We are so fortunate to be a part of an amazing community of wedding vendors in Asheville, NC and this has really shown during the last 10 months since the COVID pandemic started. The wedding industry has been hit hard in the last year; its also brought on a lot of stress for couples who aren’t really sure how to start planning or what the next best steps are. There are so many things we have had to do and implement to make sure we can keep shooting weddings while staying healthy.

Since we know that we work with some of the best in the biz, we asked them to share their thoughts about what they have done to pivot during the pandemic. They have some great advice for couples trying to plan their wedding, and told stories of the benefits they have seen during this crazy time too. Here’s what a few of them had to say:

AnaRie (Asheville Wedding Make-up Artist)

It has been an amazing experience to see how gracious our brides and clients have been. Many people have had to change plans, slow down, and have faith that so much would work out. With every difficult decision, so many of our brides are remembering that a wedding day is about a sacred commitment to their partner and it's been so beautiful to be a part of that. My team and I absolutely love what we do and it's been such a gift to continue to connect with our brides and their loved ones as we provide hair and makeup services to them. Our clients are realizing how much we add to a wedding day and are so excited to have us there. It's been great!

Thankfully, sanitation and very high hygiene standards have been a part of AnaRie since the very beginning. We understand that the healthy and safety of our clients, the artists and stylists, as well as everyone around us, is the most important. We have processes that involve mask wearing from arrival to departure, using disposables, sanitizing products, hand washing between clients, disinfecting our work spaces and more. We want to make sure we show up in the best way possible for our brides and their loved ones!

2021 has been all about the romance and brides wanting to look like an enhanced version of themselves. We love that kind of beauty! It is absolutely our specialty along with providing personal, luxurious experiences. We want to make sure each person sees themselves and their vision in the mirror before walking down the aisle. We are also seeing that brides want to make sure their looks are timeless, classic, and captured in a way they'll enjoy it for many years to come. Individual lash applications have become more popular. They're lighter, more feathery looking, and feel better than a heavier strip lash. For hair, we're seeing our brides want to make sure they're comfortable and everything will look flawless all day and night. We're seeing more gorgeous hair pieces with crystals and pearls. We love that touch of glam it can add!

www.anarie.com

Asheville Event Co. (Asheville Wedding Planner)

In regards to pivoting, we are actually using the same planning model but just adaptive to the times. Many of our events have been postponed, reduced their guest count or are having intimate ceremonies now with plans for larger celebrations in 2021. We are using the same approach by being adaptable and creative with the multiple changes that our clients have had to process in the face of a pandemic. We feel lucky to have trusted partners like you and other venues and vendors that have been so helpful in rescheduling events and hosting events with state restrictions we have been experiencing. It has brought our industry closer than ever.

When planning a wedding during COVID, we would recommend being open to a possible change in your plans as well as consider what is most important to you now so if changes need to be made, you are mentally prepared and have talked this through with your family so you can best make a decision. For example, if your guest count must be lowered due to state mandates, would you rather proceed with your wedding or wait until you can have a larger affair? As we’ve realized this virus is unpredictable and coming in waves. It has definitely changed our industry standards when it comes to keeping guests as safe as possible.

I think the benefits really come down to humanity and the human spirit. We have seen our industry come together and work harder than ever to make sure our clients that have been impacted by the pandemic have the events of their dreams. Many times we have reworked and redesigned layouts, changed venues, etc. We are seeing a thankfulness and appreciativeness in regards to our services but more importantly how this pandemic has changed perspectives on the value of relationships and interaction with close family and friends.

www.ashevilleeventco.com

Biltmore (Asheville Wedding Venue)

We have had to shift our market to cater to many more small weddings than we normally have. A few months back, we created our exclusive, limited time Petite Packages, which offer reduced facility fees and food/beverage minimums to couples who have smaller guest counts and are interested in slightly larger venues. These packages are being offered for events from August 2020 through March 2021.

Benefits: Our team has had the opportunity to learn and grow! While things are always changing, this has challenged us to get out of our comfort zone, learn new things, and execute our roles in new ways. Even during this crazy time, we still have been able to fulfill the most important part of our jobs, which is helping happy couples share their commitment to love!

www.biltmore.com/weddings

Biltmore Forest Country Club (Asheville Wedding Venue)

We’ve had to be ready for changes at the last minute. I would say we are fairly used to having all ducks in a row way ahead of time and this year we have had to adjust and roll with the punches on a short timeline. Unfortunately, the hardest part is saying “no”. Being a Country Club, we always say we are in the “yes business”. This year has been drastically different. Saying no to all the brides and their families this year has been heart breaking. We pride ourselves on making it happen, no matter what…it’s been a different world this year. Even if we are unable to go with the original vision, we will make it the best alternative plan and most memorable we can.

