How to Make Your Social Distanced Wedding Stand Out!
Covid-19 has certainly added endless unexpected twists and turns to couples’ original wedding plans. It has altered what each person had originally envisioned, no doubt! However, we are here to remind you that while your wedding might look different than what you had originally dreamed up - that doesn’t have to be a negative thing! Keep scrolling for some of our favorite socially distanced wedding hacks that can keep the safety of your guests in mind while also keeping the party poppin’!
1) Let’s talk ceremony!
TIP 1
Long + Narrow.remember that you’ll have couples, families, + individuals gathering to celebrate you!
Best day ever! Dawn and Eugene were the sweetest couple ever. Like all of our couples, Dawn + Eugene put the safety of their friends and family first and foremost. They worked closely with us, at Moniker Events, and their amazing planners over at Hip Hip Hooray, to ensure they had the perfect floor plan for their ceremony. They mapped out ahead of time the guests who would be attending and the exact amount of people in each party. They then placed that amount of chairs accordingly and ensured that each close circle was 6ft apart from the next.
The best part about Building 177 is that it is a very long space - allowing for plenty of sq. footage to distance chairs.Bloom Meets Girl did a PERFECT job adding all the final touches to ensure the space had pops of greenery and life!
Everyone in the room was beaming with smiles from ear to ear- or at least that’s what we assumed by the “smizing” (smiling with your eyes for all those who never watched ANTM)!
tip 2
Semi-circle. Semi-traditional But fully gorgeous.
Here’s another great way to look great and stay distanced! Design the ceremony wide, instead of long/narrow. Keeping the focal point on you and your S/O with a stunning floral piece (maybe one made by Levant Lane, just an idea), while your friends and family are spread out all around you. Also, note the laptop in the left hand corner of the shot. We have loved the Zoom shots of the ceremony! Such a special way to include those who couldn’t be physically present.
Photographer: Kristina Moto Photography
TIP 3
Mini ceremony. Small but mighty.
Design your ideal backdrop with local florals, such as Tiny Victories, or an arch from a rental company, like Witty Rentals. Your budget that was initially going toward food and beverage can now go toward your favorite hanging installation that doubles as a photobooth backdrop.
Downsizing your original guest size can definitely be an aspect of your wedding design that is tough to cope with. However, mini-monies have the potential to be so special and sacred and beautiful. Adding a super unique and interesting focal point/alter piece has been our favorite way to spice up ceremonies - especially ones that have to be downsized. These photos are from styled shoots, so for actual weddings we would recommend distancing chairs a touch more, but it still goes to show that less can definitely be more!
Top
Photographer: Aldous Photo
Dress: Christina Sfez
Design: Moniker Events
Florals: Tiny Victories
Bottom
Photographer: By Darius
Rentals: Witty Rentals
Florals: Dogwood and Fir
2) Cocktail hour - cheers’ing from 6ft
Cocktail hour is a great way for guests to get outside and space themselves out from one another! Especially during this time when we are so used to being in control of when we are around people and for how long, allowing a time for guests to step outside and have the freedom to roam as they please is a big bonus. So, spread out your cocktail tables, get the drinks flowing and blast that music. We guarantee your guests are loving the excuse to party, but will definitely love the opportunity to get outside and move around a bit!
TIP: Our Building 177 has another venue right next to it- the Luce Court! You can rent this space for a very reasonable rate and you can feel super comfortable letting your guests relax, grab some fresh air, and sip your signature cocktail. Check out more photos of Luce Court and our other surrounding outdoor venues on our website!
Photographer: Kristina Moto Photography
3) Reception Time- Tables, chairs, lounges, oh-my!
The best part about reception is the fact that you get to seat families/parties together who already spend a lot of time together/who are already a part of the same social circle. So this part is a bit easier than ceremony! It is also nice that most tables are 6ft - the perfect distance if strangers are placed across from one another. We love how Michael + Desiree chose to set up their social distanced ceremony. Ensuring the safety of their guests, while not needing to compromise on style! Little Fleur Co made sure to help their tables pop with the perfect floral center pieces! We love how Ashley Lanzarotto captured this perfect reception.
Tip 2
Lounges. be the oprah of seating. Everyone gets a seat!
Lounges are the perfect excuse to spice things up and give your guests another opportunity to get up out of their seats a space out a bit more. Plus, we are all so used to being cozied up on the couch these days more than ever. Might as well bring that same sense of home to your event! Plus, look how CUTE they turn out. We’ll take 6. (These cutie rentals are from Witty - photographed by Jamie Dee Photo, florals by New Creations Floral Co).
Makes you want to sit down and cozy up, right? If you had a few of these scattered around the venue it would give guests the perfect excuse to get up from their seats and move around AND it would make your wedding pop! Adore Folklore can help you out with designing the perfect lounge area for you and your guests. Photo by SoCal Standard.
Tip 3
Hand sanitizer. duh. per seat or per table.
I spy some cutie hand sanitizer in a glass amber dispenser! Keeping your tables simple and spaced is key. Look how clean this looks. Walking into a packed venue with tables and chairs pressed up next to each other might make some guest uncomfortable, but when guest enter a venue like this, where they see chairs strategically spaced, hand sanitizer placed, and doors cracked open, they will feel more at ease. Also, style isn’t being compromised! Who doesn’t love a clean, bright reception with pops of amber and dried florals?
Photographer: Kristina Moto Photography
4) All in the details
A table for two! Not much needs to be said here. But setting aside a small budget for a special sweetheart table will go the extra mile, we promise. You and your S/O have already overcome WAY more than so many other couples have typically had to overcome when wedding planning before- you deserve an extra special table set for two. To celebrate this incredible day. To celebrate that you made it - you finally made it.
Keep things fun! Just because plans or dates got changed doesn’t mean your design or dreams need to be compromised. Let your imagination soar and keep things interesting! Work with your florist (highly recommend Tiny Victories Florals) and create the coolest hanging floral install EVER. Order specialty rentals and make the coolest tabletop wedding guests have ever seen. Leave your guests talking about the wedding - not because it was “amazing…despite,” but because it was just plain amazing. The intimate details, like the terracota tumblers and the velvet sweetheart chairs from Adore Folklore, create a texture dream for your table and your wedding party or family.
Photographer: Aldous Photo
Design: Moniker Events
Rentals: Adore Folklore
Tableware: Hostess Haven
