To think this wedding (as it's been planned) won't be going ahead!

[mighthavefinallylostit]

Oldest friend is getting her dream wedding in early July - In Europe with friends and family (from all over the world - including me, one of her bridesmaids) she is adamant it will all be over by then and the wedding will go ahead as planned. AIBU to think it won't, suppliers may have gone bust, family / friends may not be able to travel / some countries may still ban international travel - the list is endless. Of course she can get married, have a beautiful wedding but it might be wise to explore some alternatives?
I'm heartbroken for her, but don't know how to softly break it to her that I (as well as many other guests, may not be able to travel as planned) or AIBU and a bit of a wedding grinch?!

Even if it could happen in theory, how many people are going to be in a position to jet off for a few days for a wedding? She needs to act now to ensure she doesn’t find herself massively out of pocket for a “zombie” wedding with hardly anyone in attendance

Nope - if it was in this country then maybe but abroad? I’d say not a hope in hell.

On a side note I’m really going to miss all the wedding threads that usually start up around now, they’re always entertaining!

It might go ahead but it won't take on exactly the same shape as it might have otherwise done. It's easy to say 'postpone' but some people cannot afford to without losing thousands. Better to go ahead (if you can) with a smaller and more low key affair than have to abandon it altogether.

It’s highly doubtful it’ll go ahead, at least with all the original arrangements intact. Friends of mine are getting married in June (in theory) and are expecting to have to postpone but are waiting for the venue to cancel on them so they don’t lose a tonne of money.

I feel bad for people having to cancel their weddings but it seems mad to expect everything will go ahead exactly as planned if your wedding is scheduled for any time this year.

Let her hold onto Hope and show love when it doesn't.

I don't mean to go religious but there is definitely something in the Hope, Faith and Love thing. We need Hope, Faith (or belief things will get better) and Love for our mental health.

July it is possible but vulnerable guests probably won't risk travelling

Of course she knows it may not happen, but she's holding out hope that the (possible) biggest day of her life is still going to go ahead. Why on earth would you want to "softly break it to her" do you honestly think she has no clue about the current state of affairs??
No one knows what it's going to be like in July and it's VERY likely that a lot of what she has paid for won't let her cancel free of charge until the govt have banned travel in July.
Just be a supportive friend ffs

It sucks for her but I’m afraid she’s deluded if she thinks it will all go ahead as planned.

Reminds me of my idiotic colleague who thinks she’ll still be able to go on holiday to NYC in early May...

I don’t think so . Even if restrictions were lifted a lot of people may now be reluctant to travel or may not have the money to do so.

But @Cam77 - it's probably already too late! If she cancels and it's fine to go ahead, those family members who have already booked flights won't get refunds.

It's not just her costs to think about. Frankly, a wedding in the UK is a lot easier to shift as most of the cost is movable if the venue are happy to reschedule for a minimal fee, and guests costs won't be that high yet.

I can easily see the pressure to keep things as they are as it's not just her own money she's "wasting" if she reschedules the wedding that would be fine to go ahead. It must be so hard to face!

She should rearrange it for next year.

I think by June or July she will be able to have a legal wedding with minister or registrar but not a party; probably like funerals immediate family and social distancing the same for baptisms etc

Nope.

I’ve decided life won’t return to normal until Christmas.

It’s actually made me more relaxed about stuff.
I am very happy to be proved wrong when they lift everything in October...

Even though the current situation is unlikely to continue to July, I doubt things will be back to normal by then. The country I live in is starting to open up next week. It will involve only small groups and social-distancing. I would think that these measures will continue for some time, and the UK isn't even at the point of introducing them yet. Also, as you say, some of the businesses she is planning on using may not exist by July.

However, things could also be much more normalised by then, nobody knows, and if you push her to cancel her wedding and it turns out it could have gone ahead as planned, then you are the person who ruined her wedding... I would leave the decisions about the wedding to your friend and her partner. It will become obvious to them what they should do in time.

Nope. If she thinks that then I would LOVE to know where she gets her drugs from!

I highly doubt it will happen.
My sister has cancelled her wedding for the end of August in Ireland. She and her fiance live in Australia where there borders will remain closed untill next year.

Family member has had to cancel her early July wedding in (England ) this year as advised by the registrar who performs the ceremony's. They aren't taking any new bookings for the rest of the summer apparently.

She’s in denial or holding onto false hope maybe.

Most people won’t want to attend a large social gathering this year.

She could maybe have two witnesses somewhere local if registrars are still going ahead and stream to guests. It’s the marriage/commitment not the wedding day party itself that’s important.

Lock down will end but social distancing will remain in place for the foreseeable future.

I agree with the others. It won’t happen.
For fear of coming in the firing line by telling the truth, just smile, nod and say ‘let’s hope so’ to everything.

No chance! You didn't mention where in Europe but even in the countries least affected by Covid like Norway, Austria or Czech Republic, it's insinuated that air travel won't be totally back to normal until 2021 or whenever there's a vaccine. If it's a typical wedding location like Spain or Italy, then there's absolutely no possibility of it going ahead.

Don't be the one to break the news though. She'll figure it out in her own time

She will come to realise this herself. Dont be the messenger.

Unless you get to the point you have to tell her YOU aren't coming I wouldn't bother about maybes.

She must know it may not happen, she just doesnt want to deal with that yet and is still hopeful.

I don't think it will go ahead as a mass gathering, she might be able to go with the groom and get married (I really really doubt it though) but definitely not with lots of people.

I wouldn't tell her though, she will realise it of her own volition at some point in the coming weeks. Just be there as a shoulder to cry on.

I wouldn’t count on a July wedding being possible this year.

She already knows this deep down and is in denial. She will come to the realisation in her own time and it is your job to support her when she does.