Advice: I know many of you [couples] might be feeling like you’ve been cheated. That this is supposed to be the happiest time of your life. But it still can be. What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. Push forward through everything, no matter how many dead ends you feel you’ve landed at. There will be light at the end of the tunnel and it will be worth the wait and at the end of the day you will still be spending the rest of your life with the one you love.

Benefits: No fees for cancellations!! Surprisingly, there have been a lot of amazing vendors that are super understandable and willing to bend that policy! Also, there have been some great deals on items for weddings and events.

www.biltmoreforestcc.com

Highland Brewing (Asheville Wedding Venue)

We’ve been able to witness some truly beautiful love stories this year! The weddings have looked a little different and have certainly been more intimate, but intimate is special in a very unique and memorable way. At the end of the day, the couples who didn’t let COVID stop them and still got married… those are the ones who have really gotten us through all of this!

Be FLEXIBLE! If you’re getting married in early 2021, there will likely be some sort of restrictions in place. Get creative, lean into it, and remember that these restrictions are in place for the safety of everyone.

www.highlandbrewing.com

Inspired Design (Asheville Floral Designer)

Big piece of this year for me was to adjust my minimum and take on smaller gatherings and elopements. This opening in my schedule allowed me time to work on my floral artistry skills and fine tune my bouquet work. Though I truly try to customize every bridal bouquet and make them one of a kind, having a slower pace allowed me to create in a more relaxed manner and the end result has been that I have gotten faster!

My biggest advice is hold things loosely and go into the planning with an open mind, holding tight and clear focused on why you are doing this in the first place! Marrying the one you love. Main benefit for me, I was able to be available for my mom thru her final months and days of cancer. Time to be with her was priceless! She passed away in August of metastasized breast cancer. I also have invested in and added to my garden- I put in a rose garden in the spring and was able to use special blooms all summer for elopement bouquets and on cakes! We also added to my shrubs in the back and an article I wrote about using shrubs in floral design was featured on Team Flower website/blog.

www.inspireddesign-nc.com

Magic Hour Creative (Asheville Wedding Videographer)

One quirky benefit to these crazy times is to be able to spend more time with my 8 year old daughter as she's learning remotely for school. I'm fortunate to work from home and I really treasure some precious moments in between some chaotic Zoom classes.

2020 was projected to be one of our best years yet, then we were blindsided just like everyone else in the wedding industry. Our spring/summer weddings all but vanished or were pushed back to 2021. We fortunately finished with a strong fall season, albeit with weddings that didn't traditionally resemble previous years. If anything, it gave me a perspective to be thankful for my own health and also to appreciate the fact that couples were brave enough to push forward with their plans in the name of love.

I think a lot of our inquiries may have been from couples who probably would not initially think to book a videographer. Couples have been looking for a way to share their wedding day with so many family members or friends who couldn't be there due to the pandemic, and a film is a great way to experience a wedding day.

www.magichourcreative.com

Mary Bell Events (Asheville Wedding Planner)

We have done everything possible to remain at the best service possible to our clients. The majority of our clients have rescheduled into the 2021 season. Of course, we have also seen some cancellations… as well as couples keep their dates and have a smaller guest count. We are happy to adjust anything and everything needed to ensure a perfect wedding experience, regardless of their date or parameters!

Advice: Best advice would be to decide you want to marry the love of your life… and MARRY them! What other people do or do not do… travel or do not… attend or not… should not be the reason you do or do not not marry. As with all things in life, you are not in control of other peoples’ decisions or behaviors so do not let other peoples’ opinions decide YOUR wedding. If you want to marry, marry. Yes, it may be a smaller guest count. Yes, the tables may be a few feet apart. Yes, we may need to have a plated meal rather than a buffet. These are not deal breakers. Just make the decision with a happy heart and then let your planner and vendors take care of the rest.

You will have guests not attend due to COVID. You will also have guests not attend because it is the wrong month or too cold or too close to their cousin’s’ wedding. You have never been able to control other people’s decision so do not let their decisions control YOURS! No one should have the power to decide your future but you. In the immortal words of Billy Crystal, “When you finally figure out how you want to spend the rest of your life, you want the rest of your life to begin as soon as possible”. Also… be kind to your vendors. This industry has been among the hardest hit. We know that you are compromising, but we are here for you and to help you. You must believe that no one is more vested in your experience than we are. Please do not forget that we are people just trying to take care of our families too.

www.marybellevents.com

Meadowbrooke Bridal (Asheville Bridal Boutique)

We have loved having an even more intimate experience with our brides! Even though it has been so tough to limit group sizes of guests that can enter the boutique, it just makes each guest we get the chance to meet that much more special.

