"Planning a simcha or event is stress inducing at the best of times, but add Corona into the mix, and you get a pretty mind blowing combination. As many of you have faced or are facing this position, we thought it would be helpful for you to read this article by Event Planner, Debbie Nussbaum!
Bridezillas existed way before Corona, but the ups and downs of planning a simcha during a time of lockdowns, international travel restrictions, health concerns and constantly changing legal regulations, can push even the most level headed amongst us to sleepless nights and the occasional meltdown.
As an event planner in Israel, Debbie shares ten lessons that she has learned during this period, so that hopefully those of you currently planning smachot will have an easier time going through the process.
1. Breathe and let go
You had your dream event planned – the beautiful venue, trucks full of flowers, guests flying over from abroad, and then Corona came. It is totally heartbreaking, but as soon as you accept that the original plan can’t go ahead, it becomes much easier to work on Plan B. Have a cry, yell at someone... it helps.
2. Talk to your venue and suppliers
This is a worldwide pandemic. Everyone knows what is going on and understands why your event can’t go ahead as planned. Don’t email or WhatsApp them. Pick up the phone. Speak to your contact at the venue and your suppliers. Talk to them about dates for making decisions and returning payments. You might not get the answers that you want, but the calmer and nicer you are, the more likely it is that you will reach an amicable solution. No one wants to go to court over this.
3. Plan your scaled back event like it was Plan A
When you start re-planning and scaling back, talk yourself into thinking that this was actually the event that you wanted all along. Tell yourself things like ‘I never wanted a big party’ ‘Backyard weddings are so much more romantic’ ‘The Bar Mitzvah boy is so relieved not to have to lein in shul.’ It might not be true, but if you say it enough times, you can start to believe it. This mindset shift will give you the energy to start again and feel as enthusiastic as you were when planning your original simcha."
