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After the Wedding: Moving In and Marriage

11/16/2020

 
Part 2 of our series on weddings and marriage during the pandemic by guest writer Lisa Borelli

Moving in [before or] after marriage
A move can be stressful enough, but trying to combine households and personal lives during a global pandemic can be even harder. For the specifics on coronavirus moves, check out this article. For now, we’re going to focus on successfully marrying your lifestyle to your partner’s in your new home.

Discussing your financial plans With the merging of households also come the financial implications. Moving can be very expensive, even if you do not hire professional movers, so take this into account when working on your new joint budget.

This is also a great time to discuss any outstanding debts, mortgages or recurring bills that may affect your joint bank accounts moving forward.

Evaluate your joint possessions This is also an opportunity to donate or purge any extra, unwanted items that you may have in either of your households. An itemized list can help you inventory what you have and what you would like to take with you.

Preparing for the move There are enough details to manage on a daily basis, so a thorough packing and moving in checklist can help you prepare for your move much more efficiently. Don’t forget to update your address and set up utilities before you move in.

Settling in after the move While unpacking and organizing are not the most entertaining bonding activities out there, you can still keep things light with music and banter with your new spouse while you hang your wedding photos and create your new marital household.

There’s housekeeping to do outside the house, too: Don’t forget to update your car registration, driver’s license, and other documentation. Many spouses undergo a name change, so this will need to change on all of your documents. In non-pandemic times, changing your last name usually required a notary, but in the age of coronavirus, people have had to adapt.

“We’ve seen a massive uptick in people using Notarize to notarize their marriage certificates remotely in light of COVID, and those same customers often come back to us to do the same for documents related to buying their next home,” says Cristin Culver, VP of Communications for Notarize. “It’s one of the ways COVID brides and grooms have had to adapt in 2020.”

Maintaining a healthy relationship for the years to follow
As exciting as it can be to merge households, life after marriage can still leave you feeling drained and stressed after the pressures of a wedding and moving. These are some ways that you can maintain a healthy marriage in the years to come.
  • Plan a honeymoon or vacation. Coronavirus may change the way we travel, but there are still plenty of ways to celebrate your nuptials with a honeymoon or vacation.
  • Maintain communication. Communication is key to a healthy marriage, so talk openly and honestly with your partner to avoid unnecessary misunderstandings or conflicts.
  • Establish healthy boundaries. Every marriage has its challenges, so work with your spouse to create clear boundaries for the future.
  • Schedule time for each other. Life can get in the way sometimes, but be sure to schedule time just for the two of you. Whether it is regular date nights or regular twilight walks after work, finding ways to spend time together will only reinforce your love and promote a healthy marriage.
  • Don’t forget about Me Time. Just as you make time for your spouse, don’t forget to take time for yourself, too. Spa days and nights out with friends are always popular, but journaling and self-care are important, too. You can even look into using a wellness or relaxation app.
  • Check out podcasts for married couples. No matter how long you have been married, all couples go through their share of problems. Podcasts for married couples can help you promote better togetherness and well-being in your marital life.

Marriage counseling Sometimes, stress can disrupt even the most secure marriages. This is where marriage counseling can help. If you begin to see issues sprouting up in your marriage, a professional therapist can help you develop and reinforce healthy habits based on what makes a good marriage.

Every couple fights, but an experienced and professional marriage counselor can help you ensure it doesn’t have lasting impacts on your marriage so you remain just as in love as you were on the day you were married.
​
Lena Borrelli is a Tampa-based writer who specializes in personal finance, home improvement, and moving content. She's worked with leading industry titans, such as Morgan Stanley, Wells Fargo, and Simon Corporation. Her work has most recently been published on sites like Bankrate, The Simple Dollar, Fiscal Tiger, ADT, and Home Advisor, as well as many other websites and blogs around the world.

Planning a Wedding During a Pandemic

11/16/2020

 
How to safely have a wedding during COVID-19
BY GUEST WRITER LENA BORRELLI
Updated November 11, 2020

Planning a wedding during coronavirus is an entirely different matter than the traditional wedding. “In many places, gatherings numbers are restricted and many states are taking a phased approach, which leaves couples to face planning a wedding without knowing exactly what restrictions will be in place by the time their scheduled wedding happens,” explains Katie Elder, owner of the Overlook Barn, a premier wedding venue in Banner Elk, North Carolina.

A recent survey by Promoleaf shows that 39% of those polled favored social distancing being enforced at weddings, with 41% preferring that all guests wear masks and 34% preferring an outdoor venue for COVID weddings. The median preference for the guest count is 50 people, with less than 1% of respondents comfortable with 200 attendees or more.

“We’re seeing smaller weddings, more elopements, and those holding on for normality by pushing their wedding another year,” says SJ Meyer, who offers wedding planning and catering services through her business, Lickskillet Catering, in Fort Collins, Colorado. COVID affected Meyer personally, impacting her own wedding plans. She has been forced to infuse innovation and ingenuity when reshuffling her clients’ dream mountain weddings.