Give yourself grace and time! Many aspects of wedding planning take quite some time, so we'd suggest planning for that as best as possible. We always do our absolute best to make every bride's wedding dress dreams come true, but the shorter the timeline a bride has, the more limited options become.

We are absolutely LOVING the 2021 bridal trend of versatility. Designers have gotten incredibly creative with detachable options, whether it be sleeves, capes, skirts, or belts. We are always so excited to get more than one look out of a bride's gown!

www.meadowbrookebridal.com

Mingle Events (Asheville Wedding Planner)

COVID has been extremely difficult on the wedding industry as a whole with government mandates and regulations. We have sat in on meetings where bride's break down crying when they realize the wedding they have always dreamed of might not be possible right now. Seeing our clients have to make such difficult decisions to postpone, downsize or cancel all together has broken our hearts time and time again.

However, we have been a part of much smaller, more intimate events than ever. At first, we felt a little awkward with this! We are used to being behind the scenes and being able to fly under the radar of 150+ guest count events. With COVID, we have shifted to being part of elopements and micro weddings ranging from 12-50 people. Every wedding is special to us and forever holds a place in our hearts but these COVID era weddings tug on our heart strings a little bit more. It's amazing to see these couples scale back on the excess and focus on what really matters- their love for each other and starting a life together. Don't get us wrong- we adore an over the top floral install, large live bands, and all the bells and whistles but in COVID times more than ever people grasp on to what a wedding and marriage really is all about. One of our fondest memories is an elopement at The Ridge this October. There were ONLY 12 people total including the bride and groom. We can't put into words how special it felt to be a part of that intimate and family centered moment overlooking our beautiful WNC mountains. We get chills just thinking about it. If anything, COVID has taught us to cherish and hold onto the ones we love just a little bit tighter! No matter how much you plan, nothing in this life is promised but one thing is for sure... love is not cancelled!

www.mingleeventsandrentals.com

The Hunt is Over (Asheville Wedding + Elopement Coordinator)

The Hunt is Over (THIO) is unique in that we actually launched our business in February of this year. Rather than rearrange previously booked weddings, we instead found ourselves jumping head first into aiding other small businesses such as planners or venues in supplementing their schedules by taking over the overflow from double booked wedding weekends or offering small elopement/micro wedding packages for wedding couples wanting to get married without the constraints associated with COVID. We are blessed to say that we did not have to "pivot" per se, but instead we immediately just adapted into the current wedding community needs. When it comes to promotion we just want other businesses and couples to know WE ARE HERE if anyone needs anything. We just want to continue to plug in and help how we can. We offer officiation, 30 day wedding coordination, and all-inclusive adventure elopement packages.

Advice: Continue to advocate for yourselves as the couple! Ask questions, brainstorm with your vendors, approach hardships with kindness, but also with confidence. You are your best advocate. If you want a big wedding, but state laws prohibit it at the time, then weigh your pros and cons and ultimately do what makes you as a couple feel the most joy, comfort, and peace! Small weddings can be awesome, but if your dream is a large wedding then trust your vendors professional advice and work together with them to make your dream come true at a future time.

Benefits: Zach (my hubby/officiant) and I have greatly enjoyed helping couples get married despite all of the obstacles and hardships in the form of adventure intimate elopements. It's in those moments that all the bells and whistles, the expectations, the "show" of a large wedding is stripped away and the couple just gets to relax and truly enjoy one another in one of the most precious moments of their life without the distraction of all the other things that can take place during a big wedding event. The cost associated with a smaller wedding is also significantly less than a large wedding event, which can be seen as a benefit to the couple as well.

www.thioweddingevents.com

Wrap Up of Tips and Advice

Marrying the one you love is what it is all about! Maybe its this year and smaller or maybe its next year and more in line with your vision. However it works out, you get to say I do to the next chapter of your lives together and that is pretty amazing!
Asheville wedding vendors are focused on doing what is best to still provide an amazing experience for couples while still following guidelines to ensure everyone stays healthy.
Your vendors are here for you! Your wedding day is just as special to us and we want to do everything we can to make it the best day possible.
A little silver lining has been more time spent at home with our families. And while it hasn’t always been easy (hello virtual school!), it is also time that we won’t ever get back, and for that we are grateful.

A Plant Lover's Fall Wedding at the Biltmore Conservatory

Wedding Planning During the Pandemic | Advice from Asheville's Wedding Vendors