#QuarantineLife: Online Resources for Wedding Planning (and Life) during Social Distancing
Planning a wedding during a pandemic is filled with its own unique challenges, but don’t miss these online wedding planning resources to help you through this time of social distancing.
Unless you’ve been living under a rock, COVID-19 (coronavirus) has taken the world by storm – and not in a good way. The CDC and WHO have both strongly encouraged “social distancing,” and in some cases, total isolation.
For our spring brides, this has generally meant complete cancellations (or as we prefer to recommend – postponements) of their big days or drastic reductions of people invited and pivoting to more of an elopement. Our hearts truly go out to them.
If you’re in the midst of planning your wedding for a later date, things have likely come to a complete standstill for you. Not being able to tour venues, taste cakes, and go wedding dress shopping is probably upsetting and worrisome.
Online wedding planning resources and stuff to keep you busy at home during quarantine
To try and help alleviate some of your stress and keep you from losing your marbles, while also maintaining “social distancing,” we have some suggestions for making the best of this situation. There’s plenty of useful or relaxing things you can do for the betterment of your relationship and your wedding plans!
Newly engaged? Check out our 20 Questions of Wedding Planning
If you’re looking for wedding planning tools, this one couldn’t be simpler, and it’s free! We created the 20 Questions of Wedding Planning to help couples with those pesky questions related to planning the details of their big day.
This fun, interactive question game will spark conversations about all the different aspects of a wedding day to help couples hone in on their tastes, vision, and style.
Once you’ve answered all the questions and filled out your worksheets, you can compare and contrast your responses to help reach the perfect compromise for your wedding plans!
Join our Wedding Planning Support Community!
Did you know we have our very own private community, complete with its own app? It’s called Budget-Savvy Wedding Planning, and it’s SO MUCH MORE than just a Facebook Group. Join other brides, grooms, and vendors in exchanging ideas, offering support, or just chit-chatting about the latest trends. ? It’s a fun and helpful place to spend your time while you’re practicing this darn social distancing. Plus, you’ll get access to LIVE Q+A Calls with The Budget Savvy Bride, herself. Join us inside and we’ll become bridal BFFs!
Free Wedding E-Books to Check Out!
Get a free copy of our e-book, How to Have a Beautiful Wedding on a Budget You Can Actually Afford! Sign up for our email list to get your copy!
Get a free copy of The Wedding Hacker ebook, A Budget-Minded Planning Playbook from our friend Heather Fier!
Get the Just Engaged University e-book from our friend Geovanna Burgess White for free with code 2020!
Be sure to also peruse our selection of Wedding Freebies to see if there are other items you can take advantage of!
Order some Wedding Planning Books
Did you know that I published a book on practically everything you need to know about planning a wedding? It’s called The Budget-Savvy Wedding Planner & Organizer. The print edition is available via Amazon Prime, or if you just can’t wait, you can also download the Kindle edition. Then read on your phone, computer, or tablet via the Kindle app. (FWIW, we definitely recommend the print version as it allows you space to write and take notes.)
Another interesting read is The Bridechilla Wedding Planning Survival Guide. This book not only focuses on the logistics and aesthetic details of the day, it supports you with the really challenging bits and the emotive elements of wedding planning, like dealing with opinions, talking about money and your wedding budget with your partner and obligation guests. A must-read to stay sane!
One book that may surprise you that I’m recommending is I Do!: A Marriage Workbook for Engaged Couples. It’s all about planning for a happy and satisfying marriage, not just a great wedding day. In my mind, everyone should do something like this.
Lastly, check out my newest ebook The Budget-Savvy Honeymoon! It will help you travel hack the trip of your dreams for your honeymoon. And yes, honeymoons will be back. It is just a matter of time.
(There’s also a free 30-day trial of Audible or Kindle Unlimited if you want to do some general reading! Cancel anytime!)
Catch Up on Our Favorite Wedding Podcasts
If you’re looking for the holy grail of wedding planning podcasts, there’s no place better than the Bridechilla Podcast. Host Aleisha gives down-to-earth planning real talk that is refreshing and practical. With over 400 episodes filled with savvy wedding advice.
Just Engaged University Podcast provides tools and resources to help better plan and answer questions engaged couples have during their planning process.
Inclusively Yours Podcast from Love Inc Magazine shares inclusive advice and insight for planning weddings with lots of great guests and expert tips!
Browse our Real Weddings & Get Inspired by Actual Budget Breakdowns
Interested in knowing what your budget could potentially get you? Looking for inspiration or unique ideas? Then check out our Real Weddings.
We have hundreds of weddings submitted by other budget brides, detailing their big day and how much money they spent.
Search by location, budget, color, or even season! With pictures galore and detailed explanations of each bride’s experience and spending, you’ll be sure to find some helpful tips!
Attend This Online Wedding Expo
Just because you’re stuck at home, doesn’t mean you can’t attend a wedding expo, because this one is virtual! Introducing The Wedding Hacker Expo.
Watch it free with your partner – maybe even make it a date – and learn from the financial pros and wedding experts. With their expertise, you can start your wedding planning off on the right financial footing.
Check out Jamie Wolfer’s YouTube Channel
Jame Wolfer is a SoCal wedding planner with a wildly popular YouTube channel. She has a plethora of content to help budget-minded brides save big on their big day, and a bubbly personality that makes her advice oh-so-bingeable. Some of our favorite videos include:
- You ONLY Need these FIVE Things for Your Wedding
- 12 Things Your Guests DGAFF About
- 25 Most Commonly FORGOTTEN Wedding Details
- WHO SHOULD YOU INVITE?! Guest List Do’s and Don’ts
- WEDDING SIGNS: What Do You REALLY Need?
