Planning A Micro Wedding during COVID
PLANNING A COVID WEDDING
As Event Planners we know just as much as everyone else how much COVID has impacted events and gatherings. As a result, we are encouraging our couples who want to move forward with weddings to plan a Micro Wedding during COVID. Micro weddings may mean different things in terms of the guest size (depending on the state you’re in and their regulations), however, since most of the weddings we plan are in California we’ll be sharing more about Micro Weddings during COVID in California and how we suggest you plan a safe, beautiful and fun Micro Wedding during COVID.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the current limitations restrict group gatherings to less than 50 persons, while federal guidelines propose no more than 10. It is currently recommended to follow the state guidelines for wherever your event is located. With that in mind, below are some tips we have found useful for planning a COVID Wedding.
Requesting all guests to wear masks
We highly recommend all guests at your wedding wear masks (except while they’re eating or drinking) since statistics show that those who wear masks reduce the spread of COVID by 65% (Source UC Davis). This will also add another comfort level for your guests at your event with them feeling safer and not worried they may potentially contract COVID from another guest or staff member.
Thoughtfully planning the arrival of guests
Another important element in planning a micro wedding is the arrival of guests to the wedding venue. We recommend you ensure that not all guests arrive at the same spot avoiding a backlog of guests checking in and parking and possibly getting closer than the safe socially distance of 6” or more.
We suggest providing a few entrances to a venue (with each guests noted a specific entrance or time to arrive) or have the valet greeting guests as they arrive at 2-3 different arrival stations. That way each family unit/party that comes in one car arrives at a valet station at least 6” from another party.
Provide Hand Sanitizer and Hand Wipes to Guests
Throughout the venue space (which is hopefully outside) offer various stations offering hand sanitizer and hand wipes to guests. This is not only the advisable and healthy thing to do (per CDC Guidelines) but this also will help relax guests and make them feel safe and at ease during this exciting moment for their friend or family member getting married.
Socially Distanced Seating ARRANGEMENTS
Adjust seating arrangements for the ceremony to be socially distanced with at least 6 feet between guests. Any parties coming together can be seated together (not needing to be 6 feet apart) but keep different families or guest parties at least 6+ feet apart.
Instead of a reception where the chairs are tightly set up together, separate the groups of guests by family giving each group 6 feet of distance between others ensuring socially distanced spacing. In a large wedding space this also helps fill the floor plan since a smaller wedding means less guests yet you still may have the same beautiful large wedding venue you had originally planned to use for your fuller (100+ wedding).
In this picture these 2 tables are seated closer together for a larger family unit. Other guests who aren’t in this family unit would be seated 6 feet apart.
For receptions seating we encourage you to spread out the cocktail tables and dinner tables by at least 6 feet keeping family units separate from parties outside of their family unit.
Depending on the comfort level and bridal party has you may still be able to have one head table for the wedding party but that would be determined by the bride and groom after they’ve communicated with their bridesmaids and groomsmen to get a comfort level on the seating.
Socially Distanced Food & Beverages
With COVID Wedding Planners want to be extra sensitive to serving guests food and beverages during a wedding. Instead of an open bar as you’d typically find at a wedding we encourage the caterers to do a mobile bar cart where the bartender takes the cart to the guest rather than guests approaching a bar and a build-up of guests getting too close to each other can happen.
Host a Larger Wedding Celebration Post Covid
One of the benefits of a micro wedding is with the smaller guest count you will not spend nearly as much as you budgeted for your originally planned wedding. We suggest that you take advantage and save the remaining wedding funds to plan a larger wedding celebration POST COVID with all of your friends and family. Since no one is quite sure when larger groups will be able to gather hosting a larger celebration down the road will give you the peace of mind that you can get married now (even if a smaller celebration), then down the road still have the larger wedding of your dreams!
Featured
Jun 16, 2020
Carolyn & Cynthia’s Wedding at The Vineyard Estate, our Exclusive Napa Event Venue
Jun 16, 2020
Jun 16, 2020