New Wedding Restrictions/ Guidelines

I totally feel you! I am 9/5/20 and we need to make our decision this week. I agonize over this daily. We had been planning a small wedding from the start (35-45 guests) which my venue said will most likely be “near normal” given our low guest count. However, the one thing she could not guarantee was the mask thing...and masks are a deal breaker for us. Part of me wants to keep our date because I want it over with already, but another part wants me to postpone to our backup date of 9/18/21 and hopefully have the wedding we envisioned.

Is there anywhere that I can read the regulations for green phase in PA? All I’ve seen is no large gatherings over 250. I haven’t seen anything regarding dance floors or cocktails. Thanks in advance !

One question I'd have is how long will those restrictions be in place? I can see them being enforced this month and next but once we get into the fall, how strict will those restrictions be? And if they are still in place, I cannot imagine many weddings would take place this year (what bride wants masked guests/wedding party and no dancing at a wedding you have paid several thousand of dollars for??)


I would recommend talking to your venue to ask if all restrictions will be enforced. To me, they just seem over the top - what is the point of having a wedding without dancing and with masked guests who can't hear what the other person is saying?

We're in the same boat - October 24 Pittsburgh wedding, ~150 guests, almost all (including us!) are out of town and have to travel, including a lot of international guests. I reached out to our reception coordinator about the potential to postpone. She said that they are postponing as needed 60-90 days out from the reception going in order of the booked dates. So for us, that's the end of July where we have to make a decision. Definitely reach out to your vendors and see what their plans are.

Hello my fellow PA brides and fellow Pittsburgh brides!! We also postponed from June 27th to August. Live in Pittsburgh but having our wedding on Lake Erie and haven’t heard any recent news from our venue. I share all concerns listed above. I’m really stumped on what to do. We are going to give our venue a week or so and contact them in hopes they have creative ideas o make this wedding safe and beautiful. Will post if/when I hear anything.

View Quoted Comment I heard from my venue yesterday and I feel a lot better. They only made a few changes- spacing the seats a little more than usual, pre- plating appetizers. There would be a bigger dance floor, use of masks is upto the guests when seated etc. August and September are still 2/3 months away, lets hope things would be much better by them.

View Quoted Comment I think for your guest count you would be very fine. Most brides I spoke to said their venues only require masks when moving around and on staff. I think things would be much better in September . These regulations change almost every week.

View Quoted Comment I heard from some brides in Pittsburgh and think it is specific to their venues. They made those rules to follow the social distancing guidelines at their venues. I just found out my venue isn’t sticking to those rules accept for their staff.

View Quoted Comment Ohhh ok. I’m glad you were able to figure out what your venue is doing. Must be a relief! I’m in Philly but getting married in Montgomery County next year so fingers crossed things will work out for everyone !

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I have also not seen these regulations, and the only one is large gatherings over 250. I have seen those regulations for other states, but not PA. My wedding is August 29, at least 120 people, and I am still going strong with planning even in southeast PA!

Our date is now 10.10.20
I really do not want any masks. A wedding is supposed to be love, hugs, and kisses. This covid is making me crazy. i hope by October we are back to normal.

View Quoted Comment Omg thanks this makes me feel so much better! We're 9/25 in Southeastern PA and not being able to dance was going to be a deal breaker for us.

Sept 6th bride here in buck county pa. No dancing is a deal breaker for us, masks are a close second. We've had a decent number of guests RSVP and book their hotel rooms already -- about 1/3 of our 130 guest list. unfortunately however my MOH called me today to drop out of the wedding over health fears --- now I am not sure if moving forward is a good idea.