Brides in states that require masks

Photos* not ojitos lol

So we live in Virginia which requires masks in public places. Our venue is at a restaurant which we have completely rented out. Our venue said because it is closed to the public masks won’t be required inside. I am sure it is different in every state but that is what they told us!

View Quoted Comment That’s what I’m hearing as well from a couple brides. That it’s a private event and social distancing enforced.

Columbus, OH bride here too! I am really considering doing the family ceremony in August then doing the reception in 2021. It seems like things are starting to get bad again in OH and I have people who would be traveling from FL, SC, etc. I am guessing based on the mandate people would have to wear masks unless they are sitting at a table eating/drinking. Venues have to follow restaurant guidelines and that is what is required at restaurants now.

View Quoted Comment Did your venue require masks at ceremony too? I think that would do it for me. I don’t want to cover my face the whole day. Really sad about this but I understand why.

View Quoted Comment Our venue is in Westerville so the venue said there isn’t a mandate at the moment but they would not be surprised because other suburbs like Dublin just announced their mask mandate as well. I read the mask requirements for Cbus and it mentioned that religious facilities are exempt which I think all wedding ceremonies are classified as religious events...so hopefully they are not required.

I would definitely look to my venue for some direction on this. Reach out to them again if they respond soon. Ultimately you will want to know what your venue is going to require as many of them by law have to follow state and/or county guidelines.

Hello! Chicago bride here. Our venue doesn’t have any rules surrounding masks (though they are required in public spaces in Chicago) but we have decided we can’t ignore the evidence- masks reduce the spread of infection. It seems that infection most often spreads in indoor social situations when people are not wearing masks... So we got cute masks off of Etsy that people are excited about... we’re going to have people wear them for the ceremony and indoor mingling. Dinner and cocktails we won’t ask people to wear a mask. We’ll also have some “candid” picture time that will be maskless. We’re having 20 people at dinner and then we invited another 12 people to stop by and say hi for the reception.

View Quoted Comment That’s an idea, allowing some candid photo time. I was planning to provide masks for guests anyway but I didn’t want to be covering my face most of the time or during our special dances or walking down the aisle. I planned to be away from guests at a distance if I didn’t have a mask on.

My venue just said since Gahanna isn’t Columbus, they are not requiring us to wear it. That could change though. As i mentioned, I will provide masks but I don’t want to wear one, I would rather distance myself lol

We are providing masks & encouraging them. However with the ceremony being outdoors and being able to physically space/distant PP 6 feet apart, I’m not sure it would be a requirement. However our reception is indoors so I think it’s likely PP will have to wear them then. I’m going to discuss with our reception venue during our tasting & meeting next week.

Masks are required in our state except while eating and drinking, so guests will wear masks during the ceremony and anytime they are away from their dining table. Even though it is a private venue, and outdoors on 10 acres, we feel responsible for the the safety and well-being of our guests and will do what we can to be sure we don't become another news story.

We have a mask requirement in Maryland and the venue told us since it’s a private event, while technically guests should wear them they aren’t going to police it (and have also been given this guidance by local health dept officials). We do feel responsible for our guests safety so we are going to encourage people to wear them when not eating and drinking (most will have a drink in hand a large amount of time). For the ceremony, the archdiocese has said anyone in pews needs to wear them but the bridal party and bride/groom do not.


I have had some mixed feelings on it but read someone in here say “not having masks in my pictures will not make me forget i got married during a pandemic.”
I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if I didn’t practice caution and a family member got seriously ill bc of a few pictures.

View Quoted Comment Are you wearing a mask yourself?


I don’t want photos of mask filled wedding, there’s nothing wrong with that. If so, I’m going to postpone the reception until it would be considered safer. As I mentioned, I don’t want to wear a mask that day, even though I wear masks in public, it’s just my wedding day. I would rather distance myself from others.

View Quoted Comment In a way, a small part of me thinks that photographs should document what we have gone through, this crazy time. It just sucks I’m stuck in contract of an expensive makeup artist if my face is covered the whole day lol

View Quoted Comment Maybe a compromise? I'm planning to do staged pix without masks, but probably spaced from each other/ outdoors. That way you hopefully get a ton of beautiful pictures without them. For me, ceremony will have everyone in masks as it's indoors, but plan on taking off masks for vows and officiant. (Mainly trying to set a good example for the guests.)


I'm doing masks except for eating/ drinking rest of the night. I can't police them, but I've extended to people that we're viewing it as a sign of respect for the guests and each other. I've told people if they come up to me without a mask, please don't be offended as I walk away from them - and that others should feel comfortable enforcing their safety as well. Just move away from those without masks, and if they want to join the "real party" they can mask up.Hope you're able to find a solution that works for you!

View Quoted Comment That sounds like a good plan! I’ll have to let fiancé know, I know he’s been pretty disappointed with everything as well but understands safety is priority.

View Quoted Comment No, we are not wearing masks. But we plan to self-isolate for 2 weeks before the wedding. Partially bc we haven’t come this far to get Covid ourselves

View Quoted Comment I’ve thought about that! I think I’ll bring this up to my fiancé as well....lol

I'm currently in Cincinnati, OH and there is no mask requirement here (yet).