Everyone loves a good wedding, but lately, with more than just
love in the air, many happy couples have had to downsize, cancel, or even
stream their ceremonies. The coronavirus wedding content has been all over the place,
with drive-by car parades and Zoom call ceremonies (and one couple opting to
have an officiant shout down from an apartment window to the streets of New
York). All of these weddings have been unique and beautiful, but they haven't
stopped couples from wondering when they can get back to planning to say their
I Do's in front of their loved ones, no screens necessary.
Even when it is safe to gather in large groups again, it's
likely that weddings will look a little different than we might expect. According
to The New York Times, everything from the planning to the dancing to
the vows at the altar could be altered to create a safer ceremony. Large-scale
weddings with hundreds of guests don't seem plausible without an easily
accessible, effective COVID-19 treatment or a vaccine, and for good reason. CBS
News reports that a wedding with 350 guests in Bihar, India, is responsible for
spreading the virus to over 100 people, 15 of whom were guests.
So, what modifications can be made to avoid weddings turning
into super-spreader events? Besides significantly shortening the guest list,
which will likely remain required in many states, expect to see meals served to
seated guests or made-to-order instead of buffets, dance floors with markings
indicating proper distancing, and customized masks being offered as favors. But
The New York Times also notes that you should expect longer contracts
that include clauses about what happens if the wedding needs to be cancelled or
postponed due to the coronavirus.
Getting married in the age of corona is a lot to consider. Of
course you want to celebrate your love, but you don't want to endanger the
safety of your loved ones, either. Maybe your wedding ceremony won't be the
lavish, grand ceremony you expected. Maybe it'll be a small outdoor wedding
with only your 15 closest friends and family members. Regardless, it'll be a
day filled with love, and, after all, isn't that what matters most? And hey, if
all else fails, you could always find an officiant willing to pronounce you
married from an apartment a few stories up.
Check out this video of the couple getting married in the streets of NYC:
