Image Credit: CFJC Today / Adam Donnelly

By Jill Sperling

Wedding Blues

Wedding industry struggling as COVID-19 causes cancellations

Mar 20, 2020 | 4:00 PM

KAMLOOPS — It’s the time of year when many brides and grooms are putting the final details together for their weddings.

It’s both a stressful and exciting time, but with gatherings now limited to groups of fewer than 50 people, anxieties have been heightened.

Couples are having to decide whether to limit their guest lists, postpone their weddings, or cancel altogether.

It’s also a stressful season for wedding venues and vendors, as the industry faces much uncertainty.

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Viva Bridal Boutique is one of many local businesses closing its doors due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We are really trying to take all the measures that the government is asking us to do, so we have locked the store,” said owner Anthony Salituro. “We are just meeting customers here to pick up their grad dresses, pick up their wedding dresses, so they feel comfortable knowing that when they purchased something a few months ago, they can take it home with them and make the decision what they’re going to do with their dress at a later date.”

Salituro has been busy responding to messages left by anxious brides who are looking for any kind of advice the store can offer.

“We’re encouraging them to either move their date, postpone, or some people are asking if they should elope,” he said. “I mean, that’s obviously personal preference, but we’re just really encouraging people to move their dates right now, even if it’s a year from now when they know there’s certainty and happy times.”

It’s not just brides and grooms who are getting nervous.

“We’re definitely worried,” Salituro said. “I’ve been a downtown business owner for two businesses here, I opened this shop in 2001. I really don’t know how you move forward from this.”

A few doors down, First Comes Love has closed its doors to walk-in customers, but is still taking appointments.

Wedding venues are also feeling the pinch.

“It’s just not safe to have large gatherings here,” said Executive Director for the Kamloops Heritage Society Melody Formanski. “We do have a very small wedding here next week of four people and that’s all we have right now. We have to follow all the guidelines set out by the city and by the province as well.”

For now, St. Andrews on the Square is limiting its gatherings to less than 30 people, which means many weddings are having to be postponed, but the venue is working to accomodate the changes.

“We are offering refunds, but some of them are just moving it to the fall and we just transfer that fee to there,” Formanski said. “But, we are open for business and I’m here every morning, so we will take bookings for later on, obviously.”

Formanski says all of the weddings booked at the church for the next two months have been postponed or cancelled.