Unprecedented Times
These are very strange times, to say the least.
We have plans in place if one of our team members has an emergency and needs to leave town. We have plans in place if a hurricane blows through and completely upends a wedding day. We even have plans in place if your officiant loses his voice!
In ten years of operation, we have failed to make plans for a worldwide epidemic that causes worry, confusion, stress, and forces many of you to make changes of your travel plans.
I wish I could say, as the founding co-owner of Elope Asheville, that we are operating according to the plan we set up ten years ago when we started Elope Asheville about how to run the business during a worldwide pandemic.
Unfortunately, though, I have to be forthcoming and say, “We are figuring this out day by day.”
Trying to Stay Level-Headed
We wholeheartedly listen to, respect, and adhere as much as possible to government recommendations for preventing the spread of Covid-19.
Social distancing is very important. Fortunately, the very nature of elopements means that we stay socially distanced! We are a very small gathering, meeting in an outdoor location with plenty of fresh air, and (other than the bride and groom) we can limit physical contact.
We understand there are a lot of voices out there.
There are people who are claiming that the end is nigh and that we should lock ourselves in air-tight containers until August. There are others who say this is no worse than a bad cold and that this is a case of mass panic.
In any public discourse, I strive to discard the advice from the polar extremes to find the correct path to navigate.
While we do believe there is very strong reason to remain diligent about germs and to stay very careful to protect our immunocompromised, we don’t feel like life should come to a complete standstill.
How We Are Handling Our Commitments
Elope Asheville has decided that, unless legally required by authorities, we will be proceeding with our elopements as planned.
If, out of caution or necessity you would like to change the date of your wedding, we will change your date to whatever day you choose free of charge, fee, or penalty.
We understand that this is a stressful time for everyone, and we don’t want you to worry that we will be canceling your wedding day. Some of our guests have specific dates that are very meaningful, and we will honor our commitment to you.
We will, however, be taking precautions to protect you and us. We will drastically reduce any customary physical contact – shaking hands, hugs, etc.. We will also increase social distance as much as humanly possible. We will have bottles of hand sanitizer with us at all times to stay germ-free.
We hope you understand that we aren’t trying to be rude. We are just doing our part to be responsible during these strange times.
As Always, Thank You
We understand the incredible levels of trust you give us when you choose us to be a part of your wedding day. We couldn’t possibly thank you enough for supporting our dream.
We are here for you, and we look forward to being a part of the story you will tell for the rest of your life.
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.