2020 was the year of cancelled weddings, postponed ceremonies, spontaneous elopements, and backyard weddings. Many brides experienced an above average amount of stress trying to plan and replan their wedding due to the Covid-19 Pandemic. So many weddings were postponed an entire year with the hopes of having the wedding they planned while keeping their loved ones and guests safe.

Good news 2020 has come to an end! 2021 will be better right? With wedding season just around the corner and rumors of vaccines my outlook is good, but the CDC has not given the green light to have a party with 300 of your bestfriends on your wedding day just yet. Somethings from 2020 aren’t going away and keeping you guests safe is going to take some extra precautions and planning. Note I am not by any means a medical professional and am not providing medical advice or guaranteeing that these ideas will prevent your guests from getting sick(Disclaimer). I am however a professional wedding planner and have seen some very creative things that couples have done in an attempt to keep their guests safe that I think are worth sharing.

Custom Masks

Most venues and public places require everyone to wear masks indoors. I don’t know about you, but if I’m going to be wearing a mask on my wedding day, it better be a pretty one. These custom masks are the perfect way to ensure that all of your guests have a mask and look good! There are so many different colors to choose from. No matter what your wedding color is I’m sure you can find some you like. You can even have your wedding date, new last name, or wedding hashtag on them. Whether you buy disposable ones or reusable ones they will keep your guests covered and hopefully prevent COVID from ruining your wedding.

Hand Sanitizer Favors

Coming up with favor ideas that aren’t cheesy and a waste of your time and effort can be tricky, but I think right now hand sanitizer favors might be the perfect option. Everyone should be using hand sanitizer regularly right now and travel size bottles make it easy. By providing hand sanitizer for your guests you are encouraging them to use it throughout the night and after the event to keep them safe and healthy. I can’t encourage you enough to make these cute little bottles of hand sanitizer your wedding favors if you are having a wedding this year. 

Eliminate Plus Ones

This one might be a little harder for some people, but it might be the most significant thing you can do to prevent COVID from spreading at your wedding. Cutting down on guests can be an easy way to not only limit your guests exposure, but also save money. Smaller, more intimate weddings are becoming increasingly popular. Some wedding venues have a limited capacity right now that might require you to cut down on your guest list and plus ones are gonna be the first to be left off the invite list. Having less guests can allow you to spend more time with the people you are closest to on your wedding day.

Live Stream

If you do find yourself having to remove people from your wedding guest list that you really wanted to be a part of your wedding or if some of your guests and loved ones are not comfortable travelling or attending your wedding live streaming is the perfect option for you. I participated in my first live streamed wedding this summer, and I thought it was a brilliant idea. This particular bride had some elderly relatives who were high risk and they simply couldn't attend her wedding, but this didn’t stop her from including them in both her ceremony and reception. Family members and loved ones were able to watch her walk down the aisle, dance her heart out, and toast to her new journey of life all from the safety and comfort of their own homes. 

COVID Regulation/Mask Policy Sign 

Every venue and state has their own COVID regulations and mask policies. These beautiful signs are the perfect way to keep your guests informed of these policies. Even if your wedding is outside or on private property if you want to make sure your guests wear masks at all times, these will sure come in handy. While wearing a mask has become the new normal, some guests may require a reminder that their masks should stay on at all times for their safety and the safety and health of those around them. This is one additional detail you can provide to keep your guests safe at your wedding during this unfortunate pandemic. 

If you had to postpone your 2020 wedding and are trying to get married this year I hope that these ideas help you continue with your wedding plans and keep you and your guests safe. Hopefully this pandemic will come to an end soon and we can resume to some sort of normalcy without fear, but for right now weddings are going to be a little bit different. If you're getting married this year, it might not be the wedding you have been envisioning. This doesn’t mean you have to give up on your dream wedding. Please let me know in the comments if you use any of these ideas in your wedding or have other ideas on how to keep your wedding guests safe during a pandemic. Subscribe below to keep up with the latest wedding trends, vendors, and hot tips for planning your next big event.

Cheers,