Fourteenth: Church Weddings in Covid Times
I have journeyed through so much with my brides since Covid affected our way of life. The brides who were hit first with the immediate halt of gatherings of any kind hold a special place in my heart. I saw resilience as my brides battled to get married in their faith and not cancel love!
“During Covid shut down in May, I posed a question to my followers on our Instagram Story. Many brides commented that they would never wear a mask on their wedding day. As time went on, uncertainty loomed. Churches shut down, and when they reopened, brides reconsidered.”
The brides in today’s blog overcame challenges and adapted to change, all while managing their emotions. Each married on their originally planned wedding date.
Byzantine Catholic Wedding ~ Michele and Nicholas
St. Ann Melkite Catholic Church, Woodland Park, NJ
Photos by Milton Gil Photographers
“As of last week, my wedding reception has officially been pushed to 7/18/2021. Nick and I plan on doing a vow renewal at our venue. We’re still hoping to get married in a very intimate church ceremony on 7/19/2020 (we’re waiting to see if churches will open to allow limited occupants). I am trying so hard to maintain a semblance of normalcy, as many other brides are, during this trying time.”
It was important for Michele to get married in the church she grew up in. She witnessed the marriage vows of many family members and adored the sacred traditions of her faith. I don’t think she ever imagined dressing for her wedding day in the C.C.D. classrooms in the church when thinking about her turn to marry in their family church.
Nerves and emotions started to build as time was getting close for the ceremony to begin.
“My mom said I looked beautiful and I almost lost it. My wedding wasn’t how I imagined it would be, but it was here and we were doing it!”
Hair and Beauty: Scissor Lounge
The groomsmen opened the doors as Michele left the classroom and made her way over to the church. It was wedding time!
“There was so much nervous anticipation leading up to our wedding. The number of guests allowed indoors started at only fifteen people, so we had to modify our expectations; immediate family only, no organist, and one priest—all masked.”
As their wedding day drew closer, the state increased indoor capacity to 25%. Seventy guests attended the wedding, which was less than half of their guest list. Stickers on the floor and chairs directed guests to the protocols put in place to ensure social distancing.
The church required all guests to wear masks. The priest permitted the bridal party to walk down the aisle without masks. As the ceremony began, it was time to mask up!
“Nicholas always has a way of making me laugh and calming me down when I am stressed out. While the priest was conducting the ceremony, we held hands, and Nicholas started having a thumb war with me. I started laughing as I won the battle. It made me smile since this was a special moment only for us.”
Gown: Paloma Blanca
“Nicholas and I had masks for when the ceremony started. We actually got so caught up in the day that we forgot to put them on. The priest later told us that this was his gift to us. He didn’t remind us about the masks and stayed far enough away during the ceremony to get some normal wedding photos.”
Ten days before her wedding, Michele came to Headpiece.com to see if I could design masks for her bridal party. The selection of bridal masks on the market in July was limited, and most were tacky. She originally wanted to match the color of their gowns and suits. I suggested lighter colors in a soft, luxurious silk charmeuse, so the masks didn't stand out as much.
“I am so happy that Nicholas and I married on our intended wedding date. This year, our marriage was all about showing up to support one another during unexpected times that are bound to occur in our lives together.”
“Throughout the entire process, Nicholas has cited this quote, “If you want to make God laugh, make a plan!” Though stressful, I have come to appreciate the bumps in the road. Nicholas and I are married. We weathered a storm that has affected so many, yet our appreciation for one another and our thankfulness for good in our relationship have only deepened.”
Michele and Nicholas will have a vow renewal on July 18, 2021, with a reception at Millrace Pond.
Catholic Wedding ~ Ashley and Frank
Church of Presentation, Upper Saddle River, NJ
Photos by Aster Photographic Elegance
“I’m wondering if you make bridal masks and I’m looking for a headpiece. It’s a short turnaround time as our wedding date is September 19, 2020.”
Ashley and Frank deliberated the decision to marry in the church. Their church is very important to them and their families, but their guests’ safety was a priority. Their priest assured them the church was 100% compliant with all Covid protocols. Most of Ashley’s family lived in Chicago, safety uncertainty while traveling complicated things even more.
“Ashley’s color palette entwined hues of blush and ivory. When she came to pick up her accessories, she said she was just as excited about her bridal mask as her veil and headpiece.”
Flowers: Allendale Flowers
“Leading up to our ceremony, our church was extremely thoughtful and advised us in advance about what we could and could not do. Thus allowing us to streamline communication with our guests and vendors well in advance of our planned date. For example, to cut down on the number of people going in and out of the church, we opted not to have flowers in the church.”
Ashley and Frank decided that this day was ultimately about them. They respected the decision of each guest whether or not to attend. One hundred guests said yes!
Hair and Beauty: The Bridal Artistry Co.
“My one worry was my father driving from Illinois to walk me down the aisle. I just wanted to make sure he arrived safely. My father and I wore masks down the aisle.”
“The only time my husband and I took off our masks was for our vows and to receive Communion.”
The bride and groom left for their outdoor tented reception. They knew not all would feel comfortable dancing to the band, so they stationed fire pits while guests enjoyed a Covid friendly photo booth and cigars.
