August 18, 2020

5 Options for a COVID-Safe Reception

Many couples have had their wedding plans thrown into disarray by the Coronavirus crisis. If you were planning to tie the knot, and you don’t want to postpone arrangements any longer, you don’t have to give up on your dream reception. There are ways to celebrate in style while ensuring that you and your guests are safe. If you’re looking for inspiration for a COVID-safe reception, here are five fabulous ideas.

An Outdoor Reception

outdoor covid safe wedding reception

Research suggests that being outdoors is much safer than being indoors when it comes to viral transmission. If you’re looking for cute outdoor reception ideas, Al Fresco is a great option. Not only is it easier to facilitate social distancing guidelines, but you can take advantage of some stunning settings and locations. 

With options ranging from a bright, open park, an accessible forest meadow, a stunning beach, to a manicured garden, there’s bound to be a location that checks all of the boxes. To keep your guests safe, provide table service rather than a buffet, or use an all-inclusive event service to provide catered food, rented tables and chairs through the same, high quality company.

Stagger Guest Arrival Times

smiling groom looking at his watch

One of the main reasons why we have had to modify weddings and other gatherings is the risk of different households coming in close contact. Staggering guest arrival times is a flexible way of minimizing the risk of social contact while still allowing your guests the option of attending. 

For example, you can use the first letter of your guests’ surname to determine when they arrive. If you choose to section out guests, be sure to include instructions for arrival times on individual invitations so that all your friends and family know when, and how much time they have to be there.

Drive-Thru Reception

bride and groom holding thank you sign

You have a lot of friends and family members who want to attend your reception and see you on your special day, so why not host a drive-thru reception which allows for a quick congratulations while staying socially distant? 

Choose a setting which enables friends and family to slowly drive through and offer their congratulations, and words of advice. You can even have them choose gifts from your registry and send them to a set address rather than drop them off with you as they pass, or send online gift cards which are also a risk-free and versatile way of wishing you the best.

Organize a Virtual Ceremony

live stream wedding ceremony

Most of us have become proficient at making calls, and attending meetings via virtual platforms like Zoom, or through social media. It might not be possible to say “I do” with a physical crowd, but you don’t have to celebrate on your own. With a virtual ceremony you can stream the vows, invite people to raise a toast with you, and even still stream the music for your dance party afterwards which they can dance to from home.

Elope

couple eloping wearing masks with family around

If safety is a priority, and enjoying a lavish or formal gathering is not your priority, letting your family know you’re eloping is also an option. You can opt for a low-key celebration with your partner, or tie the knot and later organize a party for friends and family when it’s safe to do so. In spite of the brief ceremony, it’s still a chance to take pictures and remember the day that you made it official!

And you can still plan a vow renewal ceremony as a chance to invite loved-ones for your first anniversary! Be sure and plan early to get the best venues which go fast, such as Marinaj Banquets and Events which has amazing service options from beautiful indoor or outdoor venues, gourmet catering, to rental services and decorations.

Extra Tips For a COVID-Safe Reception

hand sanitizer and masks on wood table

Aside from deciding what type of reception works best for you, there are some additional measures you can employ to keep yourselves and your guests safe on your big day. These include providing hand sanitizer, encouraging guests to wear masks, or giving masks out at the entrance. 

You even can take advantage of personalizing the occasion by customizing themed masks for friends and family, or by decorating the hand sanitizers to match your wedding colors. It’s also a great idea to ask guests to send gifts to your home address if they wish to buy a present. 

Even if it’s not exactly as you planned, there are still many options for celebrating safely to make it an unforgettable day!