Effective communication was always an important part of wedding planning. Yet it becomes even more critical when planning your nuptials in the COVID-19 age. Virtual video platforms have made staying in touch a lot easier. But you’ll likely reach out to vendors, your wedding party, guests, and close family via email. With this in mind, you must make your words count. You don’t need to be James Baldwin to write great prose, but a few tips can help you craft clear, concise, and authentic language.
The Importance of Concise Writing
Ever visit a website and feel like you’re reading a dissertation? You don’t want to make your guests feel this way with your emails, social media posts, and wedding website. Grammarly explains concise writing: communicating an idea clearly in the fewest words possible.
This doesn’t mean your writing can’t have personality, but Grammarly’s tips can help you sharpen your message. Cutting out redundant and filler words makes your sentences more readable. Using strong adjectives paints a clearer picture, but these adjectives also reflect your unique voice. Vague nouns can slow your reader down, so toss them out. And using active voice produces shorter, stronger, and more direct language.
Your Wedding Website
For many of your guests, your wedding website is the first point of contact. They’ll look for important details such as your dress code, driving directions, and COVID safety measures. You don’t want to make them wade through a bunch of text to find what they need. Wedding Wire Canada’s Alice Prendergast mentions some vital details that should appear on your site:
- Time, date, and location
- Driving directions
- Lodging and local attractions
- Registry information
- Driving directions
- COVID-19 info
A wedding day FAQ can be a great resource. In another article, Prendergast lists some questions you’ll want to answer in this part of your website. Providing these answers should save both you and your guests some time.
Keeping in Touch With Guests
Your wedding website is an awesome tool, but you’ll need to sometimes communicate through emails. Your friends and family are as time-poor as you are, so concise and friendly wording go a long way. After all, you want to balance clarity with a positive tone.
The Knot offers a few templates to help you craft your messages. You can cut, paste, and adapt these to your audience. Even if you don’t, you can use the key points they cover to guide your own emails. If you must deliver bad news, communicate it with empathy, and if applicable, point the reader to possible alternative solutions.
Communicating With Vendors
Time is a non-renewal resource. Once you spend it, you can’t get it back. And with COVID-19 changing the wedding industry, vendors are busier than ever. They’ll appreciate clear and effective communications, so try Honeydew’s tips for contacting your pros through email. Drafting a template saves you time, but it also helps you polish your message. Asking a standard list of questions lets your vendors quickly provide the information you want.
Even after you’ve hired your pros, keep writing those succinctly worded emails – but be mindful of how your words sound. Alice Prendergast suggests keeping your language light and upbeat with vendors. That way, you don’t risk sounding rude or accusatory, and you’ll still hopefully get what you need.
Messaging for the COVID-19 Era
Communication is the glue that keeps relationships together. Whether you’re dealing with vendors, guests, or family, understanding is key. We’re all adjusting to a new pandemic reality, and many are still trying to find their feet. Concise communication conveys your ideas clearly and respects your audience’s time. Coupled with a positive and empathetic tone, your words can help pave the way to achieving your wedding vision.