Lessons from the Pandemic Wedding Era

What we learned, what we changed.

During the pandemic, couples everywhere were faced with impossible choices — reschedule, cancel, or reimagine their weddings entirely.

I was there for it all. I heard the tears, the frustration, the panic. And I also witnessed something deeply beautiful:

love adapting. Love bending, not breaking. Love showing up in backyards, on front porches, on video calls — saying, “We’ll do this anyway.”

What It Looked Like

For over a year, weddings in Indiana looked different:

  • Small elopements with just two witnesses

  • Face masks alongside bridal veils

  • Outdoor ceremonies in family yards

  • Officiating from a safe distance or through a car window (I did a few “drive-up” ceremonies outdoors)

  • Love letters replacing hugs

I married couples who stood six feet apart from their guests, but were closer than ever in heart.

What We Learned

  1. The ceremony is the soul of the wedding.
    Without DJs, décor, or packed dance floors, the words and vows took center stage — and it was powerful.

  2. Love doesn’t need an audience.
    Some of the most meaningful ceremonies I’ve ever officiated were intimate elopements during quarantine.

  3. Flexibility is everything.
    We learned to reschedule, re-plan, or simply pivot — and it made us all more present.

How It Changed What I Do

That season taught me to:

  • Offer even more flexible packages

  • Create low-contact elopement options

  • Celebrate the simplicity and sacredness of small ceremonies

  • Connect deeply with couples through uncertainty

I’ll never forget those couples. And I’ll always offer options for people who want to keep things simple, private, or deeply personal — with or without a crowd.

Still Want a Small, Stress-Free Wedding?

Even though the pandemic has passed, intimate weddings and elopements are here to stay — and honestly? I’m so glad they are.

If you’re looking for a ceremony that feels meaningful, flexible, and uniquely “you,” I’d love to help you bring it to life.

👉 View Elopement Packages
👉 Contact Me to Learn More

Final Thought

The pandemic reminded us that love isn’t canceled.
And even now, years later, that truth still shapes how I serve my couples.

You deserve a ceremony that’s real, safe, sacred, and full of love — no matter what the world looks like.

Note: This post was originally written during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. We’ve kept it up as a reminder of what love can survive — and how elopements and simple weddings continue to grow in popularity.