Couples around the world have been forced to postpone their weddings thanks to the COVID-19 crisis. As they reschedule, they find their events shifting to different dates and seasons. With many spring and summer nuptials now slated for fall and winter, how can couples make these changes work for their themes and décor? Several experts offer great tips for adapting your wedding colors and theme to a new season.

No, You Don’t Have To Change Your Colors

Many nearlyweds choose their wedding colors based on the seasons. But if your original date was in April and now you’re tying the knot in December, do you need to ditch your eggshell blue, dusty rose, and ivory palette? Not necessarily. Wedding Wire’s Samantha Iacia offers tips for adapting your existing colors to the new season. One way to accomplish this feat is adding seasonally inspired accent colors — for instance, pairing dark grey with pastel pink and blue. Metallic tones can also adapt your original colors to the season: Try warmer shades for summer and fall and cooler colors for winter and spring. Finally, patterns and prints can help you use your original palette. Spring colors can enjoy new life when matched up with snowflakes, stars, or sparkling details for a winter nuptial celebration.

Other Details That Make Your Wedding Shine

Iacia also points out that seasonally appropriate flowers can also make your existing palette work. The Knot provides an extensive guide to wedding blooms complete with available colors, price ranges, and seasons. Zola suggests ordering your arrangements about six to eight months before the big day, so your florist may have already purchased flowers prior to you postponing the wedding. If that’s the case, check your contract’s cancellation and refund policy. You may have to foot additional costs for ordering flowers for your new wedding date.

Finally, you can use different textures to evoke the season. Lighter-weight materials such as silk, chiffon, or cotton are ideal for warmer weather. A silver and blue pairing, for instance, can make the transition from winter to spring with sheer voile, cotton gauze, or organza. Heavier fabrics work their best magic during fall and winter, so try materials like velvet, wool, or satin. If you’re needing inspiration, Heather Lee offers a few recommendations in a February 2020 Brides article.

Restyling Your Themed Wedding

Seasonal weddings aren’t so much themed as they are accentuated with relevant details. Fortunately, many other themes can work well regardless of when you tie the knot. Zola lists modern, glamorous, rustic, storybook, and other theme categories. Planning a Roaring Twenties celebration for April? No problem. You can use your existing colors and switch up some details and turn it into a December vintage-inspired wedding.

As you modify your original event, it’s important to keep a few things in mind. Brides senior editor Anna Price Olson spells out the potential costs of rescheduling. Again, your contracts should have specific language for cancellations, postponements, and refunds. Even with non-perishable items, your prices may change according to the season. There are also other factors to consider, such as staff wages that have already been paid by vendors to prep for your nuptials.

Flexibility and Patience Are Key

Postponing your wedding may take you through a rollercoaster ride of emotions: panic, disappointment, sorrow, and even anger. Millions of engaged people all over the globe are having the same kind of experience. Fortunately, all is not lost when it comes to keeping some of your original wedding aesthetic. Color palettes and themes can be used during many different seasons, so there’s no need to start completely from scratch. By collaborating with your vendors, adapting your wedding theme to a new date will still let you celebrate in a way that fits your vision.