She keeps us grounded., Parents should remember there's always the possibility of rescheduling for a later date a half-birthday party perhaps though no parents are making promises, fearing that they won't be able to keep them. We've got your back when it comes to postponing your upcoming event. This will help mitigate disappointment from your ticket buyers and prevent the need to refund more people after the event is already cancelled. In other words: If Uncle Kevin who posts daily anti-mask rants on Facebook is going to be there, skip it, even if your cousin swears shell make everyone wear the cute matching family reunion masks she ordered. As always, honesty is the best policy. Though cancelling an event can be disappointing for creators and ticket buyers, a well-executed cancellation can show the integrity of your brand. If the host pushes back on your decision or says youre being too cautious, do your best to change the subject and exit the conversation in a timely manner. People whove made this decision [to have an event] have thought about it. Its not necessary to get into a debate, Gottsman noted. Looking to host virtually? Everybody, frankly, sounded relieved at the news. Do everything better: Our guide to helping you live better during the pandemic, How to summer in Philly: Our 2020 summer guide. Im scared that people will go you know. Here is a casual wording option for a quick text or email: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we have decided to postpone [name of event]. Some are financial refunds couldnt be negotiated with vendors, for example and others are personal, with the host having confidence in the ability to throw a safe celebration or a higher risk tolerance. But you should keep your response direct and decisive, says Sara Murray, owner of wedding and event planning company Confetti & Co. It can be as simple as saying, I so appreciate and respect that youre still throwing a party that would bring so much joy during a time like this, but its not a good fit for us, says Murray. Manners are a guideline so you still have friends when this is over.. About 45% of HR professionals said their company has nixed holiday party plans specifically due to the spread of Covid-19. You may want to tell attendees to talk to their bank or credit card provider to check on the status of refunds. But after a couple of hours (and a couple of cocktails), you notice social distancing and masks starting to slip. Most people understand the need for social distancing at the moment, but there have also been reports of "Corona Chads and COVID Catherines" who continue to party on. As much as we all want to celebrate these special moments with our friends and family members, now is not the time. Learn how in our. These decisions are hard. Unforeseen circumstances sometimes mean having to cancel your event. I sit here working from home and quarantining as CNN Chief Medical. Weve already started to see inventive ways that friends, family, and co-workers are staying in touch, whether that means sending a Flyer to schedule a phone chat, a greeting card to all the friends you miss and hope are well or even to let an elderly family member know youre thinking about them. A top-your-own ice cream- or brownie- sundae bar. They want to go through with it, and will try to make it safe for their guests, says Murray. Being polite will help the future of your relationship with the person on the other end. I dont know how to think about everyone elses. HuffPost asked etiquette experts for their advice for saying no to such gatherings or backing out of events youd agreed to attend prior to the pandemic. Countries were closing their borders. 11. "With the . Due to the coronavirus pandemic, we can't celebrate your 50th birthday in person like we had envisioned earlier this year. My daughter, Marcy, has inherited this tendency, along with the anxiety that leads to it. On Saturday, 10 of us, plus two babies, met at Marcy and Basils house for a way-scaled-down birthday party. When emailing attendees, be clear about refund amounts, when youll start processing refunds, and when attendees should expect to see refunds credited to their accounts. A key vendor could back out at the last minute or you may deal with delays in obtaining key permits or licenses. On Friday, Basil pulled the plug on Kenya for the immediate future. Keep it simple: Thank you for the invitation. 10. An etiquette guide to saying no to social obligations in the era of social distancing. While all circumstances are different, here are a few things to keep in mind: Event date: If your event isnt until the summer or fall, you may feel comfortable waiting to decide if it makes sense to cancel or adapt your plan. Love Is Patient Owl and Toad. This will help mitigate disappointment from your ticket buyers and prevent the need to refund more people after the event is already cancelled. Let guests know youve made the difficult decision to hold your event at a later date as soon as you have secured a revised date and location, especially if they need to change travel arrangements. Fiona has experience organising conferences, training sessions and meetups in the UK and internationally. "This is