Couple’s Wedding Canceled SEVEN Times! When is it time to say F* it and Elope?

A couple in the UK have had their wedding cancelled a staggering seven times due to Covid lockdowns and restrictions, but they’re determined to keep waiting for their perfect wedding day. 

Longtime sweethearts Beth Deeley and Jonty Williamson, both 29, had been planning their festival-style wedding for years when they finally settled on a date: April 4, 2020.

But time and time again -- seven times, in fact! --  their plan was derailed by gathering restrictions and lockdowns put in place to slow the spread of coronavirus. The couple are now planning their fourth attempt to wed at their original venue. 

If you postponed a wedding during the pandemic and are now contemplating postponing again in 2021, this story might give you pause. Newly engaged couples searching for a perfect wedding date are struggling too. 

And wedding officiants in every county are doing their best to keep up with local safety guidelines and help couples prepare for ceremonies during the coming months of uncertainty. 

All of which begs the question: 

When is it time to stop rescheduling and just say, F* IT and elope? 

Beth and Jonty clearly have an ideal in mind, and we respect that! They know what they want, and they’re content to keep waiting. 

As Beth told The Sun, “It got easier the more dates that got cancelled. Now I just find it quite funny and we know we will get there when we get there.”

But some couples are less attached to a specific idea or vision, or simply don’t want to wait. As the pandemic continues, couples are letting go of their previous expectations and choosing modern alternatives: microweddings and minimonies, sequel weddings, virtual and hybrid weddings, livestream ceremonies, and asking roommates and family members to marry them in spontaneous, tiny ceremonies. (Scroll down for how-to resources for all of these!)

There’s no right or wrong choice - only the choice that’s right for you.

As great wedding officiants know, a ‘perfect' wedding ceremony is just a matter of helping a couple find what works best for them. 

If you’re contemplating postponing, need inspiration while planning an alternative pandemic wedding, or are debating whether eloping is right for you, check out these helpful articles: 

• Sequel Weddings: What to Expect From a Couple’s Second Ceremony
• The more the merrier! Why hybrid weddings are a good idea
• Handfasting and Virtual Weddings -- Keeping Traditions Alive in Modern Microweddings
• Use Astrology to Plan Your Perfect Pandemic Wedding -- Ceremony Planning According to the Zodiac
• Say “F it” and elope, or play the long game? How couples are coping with wedding planning during COVID-19.
• These states are where you can - and can't - get married online
• Involve Children in Planning Your Microwedding Ceremony with Seasonal Crafts
• Can I Get A Witness? Small Ceremonies, Witness Requirements, and Self-Solemnizing Marriages Revisited
• The Wedding Officiant's Guide to Planning a Minimony
• The Pros and Cons of Virtual Weddings: Is a Zoom ceremony the right choice for you?