NORTH LIMA — When news of the novel coronavirus began to spread earlier this year, Dana DePillo and John May never imagined they would have to amend wedding plans two years in the making — not once, not twice, but three times.

“I thought it would be over by now,” May said.

Originally intending to have a wedding and reception with friends and family on May 29, the couple pushed the celebration portion to later this year.

They are hoping they might have more luck with their new date — Friday the 13th.

“I rescheduled my shower three times. That will be in September, so hopefully that will work,” DePillo said.

Still, they will become The Mays in May, as they planned, with a private ceremony with their parents.

Guests will be asked to join them in the fall for a vow renewal and reception.

DePillo, who is a graphic designer, has been designing save-the-dates cards and invitations for new wedding dates for others. She said she realized she should probably do the same.

“I think we made the right decision,” she said, with May adding, “Especially with 300 people.”

DePillo and May have known each other for 19 years, but have been a couple for the last five. In December 2017, they got engaged and began their planning the following spring.

May said the original wedding date already was booked at their venue, so they decided to do a Friday wedding, the day before their original date choice.

DePillo said they were making plans to push the date back to this fall, and they wanted to keep a Friday ceremony, but all that was left was Friday the 13th in November.

It’s been smooth working with the venues and vendors, she said. Luckily, everyone was available for the November date.

Still, the couple has decided that if another surge of the virus hits the globe in the fall, as some models have predicted, they won’t go through the process to coordinate plans again.

“If this gets canceled again in November, we’re not having another one,” May said.

DePillo laughed and added, “This is true.”

They even had to reschedule their honeymoon to Mexico, they said.

Each time they’ve made a decision to push back a date, it’s been disappointing, DePillo said. “You’re looking forward to (the experiences).”

“At this point, we just want it done,” May added.

DePillo said, “We didn’t want to wait this summer.”

The bride-to-be said that regardless of what happens over the next several months, it won’t change the fact they’ll have had their private ceremony with their parents to witness.

“I told him if we’re not allowed to have large gatherings, technically we’d be married anyway. We’d leave it at that. Hopefully by November, this will be a lot better,” DePillo said.

afox@tribtoday.com