GLOUCESTER, Mass. — Growing coronavirus concerns are actually preventing people from getting married. Many brides and grooms are now being forced to cancel and postpone their big days as venues continue to close and large social gatherings are being halted.
For Ashleigh McDonald, a glowing bride-to-be, the idea of having a year’s worth of wedding planning come crashing down at the last minute was never even a thought.
“It was crazy because Wednesday I had just gone to my final fitting so I left the boutique on Wednesday very excited, I can’t believe this is two weeks away, this is happening,” she recalled. “And then Wednesday night I started to get a little scared and then Thursday, so it was a lot of emotions too, really fast.”
With growing COVID-19 concerns, McDonald and her fiancé made the tough decision on Friday to postpone their wedding in Gloucester. They were set to tie the knot in two weeks.
Related: Massachusetts to expand testing for COVID-19
“This is such an important day for us, and this is the best day of your life, but the well-being of our loved ones is more important,” she said.
It’s an issue that’s not just affecting couples on their big day. Boston-based event planner Mandy Connor says the whole wedding industry is taking a massive hit during one of their busiest times of the year.
“Vendors, local stationary designers, everyone involved in the wedding industry is very nervous right now,” Connor said.
One wedding photographer told Boston 25 News that canceling these pre-committed events is seriously hurting their business.
“When something catastrophic happens like this and that wedding is no longer there, it’s a huge loss of income to anyone who partakes in the wedding industry,” said Rob Hare, a photographer.
On Friday, Gov. Charlie Baker placed a ban on large gatherings of 250 people or more. Some venues closed their doors.
>>>MORE: Coronavirus: Mass. School and Business Closings
Warehouse 11 is a popular wedding venue in Somerville. They announced Friday that all events with 50 or more people scheduled for the next month and a half would be canceled.
While many couples are hoping to re-book, the uncertainty of “to when” is still in question.
© 2020 Cox Media Group
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/7QOJU3BNCJERBNKJC5LWTBYFLU.png)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/3RKAD7UUTZHZHDNRFMQ7Y36JKA.jpeg)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/KUBBF73BKRHZNIWNF4FHA7IUXM.jpeg)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/A6ITVQI6VZF5TIX3ERJ63S3JBY.jpg)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/6LQBSMOTHRFYJFVEDTAWR6CJMI.jpeg)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/4T5DQPKMMBBDHGIJK5ROAHZ2HM.jpeg)