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LIFE IN THE TIME OF CORONAVIRUS
What It’s Like to Be a Wedding Planner During the Coronavirus Pandemic
A new series about how this pandemic affects our lives, our loved ones, our work, and our way of life
Life in the Time of Coronavirus is a new GEN series where we are interviewing people across the country who have had their lives upended or who are experiencing the stress of the unknown.
Rosinne Chlala is the co-owner of Festivities, a catering and event planning company in Norwalk, Connecticut. The weddings and other events she was working on for March, April, and May have all been postponed.
We are in the celebration business. We plan, design, and cater many kinds of events, from large-scale weddings, galas, and bar mitzvahs to small, intimate parties. During the 36 years we have been in business, we have seen the marketplace change several times. But this is very different because this is so economically challenging for every industry.
Our March, April, and May events have all been postponed. Thankfully no outright cancellations, and we have worked with our venues and creative partners to find new dates. The challenge is going to come in September when we have all the May weddings and all of the September weddings in one month.
How hard is this? You have been planning your wedding for a year, with every detail playing out in your mind. And now, something that you can’t even comprehend has entered the picture: a silent virus. So we move quickly to find solutions. One of our brides was getting married on a beautiful farm in Dutchess County, New York in May. Everybody would be flying in. Her parents are in Illinois, and guests are coming from several different states. Her dad is a doctor and, of course, concerned. When we spoke about all the concerns, I advised her to postpone. “This is such a wonderful celebration, and we want everyone to be happy to be there, and not have your father worried,” I said. She agreed. There were no tears. She found another date with her venue, and now she’s planning for fall decor instead. She’s excited about that. Life is about attitude.
