We, as a community, are finding it difficult to adapt to the current situation, and social gatherings are still a big no-no. However, the pandemic doesn’t seem to be going anywhere. While most of us seem to have come to terms with it, weddings, on the other hand, are oftentimes a necessity. Fortunately so - we need something to brighten our lives with, and what more deems life worthy than finding happily ever after?

There could be a million reasons as to why a wedding might be unavoidable, spouses traveling abroad, people missing the auspicious date and time, being the most common ones. But even so, a pandemic wedding is a great idea mainly because you are in control. A wedding during the pandemic can help you in so many ways. You can have a limited guest list, and nobody will raise their eyebrows. People are more understanding nowadays.

On organizing weddings

As millennials, you can finally have your simple sweet wedding with only your closest family. A great benefit of that is a reduced carbon footprint with lesser people opting to travel from all over the world and lesser wastage. We have done some research, and this is a great place to get started on making decisions regarding your big day:

● Actively look for an outdoor venue. The more space, the safer it is for everyone around you.
● Communicate your expectations clearly with your guests. Inform ahead about masks, travel and stay arrangements, and other necessities.
● Send out an RSVP to all your guests and get the exact number of attendees so that you are not overwhelmed on the big day.
● Provide an adequate amount of masks and sanitizers for every guest - and at all common areas, especially the dining area.
● Ensure the safety measures taken by the vendors - such as masks and gloves on the caterers, etc.
● Check the local government's rules on weddings/events in your area.
● Be mindful of the venue and how many people it can host comfortably.
● Lastly, thank your guests for attending your wedding. Regardless of the
endless security measures you took, it is a big deal that they are willing to attend and share memories.

On attending weddings

In case you are attending a wedding, as opposed to organizing one. We do have some helpful tips for you too. A lot of people are taking pandemic precautions seriously, but there is still a small percentage who have not wrapped their heads around the current situation. In such cases, the responsibility to be safe falls on you. Here are a few things that you can do to keep yourself as safe as possible,

● Ask your hosts a lot of questions before you leave - specifics about how they have arranged for your safety.
● Make safe travel arrangements. For more information, take a look at this post about travel from last month.
● If social distancing is not maintained, consciously keep a safe distance from everyone else at the event.
● If you have the option, prefer to use disposable cutlery always. Additionally, carry your own water bottles.
● Regardless of how safe you play it, have a backup plan just in case. Look up hospitals and possible self-quarantine options.

If you are looking for a quaint, lush green venue with the essence of old-world Madras, our venues at Hanu Reddy Residences offer you a unique option of using a combination of our Banquet Hall, Terrace Gardens, and Courtyard to conduct your wedding within our premises. For a more picturesque outdoor setting, you could also take a look at SPP Gardens. The elegantly landscaped outdoor wedding locations are perfect for your Instagram!

We would like to stress that all the things we spoke about go for weddings with a limited number of guests. The days of grand gala weddings are indeed over for now. If your heart rests on a Bollywood wedding, our solution is to have a simple wedding now and conduct the reception on a later date.

After all is said and done. If there is no way around it, and you do have to get married during COVID-19, we understand. And we are here to help you every step of the way.