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Celebrating Missed Milestones in Covid

8/27/2020

While the physical toll of this pandemic has been highly publicized and studied, we are just beginning to understand the social and emotional effects of this pandemic. Isolation and social distancing, while proven to help limit the spread of the virus, can also have long-term effects on individuals and society alike. One of the most visible social effects of this pandemic is the cancellation of many important milestone celebrations. This has been an issue that is at the forefront of our industry, but it has been felt far beyond. Milestones and events like weddings, graduations, anniversaries, birthdays, and funerals have all been impacted.

Why celebrating and acknowledging milestones is important:
Celebrating milestones is how we as a society commemorate the progression of life. These celebrations serve as a connection - with family and friends and beyond. Missing these events can prove to be more than disappointing - they can affect emotional and social development milestones as well, especially in children and youth.
While one benefit of social distancing is more dedicated time with family, we miss out on the connections with others that contribute to our development and emotional well-being. Important milestones are visual and experiential representations of growth. Without them, we miss opportunities for growth.

Practical solutions:
Cancelling important events and milestones can be hard to process - not just for children and youth, but for everyone involved. Milestones are typically “once-in-a-lifetime” events. Processing the disappointment of losing these moments is extremely difficult.
Some strategies that might help ease the pain of these missed milestones are:

Focusing on the positive - Acknowledge achievements, even when larger celebrations must be postponed
Embrace virtual celebrations - Utilizing virtual resources to help loved ones celebrate with you can help reduce feelings of isolation, and they can help enhance a feeling community.

Explore alternative options - Many communities, schools, and organizations are hosting or planning different ways to celebrate. Virtual concerts, highlighting individual talents, or geographically distant check ins, can still provide means for community celebrations.
Acknowledge disappointments and feelings - Covid has proven that many things are out of our control. Dealing with the aftermath of cancellations and missed milestones is rough. It is natural to grieve these losses.
Plan for the future - Although we may not know when we will “get back to normal”, we don’t have to put off planning for the future. There is no rule that we can’t celebrate some of these events - graduations, weddings, funerals - in the future, when it is safer to gather.

Ideas and recommendations for celebrating during Covid:

As experts in the event planning industry, we have been tasked with coming up with creative solutions for celebrating milestones during these unprecedented times. We have developed and discovered ways in which our clients can safely celebrate life’s most important events. Here are just a few examples of alternative celebration opportunities:

Birthdays
We’ve already highlighted a variety of ways in which you can help someone feel special on their covid birthday. Our blog “10 COVID-Safe Ways to Make Your Child’s Birthday Special” is full of great ideas that can be adapted to celebrate someone at any age!

Graduations
Graduations bring a feeling of pride for both graduates and their families. Cancelled graduation ceremonies are difficult to replace, but there are some alternative options that will still allow you to celebrate these great accomplishments!

Go live with your own graduation at home. Get dressed up. Rent a cap and gown. Take pictures and post on social media or show live on zoom.
Create a video full of photos and snippets from high school or college.

Weddings
If Covid has forced you to postpone your dream wedding and reception, why not consider the following as an alternative?

Elope and celebrate later! Find the perfect spot, and hire an officiant (or see if your state allows you to marry yourselves) and a professional photographer. Personalize your vows and private ceremony, and capture it in lovely photos to share later. Plan a larger, special celebration later down the road when social distancing is a thing of the past.
Plan a virtual ceremony. Similar to our elopement advice, you can plan a smaller ceremony with close family and friends. Invite others to join in live on social media. And again, plan a larger celebration with everyone in the future.
Make your postponed wedding a vow renewal ceremony. If you had your heart set on a large wedding but don’t want to wait to start your life together, why not plan a small intimate ceremony now, and then plan to celebrate with family, friends, food, and dancing at a vow renewal ceremony down the road?

Anniversaries
While anniversaries tend to be celebrated by just the couple alone, COVID restrictions can still make planning a fitting celebration difficult. There are a ton of special date night options that can be planned to mark this milestone, but here are a few ideas that go beyond ordering in dinner and a movie:

Invite family and friends to participate in your anniversary celebration by emailing or snail-mailing you bits of marriage advice, memories, or family traditions that you can adopt in the future.
Go beyond Netflix and Chill by seeking out a livestream concert. Musicians all over the world have been hosting virtual concerts. Find one that interests you both and make a night of it!
Get ready to Re-Create! Why not try to recreate your first date? If you went out for dinner - try to make that meal together at home. If you first met with friends, try and gather them together on a zoom celebration where you can reminisce about that first meeting all together. How about recreating your first wedding dance in your living room?

Funerals
Funerals might just be the most difficult event to miss. Families and friends often need the closure and social support that a funeral provides. Social distancing guidelines and the nature of a funeral make it even more difficult to plan. While postponing may be a viable option, some families might not want to delay or prolong this part of the grieving process.

Consider live streaming. Immediate family members could gather together and live stream the service for distant family members, friends, and colleagues at home.
Create social media pages or groups in honor of your loved one where friends and families can leave messages, post photos, and share memories.
Plan meal trains and card remembrances. While this doesn’t take the place of actually being there for the mourning family, planned meal trains and card showers will still let them know you care and are thinking about them during this difficult time.

Social Entertainment
Just because you can’t frequent your favorite bar or restaurant together, it doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy some fun together while keeping safely apart!

Virtual Movie Night - Set up a video chat and talk with each other while watching the same movie or tv show. Netflix Party is a great way to watch as a group. It synchronizes video playback and offers a group chat while you watch together.
Online party games - Jackbox Games can be purchased and downloaded on a wide variety of digital platforms. Set up a zoom game night and have a blast playing games with friends.
Pick a penpal. Use this time of social distancing to bring back the art of letter writing. Send cards and letters to friends and family near and far.

When it comes to celebrating missed milestones, creativity provides limitless possibility. While we know that nothing will ever bring back the actual missed opportunities of these special moments, planning to intentionally acknowledge them is a good practice to adopt. Everyone deserves to celebrate these special times. If you would like help in planning a virtual milestone celebration, please reach out to our talented team of event planners and memory makers. We can help you plan an event that you and your family and friends will remember forever.

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Thoughtful Gifts for Today's College Grad

5/31/2015

Pinterest Board

-by Randi Juric

Graduation season is upon us. It often comes quicker than you think.

College graduates have many needs in order to prepare for their new life. Here are a few ideas for awesome presents most graduates need.

We know they will always need reliable transportation to and from college or their new career. New or used -- a car is always a great gift and much appreciated.

Another much needed present is professional wardrobe. It’s often tough enough getting a job as a new college graduate, so first impressions should be outstanding.

Some people are the sentimental type and love getting frames or shadow boxes of memories you collected from their friends to put together.

Finally the most coveted gift by grads is money. Oh yes, money. You can give the gift of money in a number of creative ways.

Visit the My Big Day Graduation Pinterest Board for plenty of gift ideas!

Outfit ideas for your graduate:

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Celebrating Missed Milestones in Covid

Thoughtful Gifts for Today's College Grad

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