If invited to out-of-state wedding, some questions need to be answered
Q: Should you go to an out-of-state wedding now that COVID-19 vaccines are available and states are reopening?
A: There’s a lot of gray area when it comes to large gatherings like weddings. The bottom line is some states are doing much better than others, with fewer new cases and larger percentages of the population vaccinated.
If the wedding is indoors, then I would want to know that there was a mask mandate, regardless of the size. Receptions, in particular, last for hours, and being indoors — whether it’s a few dozen or a few hundred — raises important questions about the likelihood of contagion.
Most of the COVID-19 screening apps I’ve seen have a clear line of demarcation when it comes to indoors versus outdoors.
And even with those numbers, the recommendation is to be socially distanced. In short, an indoor wedding with more than 50 guests is not a great idea.
— Jay Baglia, associate professor of health communication at DePaul University’s College of Communication
A: First, the bride and groom should be completely transparent with their COVID-19 requirements for attending, either on their “save the date” or on their wedding website. If you decide to go, you have to look at your travel plans and current COVID-19 rates. Travel costs are low, but are the cost savings worth the health risk?
— Jules Martinez Hirst, etiquette expert and co-author of ”The Power of Civility: Top Experts Reveal the Secrets of Social Capital”