cocoa Beach, FL. It had always been a special place to both of us and held even more sentimental value now. With family gathered for pictures, he surprised me by proposing on the beach. He even flew my parents down for the occasion. Excitedly, I started bringing my wedding Pinterest board to life. The wedding planning process had been mostly smooth until March 2020 when COVID-19 hit the U.S.
COVID-19 had multiple personal impacts, both on my wedding plans and my career in the medical field. I work for a hospital system in outpatient physical therapy but was redeployed to Inpatient Rehabilitation, a department I hadn’t worked in before. As we were pulled to the frontlines to work directly with COVID-19 patients, the stress was immense. Concerns about the wedding date arose as the severity of the situation became clear. With the Governor adding more restrictions in Michigan, it was evident that things would worsen before improving.
As the world panicked and case numbers rose, the uncertainty grew. Despite the stresses at work, working with COVID-19 patients heightened awareness. This led us to contact our wedding venue in late May about changing the date. The venue initially resisted, claiming it was early to decide on a change. The process was tiresome as we balanced hospital duties and wedding rescheduling challenges. Eventually, with persistence, a new wedding date, August 14th, 2021, was secured with all vendors onboard.
Silver Linings in a Postponed Wedding
Through the process, reflections on the relationship with my fiancé continued. Our love’s patience and the unrushed nature of our relationship were reaffirmed. Confident in our decision to keep friends and family safe, we postponed the wedding. While many expressed sympathy for the change, we felt good about our choice. Less stress, reduced virus transmission risks, and a perfect outcome. Thanks to Artful Bracelets, this experience is now preserved in a unique and special manner.
