Event Professionals Plan for Covid-19 Safety Measures for Weddings in 2021
Spring is (almost) in the air here in Vermont, and we are all eagerly awaiting the April updates from the ACCD on exactly how and when weddings and events will reopen in the state. While the current mandates don’t allow for gatherings outside of your immediate household, we are very much looking forward to a light at the end of this long tunnel.
Event professionals in Vermont are optimistic about our ability to host weddings—just like we did last year—following Covid-19 Safety measures.
Event staff, clients and guests must work together to reduce the risks of spreading Covid-19 during an event.
Click to watch our Wedding Safety Show Update: How Can Wedding Professionals Move Forward Safely?
While we’re still waiting for the official guidelines, here are few important things to expect if you’re planning a wedding or event in 2021:
Vaccinations will help to make gathering in larger groups more feasible in the upcoming months. CDC says it takes 2 weeks for the vaccination to provide protection, however, masks and physical distancing guidelines should still be followed in public settings even after vaccination.
Capacity: While we continue to exercise caution and patience as we await more updates, at this point we expect that venues will be allowed to host 75 people indoors and 150 people outdoors in time for late spring and early summer celebrations in Vermont—this is based on the update from ACCD in late-February.
Masks will continue to be worn—even if guests are vaccinated—likely through the entire 2021 calendar year.
Travel guidelines continue to be updated —you do not need to quarantine to travel to Vermont or return to Vermont, as long as at least 14 days have passed since you received your final vaccine dose.
Communication is key. Guests, event professionals and clients alike must understand the safety expectations prior to arriving on-site.
Rapid tests for Covid-19 are still considered unreliable, which makes them questionable as a “safety measure” for live events. Experts warn that you shouldn't treat rapid testing as a free pass to attend a party or wedding.
Arrange to have a safety officer on-site that’s in charge of keeping your event safe. Wedding planners may not also consider themselves “safety officers”, so communicate with your team of event professionals to develop a plan.
Remember: No one can guarantee a “Covid free event”. Couples set the tone for safety compliance for their guests.
We are looking forward to hosting safe celebrations with you again this year in our beautiful state.
Follow us on Facebook as we continue to share safety measures to help vendors and clients reduce the risks of spreading Covid-19.
You can find our last safety update from 2020 on our Covid-19 Resources page HERE.
Katherine Elizabeth Photography; Heather Garrow Studios
Additional Resources for Planning Your Wedding
What can you do once you’re vaccinated? Read this article and find guidelines from CDC here.
For additional tips on planning during a pandemic here’s another Covid-19 Planning Post from our friend, Elisabeth Kramer, on the West Coast!
What you need to know to get married in Vermont:
An eligible couple (18 years or older) must submit an application for a license in the Vermont town/city where one of the parties lives. Out-of-state couples can go to any town/city clerk. The couple must pay the applicable fee and will receive a marriage license from the clerk.
The couple must have the marriage solemnized (i.e., have a ceremony) within 60 days of filing the application.
Once the ceremony has been performed, the person who performed it (i.e., your officiant) has 10 days to send the license back to the city/town where it was issued.
The city/town clerk will then file the original and the couple can receive an official certificate of their marriage.
You can find more details on How To Get Married In Vermont here!
Wondering when you can get a vaccine? Find a vaccination schedule from the CDC here: https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/covid-19/categories-essential-workers.html