HELLO, LOVELY COUPLES OF 2020!

I hope you are all staying sane and healthy. I know everything feels a little crazy right now.

As you are all well aware by now, we are currently in a situation that we have never experienced before as a result of the spread of COVID-19.

I have already started communicating with couples whose weddings are happening earlier in the year and now I think it’s important to start open communication with all of you, even as we maintain cautious optimism for late summer and fall celebrations. I don’t want to scare any of you or cause any unnecessary anxiety, but with so much uncertainty from day to day and week to week, I am of the mind that the more info and communication we have, the better. 

I will continue to update you and this document as the situation evolves. I hope that having this plan and these answers will help alleviate some of the stress you may be feeling. 

WILL YOU STILL BE PHOTOGRAPHING OUR WEDDING? 

Yes, absolutely! I still plan to photograph 100% of the weddings I have scheduled for this year, as long as your event carries forward and we are within any laws and limitations set by the State of Indiana, the county the wedding is in, and the United States. I have already self-isolated with my family (my husband and daughter have been working and schooling from home since mid-March), we are washing and sanitizing our hands and door handles and groceries, and wearing masks any time we must be in public to get groceries.

CANCELLATIONS AND RESCHEDULING

Should the government or CDC recommendations of social distancing and quarantine lead you to cancel your wedding, whether as a result of the venue, planner, other vendors or your own personal choice, I understand and respect your decision. 

The situation is continuing to evolve rapidly and I expect you would like to see how things change and progress as time passes. I imagine that the last thing you want to do is cancel or reschedule and I know that your choices will be largely dependent on so many personal factors, like travel plans of your guests and requests by your venue and vendors, etc.

I won’t pressure you to make this call sooner than you have to, but please feel free to start the conversation with me whenever you are ready.

WHAT HAPPENS TO OUR RETAINER, CONTRACT, WEDDING DATE, ETC., IF WE NEED TO RESCHEDULE OUR WEDDING?

As you know, you paid a non-refundable retainer upon booking your wedding. If the wedding is cancelled or rescheduled, whether as a result of government recommendation, third party choice (venue, etc) or personal choice, this retainer will not be refunded. With that said, should you choose to cancel and not reschedule, you will not be expected to pay any remaining balance beyond the retainer on your contract. And more importantly:

You may reschedule your 2020 wedding date and apply your retainer towards a new date, with no fee or penalty. 

HOW DO WE RESCHEDULE OUR WEDDING? 

• You must reach out before locking in a reschedule date to get my availability. I will be making every possible day available to you that I am not already booked.
• Once you have an agreed upon new date booked with your venue, we will sign a new contract transferring your existing contract to the new date.
• Should you choose a date without checking on my availability first or should you choose a date that you know that I am booked for, you will be considered a cancellation and will forfeit your retainer.
• All rescheduled weddings must take place before the end of 2022 or your contract will be considered cancelled by you and your retainer forfeited.

WHAT IF WE DECIDE TO COMPLETELY CANCEL OUR WEDDING? CAN WE GET A REFUND?

Refunds on retainers for cancelled weddings are not available. I am not making an exception to this part of our contract.

That being said, beyond a rescheduled wedding, I am making exceptions per the unique circumstances of this pandemic: Your retainer can be used toward another photo session such as an elopement, engagement photos or family session, or something else I deem comparable to wedding photography. These must be scheduled and used by the end of 2021.

WHAT HAPPENS IF WE GET SICK?  WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU GET SICK?

I do ask that if you, your future spouse or any live-in family members present symptoms of illness and if you choose to go against CDC recommendations and still have your wedding, that you let me know. It is my feeling that in this case you should immediately cancel your event to reduce the spread of this virus to your guests and vendors. As your photographer I spend a lot of time with you and come in very close contact all day. I do not feel comfortable or safe photographing your wedding if you are exhibiting possible symptoms of COVID-19.

Similarly, if I or anyone in my immediate family exhibit symptoms, I will find a replacement shooter to cover your wedding based on the agreement laid out in our contract. I take your health very seriously. I am in regular and close contact with a great network of local photographers and beyond, and we have all agreed to support and cover each other if need be.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?

If there is something that I didn’t cover in the above text, please let me know. I am on your team and want you to have the most amazing wedding you can possibly have. I am here to help however I can. If you have any questions as to my protocols, plans, contracts or payment schedules, please ask. I think it’s important for all of us to know where we stand and so that you can communicate clearly with each other, your family, your guests, your other wedding vendors and your wedding insurance should you need to.Please reach out via email at katy@icarus.photos if you have any additional questions.