To our Buena Lane couples, we want to first thank you for your support, your tenacity, and your strength in light of these new realities.
We know it’s been said before, but let us reassure you once again: It’s okay to feel downhearted that your wedding was rescheduled, changed drastically, or postponed indefinitely. You and your loved ones poured a lot of energy, labor, and emotions into planning the day. Please know that your feelings are valid.
There are still so many ways to make your original date or your restructured wedding special.
For newly engaged couples, the steps you take to create small, intimate ceremonies will help the wedding industry reimagine its traditional structure and recenter its focus on what matters: your love and commitment.
We are here to help you tackle this new era of wedding planning.
Video Conference Weddings Are A-Go!
San Francisco City Hall is still closed for weddings, but as of April 30th, 2020, Governor Gavin Newsom signed an executive order that allows adults to obtain marriage licenses via videoconferencing. As long as you and yours are located within the State of California and can present identification during the videoconference, you can get married virtually.
This virtual wedding doesn’t have to take the place of the dream wedding you were planning, but it does mean you can legally marry on the date you intended. And, it ensures older loved ones still see your wedding.
It doesn’t have to be just the ceremony either! We can help create a cohesive feel for your entire celebration. Toast together over the video call, host the cake cutting in your kitchen, or stream your first dance on the patio. Take whatever moments mean the most to you and establish them in a new way.
We’re happy to be there, too.
We’ll adhere to all current safety recommendations and are happy to embrace the time with a casual shoot in your living room, or find the perfect outdoor setting for a more timeless look.
Elopement is always on the table
If you don’t want to hold off on the wedding, an elopement ceremony opens the door for an intimate celebration without the stress that comes with a hectic 8 hour day on a tight schedule.
Consider the places that hold special meaning to you and your partner. Dates, hikes, and adventures you may have gone on together. The Bay Area is bursting with breathtaking outdoor spaces where you can elope. From the rolling fogs of San Francisco to the East Bay’s sunny skies, nature and architecture can offer the perfect backdrop to your vows.
And it just so happens that elopements are one of the things Buena Lane does best!
When you elope with just your partner and yourself, you create a special moment that’s shared just between the two of you. Something that truly connects you together. It allows you to lean into your authentic selves without worrying about anyone else’s expectations. It is an opportunity to really value the experience and love you share.
Creating a new wedding structure with intimate gatherings
Many couples come to Buena Lane because they don’t want the distractions that modern wedding culture has thrown onto their day. They turn away from pressures to present the perfect image of love and opt to celebrate their authentic love.
The realities of COVID-19 have only heightened this desire to have a small, genuine commitment ceremony. An intimate wedding outdoors might even allow for a few friends and family to attend. Be sure to check the CDC and California Department of Public Health’s websites for updated information and guidelines on gatherings.
Now is a good time to truly embrace the quiet that this lull in consumerism has granted us. This reimagined wedding could mean exchanging vows on a stoop with your loved ones watching in the street, a virtual dinner party, a rooftop celebration, or a drive-in theater with guests cheering you on from their cars. Wherever your creativity leads you, Buena Lane’s years of experience bringing couples’ unique dreams into fruition makes us the perfect partner to help co-create this magic.
Reflect on what matters most to you, your partner, and your loved ones during these times. Let go of the pressures thrust upon you by traditional and extravagant weddings and welcome the calm of a private and cherished ceremony.
Buena Lane specializes in these intimate moments. We love to photograph the deep connections you have with your closest relatives and friends. Together, we can turn the uncertainty of the times into pivotal moments full of rich memories.
It is your time to create new rituals, patterns, and traditions with intention.
Things to keep in mind
Planning a wedding with mindfulness at the forefront is difficult, but your health and safety is always the most important thing.
Think deeply about who you wish to invite.
Reformat and narrow down your guest list.
Keep up to date on gathering restrictions.
If you can’t get the guest list down to a safe number of in-person attendees, you’ll have to make peace with a later wedding date, or embrace the virtual ceremony!
If you can narrow it down, or wish to hold an intimate gathering now and a larger wedding later, you’ll want to take measures to ensure guest safety.
Know that loved ones will have to keep a safe distance.
Provide extra gloves and masks.
Encourage guests to bring signs with words of wisdom, encouragement, and love on them.
Toss flower petals, lavender, or leaves from cars or in a large social distance circle.
Booking Buena Lane
With all of this in mind, we invite you to take time to consider your goals and intentions for your day.
If you feel ready, don’t hesitate to book with Buena Lane!
We will put a soft hold on any proposed summer dates and remain flexible as restrictions and guidelines shift. But please keep in mind that things may need to be pushed back if rules change. We will always stay connected and in conversation with you regarding any changes.
Remember that you are not alone. We are all in this together.
Resources
California Department of Public Health
The Knot | What is a Micro-wedding?
Together Apart Podcast | Saving the Date: Weddings in Quarantine
