Your wedding and Coronavirus : A resourceful guide (UPDATED: Sep 19th, 2021)

For you and other couples looking for guidance about your Minnesota wedding during the coronavirus crisis (or anywhere really!), I made this with the information I have learned and with the confidence that we can all get past this and go back to dancing and celebrating with our loved ones!

Are weddings allowed in Minnesota?

Here is some  guidance on how your event is affected by the current restrictions in Minnesota.

(Original texts and previous updates removed)

Official Minnesota Updates on 5/13/2021

•  People in Minnesota are no longer required to wear a mask in all settings. Please check rules in individual cities and private businesses. As of the writing of this article Minneapolis still has a mask mandate in place. All people who have not been vaccinated are strongly encouraged to wear a face covering
• The Department of Health is reviewing and will provide updates in the coming days.

MINNESOTA REOPEN WEDDINGS TIMELINE 

• Effective May 7, all outdoor businesses are no longer subject to occupancy limits or distancing requirements. Outdoors, face coverings for patrons are required only in venues with more than 500 people in attendance. The mandatory closing time has been eliminated. Tables can be 10 people starting at 12 pm. Distancing and capacity still apply.
• Starting May 28, businesses will no longer be subject to occupancy limits, distancing or other sector-specific requirements such as only serving food when seated, including indoor events and gatherings and need follow only the  Universal Guidance and face covering requirements.

• July 1st or before: Mask Mandate ends, takes place once 70% age 16 years of older get at least one dose of vaccine. Remaining face covering mandates and requirements for preparedness plans ends. Local jurisdictions , cities or business may set their own policies.
• For other states, please check on current orders and capacity restrictions of your state, as well as  CDC recommendations for canceling events of any size with COVID-19 cases in your community.

• Source: Safe Events
• Sour  Executive Order 21-23

Health and Safety Protocols for your wedding

If you are considering keeping the wedding as planned , I suggest creating a safety and health “protocol” for your event as well as a backup plan.

• Safety Worldwide Follow CDC guidelines for public gatherings and local government orders for social distancing and events
• Minnesota guidance on how to stay safe on social gathering.
• Stay home Tell your guests to stay home if they have any symptoms or have been in contact with someone that has symptoms
• Hand Sanitation If you can’t provide additional hand washing stations , alcohol-based hand sanitizers can work in a pinch. Setting a hand sanitizer station for indoor and outdoor events is recommended
• Face Masks  Provide guests them with cloth/ disposable masks so they can use them
• Supplies Make sure you or your venue can provide plenty of soap, water, hand sanitizer containing at least 60 percent alcohol, paper towels, tissues, and no-touch trash cans.
• Signage An information and cute sign including reminders for Handwashing, covering sneezes and keeping your mask on will help everyone remember to stay safe

COVID-19 and weddings postponements

The coronavirus disrupted many weddings, showers, parties, engagements, everything! With many guests traveling, couples have been trying to decide if they should postpone or cancel.

Most of us, venues and vendors, are being flexible to reschedule ! Try to think of rescheduling rather than a complete cancellation to avoid losing out on deposits .

Many couples have decided to have a smaller ceremony, leaving the big reception for a later date. Others are rescheduling to the following year, or simplifying their wedding to have it be safe for everyone (including streaming video of the event!)

 

Health and Safety Protocols when keeping your wedding

If you are considering keeping the wedding as planned , I suggest creating a safety and health “protocol” for your event as well as a backup plan.

• Safety Worldwide Follow CDC guidelines for public gatherings and local government orders for social distancing and events
• Minnesota guidance on how to stay safe on social gathering.
• Social Distancing Social Distance is still recommended
• Stay home Tell your guests to stay home if they have any symptoms or have been in contact with someone that has symptoms
• Hand Washing Hand washing and sanitizing is THE most effective way to protect yourself, aside from physical distancing and mask usage.
• Hand Sanitation If you can’t provide additional hand washing stations , alcohol-based hand sanitizers can work in a pinch. Setting a hand sanitizer station for indoor and outdoor events is recommended
• Cloth Face Masks Mask are currently mandatory . Provide guests them with cloth/ disposable masks or even better get your DIY on!
• Respiratory Etiquette Encourage attendees to cover coughs and sneezes
• Supplies Make sure you or your venue can provide plenty of soap, water, hand sanitizer containing at least 60 percent alcohol, paper towels, tissues, and no-touch trash cans.
• Signage An information and cute sign including reminders for Handwashing, covering sneezes and keeping your mask on will help everyone remember to stay safe
• Layout  You can only have 6 guests maximum at standard 72″ round tables if they are living in the same household. If they are not living in the same household, that number is 4 maximum.
• Catering Check with your caterer about buffet serving . No type of self-service is permitted, this includes food, coffee stations, passed hors d’oeuvres, and wedding cake/desserts set on serving tables.
• Bands are allowed but must maintain social distancing.

COVID-19 considerations to have in mind :

• What area are you in?
• Is your Wedding venue open/ closed at the moment?
• Is your wedding going to be Indoors or Outdoors?
• Wedding vendors postponing policies and available dates.
• How many guests are you expecting?
• Are there key wedding party members who need to travel?
• How many of your guests are going to have to travel to attend your wedding?
• Are there any high risk loved ones on your guest list who should consider staying at home?

With all the information “on the table”, you can look at all the options you have and you can decide whether to move forward or not.  If any of these are worrying you both, my recommendation is to make a backup plan IN CASE you have to postpone your wedding.

