By now, I'm sure you or someone you know has been affected by COVID-19. Whether you've contracted the illness or not, the economic and societal implications of this sickness have been treacherous.

There are so many groups suffering as a result of COVID-19, but I'm going to focus on one specific type of person... those getting married in 2020.

That's right, my brides & grooms, I'm talking to you.

These last few weeks have most likely had you pulling your hair out. The constant back and forth between making the ultimate decision of whether to postpone your wedding to a safer date or not.

Fortunately, there are some key takeaways from this whole ordeal.

1. Things Rarely Go As Planned

Acceptance... ugh, what a cliche life lesson. Though, being able to accept that this is our current reality is the only way that we can move forward. Life has a funny way of never working out how you think it will. Despite all of the horrors of the situation, maybe this is just a lesson we need to learn.

2. Wedding Insurance... Period

I bet those who had to cancel their wedding are kicking themselves for not purchasing wedding insurance but we can't change the past. All we can do is learn from our mistakes and hopefully be more cautious next time.

Though, if you're just embarking on your wedding planning journey, it's a great time to look into different options for insurance.

3. The Health of Our Loved Ones Comes First

When we're dealing with large numbers of people confined in one space, especially those with compromised immune systems due to disease or old age, it's so easy to transfer sickness. No amount of money will ever replace our family and it's important for us to remember this. The reason we are postponing/cancelling weddings is to keep our family around longer.

4. Your Marriage Will Be There When This is Over

It might feel like the end of the world but try to remember why you're hosting this event in the first place. Marriage is a celebration of love & happiness! No matter what happens in the world, you have found someone who you are committing the rest of your lives to and that is something you can be grateful for.

5. Global Pandemics Suck

I mean, let's be honest here. We can try our best to focus on all that we're grateful for in our lives, but it's also okay to just be angry at the world. This is a really crappy time for everyone. It's okay to cry & scream but just remember that life will go on. The virus will inevitably pass and we will be able to carry on with our normal lives.

In the meantime, change your dates & call your vendors. Many of them are offering refunds or the ability to move your deposit to a different date for no charge.

Ariana is a filmmaker in the greater Vancouver area. She specializes in wedding filmmaking & storytelling.

Being able to merge her passion for connection with the creative outlet of filmmaking has been a dream that has finally actualized.

Learn more about Ariana here.