COVID-19
If you’re reading this that means that I’m the lucky human you’ve chosen and trusted to document one of the most precious and memorable days of your life. I want to take this time to reiterate how much I value the connection and relationship that we have already established and how vital sustaining that healthy relationship will be come the day of your wedding. That being said, due to how stressful of a time this is for everyone, I want to do everything within my power to maintain transparency and an open channel of vulnerability with each of my couples. I want you to feel safe sharing your needs with me moving forward. I want you to know that while I am your photographer, I am also someone who cares about you. You inspire and support me as I chase this dream of documenting the power of love.
I realize that some of you are in the service industry and have been forced to file for unemployment, some of you have lost your jobs and your healthcare that follows, some of you have mortgages, parents you take care of, medicine that is becoming increasingly harder to afford, and family members that live abroad. Every single one of you has a multitude of stressors that are involved not just with the fears that come with a pandemic, but also the fears that arise with planning a wedding and having invested so much money into a day that you have awaited with excitement. Which is why I wanted to take a moment and put together a page that not only shares my Covid-19 rescheduling policy but also provides resources that will hopefully make this stressful time, less stressful.
To be fair to couples whose wedding is being directly affected by Covid-19, the above Covid-19 rescheduling policy is only applicable to couples who are being immediately forced to reschedule their wedding due to government and state mandates. Couples who are not within a 4-8 week window of the current estimated end of the government mandated Shelter in Place will be subject to the cancellation clause outlined in their contract.
Postponements & Cancellations
1. Clients may reschedule to any date within 2020 in which I am available. Your retainer will be applied to your new date and all rescheduling fees will be waived. A rescheduling contract will be required to secure your new date.
2. Clients may reschedule to a peak Saturday in 2021 in which I am available for. To book a peak Saturday in 2021 the remaining balance will be due and 50% of my 2021 booking rate [per time contracted] will be applied as a change fee. Change fee is waived for non-peak dates: Friday, Sunday or winter (November – January).
3. Clients who choose to cancel their wedding altogether are subject to the terms agreed upon in our contract but have the option of transferring monies paid to an alternate service for future use.
Covid-19 Rescheduling Policies
Now that my rescheduling policies have been shared I’m sure you have questions – many of which that I would probably have if I were an individual being affected by this virus. I believe open communication is important, and as a small business in a global pandemic I have no option but to be vulnerable with you, the wonderful humans who have made the choice to support my small business. Some of you are in the event and service industry and some of you are even in the wedding industry and understand first hand how delicate our booking seasons are. But to simplify answers and questions, I’m listing them below in a Q & A format to hopefully answer your questions without forcing you to read any further lengthy paragraphs that may not pertain to you.
Q: We’re looking at several dates in which you’re available, can you reserve those dates for us while we’re deciding on what to do?
A: For my couples who are already booked with me, I am providing the option to “stronghold” 1 date in which I am available. Meaning I will hold this date for you without a retainer until you decide which date works for you and your entire vendor team. In the instance another inquiry hopes to book the dates in which you have held, you will have the first right to refusal. However, without a signed contract for the new date I can only hold a date for 24 hours once a new inquiry has been made. Please only stronghold a date once you have contacted all of your vendors about their availability and feel confident that you will move forward with it.
I hope the questions above provided some insight as to why these policies are in place.
If after reading the questions above you find that your questions went unanswered, please do not hesitate to reach out to me at katherine@katherinebrackman.com