Image Credit: CFJC Today / Adam Donnelly

By Jill Sperling

Weddings

Kamloops wedding industry adapting with pandemic restrictions

Jun 30, 2020 | 5:07 PM

KAMLOOPS — When the COVID-19 pandemic arrived in B.C., many large gatherings were cancelled or postponed.

With gathering sizes restricted, many engaged couples decided to push their weddings to next year. But, some have decided to carry on, trading in a big party for a small and intimate ceremony.

“We’re kind of making lemonade out of lemons as they say,” said bride-to-be Heather Windsor.

Windsor and her fiance got engaged last August and began to plan a big wedding at Harper Mountain.

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“We were able to do a big camping (trip), big reception with all of our guests, 200-plus people, we wanted to have that many,” she said. “We were just looking forward to having all of our friends and all our family and have this great big wedding.”

With the last two weeks, the couple has decided to book their reception for next year, and is opting for a small ceremony at St. Andrews on the Square next weekend.

“We were obviously disappointed, but we also recognize that the priority is just keeping everybody healthy and safe, and we don’t want to put anybody at risk.”

St. Andrews on the Square is able to accomodate 50 people in keeping with provincial guidelines. Kamloops Heritage Society Executive Director Melody Formanski says more people are warming to the idea of a small ceremony.

“A lot of the people that postponed their weddings in March, April, May have now rescheduled them for later in the summer and in the fall,” Formanski said, “and again, smaller gatherings, intimate gatherings, and a lot of them are just going to have receptions at home, just a smaller group of people.”

Taelor Warncke was at First Comes Love Tuesday (June 30) looking for the perfect gown for her wedding next summer. But, even with over a year to go, the pandemic is complicating the planning process.

“It’s been a little difficult trying to get pricing for anything, even catering and whatnot,” Warncke said. “Everywhere I call, still has their voicemail that says they’re closed, so it’s proven to be a little bit difficult that way.”

First Comes Love was closed from late March into May. It’s open for appointments with guidelines in place for distancing and sanitation.

Bridal and Prom Consultant Jenelle Bertolotti says the store hasn’t seen the kind of traffic it normally would in the summer.

“Usually, our summers are full of decor and everything and decorating for weddings,” she said, “but we’re having a lot of fall weddings now and a lot of people just indefinitely postponing, because nobody really knows what’s going to happen.”

The store is willing to accomodate brides making last minute decisions about their weddings.

“We’ve been having people come in for ‘I need a dress a month from now or even a week from now,’ I think was our soonest,” Bertolotti said. “And, we’ve done it.” For brides like Heather Windsor, her priority is her relationship.

“It’s a celebration right? And it’s more the marriage that’s important, it’s not the wedding,” Windsor said. “So, that’s something that I keep in mind, too.

“We’re healthy, we’re safe, and we’re together and that’s what matters.”