IRVINE, Calif. — April 4 was supposed to be the day Kaitlynne Sanfilippo and Tyler Casey walked down the aisle in front of family and friends to celebrate their wedding. But as the COVID-19 restrictions continue, it forced the couple to find another day to celebrate.
“I was pretty disappointed, heartbroken especially because we really dreamed of having this spring wedding,” Sanfilippo said.
Together, they’ve been planning their spring wedding for the last two years, ever since Casey popped the question in Ireland. In preparation, Casey and Sanfilippo created engraved wedding party gifts highlighting the year of their wedding.
“Hopefully, we can get married this year. Otherwise, there’s going to be problems,” Casey said as he was looking over wedding items that are now sitting in the corner of his apartment.
For now, the couple will have to hold on to everything until they can find a new date to celebrate their wedding.
“The thought of having to cancel or postpone and replan everything was just terrifying but then also the thought of having it and risking people sick was also even more scary,” Sanfilippo said.
Hundreds, if not thousands, of spring weddings had to be postponed nationwide in mid-March after the CDC formally recommendedthat large gatherings of 50 or more were to be canceled or postponed. The restriction meant Sanfilippo and Casey had to think fast and find a new date for their wedding and to also tell their guests. They chose to break the news in a wedding update video clip.
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“We have made the unfortunate decision to postpone. But we have been able to reschedule,” the couple said in the video.
They found a new date at the same venue in June. To help couples like Sanfilippo and Casey navigate their wedding plans during this time, wedding planning and online marketplace websites, WeddingWire and The Knot came together to create a hotline to help couples like come up with a Plan B if COVID-19 restrictions continue.
“We’re definitely finding that the earlier [you] communicate with your vendors right now it especially makes it easier for them to be more accommodating to what your changes might be,” said Jeffra Trumpower, senior creative director at WeddingWire.
As the original date of their wedding in April passed and their new date quickly approaching, Sanfilippo can’t help but wonder if they’ll be able to celebrate their big day this year.
“It looks likely that we will have to push our date again so we might have a Halloween wedding that was another date that our venue had available but we’re just taking it day by day,” Sanfilippo said.
Despite the delays, they’re hopeful that their families will make it through this time in good health, in hopes of one day celebrating together.
Couples with approaching wedding dates can call the WeddingWire and The Knot’s hotline: (833) 998-2865, or send an email to help@theknot.com or help@weddingwire.com for assistance.