Backup Plans

When thinking about your wedding and the coronavirus,  is very important to have a plan in place. If your wedding is after June you might still be able to have your wedding – even then, create a backup plan!  Here are a few ideas in no particular order:

• Change your wedding to be just a smaller ceremony & reception
• Modify your wedding to be a smaller outdoor ceremony & reception
• Move your wedding to be a smaller backyard ceremony & reception
• Have just an intimate wedding ceremony and do the reception later
• Ask guests to let you know if they will be able to attend and adjust the numbers.
• Downsize your wedding guest list
• Downsize to just immediate family members and bridal party with you
• Create a guest list of 10, another of 25 and another of 50
• Create a soft backup date with your venue and most important vendors
• Call and email your vendors and ask about their rescheduling policy and availability for backup dates
• Get married at the courthouse and postpone everything
• Postpone everything until 2021

Even for small weddings or if you postpone your date consider the importance of photographing these moments. Many venues and photographers like me offer  Small Wedding Photography Packages .

Here are ways to keep your wedding date and make sure to involve everyone in someway

• Video Broadcast your wedding online for guests who can’t make it.
• Drive in Have your guests do a drive in parade to congratulate you!

Rescheduling / Postponing Your Wedding date during the Coronavirus

As vendors, and friends, we understand the heartbreak it is to consider rescheduling in any scenario!   I recommend you consult with your venue (or venues) as they will assessed how these restrictions affect them particularly already, as well as having a plan!

First of all, I know this isn’t easy! I know how much effort and money goes into planning a wedding! In an effort to be helpful I put together these steps from what I have learned – A few of my couples were impacted in the early days of the pandemic and neither of us knew what to do .

• “Make the call” Together with your partner make the decision on whether to postpone
• Check on your loved ones – How is everyone in your close family feeling about it, are they able to attend later, are they healthy?
• Breathe: These times are new and complicated for everybody so brace yourselves, together, for the challenges and feelings that comes with the decision Allow yourself to feel all the feels.
• Contact your venue-  Find out your wedding venue’s contract policies and availability for possibly rescheduling.
• Reach out to other important vendors: Once you’ve confirmed availability for a date, you’ll want to call the photographer and other important vendors like officiant, music, caterer, florist, etc.  Think first of the vendors who can only do one wedding per day .
• Pick a date ! This sounds easier said than done – Be flexible around dates of the week!  If you can find one date that overlaps with  most of your vendor team, you should try to lock it down ASAP.

Letting your guests know of the changes

If you choose to have a smaller ceremony and need to have fewer guests, you will want to let your guests your event is not happening as planned and you are having to do a small ceremony instead. People will understand as everyone is informed about the COVID-19 crisis.

You can make your small wedding ceremony special by recording a video to play at your reception later or even streaming it to your guests! Read all about streaming your wedding here.

• Email is okay! Here is an email template.
• Facebook message: A Facebook post is also OK! You can include a photo of your original invitation or a photo of you two.
• Couples have been sending ” change the dates ”  cards , bride and designer  Mara Albert made these available to share and makes custom ones.

Will I lose my retainer if I postpone my wedding?

Is no secret that weddings involve a lot of money and that rescheduling will probably mean you will have some financial burdens to think about, for this reason, I expanded my rescheduling policy to make it more flexible for all of my couples. If couples choose to postpone their wedding because of COVID-19, I have requested them to share with me the alternate dates provided to them by their venue so that we can find a date that is mutually convenient for as many vendors as possible to avoid any rescheduling fees.

Can I ask my guests to be vaccinated?

Yes, you can! Being a private event you can request your guests to be vaccinated, and to wear a mask if they are not .

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If you are planning your 2022 wedding or just starting to plan

Now is a good time to have a planner to help. 2022 wedding dates are being booked  like crazy and consultations are being held online. Virtual expos are happening too !

 Try to stay positive and follow good news. It’s an exciting thing to get married to your best friend! Think of the music you will want to play and dream on what your ceremony vows will be!

More useful links for Weddings impacted by the CoronaVirus – COVID-19

Minnesota Facebook Support Group for Covid Couples

How to Postpone Your Wedding Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic by TheKnot.com

A Guide to Postponing Your Wedding by Ruffled Blog

The Coronavirus and your wedding by The Budget Savvy Bride

Should You consider postponing your wedding due to COVID-19 by Style Me Pretty

What you need to know about coronavirus and your wedding by Martha Steward weddings

Top questions about coronavirus right now by Brides.com

Postponing your wedding: A step by step guide by Budget Savvy Bride

Coronavirus wedding planning: Advice on postponing and canceling via Equally Wed

The 12 Best Change the Date Cards to Send If Your Wedding is Postponed on Brides.com

If you are planning your 2022 wedding or just starting to plan

Now is a good time to have a planner to help. 2022 wedding dates are being booked  like crazy and consultations are crazy too 🙂

 Try to stay positive and follow good news. It’s an exciting thing to get married to your best friend! Think of the music you will want to play and dream on what your ceremony vows will be!

Personal update

If you are one of my current couples, and have questions we haven’t talked about yet, reach out anytime and I will help you navigate your current situation and share in detail my action plan.  I am fully vaccinating and taking precautions as well, just excited about the events and sessions I have on my calendar.

I cannot wait to see you and your loved ones soon ! 

Feel free to email me or reach out if there is anything else I can do to help!

Resources to have:

– CDC recommendations for events

– The State of Minnnesota COVID-19 Website

– Resources by Minnesota Events Coallition 

– MN announcements and orders

– The White House nationwide federal guidelines

– The Minnesota Department of Health’s website.

– The City of Minneapolis Coronavirus Website

– The World Health Organization’s Coronavirus Website

More useful links for Weddings impacted by the CoronaVirus – COVID-19

Minnesota Facebook Support Group for Covid Couples

Covid 19 and Wedding Postponements

Laura Alpizar Photography recommends all to adhere to CDC regulations and guidelines put in place by local and national governments!