Stepping Into Marriage—And Quarantine
Hailey and Will's 2020 Wedding
Amidst the chaos of 2020, the wedding industry has coined a new term: the COVID bride. We lovingly apply this label to those whose weddings have been postponed or significantly changed because of the coronavirus pandemic. Hailey narrowly missed this title, stepping into her marriage from a free world and emerging into one of quarantine.
Hailey and Will’s individual paths ran parallel to one another so much that Hailey wonders how they never met before adulthood. As kids, both families moved around quite a bit, and the two lived in the same state as children. Both Hailey and Will’s parents moved to Chicago around the same time during Hailey’s college years. It was at this point that Hailey returned to Memphis, having lived there in the past, for a short trip away from her studies in St. Louis. She met Will during this trip, and the two began their long-distance relationship. Will eventually joined Hailey in St. Louis when his circumstances made a move opportune. As Hailey puts it, “His job didn’t want to keep branches in that area, and his lease was up. There wasn’t anything tying him to Memphis. It was just the right time.” Their parallel journeys continued, as the only living space in the area convenient for Will was the apartment unit next-door to that of Hailey. Hailey speaks of this time fondly, saying, “We spent a lot of time together and got closer after his move.”
Five years later, the time came for an engagement. According to Hailey, Will kept his plans of proposal a total secret. Hailey did not know he had even purchased a ring and only became suspicious when she realized the “secret place” Will was driving toward was Memphis. It was unusual for the pair to make a Memphis trip one of privacy rather than one of visiting with friends and family. When Hailey’s best friend and eventual maid of honor showed up, she really knew something was up! The girls went out together that evening and walked along the river toward the place where Will was waiting. Hailey had other things on her mind, however, and she overlooked Will in her search for a bathroom! Her friend pointed Will out, and Hailey affectionately describes the ensuing event as “the normal say nice things, I love you, get engaged.”
After the proposal, wedding planning began. The pair wanted to be engaged more than six months to so they could enjoy the process and less than a year so they would not drag it out. Hailey says, “Fall was out of the question because my husband is a big football fan. I didn’t want people to be concerned with what game is on instead of being in the moment! Summer is too hot, and winter has all the holidays. So that leaves Spring!” Hailey stresses how helpful Will was during the planning process, supporting her in what she wanted and stepping up to be involved when it was appropriate. “I realize that might be different for some people,” she says, “but he was really wonderful.” They decided to hold their wedding in Memphis, the city where they met and the place which Hailey considers her hometown. Will and Hailey looked at venues with Spring dates available and chose the Children’s Museum of Memphis—an ironic location, Hailey explained, as all guests were at least high school age. The reception area was a wide, open space with a glass opening in which a carousel sat. Guests could ride the carousel and participate in the dancing! When it comes to wedding planning, Hailey has three pieces of advice.
- Splurge on a wedding coordinator. Of her coordinator, she says, “He was like a personal bodyguard. If anybody got too close to me with red wine, he said, ‘Nope.’ If we needed a drink or food, he knew what we were having. He made things so smooth and easy . . . Spend your money. 100%.”
- Don’t be afraid to save some money. Hailey and Will wanted a videographer but prioritized the ceremony. She looked for an affordable videographer and saved money by specifying, “I want the important parts. I don’t need hours of people dancing at the end of the night.” She also suggests purchasing wine at CostCo, as you can return what is unopened. Hailey and Will returned over $200 of wine!
- Never feel too far behind to go after what you want for your wedding. Hailey’s wedding app told her she was behind every step of the way. She says, “To those of you who think you are behind, you are not until it is too late. And it is not too late until probably the day of the wedding.”
Hailey engaged in a lengthy gown search, stopping at no less than ten stores in the St. Louis area. Having heard horror stories about shops with no care for inclusivity, she conducted a Google search of “plus size friendly boutiques.” Before coming to Clarice’s Bridal, Hailey went to seven shops at which she found choices she liked but was unsure of. Hailey describes herself as a picky bride, explaining, “I tried on a lot of dresses. . . I didn’t feel like you guys were pushy, and I felt that way at some other places.” At Clarice’s, she found the perfect match both in dress and in experience. She attended three more appointments at different shops but compared every dress to her Clarice’s gown, a sure sign one has found their perfect dress! Tired of trying to top the dress she loved, Hailey called Clarice’s and snagged a last-minute comeback appointment at which she made her dream dress the official wedding gown. In the written feedback Hailey provided, she wrote, “Every single person was so helpful and happy for me. I felt so comfortable as a woman with curves. I appreciate that the ladies would give their honest opinion about not loving something on me or matching a veil. I needed honest opinions but also supportive comments, and I felt like I received both.”
Hailey was lucky, as she was able to wear that perfect dress to a wedding which went just as planned. She says the pair “barely made it” before the coronavirus shut public events down. Their March 14, 2020, wedding took place the day before St. Louis began mandated quarantine with public spaces, shops, and restaurants closing. The rest of the world also became extremely concerned of COVID-19 at this time, with flights and travel becoming less available. Attendance decreased by about thirty people from those who RSVP’d, and Hailey and Will’s vendors worked with the couple to cut down on wait staff and arrange for extra food to be donated rather than wasted. Hailey describes the situation, “It was that awkward place between ‘I am frustrated that all these things are happening and people aren’t coming’ [and] ‘I can’t expect anybody to risk their lives to come to our wedding.’” Regardless, the pair had a beautiful wedding to kick off their quarantine.
Since the wedding, Hailey and Will have enjoyed their time together and, while the situation is certainly different than expected, are thoroughly happy quarantining together. “We were kind of forced into a staycation,” Hailey says. “It was nice to be together with no pressure of work or doing a million things after getting married.” They are currently planning a “mini honeymoon” to South Carolina and are looking forward to time on the beach. Their future holds bright possibilities for the pair once the pandemic clears, but for now, Hailey says they are “living the life of a millennial not knowing what’s going on!” Hailey and Will entered marriage from a free world and emerged into one of quarantine. How blessed for them to have each other through that experience! Congratulations and best wishes to Hailey and Will!
Photographer: Lyndsi Metz Photography
Coordinator: Lynn Doyle Flowers & Events
Venue: Carrousel Pavilion at the Children’s Museum of Memphis
Florist: Lynn Doyle Flowers & Events
Hair and Makeup: Lexi Blanton at House of Aglaia
Videographer: Josh Diliyok Productions
DJ & Photobooth: Carson Krueger
Food and Service: Draper’s Catering
Wedding Cake: Nicole Manes at ANP Cakes
Groom's Cake: Cracker Barrel