How to Disinvite Guests Politely Due to COVID Restrictions?
Q: During COVID, if you need to disinvite, reschedule or cancel your event, how do you let guests know?
A: First of all, we feel your pain! We have been doing this for over a year and we have helped many couples navigate what we are all still going through, so we're sending virtual hugs your way.
After you have taken a deep breath and accepted our new reality, at least for now, this is what you need to do.
The first thing to do is check your state's local guidelines, which are changing by the day.
If your guest list is over the number of guests your state allows, you will need to cut the guest list. Ultimately the guest list should reflect the people who are super close to you and your partner.
You can also decide to do a smaller wedding - back yard, city hall, at the beach - and host a bigger reception once the guidelines are loosened.
If invitations have already gone out and you are faced with disinviting a group of people or the entire list, here is what you need to remember: we are all in this together and people will understand, after all, this is COVID, people have learned to expect the unexpected at this point.
Firstly, breakdown your guest list into close family and friends who have to be there, and those that would like to be there. You can invite those that aren't absolutely essential to join via Zoom if you would like or you can invite them to an anniversary celebration or other party later on.
The next thing you need to do is let the guests know about the situation. We recommend doing this in as personal a way as possible. Do not send a mass email. Firstly, make a phone call to those closest to you that will not be in attendance. The other option for everyone is to have a card designed to rescind the invitation and sign it with a personal note.
You will want to make this card concise with just the necessary information, however, if you if there is more information you would like to relay to guests, you can add this to your wedding website.
Feel free to reach out to us if you have any questions about how to best handle this and let your guests know. We are here to help you design something beautiful, personal and that explains politely what your circumstances are.