Bride Interrupted

The happiest days in the lives of these brides-to-be have been put on hold; here is how their plans have had to adapt, and why 2021 could be the year of weddings

- Ryanne Stephanie Co

Jessica Wilson

An international romance is nothing new for Jessica Wilson and fiancé, Moritz Gastl. The brand manager behind Sunnies Face first met Gastl in the Netherlands during the fall of 2011. After successfully working on their relationship longdistance (with Wilson in London and Gastl still in the Netherlands), the pair had settled down together in the Philippines for six years before Gastl proposed by the shores of Papua New Guinea last year. What followed was a frenzy of exciting wedding planning. The venue? Austria. The date? 2020.

While the current year has brought an unforeseen pause to many exciting events around the world, Wilson and Gastl remain relaxed about rescheduling. “I wouldn’t say [rescheduling] has been stressful or difficult. Aside from the fact that I have been loving the whole wedding planning process, this gives me more time to look at wedding inspirations and bridal gowns. We’re just enjoying this prolonged engagement,” Wilson says.

Their marriage, which was supposed to have taken place in September this year, has been postponed to September 2021, when the bride and groom can say their vows among family and friends in Salzburg, a historic town north of Austria. “We didn’t feel comfortable putting people in that situation [of attending a large gathering without social distancing] nor did we feel comfortable celebrating the way we wanted to with everything that’s going on,” the bride adds.