From a Mediterranean-inspired theme in Santa Barbara to an all-blanc theme in Seattle, these hotels have seamless packages for those who had to cancel their weddings in 2020.
Belmond
If 2020 was the year of Micro wedding and minimality, then 2021 will be the year of “Re-do I Do”. And with the introduction of the vaccine and the welcome arrival of spring, hosts and hostesses are optimistic about the return of gatherings, be it for weddings, anniversaries, or other life milestones.
According to The Knot 2020 Real Weddings Study [COVID-19 Edition] 47% of couples who wanted to get married in 2020 will now celebrate in 2021 or later. And as many seek to make up for missed celebrations due to Covid-19, hotel and resort venues have launched creative packages for those who have had to cancel weddings since the pandemic began.
Kristen Maxwell Cooper, Editor-in-Chief of The Knot, says, “We’ll see more variety in event formats and anniversary details at future weddings as couples adopt their unique priorities.”
As a hotel that opened during the September 2020 pandemic, the Lotte Hotel Seattle had to get creative before opening. It was just revealed I’ll do it all over againand offers wedding packages with a special touch. These exclusive items range from personalized menus for a few dozen to in-room celebrations for two.
Just yesterday, Lotte Seattle was allowed to be 50% occupied or up to 160 guests in the main ballroom. “We have booked several weddings in the past 90 days and they contacted us to add to the guest list. It’s exciting to be able to scale based on the comfort level of the bride and groom, ”says Matt King, Marketing Director at Lotte. He adds that summer and fall weddings have raised the number of guests to 300, depending on security measures.
According to Lotte’s Garam King, busy couples can choose from three wedding concepts: blanc et blanc, blush bliss, and royal reverie.
Lotte Seattle
But not all connected couples feel butterflies over a new wedding season. “There’s still a lot of concern in the market,” says King. “We even hired a part-time wedding advisor to help her through the planning stress.” He points out brides and grooms who had issues with other providers in 2020, some of whom had multiple cancellations and lost deposits altogether.
King says the key to securely booking a wedding in 2021 and beyond is making sure the contract is flexible. “We have a so-called ‘pandemic clause’ in which we adhere to all safety guidelines at the time of the wedding. If something else changes, we can postpone it or postpone it.”
The Knot’s Cooper says, “What came out of a year of unforeseen challenges for everyone – especially those planning to get married in 2020 and those vendors who wanted to bring those celebrations to life – comes a time when individuals yearn for it to celebrate the milestone of marriage, surrounded by all of their loved ones once again when it is safe to do so. “
While there is pent up demand to celebrate love, this is it CDC adheres to Covid-19 safety guidelines for wearing masks, social distancing and hand washing, and avoiding large crowds and poorly ventilated places. Here are a few hotels across the country offering creative packages and airier venues for those wanting a second chance to tie the knot (with safety in mind).
Social distancing in Seattle: The centuries-old Sanctuary Grand Ballroom is suitable for large-scale events and now has room for larger spaces between the tables.
LOTTE SEATTLE
In addition to its “pandemic” contract, Lotte has The Sanctuary ballroom as the centerpiece of its wedding offerings. The newly built hotel is attached to the 100 year old Beaux Arts structure (which was America’s first United Methodist Church).
Retaining its high ceilings, original pipe organ, and stained glass windows, the structure is now a spacious area where social distancing is possible. Smaller weddings are of course safer. However, a downsized guest list doesn’t mean you have to belittle the elegance. The Charlotte Restaurant & Bar at Lotte offers private dining rooms with great views of downtown Seattle and a customizable menu of contemporary Pacific Northwest cuisine.
If you imagine an even more intimate celebration, Lotte also offers an exclusive celebration in the room. Choose from a selection of suites, including the Presidential Suite on the 15th floor, with great views of Seattle’s harbors. Guests are pampered with artisan cakes from pastry chef Artis and a bottle of champagne. Newlyweds can also turn their wedding weekend into a wellness holiday by ordering a unique treatment such as the “Crème Fraiche & Honey”. The scrub experience can be what a couple needs to help relieve the stress that comes with wedding planning during a pandemic.
