We’re back with story number 3 of our Wedding Replanned Interviews.
Before we dive in Denissa and Michael’s story, we invite you to read our previous stories: story 1 and story 2.
Your wedding plans not turning out they way you planned them (at all!) is definitely a lot to handle! Are you wondering how to deal with it? If yes, this blog post is for you!
We decided to talk to our couples who were supposed to get married this spring. We asked the brides if they’d like to share what they were going through. Also, we asked them about the different ways they were handling the situation and if they’d offer some helpful tips.
They all said YES!
Story 3: Denissa and Michael
Denissa and Michael have been married for 10 years and have 3 adorable kids.
We have been planing their vow renewal on a private beach in Punta Cana
for the 23 of March 2020.
They had all their bags packed, ready to leave Germany and come to sunny Dominican Republic. Then, exactly 2 days before their trip, the borders closed and quarantine was announced.
We are now replanning their anniversary vow renewal for the upcoming summer months.
Denissa agreed to do a Q & A session for the Wedding Replanned Interviews with us, as it may help other couples going through replanning.
Here it is:
Q: First of all we’d love to know how you and Michael met?
Denissa:
We met 16 years ago, at a copying machine in a big office.
I was working during summer break from university and Michael was working on his diploma thesis.
He offered his help and that I could ask him any question on the copying machine I might have. This was followed with lunch breaks together, after job partys… and 6 years later we were married.
We moved to Finland for 2 years for work and had our wedding there. It was a perfect wedding, a summer day at the northern sea, all our friends and family had travelled from Germany to Finland to celebrate with us and I said YES to my big love.
Then we moved back to Germany, had 3 kids – and wanted to take the opportunity of our 10 year anniversary in 2020 to renew our vows, to take a break from our busy lives just for us and to cherish and treasure what we have together.
Q: How did you end up choosing Punta Cana and the Dominican Republic for your destination wedding?
Denissa:
I always wanted to get married by the sea. With our wedding in Finland we were at the sea, but it is the northern sea.
For our 10 years renewal I wanted turquoise and warm sea and a beautiful beach – just for us as a family. It is like a perfect fairy tale.
Q: When was the first moment you realized that your wedding plans may be affected? How did you feel?
Denissa: We had our flight booked on Tuesday 17th March, the renewal was scheduled on 23rd March. News on the virus started to come up, but we were still hoping. At some point I just wanted to ignore it and I continued to pack our suitcases.
On Sunday we finally received the news that the Dominican Republic has closed their borders to prevent the spread of the virus, flights were canceled.
I didn’t start to unpack for a whole week, I was so disappointed.
Q: What helped you remain positive? Who was and is your biggest support through this?
Denissa: My husband. He said right away: “Ok, then we will do it at a later time, don’t worry.” After some time – and as the news started to become crazier every day – I agreed that at least we were not stuck somewhere at an airport, but were safe at home.
Q: Are your new wedding plans different from the original one? If yes, how so?
Denissa: No, we will stick with our original ideas and plans – we now have more time now to look forward to them becoming reality.
Q: What was something that you as a couple have learnt from this experience?
Denissa: There is nothing that cannot happen. You have to stay flexible and be grateful for all the wonderful things you have together – even after weeks of lockdown at home with 3 little kids ☺
Q: If you could say 3 things to encourage other couples affected by the Coronavirus and in the process of replanning their weddings, what would you say?
Denissa:
- Believe in your dream – it will come true eventually.
- Make the best of the time you have now.
- It will be a great story to tell your grandkids.
We hope you find Denissa and Michael’s story encouraging.
We thank Denissa for sharing their experience and we’re looking forward to their vow renewal ceremony.
It’s going to be wonderful!
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This was the third and final story of our Wedding Replanned Interviews.
We hope we have helped many couples around the globe stay motivated and optimistic amid the Coronavirus pandemic.
This too, shall pass. Love is patient and the waiting will be worthwhile for sure.