the perfect time to jump on a group phone or video call with your friends," says Meier. These 12 pop-ups and events will help you get ready, Nature-curious? At this point, everyone is aware of the coronavirus, and everyone has formed their own opinion about it. Shes finally at an age where she could have opinions and make requests, so over a month ago she asked for a gymnastics birthday party with her entire class, the Nashville, Tennessee mom says. But no matter the setup, its a pandemic. If your event runs for multiple days and only one day is cancelled, its fine to offer a partial or prorated refund to multi-day ticket holders. Dellas52Reasons. Once the final decision has been made to cancel your event, make sure to cease selling tickets immediately. Its best to speak from the heart and simply tell the truth. What should you do when faced with the difficult decision to cancel an event? 12. And I know, despite the relentless nature of the past two years, that pandemics do eventually end. Its kind of like asking another parent if they have a gun in their home before sending your child over to play. In a year without a Great Plague, wed be in peak wedding season right about now. Its hard, because he doesnt understand all of this, she says. Hosts are likely under stress and are communicating with all of their guests. We social distance and follow the CDC guidelines not only for ourselves but to be respectful of other people. The new coronavirus may have canceled their plans, but these families still made birthdays wonderful. Providing clear and comprehensive information can help ensure that your attendees arent confused and can help you maintain a good relationship with them. A partial refund may also make sense if youre moving your event online as a consideration for the change in what youll be providing to your attendees. If you're a scraper, please click the link below :-) While this is a challenging time, we can all work together to stay connected and safe. Sara Murray is the owner of wedding and event planning company Confetti & Co. Deb Derrickson Kossmann is a clinical psychologist. But there are still plenty of celebrations going down. As calm as you can! This time, there wasnt any pretense. Ask us through Curious Philly. For those who do so, it can be a chance for an adventure as well as an opportunity to grow and mature. You could also organize a FaceTime or Zoom call for some virtual time together. 2023 BuzzFeed, Inc. All rights reserved. To be clear: These are awkward questions. The cost of waiting for such a moment feels low, and certainly much lower than the consequences of reckless impatience. Tone matters. Consider whether you can postpone it. Choose which method of communication will be best to notify guests. A partial refund may also make sense if youre moving your event online as a consideration for the change in what youll be providing to your attendees. We all know unforeseen circumstances can get in the way of an event. The nightly news showed people in Philly wearing green hats and roaming from bar to bar on South Street, and throngs of Americans stuck in airports, waiting with nothing to do and nowhere to go. Youre just extending the problem, says Youst. Acknowledge what a year it has been with a big 'WOW'! How you cancel a wedding or milestone event may be very different from adjusting a professional event. I do things ahead of time, remember? The Delta surge made me nervous about it. As the situation unfolds, well share alternative ways to connect inspired by our hosts. Positive Messages. Were committed to doing all we can to help during this time of uncertainty. "I've been calling them. Heres how to decline an invitation if you dont feel comfortable attending. But not always. Back home on Saturday night, I thought about Basils mom in Nairobi. Show your support in other ways, too. Just because you arent comfortable attending a birthday party or wedding doesnt mean you arent open to other kinds of social interactions. - Dr. Seuss. Come to a mutual understanding of the best way to communicate should any future issues arise including how another postponement will be handled. Being assertive, however, doesnt mean being aggressive. Youve been planning and looking forward to celebrating this eventit will happen eventually and you will be so happy when it does! If your event runs for multiple days and only one day is cancelled, its fine to offer a partial or prorated refund to multi-day ticket holders. Failed systems constrain us, but we still have agency, and our small choices matter immensely. Accept their decision, and let them know youre happy for them. "If I say, 'I'd love to come to your party, but I'm really only comfortable in gatherings of five or six, then you'll say, 'Well it's only 10 . Your sole purpose is to accept or decline an invitation. Not everyone has decided to cancel or postpone their wedding, birthday party, or baby shower, and for reasons vast and wide. Tie a string to the big present, and thread the string all over the house the birthday child has to follow it to find the gift. Wish them good fortune: that is, a better year than the last one. 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