COVID-19

Health and safety is our primary concern at Wedgewood Weddings. With the recent increase in confirmed cases of COVID-19, our focus is on keeping all guests, and our team, safe.

Statement Date: June 1, 2020

Likely, the past ten weeks have been an emotional rollercoaster for you and your loved ones. It certainly has for our Wedgewood Weddings’ team, both personally and professionally. Happily, as the curve continues to stay flat or drop, states and counties are easing their COVID-19 restrictions and reopening their doors for retail, food service, religious gatherings, and yes, even weddings!

Recently, we've hosted weddings in Arizona, Nevada, and Texas. It feels great to return to doing what we love. As restrictions are eased, it’s a pleasure to return to the days of exchanging vows, heartfelt speeches, romantic venues, beautiful decor and centerpieces, bountiful amounts of food, signature drinks, and fun with loved ones.

Like you, we've been reading and thinking about what the 'new normal' will look like in the event industry. It turns out the new normal looks like the things we have always loved about weddings in the past: People dressed up, smiling, laughing, hanging out with friends and family, and having a great time. The energy is still there; the love is still plentiful, and the romance is still alive. Our team can attest to the fact that current weddings are still as awesome as ever.

Today, we want to reassure you about what to expect at your wedding if it is scheduled for 2020. We’ve already seen a rapid easing of COVID-19 restrictions during the last month, and we expect those restrictions to continue to lift. This is great news as we move towards your wedding.

Given the information available to us as of June 1, 2020, here’s what you can expect at your wedding:

Your venue will be gorgeous. The ceremony site, ballroom, cocktail hour space, etc. are all in tip-top condition.
Your décor and design will remain the same. This includes your floral, chairs, linens, swag, favors, place cards, backdrops, lighting, and chargers. All of these will look as beautiful as they did when you began planning.
Your food and beverages will taste delicious. We do not expect any changes to any of our food and beverage options. Entrees and appetizers will all be delicious and plentiful. Drinks, of course, will flow!
Customary traditions like Ring-bearers, Flower Girls, Bridesmaids, and Groomsmen are welcome. All the love that a ceremony brings will be present: Romantic vows and ceremony customs will be love-filled and beautiful. Emotional speeches by loved ones will still bring a tear to everyone in the room. Creative introductions of the bridal party or a silly father-daughter dance will bring joy and laughter to all in attendance.
Your choice of music will still create a warm atmosphere via joy-filled entertainment. Expect to hear great tunes as traditional dances are performed. Guests will be able to dance together and have fun.
The photography will be gorgeous. We bet you've been thinking of your romantic and family portraits. Together with your family and friends, you’ll get the photos you want and can enjoy them for years to come.
Your venue will be clean and safe. We have always met all health and safety requirements and will continue to do so. We will adhere to any COVID-related mandates in place at the time of your wedding to ensure that you and your guests feel comfortable. We will be diligently active behind-the-scenes of your event to keep your venue spotless.
Our team will be happy and ready to service your needs. Our team will make your event as smooth and joyous as possible. The team you trusted when you booked with Wedgewood Weddings is eager to perform their magic again. You're in great hands.

We have received questions about practical changes for your event: The three most common questions we hear regard masks, dancing, and guest counts. Here are our positions on these three issues:

Currently, our staff is wearing protective face coverings, however, as a private event, you and your guests are not required to wear masks of any kind. Your event = your choice.
At all recent weddings, dancing has been just the same as it always was, pre-COVID. Those that want to dance with friends and family do so, others prefer to watch or chat. We will follow any local guidance, but since your event is private you can decide to include dancing without social or physical distancing. We will provide ample space for dancers to spread out and twirl.
Guest count limitations have been the most rapidly eased restrictions. Depending upon the county in which your event will take place, you may have read that there are limits on the permissible guest counts based on venue’s capacity, whether the event is indoor vs. outdoor, the number of attendees, etc. Every county’s guidelines and restrictions are seemingly a little different. Regardless of what they are now, if the easing continues, by August and beyond we expect the COVID-19 restrictions to completely lift or those restrictions still in place to have a minimal impact on your wedding. For example, our team may still wear protective masks while supporting your event and serving your guests. A few counties may take a more strict approach, but we have many options to make sure your guests can celebrate with you.

