A summer of COVID-19 bringing concerns to venues & wedding planners

OSTERVILLE, Mass. — Nauticus Marina in Osterville is a prime place for a storybook Cape Cod wedding.

“If we were to go up the staircase you would have views you would not believe,” said Olive Chase, caterer, event planner and owner of the Casual Gourmet.

Chase would have already had six premier weddings at the location, but due to coronavirus closures, she has had zero so far. She believes she could be behind over a million dollars so far, a devastating impact to her bottom line and the overall Cape Cod economy.

“Revenue wise it’s an enormous hit,” Chase said.

What was supposed to be one of the best years, has now become the worst. Phase 3 has begun and is heading in the right direction when it comes to bring in revenue.

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“I have some, I wouldn’t call it a lot,” Chase said.

But there’s a long way to go. Many of her clients are trying to fit their parties and events into the rules and regulations that come with this next step of reopening.

“I am planning new events, I am re-planning new events, I am moving old events. It’s a little bit crazier than I’ve ever seen,” Chase said, adding that it’s a year’s loss of revenue.

The other issue created is that with moving over 40 weddings into 2021 that creates a lack of dates and venues for others in the next year.

Chase thinks she can make it through the winter, but it won’t be easy.

“Cape Cod is going to have one very difficult winter,” she said.

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