They have been together for 12 years, gone through trials of adolescence, separate medical schools, long distance, and impatience. Their wedding was supposed to be a celebration of triumph over those adversities and the ushering in of a new chapter in life.
But by the first extension, her hopes sank, especially with the snowballing of cases. “Without any new date in mind, I had to announce to our guests that we will be postponing our wedding celebration to also manage our guests who were flying from different parts of the world.” For JR Madrasto and his fiancée, the anguish of the pandemic was much more poignant. The lockdown was announced just a day before their wedding.
Sought-after wedding coordinator Chinkie Uy-Agregado’s knee-jerk reaction was to worry about her family, since the virus didn’t seem to discriminate anyone. As the quarantine dragged on, however, her economic reality set in. The pandemic restrictions were even more extreme. The catering company had to deal with couples demanding refunds. “As much as we want to accommodate it, it’s hard because we are also trying to sustain a business, and with no income coming in, we had no choice but to stick to our contract and try to appease them in other ways.”
When the pandemic hit, Uy-Agregado set to work handling her clients’ frustrations as well as overseeing the new demands of wedding planning. Apart from rescheduling events, she also had to add clauses to her company’s contract to accommodate movements and restrictions. Then there were shifting systems, swab tests. “Now, from the get-go, we manage the client’s expectations by letting them know that there are possibilities of delay, change, and postponement.
“The biggest gain for me is having to do intimate weddings again,” said Uy-Agregado. “There is something beautiful about pared down weddings. It becomes all about the couple and less about everything else.” She also added that the COVID-19 challenges forced the industry to do what it does best – think of creative ways to make this milestone even more special. For their couples, she has been organizing online weddings, recreating the celebration of love virtually.