I think it is important for women to know they are not alone in their feelings and thoughts; especially this year of all years. Yes, there are bigger problems in the world besides a wedding being cancelled/postponed but let’s be real every bride wants her moment regardless of if they dreamed of a big over the top party or something simple and sweet; we all have something we envisioned. This is why I wanted to hear how the brides of 2020 have been dealing with the curveballs COVID has thrown their way. My first bride Jess is actually a 2021 bride who’s currently dealing with the second wave of COVIDs hurtles.
KC: Hey Jess, thanks so much for taking the time to talk to me, I really appreciate it. I’d love for you to be open and honest about the ups and downs of being a COVID bride. So let’s get into it! When did you decide to change the wedding date?
JP: I decided I needed to change the date, we pushed it back from April 10 2021 to July 2021, mainly because I accepted that the party wouldn’t be the same but I wanted that moment, THE moment! When I think of that moment, to me it is getting ready in the morning with your family. The moment is your dad’s first glance of you as a bride. That moment is getting ready to walk you down the aisle, that moment is looking into Daniel’s eyes as I walk down the aisle. I want that moment, I want all the little moments. The party can wait. I’m so lucky because Daniel is really calm and easy going and he knows how much that moment means to me. COVID made me remember what’s import, what actually matters. It’s about me marrying Daniel and our little moments. I think COVID made a lot of brides realize that.
KC: That’s really beautiful! I love that, and I agree, COVID has probably changed a lot of brides. Other than the date has the wedding changed in anyway, will it look any different?
JP: Nothing is changing, well kind of the biggest change is that it's now a two day wedding. We will be having the ceremony on the Saturday and the reception the following day. So I'm not going to sleep for two days haha. Getting married one day and waking up to my husband in our home and continuing our wedding the next day will be exciting. We are going to make that second morning a special one. For the first day, I don't have hair, makeup, or florals and we had to hire a different photographer and videographer than the second day. But ya, other than that it's all the same. I'm wearing the same dress. It’s what I’ve dreamed of and I can’t wait to wear it and now I get to wear it twice! A part of that moment I was talking about is that dress. Everything is the same, no changes. The florals and all other decor; everything is very simple, everything I chose will fit in every month, every season in my opinion.
KC: Oh my god haha that's a huge change but I love how nonchalantly you just added that in like it was no big deal that it's now a two day thing! You're being really chill about all of this, good for you. And that all sounds perfect! I know obviously the entire year has been a challenge but what would you say your biggest challenge has been?
JP: The biggest challenges have been the not knowing if your day is actually going to happen and now adjusting to the new date. It hasn’t sunk in that it's July 17 it's not April 10. As someone who struggles with anxiety, I’m a planner. I need to plan. I am getting adjusted to a new plan slowly preparing for it. It's not even it being two dates. It's just the uncertainty.
KC: So many of us struggle with anxiety, myself included. I love that you can talk about it. This year has been tough for everyone I can only imagine someone getting married! How have you found the vendors to be? Were they empathetic or have you lost deposits?
JP: No deposits lost, I had heard horror stories, so my anxiety kicked in, I was really worried but everyone has been really accommodating and supportive. No problems at all. The Arlington, our venue, left me feeling good, they were very reassuring.
KC: Oh that's amazing, you're super lucky. I'm sure it could have been worse. Now let me ask you a hypothetical question, and COVID continues as it is now, are you and Daniel still tying the knot on the new date?
JP: Ceremony 10000% we're doing it. I don't care, it's happening! But we still don’t know if the reception is happening on July 18th but we need to have it, even if it’s in 2023, because we had envisioned this big day and we do still want that at some point. My hopes were so high and now they are crashing down with this second wave. The limited amount of dates is the reason why we had to have two dates. The church wouldn't marry us on a Sunday and dates were so limited with all of the other vendors which is why the reception, as of right now, is Sunday July 18th. Our bridal party is all kids, no adults, so it was king of a blessing in a way. I was worried about the long day for the kids. I also originally wanted to get married July 10th but it was booked.
KC: You will have a beautiful ceremony and party no matter what day it happens. I am putting it out into the universe for you! I have to ask, I noticed you seem to like the number 10. April 10th, July 10th is that your favourite or lucky number?
JP: I played soccer for 17 years and I loved Francesco Totti who wore number 10. That's why I wanted the 10th.
KC: Well I can understand that being married to a soccer player myself. You seem to be dealing with all of this so well. What kind of bride would you say you are? It's okay to say bridezilla especially given the circumstances.
JP: I thought I was going to be bridezilla but I’m actually so chill because I have high anxiety and I'm a nervous person everyone is so surprised. I’m not easy going but I’m simple.
KC: I like that! That's a very honest answer. I like to tell my husband I'm not high maintenance, I'm expensive. It's good to be self-aware haha. Looking back now, with all this uncertainty still ahead, would you have just tied the knot?
JP: No, haha! Looking back I would not have just tied the knot because I’ve been dreaming of this moment my whole life. Daniel would have though.
KC: That's totally fair you want to still have that moment you talked about, I get that. So I guess it's safe to say you've been planning your wedding since you were a little girl?
JP: 1000% it’s so cheesy but it's true. I went to go watch 'Bride Wars' when I was 13 years old, the one with Kate Hudson and Anne Hathaway. It was the first movie I went to see on my own with a friend. June 10th at the plaza from that day on was what I wanted for my wedding. A few months into dating we picked our song. While we were driving, we said the next song to come on when we change the station will be our son and as fate would have it, it was the son from Bride Wars at the end Kate Hudson's wedding.
KC: Oh my god that's so cute! Love that movie it's a goodie. The universe works in mysterious ways! So when did you decide you were changing the wedding date for sure, did you ever think you'd be that bride that had to change their wedding date?
JP: The beginning of December, I woke up and had a feeling I didn’t feel good. I just knew I had to change it. I had the same feeling with my shower and I moved it up. I didn’t think I'd have to change the wedding date. No one was on my side with my shower, everyone said leave it. I decided to change my shower date and I did and re-planed everything in 3 weeks and thank god I did. So when I had that same feeling with the wedding I just did it.
KC: Ya you have to listen to your gut it's usually right! Good for you, I'm so happy that you still got to have your shower! My last question for you is how has your Fiance been in all of this?
JP: He's honestly been amazing, I'm so lucky, I really am. He took care of all the planning to change to the new date I didn’t have to do anything.
KC: That was super sweet of him! Thanks again for taking the time to chat with me, I loved talking to you and I can't wait for everyone to see the special surprise A & a will be helping you with in the New Year. You are going to make a gorgeous bride! Is there anything else you want to add?
JP: Thanks for letting me share! And ya, I want all the brides to know, love is patient and it's definitely not cancelled!
Xx
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