Wedding guests won't obey Covid19 rules

Have you considered the social distancing bracelets or pins that have been going around here and social media?

This may totally not be the answer you're wanting but this is just my personal opinion with this!

If you have a lot of high risk guest or just people who aren't going to follow guidelines, I think it would be really silly to invite them or have the big wedding all together.

You can supply germX or mask as party favors, or even have bracelets or pins that say how comfortable with Covid you are, but it sounds like you are a lot more worried about spread or exposure than your guest list is.

I'm definitely in the minority with this, but I don't feel like there's really a gray area when it comes to Covid weddings - if you are going to be dancing and celebrating, you have to accept risk of exposure!

Thanks Caitlyn for the bracelets and pins idea, I could try that!

Thanks Morgan for your response too, I understand what you mean. I have also thought that having 60 people together will anyway be some risk of exposure, no matter what distance they keep (and they might not keep distance or respect the bracelets after they've had some drinks). But I am kind of hoping to find some ways to minimise the risk although we will still be together

View Quoted Comment

I get it! Keep it mind that we don't even know where this will all be by the end of the summer. My wedding is in September and I'm just holding onto hope the we won't have to worry about these things by that point!

If you are looking for some other ideas on how to keep your wedding as safe as possible (in addition to the bracelet idea that Caytlyn mentioned), you could either seat people by household/social group, and/or limit the number of people per table! If the table normally holds 8-10 guests, maybe instead only seat 4-6 guests at that table, so people have room to spread out. You could put bottles of hand sanitizer, and maybe extra masks, at each table. If space allows, maybe have two different dance floors, so that one dance floor isn't too crowded. Or, maybe require masks on the dance floor? You could also ask your guests to consider getting COVID tested within a few days of the wedding (though I don't think you can really require it).

Hi Marie, I recommend you either elope by yourselves. Or have a ceremony with ONLY parents present.

Hi Marie! I did a lot of very discreet precautions that may apply in your situation. I call them “discreet” because hardly anyone would notice it is because of covid. For example, we eliminated the receiving line and did a quick convertible send off after the ceremony. Your parents can stay back for photos instead of mingling at the cocktail hour. We added an additional toast and additional significant dances, played relaxing music to minimize a crowd on the dance floor. You could play it off as if that’s what you originally planned. 😉 hope this helps ❤️

I'd only invite people who can be adults about the current situation and follow the rules. I feel your pain though because I know we have people who don't view the pandemic the same. We are doing are best to keep guests safe we are also putting on our website how we really need our guests cooperation in staying safe as well because we can't do this alone.


I hope you find the best solution for this.

Yikes, I am sorry you are in that position. I don’t think it would make much sense to have a large normal wedding if you know your guests will not comply with the restrictions. ESPECIALLY if you the bride are uncomfortable about it. That is just not safe. You have every right to set boundaries when hosting a wedding. Personally I would consider some big changes to the plan. So sorry you are in that position.

If they don't comply with covid regulations, let them know they are not welcome and you will meet up later when it is safe to do so.

Hi ladies, thank you for all the advice!

Thanks for the tips for making the wedding more covid friendly, great idea with the "discreete" measures!
It is not really an option to not invite the people who won't obey the rules since they are my closest cousins and aunt and uncle and I really care for them but we disagree on this, it would be a total family feud. These relationships and the covid behavior are also all so wound up in our culture.

This is the most support I've gotten in my wedding worries and I am totally overwhelmed by your answers, what a great community here!

I guess the best would be to have the bracelets (I don't think people would obey them but it would be an extra statement meaning that we care about the covid situation on our wedding, since nobody in my country cares at weddings) and try to make some activities that would avoid a crowded dance floor. I guess I will just have to find a way to talk to my relatives and ask if they can skip taking photos with us and no hugs and kisses and hope that this will be enough to let us enjoy our day...

View Quoted Comment

I agree with Morgan.

And I saw that you said this could cause a family feud.

Ok.

That's frustrating, but people's lives are at stake. If you can't stand up to your family about this kind of thing, how can you stand up to them when they cross other boundaries? What about when people you aren't related to cross those boundaries?

Unfortunately, COVID safety is one of those things that starts at home - with the tough choices of facing family.

I'm really sorry. I keep forgetting there are other countries that are worse at this than the US... which is scary.

Thanks Rebecca, I am okay with standing up to people, but it is my parents who would have to live with the consequences of telling off the relatives, not me so much. And we are doing this wedding for us but I feel like I am doing it also partly for my parents. It is our day after all but they have supported me and later me and my FH in ways that I think rarely any parents do and done so much for us and unfortunately we live 3000 miles away from them so they won't get to see their future grandchildren (not pregnant yet, just plans of future ) some day regularly or have us help them when they are old, so I feel like this wedding is also a way to honor them. My FH is also very close with his parents and mine.

I am sorry if I sound difficult with my responses, I totally appreciate everyone's advice, I am just so lost in this situation.

P.S. Non wedding related but - We in Europe keep hearing that the number of Covid cases is much worse in the US than here but from this wedding forum I see that actually you guys in the US are behaving better than we are here! I think people in my country have gotten too loose when the number of cases and deaths got lower