As pandemic eases, couples able to move ahead with wedding plans for 2021
As restrictions in Ontario continue to loosen, engaged couples in are starting to plan for their big day. In Sudbury, people in the industry say their phones have been ringing off the hook.
The pandemic has thrown a wrench into many wedding plans across the country in the past year and a half, but things are finally starting to look up.
Organizers of pop-up weddings in Sudbury said in the past couple of weeks, they have received a lot of calls from people planning a small wedding instead of waiting any longer for COVID-19 restrictions to be fully lifted.
“Three or four weeks ago, we started promoting our pop-up wedding events -- which are starting in August -- and we're about 80 per cent sold out,” said Robert Provencher, founder of Pink Door Weddings.
“Everything slowed down and stopped for a while. However, good timing I guess on our part because pop-up weddings are well suited given the circumstances and the restrictions we're now working under. It seems to really address the demands.”
It’s been three weeks now Priceless Bridals opened its doors to the public. Staff said they have had to change their working hours just to accommodate brides trying to schedule appointments.
“Our team has been helping everybody to get in, and sometimes we’re here at 7 a.m. and we are staying till 8 or 10 p.m.,” said Sandra Pyoli, general manager with Priceless Bridals.
“The girls (who) had wanted the big, big wedding are now making it a little more intimate. They are having just their close family and friends. So smaller weddings means smaller dresses, not big and poofy. The dresses aren’t as elaborate as they would be in prior years.”
The owner of Guilty Pleasures Bakeshop said she’s been receiving an uptick of calls each day for fall weddings.
“We’re seeing a lot for September and October -- I think people think that that’s kind of a safe distance away,” said Justine Martin, owner of Guilty Pleasures Bakeshop.
“I have some couples who postponed to next year who are now moving their wedding back up. So let’s say they had postponed from June of this year to June of next year, and they’re like pushing back up to September of this year.”
The Caruso Club is one of Sudbury’s popular wedding venues and it said it went from receiving dozens of calls a day before the pandemic to no calls at all.
But things have picked up again.
“In the last couple of weeks, people are reaching out. A lot of have cancelled till the end of September, but I have noticed a lot of people calling me for bookings for October,” said John Cimino, general manager of the Caruso Club. “November and December, we were booked originally from the dates before and they’re all hanging on, too.”
Cimino hopes Stage 3 of reopening will allow for an even larger capacity limit for couples still hoping to have their large dream wedding.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Spectacular aurora light show to be seen across Canada Friday night
A rare and severe solar storm is expected to bring spectacular displays of the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, across much of Canada and parts of the United States on Friday night.
Town of Fort Nelson, B.C., ordered to evacuate due to wildfire
The entire town of Fort Nelson, B.C., as well as the nearby Fort Nelson First Nation, has been ordered to evacuate due to an out-of-control wildfire.
Bouchard lifts Edmonton Oilers to 4-3 overtime win over Canucks in Game 2
Evan Bouchard scored 5:38 into overtime and the Edmonton Oilers bounced back for a 4-3 win over the Vancouver Canucks in the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs on Friday.
McGill University seeks emergency injunction to dismantle pro-Palestinian encampment
McGill University has filed a request for an injunction to have the pro-Palestinian encampment removed from its campus.
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices?
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.
Swarm of 20,000 bees gather around woman’s car west of Toronto
A swarm of roughly 20,000 bees gathered around a woman’s car in the parking lot of Burlington Centre.
Video shows naked raccoon catching B.C. family by surprise
When Marvin Henschel spotted a strange and hairless creature wandering through a front lawn in B.C.'s Lower Mainland, he could barely believe his eyes.
Barron Trump declines to serve as an RNC delegate
Former U.S. President Donald Trump's youngest son, Barron Trump, has declined to serve as a delegate at this summer’s Republican National Convention, according to a senior Trump campaign adviser and a statement from Melania Trump's office.
Out-of-control wildfire prompts evacuation alert for Fort McMurray, Saprae Creek Estates Friday night
An evacuation alert was issued for two Wood Buffalo communities Friday night, as crews battled an out-of-control wildfire near Fort McMurray.