Linda and Tom got married at the end of May - a couple of months after a state of emergency was declared in Latvia due to the spread of the coronavirus . Linda says to make a decision to get married here and now, without postponing the wedding to an unknown time sometime later, helped by coaching , which she learns herself.

Since the groom Tom wanted a big wedding with a group of friends, and the bride Linda, on the contrary, wanted a small wedding for just two, the couple agreed on a middle ground - planned a medium-sized wedding in a guest house by the sea with activities both outside and for guests in the house.

First thought – should the wedding be postponed ?

But then the kovid wave took over the world and plans had to be changed. Linda recalls: "In March, when I heard about the restrictions, the first thought was that the wedding should be postponed." However, Tom argued that you should continue to plan the wedding and monitor the situation, but in no case should the planned wedding date be postponed.

In the end, the couple transformed the wedding plan from a medium-sized wedding to a small family-only wedding. Valid on the day of the wedding there were restrictions that there could not be more than 25 people in the indoor rooms and that they could not stay in one room for more than three hours. All activities were planned outdoors.

Adjustment time and agreement with service providers

Linda tells about the feelings of the first moment, knowing that there will be restrictions on their wedding day and they will not disappear anywhere: "Of course, it is stressful because you understand that you will have to re-plan everything several times. We came up with two options for weddings: with families or only with carriers. We talked with each service provider, planned everything to the maximum, but with an agreement, if there will be the strictest restrictions, then we will change the plans, but the wedding will take place in any case.

Under these circumstances, I recommend choosing your service providers according to their humanity, by how flexible they are to adapt to these changing circumstances. We were very lucky with them, everyone was willing to accommodate and accommodate our ideas and limitations just so our wedding wouldn't have to be postponed. It was a great support.”

Coaching – a tool for overcoming obstacles

When the couple was planning their wedding, Linda studied coaching.

Linda says, “The biggest benefit of coaching was knowing that it was going to be our special day and we were going to do just that, what we want most is to enjoy each other's company. Coaching made me believe that wedding planning doesn't have to be full of stress, because all things can be solved, every problem and obstacle has several solutions and through coaching can be found. New ideas emerged and the belief that covid under the circumstances anything is possible. Coaching also helped with multiple decisions such as choosing between several service providers. Coaching helped us understand what we really want for our wedding day and what is wrong with everyone limitations of it is possible.”

Wedding in the apple orchard of Kalnmuiža Palace

Linda and Tom spent most of their wedding day outside: “It was like a trip through beautiful places. We were lucky with a master of ceremonies who was ready to hold the ceremony anywhere we wanted. That's how she encouraged us marry under any circumstances. We chose to get married in Kalnmuiža Castle apple orchard, ibid. There was a festive lunch at Kalnmuiža Palace.

The celebration itself took place in Jurkalne, Pilsbergi pub. The decisive factor in choosing the place was the proximity of the sea and the sunset directly at the sea. We chose Lāčkrog lake and Akmeņraga lighthouse as stopping places. Until the last moment, we did not know whether the Akmeņraga lighthouse will be open to guests, as museums were closed during the first restrictions. But a few days before the wedding this restriction was cancelled. We enjoyed a beautiful sunset on the steep bank of Jūrkalne. At midnight there was a powerful and thrilling firepower a ritual during which our family was strengthened and assimilated according to ancient Latvian traditions.

Remembering all this, I am very glad that we decided not to cancel the wedding. The day was very special and beautiful."

Recommendations for other couples

Linda, taking into account her experience, encourages couples to get married: "You are not alone, there are professional people around you who we can help you with wedding planning - wedding organizers already have a lot of experience in organizing weddings in kovid time, coaching can also help. And remember the reasons you want to get married - or those reasons can wait a year or even longer until the covid situation no longer interferes with the wedding.

Think how you will feel waiting in the dark when you can finally get married - is it worth it? It is so many different beautiful, romantic, creative, technological, adventurous solutions for a happy wedding and special now too!"

Questions to ask yourself if the planned wedding date coincides with the limitation period

• The most important thing is that it is your decision to get married, not because of family or societal pressure. So ask yourself, is it your decision ? It sounds harsh, but there are a lot of couples who get married because it is accepted; parents ask for the hundredth time: "So when are you getting married?" It is not good or bad, but it can significantly influence your wedding. You yourselves must be ready to marry at this very moment.
• Why are you getting married? What will it change in your life? What does wedding mean to you? Totally by honestly answering these questions, you will determine what the role and value of the wedding is in your life, you will understand that not you get married because of a party, beautiful pictures or a wedding dress, but the reasons are much deeper. And these reasons must be determinants to make a decision to marry or not to marry under covid conditions.
• Practical questions: what kind of wedding do you want? What are the possibilities to organize exactly the wedding you want? What obstacles will be faced? How could these obstacles be overcome? What steps must be taken to organize a wedding? When will you do the specific actions?

Authors of the article: LINDA VANAG / IEVA KRASTIņĪ

Photographer: KRISTINE STAHĀNOVA

Ritual: connoisseurs and practitioners of tradition EDUARDS KRÜMIņŠ, EDGAR ZILBERTS and KATRINA LIEPA

Coaching: @pilnvertigasdziveskoucings Instagram

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