While having a big white wedding isn’t really possible during this COVID-19 pandemic, having a “medium-sized” white wedding is becoming an increasingly attractive option.

Elizabeth Schalla owns the Rustic Wedding Barn just outside of Steinbach. She says the novel coronavirus has wreaked havoc in what is normally a joyful and happy industry.

“What should be the most exciting time of people’s lives is becoming the most stressful and anxious time of their lives.”

In a climate of constantly shifting regulations, Schalla says young couples are in limbo, unsure of whether to postpone, cancel or entirely re-plan their weddings. However, venues, like the Rustic Wedding Barn, and their patrons were given a fresh dose of optimism late last week.

As Phase Two of the Manitoba Government’s COVID-19 recovery plan takes effect, indoor gathering size limits have been expanded from 10 to 25 people and outdoor from 25 to 50. Schalla says those increased numbers will likely be a lot more comfortable to brides who initially envisioned large-scale celebrations.

“To be able to do 50 people outside and have your dinner and dance outside kind of sounds fun to me,” shares Schalla, who hopes budding couples will feel similarly. “So we are trying to create a more intimate wedding package for brides who still choose to get married this year.”

To accommodate the new limits, Schalla says she has partnered with a caterer, a florist, and a photographer to try and help young fiances’ dream weddings still come true, if to a lesser extent. She acknowledges that many of the local clientele have families of over 50 people and will not be taking this option, still she wants to make it available to any starry-eyed lovers daring enough to scrap their plans for something totally new.

Meanwhile, she offers this encouragement to any engaged individuals who suddenly find themselves at a loss: “The marriage is more important than the actual wedding,” she stresses. “You’re getting married to have a marriage and your wedding is just kind of a bonus.”