covid testing at the wedding

No way, and those are not accurate. Someone can still have it and it doesn't show up yet on a test. Ppl who are that uncomfortable just shouldn't attend the wedding

Personally, I wouldn't attend a wedding that I was tested at the door to enter! Partially because rapid tests aren't always accurate to begin with. You could definitely ask people to not come if they're having any symptoms.

Anyone not comfortable being there should just not be there!

It’s not going to be reliable and VERY expensive, unless people have insurance cover it and I can’t imagine that being workable at a social event.

View Quoted Comment

I agree. I was just reading an article that said if you do want to offer the testing for your guests, it will be between $75 and $100 PER GUEST! That's the same amount most people are paying for the guest to be there. It's like paying for another wedding. If I would need to have testing done for my event (venue or state requirement), I would ask that the guests get it done on their own (it's free with almost any insurance) or I would reduce my guest list to the number that won't require it. And honestly, unless the bride and groom are immediate family, as a guest I wouldn't want to go through the hassle.

View Quoted Comment My FH was billed $175 for a test, we were tested the same day (we had to travel out of state for a funeral). My insurance covered it, his didn’t. I’d bate the idea my guests would be stuck with a bill!

View Quoted Comment

Yikes!!!! If that's the norm, I would just cut the list. I definitely wouldn't want my guests to have to pay for that, and it's most certainly not in our budget. Hopefully it doesn't become a requirement in CT! I'm holding my breath over here!

As others have said, because of the very low accuracy rate, it wouldn’t make me any more comfortable. If you do have testing, you should still have standard covid protocols in place, so there isn’t really a point. It’s not like you can safely walk around maskless with proof of a negative rapid test.

I don't ever plan on having guests get tested or have temperature checks as they sometimes aren't accurate. Now in my state the rule in order to have a wedding is that every single person attending a wedding has to get tested. So I'm guessing venues will do what they can to make sure your wedding guests are tested. That's another reason we are now having a backyard wedding. I'm not going to force my guests to get tested unless they say weddings can resume as normal with negative test results.

I wouldn't dream of asking my guests to test, honestly.

View Quoted Comment I 100% agree with you

You are paying for the wedding and are within your right to set up protocols for safety, if anyone feels uncomfortable getting tested before hand they can also stay home, just as others mention if they feel uncomfortable coming during covid they can stay home. This is an unprecedented time and safety is top priority. It’s all how you go about it.

Sadly, there are no great answers to this. We would decline to attend if this were required. And as others have mentioned, the accuracy is not 100% and then it’s another cost for you and the fiancé. I think, outdoors, masks, and low guest count is the safest bet for a wedding these days.

View Quoted Comment I also agree with you on this.
The thing is that there is no best answer, it's all about what you feel is best for you and your guests.

This is a touchy subject and even though it is 100% you and your fiance's choice, here is my opinion on it. If you do a rapid test for each guest, they (your guests) would expect you and your fiance to cover the cost of it - it would be (in my opinion) very rude to expect them to cover the cost of the test you are requiring to enter your wedding on the day of the wedding without giving them notice. I completely understand wanting to make sure everyone is safe, but I would suggest requiring or strongly suggesting guests get tested before the day of the wedding - maybe include it on an insert with your invitations. This way they can get the 3 day test done for a more accurate result. With this idea of testing the day of the wedding, have you thought of what you're going to do for your vendors? Are you going to require them to be tested the day of? What about the staff working the wedding, your DOC or wedding planner? I'm not asking to be rude/mean, I'm generally curious. From my experience with the couple of wedding's I've gone to during COVID, those who are worried about contracting the virus typically either don't attend, attend for the ceremony only or wear a mask during the entire event. Please let me know what you decide! I am generally curious b/c I haven't heard/seen anyone trying to do this

This is a tough one. Personally as someone whose parents had bad COVID in NY in March (and were hospitalized) and whose husband has a job that requires frequent testing, I have no issue in prioritizing safety for all and asking people to be tested. I am honestly surprised at how many people are so offended by this. It's fast and it's free (here in NY anyway.)

The bigger issue is that it's hardly foolproof. People say the rapid tests are not accurate. I am in production and these are used on sets all the time. They are not the gold standard like the PCR test but as I understand it, they are supposedly pretty accurate where people are carrying high levels of virus and at their most contagious.

The PCR test might be more accurate, but it's very possible that the virus was not yet present enough to detect when you had it taken, and can show up a few days after the test. So at least with the rapid test, your result is your situation at that moment if that makes sense?
None of it is foolproof.

It would be best if more people could get the vaccination. But masks are going to be with us for some time regardless I think.
Good luck whatever you decide.

xo

View Quoted Comment Where is this free testing? I have fantastic insurance and mine still has a $20 testing copay

I think the only acceptable way to do this is to buy and send home tests to each guest, ask them to take it, and trust that they did. No asking them to go to the clinic, no reporting to you, no costs to them. If that's something you want to do to lower the overall risk of the event (which it would, even without 100% accuracy), go for it!

View Quoted Comment I'm in a major metro area and its neither fast nor free. It takes hours anywhere you go of either sitting in the car or waiting outside in line, and at least my (very good) insurance still has a standard testing copay


I'm an essential infrastructure employee, and I can pretty much only get one free and quickly when I've been exposed directly at work

View Quoted Comment

I'm in CT and my insurance has waived any fees for testing through April. I've only had to go once so far. It was a pain to get an appointment but it was totally free.

I think there are a lot of problems with requesting testing. There just is no way of fully knowing if someone has covid truly from rapid test and you woudl need to be willing to put up the cash for that. What about your vendors? are you requiring them to do so as well? Who says they get tested a few days before the wedding but then contract Covid the next day?

I am also getting married the same day and i told everyone my family and FH have all been vaccinated but the bridal party will not be wearing mask so if they wish, they were welcome to wear a mask for any duration they wish.