Love Is Not Canceled

In this time of tremendous uncertainty, planning a wedding can seem nearly impossible. With COVID-19 surging and regulations constantly fluctuating, it appeared as if all hope was lost in the wedding industry. Instead of focusing on the negative, however, a trio of fantastic women banded together to ask the question: What can we do this wedding season?

While the wedding industry has taken a massive hit, some event professionals have been creating new and innovative experiences for couples to have the day of their dreams without compromising. Wed & Wander, a collaborative concierge wedding service, offers answers to the question many couples are facing right now: How can we get married safely during a pandemic? Through their creative problem solving, they provide couples with a memorable celebration despite the restrictions this year has placed on the industry.

Photographer Annaleisa Friednash (Meraki Wedding Photography), Wedding Planner Lindsey Sachs (COLLECTIVE by Sachs), and Florist Sky Armstrong (Skyvana) worried about business and clients the moment when the country went into lockdown. Like many independently owned businesses, they were riddled with uncertainty and fear at the prospect of not being able to continue with the many plans they had. Up until March, 2020, these three mavens of the wedding industry were operating small- and large-scale weddings, all individually following their most highly booked and successful year to date. As their plans for the upcoming season suddenly evaporated, they shifted their focus to what they could accomplish — and it turns out, when they team up, they can do quite a lot!Composed of seasoned wedding experts, Wed & Wander tailors unique and intimate elopement experiences catered to each couple’s desires and needs. In this unprecedented time, these women have harnessed their creativity, positivity, and passion for producing unique and exceptional events that authentically celebrate the couple while staying safe. Offering alternative options for clients who desire an adventurous and remarkable celebration, Wed & Wander’s turnkey service provides unparalleled experiences to commemorate couples’ love and connection. Now more than ever, couples are opting for elopements — generally between the couple and up to ten people — and micro-weddings — celebrations ranging from 15-50 guests.

The team provides a stress-free, one-stop shop that embraces your personalities and styles, creating customized elopement designs and activities for you and your partner to savor forever.

“We wanted to create a unique elopement experience for couples that didn’t feel like a backup plan,” said Friednash when discussing Wed & Wander. “We wanted to offer activity-based elopements and cater our experiences to each couple.”

While traditional weddings might leave the couple feeling like they do not have much time to themselves, this special and inventive approach allows the wedding day to be all about their connection with one another.

Wed & Wander is able to coordinate every detail of your day, including intimate and socially distanced photo sessions, vendor coordination, location scouting, immersive décor, food and libations, curated activities, and much, much more.

What “curated activities,” you ask? That is 100 percent up to you! You may want to spend the morning taking a horseback ride along a river, or perhaps spend the evening hosting your own private drag show. Maybe you want to perform your vows while skydiving. Whatever you dream up, Wed & Wander will deliver. This newly formed collaboration will contribute their expertise to couples seeking a team who will embrace their authentic selves and elopement fantasies.Each team member lends her own unique skills to every celebration. Friednash captures dreamy photos throughout your day, providing a welcoming environment where you can feel free to be yourself. Sachs designs and plans an unforgettable day representative of each couple she serves, striving to create experiences that cultivate deeper, lasting connections between each couple and their guests. Armstrong creates breathtaking and unique floral designs, pulling from her fine arts background to construct custom designs using unconventional materials to truly reflect each couples’ personalities.

Having each hosted over 20 weddings and elopements during this pandemic, the women of Wed & Wander have prodigious experience and knowledge of how to navigate planning your perfect day. From setting up hand sanitizing stations, to studying county-specific guidelines, to planning interactive virtual wedding services worldwide, they have thought of it all. They are constantly adapting, remaining flexible and supportive throughout the process.

In a time of such uncertainty, causing couples to pivot from their original wedding plans, Wed & Wander is there to help with not only the logistics but also the many emotions that go into it. Whether this is plan A or plan D, this team will ensure you have the wedding of your dreams.

Although these women have done everything in their power to keep themselves and others safe during this time, COVID-19 is continuing to add many stressful and unpredictable aspects to their job. They face many layers of uncertainty and worry, from clients cancelling last-minute, to their own personal health and safety. If industry professionals work an event and guests or vendors don’t cooperate with safety protocols, they have to make the decision between risking their lives or losing their paycheck.

Another complication occurs when vendors get sick, which can negatively affect their health and livelihood, as well as upcoming weddings they have booked. The safety of the people who are working for you is incredibly important, and no one should ever neglect or disregard that. While the safety precautions to ensure a successful wedding in this time are not foolproof, these women are careful and cautious, willing to risk it all to ensure that their clients have the day for which they had always hoped. As small elopements continue, the future of the entire industry is making a massive shift into the unknown. Though this has been a difficult time for wedding professionals, the Wed & Wander collective has chosen to look on the bright side. They have made new and lasting connections with vendors they may not have met otherwise, collaborating on inventive elopement packages and giveaways. They have formed partnerships, adapting and devising new ways to perform age-old traditions.

They have reinvented the way that couples can celebrate the union of their love. In this time of uncertainty, Wed & Wander is making it possible for couples to realize their dreams, producing memorable, safe, and intimate celebrations. Because of creatives like these, there is truly no disaster that could keep you from celebrating your love.

For more information on planning your dream elopement, visit Wed & Wander’s official website.

Photos Courtesy of Annaleisa Friednash

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