Temperature checks at reception?

I would have a doc or someone hired do the temp checks, say it's a venue requirement, and absolutely send anyone away that has a temperature. People running a temperature shouldn't be showing up anyone--am I the only one who screens myself with a home thermometer before I go out?


I do think it's out of line to ask someone to take a test. Better to uninvite

I don't think you should do the temperature checks or make your friend get a covid test. First neither is really effective unless you are quarantining yourself in the house for 14 days or until you get results back from the test. Second I don't think people are going to be to happy with you doing a not so effective screening on them before go in to the wedding. If someone coming to your wedding has it then more than likely they wouldn't be showing any type of symptoms for at least 14 days. If you are that worried then you shouldn't be having a huge wedding or should postpone it until next year. Especially in your state with the number of cases rising.

View Quoted Comment Thank you I totally agree with you. She lives in a hot zone for covid. She says she wants to be responsible but the truly responsible thing to do is to have a very small quick wedding like you said or to cancel it till next year. It just seems to me like she wants to have her big wedding and make it seem like she is being responsible but the reality is that she really isn't, she's just giving her guest a false sense of security having them believe that they are safe when they aren't any safer then if she didn't do the screening.

Yes and as a guest that would make me feel good

I agree that temperature checks are pointless. You can have a temp if it's hot, and not have covid. Same as, you can have covid and not have a temp. I think it's great that you're trying to implement screenings, and want your friend to get tested, but also that's not really something you can require. If you think she's not being safe, it's pretty likely she isn't. That's why we just cancelled everything. There's no way you can guarantee all of your guests are being safe, and you can't guarantee seemingly "healthy" people there aren't infected with the virus. It's a sticky situation!

Temperature checks don't actually do much because there are too many people who are pre-symptomatic, asymptomatic, or mildly symptomatic (w/o fever) who can transmit Covid to others. Relying on temperature checks has the potential to let many infectious people fall through the cracks.

I do think having a chat with your Florida bridesmaid about Covid is necessary. Requiring a test is only going to be so helpful because 1) she doesn't have to disclose the results with you, 2) the turnaround time for tests in some areas of the country is not sufficient, and 3) if she is traveling by plane or public transit she could get Covid then, so a test beforehand won't accurately let you know if she is infected at the time of your wedding.

I think temp checks are fine if they really make you feel more comfortable (personally I'm used to doing them all the time now) but as PPs have mentioned you have to consider whether you would really turn away a guest who has a fever and also that temp checks aren't really that conclusive since so many people don't show symptoms. You might be better off encouraging guests to track their own symptoms and not attend if they have COVID symptoms. I like to think anyone who actually has a fever would know it and not come.

I'm in Florida and turnaround time for testing here is anywhere from 5-10 days. There are a handful of clinics doing rapid results but they are usually $200 and probably not available everywhere. I don't think it's worth asking your BM to get a test because, also as PPs have mentioned, she could just get the virus after being tested.

I think your best option is to require masks, provide some pretty ones as favors or to guests who do not have them, and do your best to space out seating.

I would make it clear to your guests that you’d rather they stay home if they feel even slightly ill and maybe try to have the wedding streamed someplace where they can watch if they are not there. I wouldn’t do temperature checks because they seem to be less effective than most people believe so it gives a false sense of security and people take fewer precautions.


I would ask people to wear masks (an provide a few as an extra measure) and just tell people that the venue reserves the right to refuse anyone for not taking appropriate measures. It takes the blame off you, but gives you an easy way to enforce rules without you being the bad guy.

I wouldn’t check temperatures or make people take Covid test. I would find it rude. If they’re there they’re there, you can’t make them leave if the temperature is high, I think that’s awful. A lot of people get Covid and don’t even have a temperature they have other symptoms

The problem with temp checks is they dont work. i work at a facility where we tested every week and temp taken every day. no one has ever had a fever than tested positive for covid. its more of a theatrical display to make people feel safe. the next problem is the tests because not only do they take forever to get results, you can get infected 10 minutes after taking it and the result will be meaningless. taking proper precautions at the event is really the only sure fire way to stay safe

In the end with this global pandemic safety is the most important and whatever you feel is best you should do! I just had my bachelorette party over the weekend aka mini house party and I had to uninvite someone due to not self quarantining after traveling to a high number state. Unfortunately during this time you do have to do things you normally would not to keep everyone safe including yourself and family members. We are having our wedding and reception in Ohio when it was originally planned in Florida. I now have six weeks to plan this wedding ahh! I am going to set out bottles of hand sanitizer, sanitizing wipes, gloves and masks (optional). I want people to be completely comfortable. We are also going to have areas in our home plus on our deck and garage outside for social distancing. My only concern is I have a family member coming from Florida hmm! I'm not sure if it is rude to uninvite on that.

