Son’s non wedding day

@Gillboo thank you. Some lovely ideas there.

@ExD Church ceremony followed by reception in a country house with about 10 bedrooms. Quite a lot of people staying the night in the house, others camping in the grounds, then everybody who stayed having breakfast together the next morning.

Marydoll, insurers like to wriggle out of as much as they can! Good luck!

The set of champagne and glasses was just on line Our thoughts are with you but I’m sure that when it does happen it will be even more meaningful and precious x

Can you get a family member to set up a video call for all the family, send them a bottle of champagne and all have a little drink together via video? xx

Fentongollan Flower farm in Cornwall does lovely flowers by post - they always arrive in perfect condition - as well as cheeses and chocolates. You can find them on line.

Very sad that they had to cancel. I know you said you were not tech savvi but you could ask one of the younger guests (bridesmaid or groomsmen) to arrange a zoom conference call. This is a video link call where many people can get involved all at once (like you see on TV). It's very easy to join (they will give you instructions) and many of you can all be 'together' for the day. You can each buy a bottle of fizz and toast the bride and groom for their future.

I sent a cheese and wine hamper to my son for his birthday which went down well with him and his flatmates as a lockdown treat

I am interested in all the comments here and of course feel really sorry for the families involved who won’t be having a wonderful get together soon. However I would like to say that in my opinion having a non wedding get together with everyone dressed up and speeches might just be the last thing the couple would want. They are not getting married for now and might want to just let the day pass in a very low key way. I am surprised so many people are saying get them a nice bottle of champagne. Alcohol is not the solution to everything and won’t make things right. With people losing so much money and endless months of planning weddings might , in future be more about actually marrying the person you love and less about a big showy, expensive day.

Could you find out their favourite song - then all the quests (or the main ones ) each video a part of the song - in their own house/garden and sing a piece of the song each - obviously one person would have to collate it all together - we did this for my sons wedding - obviously it was in easier times- it’s just a small something to show you care really that’s needed with a bottle of champagne . Some of our lot sang it from their hot tubs - some their sun-bed - car could be anywhere near your home. Good luck anyway and cheers to the happy couple .

I don't know if I'd want to celebrate the actual day because it might make me sad. Some extra love and surprises in the weeks leading up to it might give a boost though.

Anyone having problems gatting refunds,please look on Martin Lewis money saving Expert site
I think a few people have been having this problem and he gives good advice,
I am sure it is illegal to withhold refunds
I would also suggest Trading Standards, but not sure if they are working just now

I was going to suggest a zoom session too - plus you could send them a bottle of champagne, and you can all toast each other in your respective houses? Any excuse for a 'party'

How about filling some balloons with confetti and hanging them on garden fence to pop at their leisure. Just a bit of silly fun.
It will all come right in the end ,just got to be happy just now and keep ourchins up

If you have someone technically clever, a lovely thing would be to choose a special song, and get lots of family and friends to sing it, record it, someone put it all together as one recording, and send it to the couple. A difficult thing to do of course and only possible if you have a musical/techie person to make it work - when they do it on line apparently the critical thing is to make sure they are all following the same beat and they all use a metronome (I bet you can access one on line) - but what do I know? Not much! I realise this is maybe impossible, but it would be very special if it could be done. Maybe in lock down, someone with the right skills would find the time to make it happen! Good luck anyway whatever you do!

I would have been bitterly disappointed were my wedding, fifty years ago need putting on hold due to a world wide situation as had happened to many during WW11.Many now choose with out the formality of a wedding to live together produce a child/children before making it official. Does a later wedding with ceremony, frills and all ,maybe your children as attendants change your life ?.No doubt my views will go down like a deflated balloon.

My son’s work colleague (they are still working) is also a registrar and she’s still carrying out marriage ceremonies; bride, groom and two witnesses. No restrictions on having the legal ceremony. She did one last week and there will be a big reception when restrictions allow. She said it was still a lovely occasion.

What country is that Grannytotwins?

It's not allowed in Scotland and those who have had weddings cancelled have had to go through the whole rigmarole of posting banns etc.

ExD

Beatrice’s wedding has been postponed, due to the virus.

grannytotwo I thought you can organise such ceremonies too, but the reception would have to be postponed of course, and I'm sure a religious ceremony can also go ahead under the same circumstances. The photos will be disappointing of course (groom and bride together in the centre, best man 6ft to the left, bridesmaid 6ft to the right!
Make for interesting memories in years to come!!!

for church weddings by banns, you can't have them unless the banns are read in church for 3 Sundays, and of course there are no churches open so can't do banns

How kind you are - and thoughtful. Lots of good ideas on here, but well done you for thinking of this. You will no doubt have a good relationship with your DiL!

celebration hamper with champayne and flowers

We are in the same boat, my son was due to get married in Poland next month. After much ringing around they were able to change it to a date in September instead, but even that is looking doubtful. So likely they have got to come up with a Plan C. Meanwhile we will have to do battle with Ryanair to try and get all the air fares refunded.