Effective March 15th, Governor Cuomo’s additional reopening of various sectors of the economy includes wedding and catering halls. Venues in New York are now allowed to host up to 150 guests (maximum 50% capacity) provided each guest has proof of a negative COVID-19 test. This big change is bringing mixed feelings of relief and caution to venues across New York and couples all the same.
With this large jump from 50 to 150 guests, the possibilities for sharing a celebration reminiscent of “normal” is an exciting prospect. This new rule comes with its own set of restrictions. All weddings must be approved by local health departments. The guest count will be limited to either 150 people or 50 percent of the venue’s capacity, whichever capacity is smaller. Everyone on site must provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test within 72 hours before the wedding or a rapid test within six hours, according to brides.com. With this steep jump in potential guest count, plenty of red flags have been raised too, with concern for how to host a bigger gathering safely. Although guests will be required to provide proof of negative test results, there will still be restrictions during the event to ensure everyone’s safety. Many people in the wedding world are also wondering, will this lift on restrictions last?
Photo Credit Emily Winiker Photography
Another major question this lift on restrictions and higher occupancy poses is will dancing be allowed? According to https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/governor-cuomo-announces-additional-re-opening-guidance-several-industries-new-yorks, “ceremonial and socially distant” dancing will be allowed under “strict guidelines.” This means dancing will take place in specified dancing zones while guests are wearing face masks. Guests will not be permitted to switch dancing zones.
Photo Credit Deja Vu Studios
Excitement has been flooding the internet as couples are realizing they can plan an event closer to their dream wedding, hosting more than just fifty of their very nearest and dearest. Many vendors are excited to potentially regain a sense of normalcy in their careers, or get back to work if they’ve been out of a job. While celebrations are still not entirely back to pre-covid times and things are constantly changing, a sense of normalcy is returning and we’re excited about celebrating safely with the people we love heading into the spring and summer.