Guidance for the event planning industry continues to change quickly, so restrictions and guidance in place today may be significantly different next week, next month, and the month after. No one, not even the health officials or industry experts can predict with certainty what our post-COVID-19 world will look like in the event industry. We see the same information as you, and like you, we see the trend of continual easing of COVID-19 restrictions.

We hope this information reassures you that, while we have all made changes to our lives and businesses because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the significant and important elements of your wedding celebration will remain the same. You will still be making a commitment to the one you love while surrounded by well-wishers who will join you for a sumptuous meal and spectacular party at a stunning venue.

Our team has already returned to their respective venues and our management team will continue to monitor local requirements to make sure we comply with local needs while emphasizing fun and jubilation at your event.

We're quietly at work to prioritize your safety and the safety of your guests while ensuring that you can all enjoy your occasion to the fullest!

All the best,

Bill Zaruka
CEO, Wedgewood Weddings

STATEMENT DATE: MAY 1, 2020

In a continued effort to be transparent with our clients, we have been agile and continually updated our approach to COVID-19 and the precautions we’ve put in place to keep you and your loved ones safe and healthy. As we’ve all experienced, the pandemic landscape and guidance to stay safe is changing on an almost daily basis and varies widely based on several factors.

Weddings are a fun, hopeful, cherished occasion and keeping your guests happy, and most importantly, healthy is our priority. Should you have specific questions about your wedding, venue, or measures put in place, please reach out directly to the General Manager at the Wedgewood Weddings venue you’ve chosen. We’re here to help.

STATES CAUTIOUSLY OPENING UP

Governors across the U.S. are slowly re-opening businesses and the ability for Americans to get back to a semblance of pre-pandemic life. Assuming these measures are done with the full approval of public health officials, this is wonderful news. That said, we will fully abide by all government jurisdictions including city and local officials. While some states might have loosened restrictions, localities might keep a more stringent approach. Our team at Wedgewood Weddings monitors regulations on a daily basis and keeps in constant contact with the proper authorities. We will continue to make adjustments alongside health officials. Communication is critical during this time and we are committed to giving timely updates to our clients as we receive them.

WHAT THIS MEANS FOR YOUR EVENT

For events directly affected by the social gathering regulations, we’re hard at work to get weddings rebooked, reworked, and ensure that you are still excited about the happiest day of your life.

For those that might have their event altered by social gathering regulations, we have a number of different options and creative ideas to attend to your guests while maintaining their health and well-being.

Regardless of your wedding date, I have commissioned a task force of Wedgewood Weddings experts to tackle the critical issues of sanitation, distancing, vendor support, and client communication. You can find more on what we’re doing in each of these areas by reading a recent blog post on The Status of 2020 Weddings.

WORKING TOGETHER TOWARDS A SOLUTION

This is a completely new and unforeseen issue for all of us, but we are committed to our clients and their happiness. Our team is continually reaching out to our clients to find a solution that best fits their needs, and we are confident that through working together, we can find a path forward. We want to make your wedding planning as easy as possible and your special day one you’ll remember fondly for decades.

Our dedicated team is here to help in any regard. We love working with you and feel incredibly fortunate that you chose Wedgewood Weddings for your wedding. Please reach out to our team with any questions – we’re here to serve you.

Thank you for working with us.

Bill Z

Bill Zaruka,

CEO, Wedgewood Weddings

Statement Date: March 17, 2020

In my last statement on March 12, 2020, I promised I would be proactive and keep you informed. The situation created by COVID-19 has been rapidly evolving and has prompted Wedgewood Weddings to make adjustments in response.

LATEST GUIDANCE.

Over the past several days, we have seen that many state governors and local mayors are updating local ordinances to protect their communities by limiting the size of gatherings, closing bars and restaurants, and even asking people to shelter in place. The momentum continued to build towards restricting the occurrence of events and event size, culminating in a statement released by President Trump on Monday, March 16, 2020, recommending that social gatherings be limited to fewer than ten people. You can read the president’s statement here.

We wholeheartedly agree that public health has to be everyone’s priority, and we’re navigating this crisis together. We also anticipate that the restrictions will continue to surge, so that even if we can fulfill your event today, we may be unable to do so tomorrow.

WHAT THIS MEANS FOR YOUR EVENT.

Given federal, state, and local governments’ constraints and on-going CDC guidance, we evaluated our ability to produce amazing events that meet the standard we have set for ourselves over the past 34 years.