GREYBARNS SILVERMINE, CONNECTICUT
The Inn at GrayBarns has six exclusive suites for an intimate wedding weekend.
Marili Forastieri Photography for GrayBarns
If you think of rustic chic, The Barn at GrayBarns in Silvermine is a reclaimed structure that was dismantled in New York State, then reassembled in this quaint Connecticut town (less than two hours from New York City). The main inn, where Elizabeth Taylor and Eddie Fisher once lived on their honeymoon, overlooks a pond and provides a beautiful backdrop to prepare for the day.
The property is home to a number of rooms that can accommodate up to 75 guests for an intimate al fresco wedding. The tavern has a private dining room perfect for a rehearsal dinner, while the Mercantile across the street is a great place for welcome drinks.
This Chicago hotel offers a wide variety of venues, from chic industrial buildings to open-air rooftops overlooking Wicker Park.
The Robey
For those who prefer an Art Deco theme, this Flatiron building, built in 1929, has about a dozen venues that can accommodate up to 120 standing guests. Visit the Cabana Club Terrace on the sixth floor and of course the Up Room on the roof on the thirteenth floor.
The trendy rooftop cocktail lounge at this Wicker Park hotel offers breathtaking views of the Chicago skyline and features the Grotto, a private alcove in the building’s clock tower perfect for intimate and memorable occasions.
In the Bridal Suite package at The Nines, which includes a two-hour photo shoot before the couple say “I do”.
Rachel Frank (Maverick Creative)
This boutique hotel won Oregon Bride Magazine’s Best of 2020 Award for Best Hotel / Resort Venue. The centuries-old Portland landmark has put together a bridal suite package to streamline the wedding planning process. It includes a free two-hour photo shoot before the wedding in the former Meier & Frank department store, which has been furnished with tasteful decor. When it comes to food and drink, couples and guests can enjoy a do-it-yourself Mimosa set in the in-house Urban Farmer Steakhouse, which includes a bottle of sparkling wine with an orange juice carafe, delicious chocolates and credit.
Tie the knot in this historic, almost a hundred year old property with plenty of Spanish colonial charm.
Hotel Figueroa DTLA
The Hotel Figueroa in the DTLA is an almost one hundred year old hotel with Spanish colonial charm. The boutique hotel caters to a range of budgets but ultimately provides Instagram-worthy backdrops for everyone. Last year, “Micro-Weddings At The Fig” were created for those who want a socially distant outdoor ceremony in the midst of 70-year-old cactus gardens and a Mediterranean-inspired environment for up to 25 people. For those who can’t make it, the venue offers audiovisual packages with full projection capabilities. Other sweet details include a wedding cake and desserts from the local bakery and cake artist Flouring LA, as well as a photo booth that captures the couple’s “wedding aura”.
THE SANCTUARY HOTEL NEW YORK CITY
Located in the heart of Times Square, the Sanctuary is a luxury boutique hotel designed for staying and reducing the noise of Midtown Manhattan.
Will Cadena
The entrance to this Midtown Manhattan is marked by the thick wood-carved door that is decorated with gold accents. As soon as you step through the lobby entrance, which is lined with crystal chandeliers, tufted leather, and a cozy corner with a fireplace, the hustle and bustle of surrounding Times Square will melt away.
The Sanctuary Hotel works with the wedding coordination agency NY1 minute Supplying couples with everything from officials to virtual zoom setups for family and friends. The Haven Rooftop is perfect for intimate weddings of up to 50 guests, which can take place all year round in an exclusive VIP lounge and in the hotel’s north and south cabana outdoors.
BELMOND THE CHARMING SANTA BARBARA, CALIFORNIA
The butterfly-filled ponds Arbor and Lily provide a peaceful retreat for beautiful al fresco weddings.
Belmond
Belmond El Encanto sits high in the lush Santa Barbara Hills. The historic hotel’s pristine gardens, panoramic views of the Pacific, and spacious bungalows recently restored in the heyday of the 1920s make a perfect setting for weddings while adhering to social distancing protocols. From the wisteria-filled arbor and lily pond to the sun-drenched ballroom with outdoor deck, guests can choose from a variety of locations across the property for a safe, intimate ceremony.