“I am thrilled we ended up sticking with our date. I am glad this gave people a reason to get out of the house and have a great time. It was honestly the best day of our lives, and neither Frank nor I have any regrets.”
Roman Catholic Wedding ~ Jennifer and John
Saint Teresa of Avila, Summit, NJ
Photos by Lizzie Burger Photography
“We are moving forward with our wedding, and my dress is here! I have layers for you to match coloring. Do you need anything else from me?”
I was so excited when Jen Capone called the shop to schedule a consultation. I met Jen in 2016 at Performance Physical Therapy and Sports Conditioning. At the time, she was a student in her final year of athletic training at Boston University, preparing to enter the Doctoral program to become a physical therapist. She was beautiful and had an amazing smile. I remember telling her when she finds the right guy; she should come to me for her bridal accessories. Well, she found the right guy and set a wedding date for September 19, 2020.
“After making it through the early months of Covid lockdown, I was happy to see my brides finally having something that resembled a traditional wedding ceremony with a wedding gown, bridal veil, and actual guests in attendance. It was an awakening! Jen’s story and challenge to get married in the Catholic faith without wearing a mask were enlightening.”
As a physical therapist, Jen was working the frontlines at a New Jersey hospital when Covid hit. She spent long shifts on the Covid floor, trying to keep patients moving to improve their circulation. The days were stressful and often filled with sadness. Jen tried to stay positive and looked ahead to the future. She continued to plan her wedding with the optimism that in September, things would be better.
“We were both raised in the Catholic Church, so it was important for us to receive the sacrament of marriage on our original wedding date.”
Shoes: Bella Belle Shoes
Gown: Eve of Milady
Jen came to Headpiece.com for her bridal veil. She had no intention of wearing anything in her hair. Once she realized the extent of our custom work, she reconsidered and brought us some family gemstones (including diamonds) to create a headpiece for her and her sister and mother.
Hair: Top Knots by Aimee
Beauty: Makeup by Leia
What makes Jen’s story unique is that she petitioned the Catholic Church to have her wedding ceremony outside the church. In the Catholic religion, the sacrament of marriage must take place inside of the church itself. During a pandemic, Jen felt it was reasonable to get married just a few feet outside the front doors on the church steps, so she and her guests wouldn’t have to wear masks.
“We wrote a letter asking the pastor and archbishop to permit us to have our church ceremony outside. We were given permission, but we were responsible for renting everything for the outdoor ceremony, including a podium and chairs.”
“Planning the ceremony was very stressful, leading up to our big day. The church strictly prohibited a tent, so we had no backup plan for bad weather. When we woke up and saw the sun shining and 70 degrees, we knew it was meant to be.”
Saint Teresa of Avila isn’t Jen and John’s home parish. They chose this beautiful church because of its closer proximity to their reception site while keeping in mind the distance elderly guests would have to travel. Jen’s family priest, Father Michael Sheehan, performed the nuptials.
Flowers: Yumila’s Floral Design
Jen and John celebrated their wedding with a reception at Stone House at Stirling Ridge, with eighty guests.
“We had the most amazing intimate church ceremony, which ironically would have never been allowed without Covid. We loved every second of our big day and felt blessed that our wedding looked pretty similar to our original plans.”
“We just officially decided to move our wedding reception at Rock Island to April 2021. So the church is on 10/9/20. All is good! Just gotta let go and let God!”
Keri was my design assistant at Headpiece.com for six years, and she knew that she would be there on the other side of the counter as a bride-to-be one day. Keri and Anthony originally planned to have a small Catholic ceremony on October 3rd, before their rehearsal dinner, and then celebrate in a big way with 180 guests at Rock Island Lake Club on October 9th. But with Covid, things changed. They decided to marry on their reception date instead.
“Keri’s original plans for her church ceremony were a simple cocktail dress with no wedding veil, music, or bouquet; just a simple gathering of people to witness their vows before God. When she bought a floor-length boho vibe dress, I knew the perfect veil to make if she was open to the idea.”
“We kept things very low key and the priest told us he wished all weddings were like this. We invited thirty-five guests, and all came but two grandparents. I had no worries on my actual wedding day but had many leading up to it.”
Keri didn’t fear getting sick, but worried about her guests and wanted all of them to feel comfortable. She and Anthony had conversations will all of their guests and stressed that they wanted them all to make their personal decision whether to attend. On that day, seeing everyone at ease made it easier for Keri.
Gown: ASOS
I love this photo! I wonder what Anthony was thinking that made him look at Keri in such a loving way.
I asked Keri to tell me about this little nuggie below.
“I know it was magical! That is my niece Mackenzie; she was running after us walking out of the church!”
“We had a small dinner reception after the ceremony. I was worried no one would have “fun” since it wasn’t a big party. We ended up having a wild time at the restaurant and then continued at an after-party at Anthony’s sister’s house until the wee hours of the morning. It is something I will never forget!”
“What I have learned through all of this (and I have Marie to thank for some therapy sessions) is that no matter the size of the wedding, being able to celebrate your love is the most important thing. A smaller gathering turns into something so intimate that most brides never get to experience. The big party will eventually happen. I am so grateful!”
Next month on the Fourteenth:
Headpiece.com Hall of Fame