ROANOKE, Va. ā Governor Ralph Northamās latest COVID-19 restrictions will likely leave some couples waiting to say, āI do.ā
The limitations which took effect this week forbids most gatherings of more than 25 people, including weddings. Roanoke wedding and event planner Caroline LaRocca said it is the latest blow to an industry left reeling by COVID-19.
āThis industry has been hit the hardest,ā LaRocca said. āThe hospitality industry, restaurants, event spaces, and event planners.ā
LaRocca also operates the Penthouse at Center in the Square. She said her event and wedding bookings have been postponed en masse since COVID-19 took hold in Virginia.
ā85 percent of the weddings I booked for 2020 are rescheduled into 2021,ā LaRocca said. āAbout 5 percent of them were canceled altogether.ā
LaRocca said the restrictions will not affect the wedding industry as much as it could have, since peak wedding season ended in the early fall. Additionally, she said many couples are exchanging their vows in small ceremonies while waiting for a larger reception in 2021.
āWe used to have intimate weddings with 75 people,ā LaRocca said. āNow, we have micro weddings with between 10 and 25 people, depending on what weāre allowed to do.ā
Although some couples are adjusting, LaRocca said the new restrictions have made it hard to book new clients since there is no scheduled end date for them.
āIām not even going to set a new date, Iām just going to wait and see what happens,ā LaRocca said. āThat, for me, is emotional, so I can only imagine what itās like when itās your wedding day.ā
She worries some event planners could end up out of business but said she will persevere through COVID-19 however she can.
āIāve already decided, Iām not going to close my doors,ā LaRocca said.