Make the most of your wedding | Expert tips and a $10,000 giveaway

Wedding season this year has been different than anything we could have imagined. Most couples had to cancel their weddings entirely because of the pandemic, but there is hope for anyone who wants a late summer celebration.

Because social gatherings have now been allowed for up to 50 people in many areas of the country, small or backyard weddings are an option. Miller High Life, the Champagne of Beers, has also launched a contest that will give away up to $10,000 for three couples to celebrate this summer.

Wedding and event planner Rebecca Chan is working with Miller High Life to help couples make the most of their micro-wedding, and still have a dream day.

“The most important thing for couples to remember is that love can conquer all”, said Chan. “There may be fewer guests this year and that dream venue may not be a possibility anymore, but that doesn’t mean you can’t host the wedding of your dreams before the year is out! I’m so excited to join Miller High Life to help couples make their big day one they will never forget.”

For Chan, she was happy to get involved with the unique contest, since it’s been such a hard year for so many people.

“I have seen first-hand the heartbreak that the global pandemic has caused for couples who were hoping to get married this year,” Chan said. “Dates that have been picked for over a year now have to be moved, loved ones from overseas can no longer come, or their vision is no longer possible because of restrictions. I am so honoured to be asked to help three lucky couples celebrate beautifully with the wedding they deserve.”

There are a lot of ways couples can still have a great wedding day though, Chan said.

“Many are wanting to host outdoor weddings, so that is safer and easier for social distancing. Finding a great outdoor wedding venue is already a challenge without a pandemic, but now it is even harder.”

“Not all venues are operating fully, or have appropriate outdoor spaces. Even if they do, you run the risk of being rained out (tents can be expensive!). Finding a venue that has both great indoor and outdoor options is a great compromise.”

“Other couples are opting to host weddings in their backyard, however creating an event space from nothing is more work than expected. They need to consider washrooms, rentals, staffing, setup, and weather. For couples who are wanting to go this route, we have been offering our assistance to help sort out the finer details.”

She also had a few simple suggestions to make the day special. Her top ideas for making any backyard wedding special:

Personalize and customize the day as you would with a larger wedding. This is your chance to try something that would otherwise be harder with a larger guest count.
Splurge on what you care about, and save on the items that don’t matter. There is no pressure to create the perfect wedding; spend on the things you value.
Hire great people to help you with your wedding plans, whether it is a fantastic photographer, a resourceful planner, or a caterer who creates delectable feasts. Smaller weddings can still be a lot of work.
Relax and enjoy the day! Whether you have 300 guests or 50 guests, this is a special occasion that you will cherish. The day will fly by before you know it.

And there’s still time to enter the Miller High Life “Backyard Weddings” giveaway. Couples can enter until tomorrow, August 7, at 11:59 PM, and winners will be picked by mid-August.

If you were planning a wedding that was postponed or scaled-back due to the pandemic, you can enter the “Backyard Weddings” giveaway by sending an email to [email protected] with a short description (300 words or less) of how your wedding plans have been affected, and how you still plan to celebrate with Miller High Life, the Champagne of Beers.

Winners will have the option to get help with anything from floral arrangements and catering, to wedding attire and videography.

For more on the giveaway, visit millerhighlife.ca, or follow Miller High Life on Instagram and Twitter.