We’ve received some good news for Bermuda’s Wedding Industry: Premier Burt recently announced that small wedding ceremonies with ten people or less - including the officiant - are now permitted during Phase 1 of reopening. With this announcement, The Royal Gazette asked if they could speak with me about how Covid-19 has financially affected the wedding industry on the island. Emily of Bermuda Event Solutions and Nikki Begg of Bermuda Bride were also interviewed; two amazing wedding planners I’ve had the pleasure of working with. I’m looking forward to capturing small ceremonies and elopements - our first one is only a few weeks away and I plan to wear an N95 mask, gloves, shoot with long lenses, and keep a wide distance between myself and the clients.
~ Elopements & Small Ceremony Portfolio - Click “Here” ~
Of course, there are many factors that play a part in the wedding industry other than finances and the current global economic strife. First and foremost: the LOVE and DEVOTION between my couples is the cornerstone of the wedding industry, along with emotional moments during the actual ceremony, hilarious speeches, epic reception dance parties, and the smiles on my clients’ faces when they receive their photos; all of this is the heart of the wedding industry. But - this interview with The Royal Gazette was about finance and although it pains me to think about math (yuck) - Fiander Foto would not exist without it. On that note, a special “shout out” to all the math teachers I ever had; you all deserve a gold medal.
Just like many other businesses, the pandemic has rocked the wedding industry in Bermuda, which is directly linked to tourism. My clients - who mostly fly down from the USA, Canada, or the UK for a week-long trip - choose Bermuda as their destination location because a) the landscape is gorgeous and b) they enjoy the amazing hospitality that’s offered on our island. There are many different small businesses and large companies involved with Bermuda's wedding industry: photographers, videographers, wedding planners, dressmakers, shop owners, officiants, airlines, hotels, vacation rentals, musicians, DJs, florists, hair and make-up artists, transportation, boat rentals, bakeries, those who focus on lighting and decoration, graphic designers, print shops - the list goes on!
Couples, their family members, and guests stay in Bermuda anywhere from 4 days to a week and a half on average. Within that amount of time, they may opt to dine out at restaurants, visit the island’s many parks and beaches, take public transportation, rent an electric car, or venture out on the good ole “pink and blue” (public bus). They may opt for a fishing or boating charter with Early Bird Charters, check out the Lili Bermuda Perfumery in St. George’s, or to book a tour through Winnow. Each one of these companies has their own assistants, employees, and interns. For each wedding that does not occur, hundreds of people will miss the opportunity to earn a living.
Let’s focus on the good news: being able to allow small ceremonies in Bermuda is a start to the wedding industry being able to recover from this financial disaster. If you have ever day-dreamed about eloping, now is the time! As members of our community - both near and far - we have a responsibility to proceed with caution to help slow the spread of Covid-19. Please click “here” to read the full article; beautifully written by Paul Johnson. In the interview, I was asked if it’s a good idea for Bermuda to start out with small ceremonies and how the current travel ban is affecting the industry:
When it comes to Covid-19, I think it is wise for the wedding industry to reopen slowly and one of the ways to ensure this is to place a limit on the amount of people attending a ceremony… As much as I’d love to photograph a larger wedding right now, we still need to be careful to help slow the spread of the virus.”
Ms Fiander agreed reopened borders were crucial to the sector. She warned: “Without this happening, the wedding industry along with several other industries that depend on tourism will not thrive and, maybe, will not survive.”
We’ll get back to the “good ole days” of large weddings and dance parties, it’ll just take time. Sending positive vibes to all my clients - and - to all my co-workers in the wedding industry. I miss seeing and working with all of you on the weekends. Hang in there! #chooseBDA
