The Malaysian Insight

IN another time, May and June would have been wedding months. 

But the nationwide lockdown to stem rising Covid-19 infections has put aside such celebrations, leaving wedding and event planners in a lurch after more than a year of poor business due to the pandemic.

Those in the industry said they have had to issue refunds to many customers who had planned their weddings for these two months. Social gatherings are currently prohibited under the nationwide movement-control order, or MCO 3.0.

Association of Wedding Ceremony Operators Malaysia president Zarinah Mohideen said since last year, at least 30% of wedding planning companies have closed shop.

“These 30% were relatively new players in the industry, less than five years’ old. 

“The remaining 70% of operators who have been in the business longer are hanging on.”

Planners were able to earn some income from January to March with weddings and social events in areas that were under the conditional MCO and recovery MCO.

“The income during the periods allowed wedding planners to pay employees’ salaries and cover costs for a while,” said the managing director of Zarlith Events & Management, who has worked in wedding and event planning for 23 years.

Event planners had been looking forward to May and June, which are peak months for business. The MCO, first imposed from May 6 in parts of Selangor and in Kuala Lumpur, was expanded nationwide from May 12 to June 7. 

All official and private events, as well as social events, are banned. These included banquets, Hari Raya celebrations, engagement ceremonies, weddings, birthday ceremonies, anniversaries and parties. 

During the earlier lockdowns, Zarinah said that her company received refund requests totalling RM400,000, but managed to persuade some clients and reduced the amount to RM100,000.

“We tried to persuade customers to lower the amount of refunds requested.

“We cannot force anyone and we don’t want things to end up in court, so for some, we just gave them the refund.”

Each company handles refunds differently, at different percentages, while some flatly refuse to entertain any such requests.

Zarinah said there are cases filed with the arbitration centre by customers unhappy with their refunds.

On to side jobs

Zarinah said she, too, is currently running side projects as her core business is on a decline.

Many industry players are relying on side jobs to sustain themselves in the meantime, until movement curbs are lifted.

“Some have gone into retail, such as starting a bakery, while some have returned to their hometowns and gone into agricultural ventures.”

It is not just the wedding and event planners who are affected, but others in supporting sectors as well, such as caterers, stylists and photographers.

Stylist Eleena Lamat is currently supporting herself by providing haircutting services.

“I can go to people’s homes to give haircuts and do hairstyling. 

“I know of others in the event planning sector who have gone into selling health products, food, and tailoring services.”

Her grim prediction is that the pandemic will not ease until next year.

Photographer Akmal Hakim Rusly said he has had a few gigs when weddings were allowed with a limited number of people, but they have been small and low-key.

“Even if someone holds a wedding, it is very simple and the ceremony is conducted very fast.

“So I have to charge cheaper prices, and not according to the price or package as in the past.”

The wedding photographer with 15 years of experience said he has had to defer bookings for location shoots due to inter-district and interstate travel bans.

Zarinah hopes the current MCO 3.0 will be effective in bringing down the number of Covid-19 cases.

“If there is no end, many other businesses related to wedding and event planning may go bankrupt, and thousands of employees will be affected.”

But as long as people want to get married, Zarinah is optimistic about the sector’s recovery. It will take time, though, and will depend on when the pandemic eases and movement curbs are lifted.

“I think we have to wait a few more months. But the epidemic will die out eventually.” – May 24, 2021.