The outcome of this evaluation led us to make the difficult decision that effective immediately, we will postpone all our events until after April 30, 2020, to comply with all applicable guidelines.

This is a challenging time for everyone. Our team would love to host your event and celebrate with you as scheduled, but social gatherings currently present too much risk to public health. None of us want to risk the transmission of COVID-19 to friends or family.

LET'S FIND A SOLUTION TOGETHER.

Our team is ready to work with you to find a new date. You can choose the date, time, and venue to make your updated event meet your expectations.

We want to make this next step as easy as possible. Your payment to date will become a statement of credit that we will apply to your future event with Wedgewood Weddings. We are also giving you a 20% discount on your final contract amount to help reduce your overall event cost. This offer only applies to events that were due to be hosted in March or April 2020.

We wish that we could host your event on your chosen date, and we’re all working incredibly hard to find a solution. We hope you’ll understand that we have to put community safety first. As you hear from our team members, please consider that we’re contacting all our customers and want to work with you to find a speedy resolution that meets your needs. We ask that you respect our team as they work through this situation. Everyone at Wedgewood Weddings hugely appreciates your patience.

Like you, we cannot predict what will happen next as we learn about the coronavirus crisis. We hope that by being flexible with your needs, we can all get through this together.

Thank you for your understanding.

Bill Zaruka,

CEO, Wedgewood Weddings

Statement Date: March 12, 2020

We want you to feel confident about your wedding. Wedgewood Weddings will, as always, put tremendous effort into making your event spectacular.

Based on current circumstances, the Center for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), and the World Health Organization (WHO) guidance, we have updated our policies temporarily to be even more flexible and to keep our communities safe.

AS ALWAYS, WEDGEWOOD WEDDINGS WILL HONOR ALL BOOKINGS

Based on all current information, our doors will remain open throughout the coronavirus crisis, and we will continue to deliver spectacular events.

In the unlikely event that we are forced to close due to a governmental quarantine, then we will work with you to reschedule for a future date.

THE GUESTLIST IS UP TO YOU.

At Wedgewood Weddings, we do not ask for your final guest count until ten days before your event. During this crisis, we are offering extra flexibility up until the day before your event. This is in case travel is canceled, and guests are unable to attend. If this happens, contact your venue team to explain the updated guest numbers – and we'll work with you to make the proper adjustments.

Your wedding provides an opportunity to celebrate with those that are closest to you. We encourage you to work with your family and friends to finalize your guest list to limit the chances of exposure to COVID-19. This means you can be fully informed of who wants to attend and who can attend before you pay your final balance.

The government guidelines around postponing events relate to largescale public gatherings like concerts and sporting events. A private wedding is not affected as you are hand-selecting the guests who attend.

WE WANT YOU TO BE HAPPY & WELL.

The most important thing on any wedding day is that the couple celebrating feels good. If you, or your immediate family, are exposed to the virus or become ill, please let us know. We'll give you space to recover and then work with you.

WE STRICTLY ADHERE TO ALL HEALTH & SAFETY REQUIREMENTS.

We follow the CDC's advice for private gatherings to make sure our venues are clean and safe. Cleanliness is always critical to Wedgewood Weddings. Everyone on our catering team holds up-to-date food handling certifications, and team members who feel unwell stay home.

As a response to the crisis, we are increasing cleaning activity beyond our standard procedures. As part of that effort, restrooms and frequently-touched surfaces are cleaned before, after, and during events with high-grade disinfectants.

WE'RE IN THIS TOGETHER.

Like you, we want everyone to protect themselves from COVID-19 by taking extra safety precautions. Currently, the CDC and WHO are not recommending the cancellation of private events. We will continue to monitor this situation closely and will make adjustments as needed.

If you have any questions, please reach out to the General Manager at your venue, who will be able to provide greater detail on the specific actions being taken at the venue. We want you and your guests to enjoy your event, and we're working behind the scenes to exceed your expectations with extra flexibility and the cleanest, safest, most beautiful wedding possible!

THANK YOU.

This entire situation is fluid and complex. We will keep our communication up to date as the situation evolves. Your trust in Wedgewood Weddings is respected and cherished. We will keep everyone's safety at the forefront of everything we do.

We look forward to seeing you soon.

Bill Zaruka,

CEO, Wedgewood Weddings