There are a lot of weddings scheduled for 2022. According to The Knot, there were 2.2 million weddings in 2019 before the pandemic. With the spread of COVID-19 in 2020 and 2021, half of the planned weddings were postponed. In 2022, a minimum of 2.6 million weddings are set to take place.
Then the newest variant of Covid-19, Omicron, reared its head. It is the most transmissible variant so far. The Guardian reports that according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Omicron made up 58.6 percent of all COVID-19 cases in the United States as of December 25. It has surpassed the Delta variant which made up 41.1 percent of cases on Christmas Day. On December 28, daily new cases reached the highest number since the start of the pandemic at 512,553.
The emergence of Omicron will most definitely affect wedding plans this coming year. Couples who plan to get married must prepare for the worst and be flexible enough to make changes at the last minute.
Vaccination and Rapid Tests for Everyone
A wedding will be much safer if everyone attending is fully vaccinated. It would be even better if everyone has had a booster shot. While this is not a guarantee against breakthrough infection, it minimizes the risk of serious illness. Furthermore, even if everyone attending the event has been fully vaccinated with a booster, the CDC recommends that all attendees get a rapid test on the day of any gathering and before going.
No couple wants their wedding to be the cause of serious illness in anyone. Couples can include the request for full vaccination, getting a booster shot, and doing an at-home rapid test in their Save the Day announcement. This must be sent early enough for guests to be able to prepare.
If there will be wedding coordinators, caterers, photographers, videographers, and other service providers during the wedding, the couple must ensure that all of them have been fully vaccinated, preferably with booster shots. They must also undergo rapid testing on the day of the event and present a negative result upon arrival at the venue. There must be an agreement with each vendor to provide an alternative in case they test positive.
Other Safety Solutions
The safest option is to hold the wedding and reception outdoors for maximum ventilation. A tent can provide protection against possible rain or too much sun.
Wedding buffets are unsafe. During the pandemic, food must be served in individual portions. Servers must wear masks.
The couple can provide guests with individual hand sanitizers as giveaways. Every table must also have a hand sanitizer dispenser.
Guests On-Site and Online
Weddings during the pandemic are intimate affairs with less than a hundred guests. Many are even keeping their weddings to less than 50 people, including themselves and the officiant. This minimizes health risks. Couples must pare down their list, focusing on immediate family members and their closest friends.
All others can witness the event through a live stream. In case the live stream fails, the video of the wedding can be sent afterward instead. The video is also a must for the couple to keep.
Having a few people will make it possible for the couple to engage with everyone. It can also enable the couple to spend more on the quality of food and drinks to be served.
Anticipate Supply Delays and Interruptions
There have been many interruptions in the supply chain during the pandemic and the swift spread of Omicron can cause further delays. Couples must purchase and get hold of their wedding attire early. It would be best to choose from outfits that are already available in local stores. This way, any alterations can be done immediately, and the outfits can be picked up soonest. Couples will be able to have the outfits cleaned and aired out.
Weddings rings need to be ordered early. Some couples may prefer to use silicone birthstone rings as their wedding rings. They can either wear their own birthstone color or wear their partner’s birthstone color. Unlike metal rings, these need not be taken off during certain activities such as sports, art-making, and many more. Certain brands have lifetime guarantees; hence, couples are reassured of having their rings for life.
Also, to avoid supply issues, couples must choose locally available flowers for the bride’s bouquet, all other bouquets, and boutonnieres, as well as the decor. Another option is to use dried flower arrangements made from flowers available locally. These can be kept as souvenirs, too.
There is always a possibility that another lockdown is announced just before the day of the wedding, forcing a postponement. Couples must make sure that all their service contracts include indefinite postponements for such instances. This must include honeymoon arrangements.
As a last resort, couples in New York can apply for a marriage license online. They can also get married remotely, with the marriage clerk officiating online.