2020 has encouraged couples, planners and other event industry professionals to get creative. Event professionals are adapting to new best practices to keep everyone healthy including gathering restrictions, mask requirements, lots of hand sanitizer and a Clorox wipe shortage. I’m relieved that the toilet paper scarcity was short-lived. Since venues in North Carolina have been allowed to re-open at limited capacities, we’ve seen unique ideas from our couples and ingenious recommendations from planners and wedding blogs, so we’ve rounded up a few of our favorite ideas!

1. Social Distancing Tags – Create wristbands or buttons to help your guests understand how comfortable others are with gathering in large groups. Color-code the bands or buttons to show if someone is comfortable with socializing at a distance, talking in small groups but no touching, or open for a hug and a handshake. You can keep it simple by offering a custom button for guests who aren’t as comfortable as others that say something like “Please practice social distancing.” We’ve seen this idea several times on the Knot, Wedding Wire, and other wedding inspiration resources, so we’re excited to see how our couples might put their own spin on this idea!

2. Stop! Sanitize! – When going anywhere in 2020, hand sanitizer and a mask is a MUST HAVE. At Oakland, we have several sanitizing stations throughout the venue, but there’s no such thing as too much sanitizer. Place a bottle on each table for use during dinner or gift them as favors to each guest. Mini-hand sanitizers with a custom wedding sticker are a perfect addition to guests’ place settings.

3. Guest Books – The traditional guest book has seen its last days. Everyone touching the same pen and all the pages in the book is a COVID-19 no-no! One of our couples bought enough pens for all of their guests and had them deposit them in a vase to be sanitized. Another couple had custom pens made as a favor. Everyone loves a good pen, especially if it’s a reminder of their sweet friends’ special day. If you’re opting for a polaroid-style guest book, have a volunteer or planner take a picture of each guest to minimize the number of people touching the camera. And of course, add some hand sanitizer to this station at your wedding!

4. Mask On! – I’ll take a mask in every color! Masks are the hottest fashion item this year and will likely be for several more months as states progress in re-opening phases. Several of our couples had masks made for their guests that matched their color scheme or had their wedding date on them. Your guests will be thankful for a favor that won’t get shoved into a junk drawer!

5. Seat’s Taken – Ensure your seating plans allow for tables and chairs to be spaced 6-feet apart to make guests feel safe and comfortable during your wedding ceremony and reception. We have over 12,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor space at our venue that can be used to spread guests out as they celebrate with you. A seating chart will also allow you to make sure guests are seated in family groups or with people they’ve quarantined with this year. Plus, a seating chart is a beautiful décor item to add to your ceremony space! They can be printed with a design that matches your invitations, written on a mirror, or displayed in unique ways at each table (like a place card, a vintage jug, or even a pumpkin – the Pinterest possibilities are ENDLESS)!

6. Take Things Outdoors – To minimize the spread of COVID-19, move your ceremony and reception outdoors. Under current guidelines, North Carolina is allowing more guests outside for your ceremony and reception than inside, so outdoors you can maximize your headcount while also ensuring guests are comfortable and safely distanced. Plus, these fall temperatures are perfect for spending a little more time outside while celebrating! A reception under the market lights in our Pavilion would be such a romantic space to say “I do” and mingle with guests.

7. Food, But Make it Personal - Caterers have used the pandemic as an opportunity to turn food into art! The days of guests grazing on open tables or helping themselves at buffet lines are well behind us. Hors d’oeuvres can be passed by catering staff while guests enjoy a cocktail before dinner. Personal charcuterie boards for each guest or table is a great idea for an appetizer, but also adds some color and touch of decor to the table! Instead of guests serving themselves at the buffet, we recommend caterers serve your guests in line (like cafeteria style, but much classier); this way the buffet line moves even faster, minimizes guests touching utensils, and fills bellies quickly! You can save space in your venue by serving guests a plated dinner - no need for buffet tables, and the food presentation would be gorgeous on a china plate from a rental company.

8. Intimate Wedding – Small is the new trend! While the state is still implementing gathering restrictions, spend quality times with the family and friends that mean the most to you for your wedding ceremony and reception. You can still have the bouquet of your dreams, incredible tablescapes and include all the sweet details you were originally planning. With smaller weddings, you have a little more room in the budget to splurge on special décor, wedding favors, or just save the extra cash for something for you and your partner – like a special trip or saving it for a future big purchase! An intimate experience will allow you to still celebrate on your planned wedding date, but maintain safety and focus on what’s most important…your marriage! We worked with an incredible team of vendors to offer an all-inclusive collection for couples who want to marry with guest counts of up to 50 people. Allow our dream team to create the wedding of your dreams by choosing one of our packages – Galloway Essentials or Chatham Celebration!

9. “Love” Stream Your Ceremony – Planning an intimate wedding? Or just want to go ahead and exchange vows? You can “love” stream your wedding on virtual platforms so all your guests can share in the experience. Some of our couples have used a private Zoom meeting or a Facebook live event so their friends and family can safely celebrate whether they’re local or in another state!

10. Marry Now, Party Later! – If you’ve planned your wedding for 2020, you still have the opportunity for a sweet ceremony as you promise forever to the one you love most. Go ahead and say “I do” whether you wear your wedding dress or choose another white dress on your original wedding date. When it’s safe to celebrate again, have your “sequel wedding” or anniversary celebration or another date when you feel safe to gather everyone you love! For our Oakland Farm couples who are choosing this option, we’re giving them access to the property on their original wedding date for a small ceremony and reserving them a future date for their big party. We want all of our couples to feel loved, celebrated and safe as they prepare for their future as Mr. & Mrs.!

Of course these 10 things can’t guarantee that no germs will be spread during your event, but the chances are much lower by following these tips in addition to guidelines from the CDC and state and local governments. Your love doesn’t have to wait! Even in a pandemic, those sweet and special moments from your wedding day will still be unforgettable!