The global COVID-19 pandemic has pretty much put our world on hold. Due to stay-at-home orders, restrictions on public gatherings, and travel bans, the wedding industry has undoubtedly taken a hit.

Many grooms and brides-to-be have decided to postpone their wedding, but others may be wondering: is it possible to tie the knot this year? Good news—while a traditional ceremony, reception, or honeymoon is out of the question, you can still have your big day and be safe while doing it.

After being engaged for nearly one year, Basit Mustafa and Jax Mariash planned to get married on October 10th, 2020. They set their venue at Volanti Restaurant & Lounge in Scottsdale, Arizona, and invited 120 guests. Their big day included a grand helicopter entrance, tons of dancing, food stations, and even external activities for guests such as hiking, beer tasting, and more. When the COVID-19 pandemic began to spread, the love-birds started to get nervous.

“We started playing around with the dates, hoping a year from our original date might give us the best chances of having a normal wedding,” Jax said. “But we were sad about having to wait a year to get married and felt controlled by the pandemic.”

Instead, refusing to put their love story on hold, Jax and Basit decided to alter their plans. On August 8th, the couple will hold an intimate ceremony on a Colorado mountaintop with 15 of their friends and family members. Each guest will be supplied with a custom-made mask, hand sanitizer, and a personal bottle of champagne to prevent sharing. In addition, the pair still plans to hold their grand ceremony on October 23rd, 2021.

“I’m sad to wait so long to wear my dream dress, but that day will come and it will be even that much more special,” Jax said. “Just like with anything, you have to roll with adversity and be nimble with change.”

Jerry and Taylor Lopez took their wedding one step at a time. They knew that it could change from one day to the next, but were determined to say “I do.”

“We hoped for the best, but planned for the worst,” Taylor said.

With their guests’ health and safety as a top priority, the couple took precautions such as cutting down their guest list to 25 of their loved ones, requiring masks during the ceremony, and taking temperatures at the entrance of the venue.

“We were so relieved our family was able to be there for our special day, and for the rest that weren’t, we live streamed via Facebook so they could join too,” Taylor said.

It may take a bit of time for traditional wedding ceremonies to feel safe and comfortable again, but there are tons of creative measures and precautions that can be taken until then. Virtual weddings, small ceremonies, masks—you don’t need to put your happily-ever-after on hold!