Shop for Your Wedding Dress Online
Azazie has a tremendous selection of dresses you can shop for from the comfort of home!
Text a virtual stylist from David’s Bridal. Get help with placing an order, finding your size, and so much more. Learn more here.
Custom design your wedding dress! Check out Anomalie– where you can use their DressBuilder to design your perfect dress! Adjust every detail from neckline to train until your dream dress comes to life. From lookbook, to chatting with an expert stylist, to getting your dress custom-made, getting your dress from Anomalie feels like the royal treatment and is a perfect quarantine activity.
Check out more options for affordable wedding dresses you can buy online:
Shop for Bridesmaids Dresses Online
Take advantage of quarantine sales
Shop the Birdy Grey Sale — some of their top styles are on sale for only $79 during shelter-at-home. They have styles ready to ship so shop now!
Check some items off your list
From selecting your wedding colors to finalizing your guest list, there are many organizational and logistical details you can tackle from the comfort of home.
- Research venues and vendors
- Finalize your guest list
- Select your first dance song
- Choose songs for parents dances
- Create your reception playlist
- Select your signature cocktails
- Order save the dates or invites
- Create a photo shot list
- Choose your ceremony readings
- Purchase your guest book
- Update your wedding website
- Choose and purchase wedding party gifts
- Get your wedding accessories for a safe + socially distanced wedding
Do Some Wedding Crafting
DIY is potentially a way to save big on your wedding. We’ve got numerous craft, decor, invitation, and flower projects to help you with those savings. Pop on over to our DIY Projects section to check them out.
As a side note, we have quite a few Cricut projects! This may be the perfect time to invest in these amazing machines. They’re tons of fun and they make your projects look extra crisp and professional.
Get Creative in Quarantine with Fifty Flowers
Our friends at FiftyFlowers are helping couples find more reasons to smile with their at-home flower kits to keep the joy and positivity in your homes. Backed by science, it has been proven that fresh bulk flowers and flower arrangements lower stress and increase joy.
Take an Online Class!
If cabin fever is really getting to you, consider learning a new skill! Now, you can stream unlimited Brit + Co Online Classes for just $10 per month. Just go to brit.co/learn to browse their selection of courses.
There are some seriously cool classes, including:
- Watercolor Painting and Digitization
- Cake Decorating
- Investing 101
- Wanderlust Photography
- and much more!
Earn Extra Money with a Side Hustle
Many people are experiencing a reduction in income as a result of the quarantine. Pick up a bride hustle to stash extra money away. Check out ways you can earn extra money from home in our posts Side Hustles?…How About Bride Hustles? and Ways to Make Extra Money Online.
NOTE: Keep in mind that a couple of the ideas listed are not conducive to maintaining social distancing. Please make sure that your health and the health of your loved ones are first priority. (As an example, renting out your car is *probably* not a wise decision right now!)
Binge All the Wedding Movies You Can Find
What’s better than a rom-com? A wedding-themed rom-com! Whether by yourself, your roommate, or future spouse, sit your butt on down on that comfy couch, and relax with one of these fun movies:
Watch Iliza Schlesinger’s Unveiled on Netflix
Last but certainly not least, for a dash of wedding humor, pop on Netflix and find Iliza Schlesinger’s Unveiled. Iliza is a stand-up comedian and takes the opportunity in this special to poke fun at wedding traditions, among other things. She’s a hoot and the show is sure to produce plenty of belly laughs.
Talk it Out
If you’re feeling overwhelmed, stressed, anxious, or even depressed about the current state of affairs, you are NOT alone. If you feel like you need a little extra help talking through what you’re feeling, don’t hesitate to reach out to a pro. Some great online options include BetterHelp, TalkSpace, Brightside, Online-Therapy.com and more. There is *no shame* in needing a little extra support right now, y’all!
Would also recommend taking out some time to practice mindfulness and meditation with the Calm App or Headspace if you just need a moment to recenter.
Self-Care and Beauty At Home
Keep Your Hair Color looking fresh at Home
During this period of uncertainty, you probably can’t make it to the salon, but that doesn’t mean your beauty routine has to suffer. Do your hair color at home with the help of Madison Reed. You can read my review of my personal experience with their hair color products here!
Whiten Your Teeth at Home
Get professional-level whitening results in the comfort of home from our friends at BrideBrite! When we get out of quarantine, you’ll blow your loved ones away with your pearly whites!
Get 30 percent off your order from BrideBrite with our exclusive deal!
Stay Active at Home with Free Workouts
The Tone it Up App is giving a FREE month of access (until 4/22). We love their workouts and tons of them have zero equipment required.
Other companies offering free trials and services right now include:
- Orangetheory – Streaming 30-minute Workouts online every day
- Peloton – 90-days free use of their App for streaming workouts
- Barry’s Bootcamp – Free 20-minute workouts live on Instagram
- CorePower Yoga – Access a collection of online yoga & meditation classes for free
Take Care of Yourselves
I know things are scary right now. Heck, I’m incredibly concerned and anxious myself. And I feel so profoundly for all of you brides (and grooms) who are having to deal with this very scary situation in the midst of your planning. But we all need to take care of ourselves and a lot of times distractions is what really helps. So, have hope, learn a new thing or two, watch some funnies, and be well!
Did you find these online wedding planning resources interesting or helpful? We hope you found something that gives you a little boost. Join us in the community to discuss what you’re doing to stay busy at home.
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