14 ways to celebrate your original date if you had to postpone your wedding

It's traditional to wait to read your vows to your partner on your wedding day, but you can choose to read them to one another early.

Sharing your promises to one another will make you feel connected, and even if you aren't legally married, you'll feel like you started your life together on the day you had planned.

Think of it as your own private wedding.

• Read more:
• Here's how to know if you need to cancel your upcoming wedding — and what you should do instead
• Bridal salons are offering virtual appointments that allow brides to try on wedding dresses at home
• A bride tried on 6 dresses before finding the one, but then she had to postpone her wedding
• A couple put a modern spin on a traditional Indian wedding with a celebration that included 6 stunning outfits and a 3-day dance party

Looking back through your time as a couple with photos will make you remember why you love each other, and you'll have tangible proof of that love when you're done.

Whether you want to recreate your planned wedding day meal, order expensive takeout, or make a meal you love together, you should eat whatever you want on your original wedding date.

Think of it as postponement comfort food.

Postponing a wedding is stressful, and odds are you had planned to spend a little time at a spa on your honeymoon.

But even though you can't get a professional massage at the moment, you can turn your home into a spa. Light candles, break out the essential oils, and take turns massaging each other.

You'll both feel more relaxed, and giving each other massages is a good way to create intimacy.

Taking photos is a big part of your wedding day, so posing for a few shots on the date you had originally planned can help it feel special.

You can take some selfies or self-timer shots at home, or you might even be able to arrange for a short, distanced photo shoot in your front yard with your photographer.

Drive-by celebrations are becoming popular for birthdays and graduations when people can't physically celebrate together, and they work well for weddings, too.

Stand on your front porch or yard in your wedding best, and your guests can drive by and honk and cheer from a safe distance.

As much as a wedding is about getting married, it's also about celebrating that marriage with the people you love most, so you'll probably be feeling their absence on your original date.

Inviting your friends and family to a Zoom call for a cocktail hour, virtual dinner, or even a miniature ceremony can make a huge difference on your wedding day.

It's not the gesture of love you had planned, but a letter is still a meaningful way to express how you feel about your partner.

Spend some time writing a heartfelt note to your significant other, and then exchange notes later in the day.

It will almost feel like exchanging vows.

Whether you already had a signature drink planned or not, it can be fun to try to make your own wedding day beverage.

Mix up the ingredients you have at home and make a delicious, celebratory cocktail.

You can even make it a competition. The person who makes the best wedding day drink gets to pick an extra honeymoon activity.

There's no rule against popping champagne at home.

Buy a bottle of bubbly (or two), and toast to spending the rest of your lives together.

Your original wedding date is going to be hard in some ways, so you should do whatever you can to make yourself feel better — including wearing an outfit that makes you feel good.

If you want to wear your wedding day ensemble, do it. You could also order another outfit for the day, or pair your veil with your pajamas. Just do what feels right for you.

You probably already have your first dance song picked out, so there's nothing stopping you from putting it on at home.

Move the furniture out of the way so you can really enjoy the song together, and get lost in the lyrics.

You might end up wanting to turn the whole night into a dance party.

You don't have a wedding solely because of the gifts people will give you, but they are a nice bonus.

Take some time on what should have been your wedding day to revisit your registry, and make a deal that you both get to add something you really want.

It's like getting yourself a present.

You might not be able to eat the wedding cake you picked out, but that shouldn't stop you from enjoying something sweet.

Pick out a recipe that looks delicious, and spend the day baking a masterpiece together. You'll have a sweet treat as a reward when you finish, and it's a fun way to be together.

You can even put your cake topper on it to make it feel official.