Saying ‘I Do’ but When?

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AVALON – Shannan Street has been with her fiancé, Jason Shelton, for 11 years. Now, they will have to wait an extra three months before getting married.
As the sobering reality of the coronavirus’ impact sets in across the nation, many Americans are getting used to a new reality. This includes couples who, for years, have been planning their weddings, only to see their dates and surrounding plans torn to shreds.
In May, Street will graduate from Thomas Jefferson University, after studying to be a pharmacist for eight years. She hoped for a month of celebration, starting with a commencement ceremony at the Kimmel Center, in Philadelphia, and then her wedding, at the Windrift, in Avalon.
Graduation will be held virtually. Her wedding is now planned for September, across the street, at Icona Avalon. Her bachelorette party had to be canceled the day she and her friends were set to leave for New York.
“It’s devastating. It’s such a small thing compared to what’s going on,” Street said, adding the Windrift issued a full refund, and the vendors are all working to accommodate her new dates.
“Definitely a lot of anxiety that week. Had a good bottle of wine,” she added. “After about a week of searching, because the Windrift did give us some dates, but I knew they wouldn’t work out, so that was a week of severe stress. We got so lucky with the Icona being available. If not, I don’t think we would have been able to get married until the end of 2021.”
Still on, Certainly Uncertain
Alex Snyder and Susan Keneagy have their wedding scheduled for the end of June, at Icona. They’re hopeful that they can keep the original date, but are working on contingency plans.
“I think we’re both feeling a lot of anxiety,” said Snyder, adding they decided to hold off on printing invitations, switching to e-vite, in case the date or other details have to change.
While being optimistic about keeping the original date, the couple knows the situation is out of their control, making them a little uneasy.
“I know the vendors will work with us; I hope they will at least, but what if they’re not available? There’s a lot of stress around that unknown. We’re hopeful that doesn’t become an issue,” Keneagy said, adding the person coordinating their wedding, from Icona, has been furloughed and has been communicating with the couple, from a personal email account, while she’s not working.
Wedding Planner’s Work
Michael Emens, a wedding planner and owner of Weddings Down the Shore, said this spring’s wedding season has been a “disaster” for his business. Emens had 14 weddings booked for this spring, with 12 of those now pushed to the fall.
“In the fall, I have double and triple booked on some days. You have to do what you have to do,” Emens said. “I have some couples getting married on a Monday, some on a Thursday, just because that’s the date the venue could give them.”
The wedding planner traditionally is a calming influence, reassuring couples that their big day will go smoothly and as planned.  Now, Emens has his work cut out for him.
“I’m always upfront and honest with them. I’m blunt with them, giving them the truth, even when it’s something they might not want to hear,” Emens said. “They appreciate that honesty. I tell them I’m your advocate, I’ll do the best I can for them, but some things are out of everyone’s control.”
“I’m almost like a therapist. Whatever they need me to do, I’m there,” he added.
Venues See Events Canceled
John Tracy, general manager, Whitebrier Bar and Restaurant, in Avalon, has spent much of the offseason renovating the nightclub section and his venue’s largest bar, in hopes of attracting more wedding business.
Now, large rehearsal dinners and other wedding-related events scheduled for April have canceled. Tracy said events scheduled in May and June could be in jeopardy.
“I feel bad for people who are supposed to have their parties. You don’t want to see people’s weddings postponed,” Tracy said. “They’ve been planning this thing a year or two in advance, and suddenly, something three months before comes up, and they are unable to do this party they’ve been planning and have all the guests lined up with the hotels and stuff for. It’s sad.”
Tracy said the cancellations will affect the business’ bottom line, and he fears, as dates later into the spring are being canceled, with increasing regularity, Memorial Day Weekend could be in jeopardy.
Tracy also said the Whitebrier would be happy to work with couples who are unable to reschedule with their original venue and will do whatever it takes to give them a stress-free big day, even if it happens a few months later than they had originally planned.
To contact Shay Roddy, email sroddy@cmcherald.com.