So, here we are again — trying to navigate the nuances of wedding planning while waiting to see if the federal government is going to shut down.

Here is a list of recommendations we learned while planning weddings during the last federal government shutdown a few years ago —

(BEFORE YOU SIGN THE CONTRACT)

Know who manages your wedding venue. Is the venue you are interested in booking managed by the government? If so, ask about the venue’s policy for government shutdowns before you sign.  You should be looking for a “Force Majeure” clause or an “Impossibility” clause or the Cancellation clause in the contract that states whether you will receive a refund due to cancellation because of an “Act of Government.”

Read your venue and your vendors’ contracts thoroughly.  You want to know what you are responsible for if your wedding is postponed or in jeopardy of being canceled because of a government shutdown.  If you don’t know what a “Force Majeure” clause is, check out my previous blog post covering this topic.

(AFTER YOU SIGN THE CONTRACT)

You may not be able to apply for a marriage license during a government shutdown.  If you are getting married in Washington DC, I encourage you NOT to wait until the last minute to get your marriage license. In DC, local government is tied to federal government, so couples may not be able to get married at the courthouse or apply for a marriage license.  According to this Washington Post article, this was the case during the government shutdown in 2013.

Get some wedding insurance.  If you face the worse case scenario of needing to cancel your wedding because of a government shutdown, you will be grateful that you can recoup most of your expenses with your wedding insurance.

(IF A SHUTDOWN SHOULD OCCUR)

Don’t panic. Government shutdowns are public relations nightmares for politicians, so they typically work hard to find a solution within days.

Know how this could affect you.  Discuss how this could potentially affect your wedding.  Do your research and stay in close communication with your wedding planner and your venue coordinator.

Determine a plan B. Do you change the date of your wedding?  Do you move your wedding to another location?  Review your wedding insurance policy first, then work with your fiancé, your planner, and your venue coordinator to determine a plan B just in case.

Set a deadline for implementing your plan B. Determine a deadline for implementing your “plan B.”  You don’t want to change your plans too quickly, but you want to  ample time if you have to carry out your “plan B.”

Update your wedding web site accordingly.  You want to keep your wedding guests informed — especially if you decide to move your wedding to another location.

Okay, I believe that’s it.  Let’s hope that our elected officials come to a resolution soon, and this is just an exercise in preparedness.  Do you have any feedback?  If so, leave a comment on our instagram page.

For more information related to planning a wedding in Washington DC, check out our guidebook on planning a wedding in Washington DC.

Love & Soul Always, Kawania