As the coronavirus pandemic worsens across the globe, more and more brands are jumping in to do their part. Many bridal brands are now offering their skills to make a positive difference in any way they can.

Sewing surgical masks

Many bridal designers have joined the fight against coronavirus by repurposing their workshops to produce non-surgical face masks that they will donate to hospitals in need. High-fashion designers like Naeem Khan, Louis Vuitton, Burberry, Prada, Chanel and Christian Siriano are just a few of the big names who have joined the call. Smaller bridal companies are also participating.

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Bridal retailer Davids Bridal and popular craft store JOANN have paired up to produce non-surgical masks for hospital systems and senior living facilities across the USA. They plan to donate 50 000 masks every week.

“It’s such a privilege to support frontline medical personnel who are so selflessly fighting this pandemic. David’s Bridal is actively committed to protecting these heroic individuals and we are deeply grateful for the partnership with JOANN to make this happen,” said Jim Marcum, David’s Bridal CEO.

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Honouring healthcare workers

To celebrate and honour all the hard work healthcare workers do, Pronovias is offering engaged healthcare workers the world over the chance to wear a Pronovias gown, free of charge. Any hospital-employed bride-to-be, from doctor to nurse to janitor, is eligible. This forms part of their Heroes Collection, which is dedicated to all the healthcare workers.

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Lady Gaga’s favourite designer, Brandon Maxwell is working with milliner Gigi Burris, jewelry designer Eva Fehren, celebrity stylist Micaela Erlanger and shoe brand Margaux to donate complete wedding outfits to three brides whose weddings have been affected by the coronavirus.

As the coronavirus pandemic continues to turn wedding ceremonies across the world upside down, some couples are having fun with the circumstances and doing the best they can to lighten up the situation. This Falkrik based couple decided to celebrate their “not wedding day”.

Laura McKinlay and Ruaridh Macmillan were set to be wed on Saturday. Of course, their plans fell through as a result of a national lockdown. Instead of letting the uncontrollable circumstances get them down, the pair celebrated what should have been their wedding day by holding a mock wedding.

To keep things light, they called it their “not wedding day” and wore silly outfits for the ceremony. McKinlay sported a bed sheet for a veil while Macmillin strutted his stuff in his pyjamas. Like many other couples these days, they hosted on online ceremony for their loved ones to join in on their celebration.

“So…yesterday should have been mine and @rua2 wedding day. But #covid19 had other ideas. However, thanks to the immense skill, generosity, kindness and love from everyone in our lives, we had the most amazing NOT Wedding yesterday, hosted online”, wrote McKinlay in a post on Instagram.

“We wore formal casual – Pjs and bedsheets for a veil! We set up a make-shift altar in the living room with our Christmas tree lights round it, I carried an orchid in a jar from @marksandspencer as my flowers,” she added.

McKinlay said they spent the rest of the evening having a drink with their neighbours through the fence, and were spoiled with some Chinese takeway from their neighbours too!

“True it wasn’t the original day we had planned, but it will stick in our memories as one of the happiest days we’ve ever had. Stay safe people, this isn’t forever,” wrote McKinlay.

Of course, a day like this deserved a breakfast for champions! Macmillian posted a picture of their “not wedding day” breakfast to Instagram.

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Images: Facebook / Laura McKinlay – Violinist

It’s never too late for more love, and once you find it nothing will stop you from keeping it! This 91-year-old couple proved just that as they tied the knot in the middle of the coronavius pandemic.

Jeanine Sprague and Don Sandin made it official on Easter Sunday, (which also happened to be Sprague’s birthday) despite the worldwide health crisis. The St. Petersburg couple told the Tampa Bay Times that they wanted to ensure they were legally married in the event that one of them needs to be hospitalised.

“We just decided a couple of weeks ago. Because of the circumstances that are going on in society, we just felt that we should legalise our relationship, so we would be protected,” said Sandin to the Tampa Bay Times.

The couple had their first date on New Years Eve 2018. It was a five course meal, after which they viewed the fireworks over Tampa Bay from Spragues apartment. For their Easter Sunday wedding, Sprague wore the same outfit that she did on their first date.

Of course the wedding was kept small. They held their nuptials in their pastor’s St. Pete Beach backyard. The announcement of their wedding however, was much bigger. Along with a photograph of the couple which was sent out, was a recording of Sandin singing ‘I’m getting married in the morning’ from My Fair Lady.

“I had been singing it ever since we decided we would get married,” said Sandin.

Both previously widowed, the couple believe they have a good understanding of each other. They said they have the same beliefs and have lived in the same times. “It’s a very easy relationship. We have the same stories. We lived in the same time,” said Sprague.

Image: Twitter / garner pete

Amid the conoravirus pandemic, celebrations of any kind have been altered. As a result, people have had to get creative to show their love and appreciation for one another in a safe way. This family did just that when they threw a street parade to honour the 75th wedding anniversary of their matriatch and patriarch.

Laura, 93, and Billie Mays, 94, have been married for over seven decades. Since this is a pretty momentous occasion, it deserves a celebration. However, quarantine stay-at-home orders amid the coronavirus pandemic meant that they couldn’t physically be with their family during this time. So, their family brought the party to them.

As Laura and Billie sat on their lawn, 33 family members and close friends drove their cars slowly drove past and and waved homemade signs expressing their love. They also gathered in a wide circle around the couples to sing them an anniversary song.

“The thing we’re most proud of is our family. We love them all so much,” said Laura.

Of their secret to a long, happy marriage, Billie said, “Living a clean life. Christian life. And staying busy.”

Feature image: screenshot from video

These days, soon-to-be married couples are desperate to find a way around social distancing in order to still safely have their weddings. These nurses got creative by filling pews with pictures of their loved ones.

Louisiana couple, Clare Seghers and Mel Keefer, ensured that their wedding would go on and that they would feel the love from all the people they hold near and dear.

Of course, it would be tremendously irresponsible to have a church wedding with guests filling up the pews. As nurses who are both fighting on the frontlines of the pandemic, the couple knew this. Instead, they set up a live stream (as many other couples have done in recent times) and to make it even more special they asked their loved ones to send them photographs of themselves.

Before the ceremony started, the couple printed each photo and placed them on the pews in the church, where they would have sat.

Seghers made her way down the aisle, with only ceremonious music playing in the background, seeing the smiling faces of her loved ones in the pews. They said their vows, and carried out the ceremony as normal. However, they had no idea that a surprise was in store when the left the venue and entered the parking lot.

As they exited the church, all their guests sat safely in their cars and hooted in congratulations! A welcome surprise that they surely will never forget!

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Congrats to the happy couple!

Picture: Screenshot from video / Scottie Hunter WAFB