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No offense, but who are you to judge if someone is taking covid seriously? For her to even be thinking about precautionary measures shows that she is thinking about it and cares. Take a look at this post, https://seedsofwhitezinniahome.wpcomstaging.com/2020/07/17/a-friendly-psa-from-a-tired-2020-bride/. It gives great insight.

Also, we are all adults and are capable of making the individual decision to attend or not. The bride doesn't need anymore guilt/pressure from anyone to downsize her wedding in order to make certain people feel more comfortable. I am sorry, but if you don't feel safe "as a guest", don't attend.

Sincerely, another covid bride who's doing the best she can

You should 100% ask for a test. It will make you and your guest feel better. I will be asking everyone to be tested before.

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Take a look at this post, https://seedsofwhitezinniahome.wpcomstaging.com/2020/07/17/a-friendly-psa-from-a-tired-2020-bride/ and maybe rethink your post.

Also, we are all adults and are capable of making the individual decision to attend or not. The bride doesn't need anymore guilt/pressure from anyone to downsize her wedding in order to make certain people feel more comfortable. I am sorry, but if you don't feel safe "as a guest", don't attend.

Sincerely, another covid bride who's doing the best she can

View Quoted Comment Love this!!!

View Quoted Comment What I said in an earlier comment which obviously you didn't see, she is going to do a temperature check because she is worried about spreading covid, I said if you are that worried about the virus then don't have the wedding this year because temperature checks don't work, covid symptoms show up in 14 days and most are carriers and don't have any symptoms. All her screenings would do is cause false sense of security which then lead to people not social distancing or wearing a mask which then can lead to a lot of sick people which she wants to prevent. I think if a bride wants to go forward with her wedding during a pandemic go for it there's nothing wrong with that, but if you want to do screening on your guests because you are that worried don't have a wedding this year. She asked for everyones opinions about temperature screenings at her wedding and I gave her my opinion, if she can't handle everyones opinions on her wedding than maybe she shouldn't ask. 🤷‍♀️

View Quoted Comment Why don’t you just plan my whole wedding for me then since you so clearly have it all covered?

In our pre-wedding communications, we're outlining the precautions we'll be taking for the 14+ days before the wedding (no socializing outside our household even briefly or outdoors, staying home except for necessary errands and outdoor exercise where we can be distanced from people, etc.) and are asking our guests to follow our lead. (Although we've scaled it back from a 130-person wedding to 15, so it's all family.) We're also asking that if people feel at all unwell or experience a potential COVID-19 exposure within that 14-day window, that they stay home and attend via our livestream instead. We're framing it as "Above all, please take care of yourselves and help us take care of each other." While we'll miss anyone who isn't able to attend, especially from this smaller group, we would MUCH rather be able to celebrate with them later than to have our wedding be the cause of anyone getting sick.

Due to state mandates where we are, masks will be required for everyone, so we're also being upfront about that ahead of time, and that we'll be keeping everyone grouped with the people they live with and 6+ feet apart from other households 99% of the time.

I'm glad you asked this. We are taking all the precautions, guidlines, and orders in place but then the best man's wife asked if we're going to require temperature checks. We aren't...but it made me wonder if I should. As someone mentioned above, you can have covid and not have a temperature so I don't know if it's pointless? We have cards with the invitations asking people to please refrain from attending if they experience any symptoms or have been around anyone with Covid or exposed...we also made them aware of mask requirements and distancing and other things we have in place.

I'm in Ohio too by the way. From what I heard the numbers actually are going down, if you look at the coronavirus website. The 21 day average has been dipping.

View Quoted Comment Love your response!! I have my wedding in December 19, 2021, and we are thinking doing the same thing!