The pandemic has made for an entirely different wedding planning experience than most couples and industry professionals are used to. If you’re wondering how to plan a wedding during a pandemic, or even how to move in with your new spouse in the age of quarantine, here are a few pointers.
  • Initial wedding preparations
  • COVID-safe ceremony ideas
  • Preparing for a change of plans
  • If you’re thinking about postponing your wedding
 
Initial wedding preparations 
When deciding how to proceed with your wedding, communication is your best friend. Talk to your significant other about your individual expectations and how best to meet them. This is a very stressful and emotional time, and the additional emotional and financial stress can weigh on your relationship if you are not careful.

To better ground yourself, create a detailed budget for your wedding and stick to it. These are some great resources from sites like The Knot and Wedding Wire that will help you understand and stick to your budget.

Follow CDC guidelines As the country continues to fight the spread of coronavirus, experts at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization continue to highlight the importance of wearing masks in public to reduce infection. Calls for strict social distancing can impact even the slightest details of your wedding, making things like cocktail hour, reception seating, and dinner service all complicated to accomplish safely.

Elder has really seen the impact of coronavirus on weddings held at the Overlook Barn. “Weddings also look different this year, masks, sanitizing, distancing, a focus on outdoor celebrations . . .” she explains.
She spoke with us exclusively, listing some of the precautions you can take to help mitigate the risk of COVID-19.
  • Require masks for all guests and, of course, all of the regular hygiene – regular hand washing, sanitizing stations available, etc.
  • Move as much of the wedding and reception outdoors as possible. (For her part, Elder offers a brand-new outdoor pavilion that was built to accommodate coronavirus wedding couples.)
  • Consider “guest pods” to reduce mingling in larger groups. These are seating pods of people together who are related or who already see each other regularly to mingle together throughout the event.
  • Increase airflow wherever possible by opening windows and adding air filtration in more confined spaces. Elder invested in HEPA filtration for their bridal suites.
  • Hand sanitizer has also risen in popularity for many wedding gift bags and favors.

Look into vendor guidelines
It is also important to thoroughly review vendor guidelines and procedures to ensure the safety of you and your guests. Brian Worley, owner and founder of Brian Worley Productions in Atlanta, walks through some of the precautions he and his team are taking.
  • Hand sanitizer provided around the venue
  • Social distancing the tables
  • Limited number of guests seated at each table.
  • Individually rolled flatware
  • All food stations must be chef attended and guests are not allowed to grab their own food.
  • All the bars had Plexi shield guards, much like the checkout at a store.
  • We are increasing the number of bars so that the lines do not build up.
  • There is only one bartender per bar, where in the past we have had two.

Don’t forget about the fine print in those contracts, either. “The very first thing couples should do is read through their contracts. Hotels have actually been very good about moving the wedding without issue, but I have run into some issues with other vendors who consider it a cancelation and rebooking,” says Keith Willard, President of Keith Willard Events and President of NACE’s South Florida chapter.

COVID-safe ceremony ideas Instead of extravagant wedding ceremonies, many COVID-19 couples are rethinking the traditional wedding approach. Smaller ceremonies are not only more affordable (a boon if you or your fiance were affected by coronavirus layoffs) and easier to manage, but they are considerably safer.

Outdoor wedding SJ Meyer recommends instead moving your weddings to an outdoor tent. And if you happen to already own the land where you put the tent, even better. “Since guest counts are also lower, couples are also finding it easier to throw a wedding in their yard, around the pool or in a garden” says Worley. However, he warns you need your outdoor space to be one that easily accommodates social distancing – and one with shade.

Wristband system Jason Miller, CEO of Promoleaf, comments, “A popular trend we’re noticing is simply a three-tier, plastic wristband system issued to each guest or event attendee based on their own comfort level.”  How it works:
  • Red wristband for high-risk guests that prefer social distancing of at least ten feet
  • Yellow band for regular social distancing preferences of six feet
  • Green band for those who are comfortable with a handshake or hug.

“As long as everyone at the event respects the comfort level of others, this can be a solution allowing you to be inclusive while enabling all of your guests to feel comfortable and welcome.”

Local venues Instead of the traditional church or hotel ballroom, consider new, creative venues that can accommodate your wedding. Places like local vineyards and breweries are on-trend and already institute heightened coronavirus protocols. Plus, they can usually accommodate outdoor gatherings.

Courthouse weddings If you are delaying your wedding reception but don’t want to wait to actually tie the knot, courthouse weddings are a quick, easy way to make your vows official while you wait for a larger celebration to follow.

Wedding Wire provides a handy guide to wedding laws for every state in the country so you can check your state’s laws and requirements before you head to the courthouse.

Elopements For some couples, an elopement can be just the ticket to a COVID-friendly marriage.
“Think outside the box,” says Meyer. “Another option is to elope and plan a party down the road for when there is availability.”

An elopement can be a stress-free way to approach your wedding by foregoing all of the traditional trimmings, such as seating, transportation and pricey venue rentals.

Places of worship Many couples plan to incorporate a specific place of worship into their ceremony. This could be a church, temple, mosque, gurudwara, or synagogue, but each of these may differ in how they are treating the coronavirus pandemic.

No matter what you decide, you should maintain regular communication with your venue to ensure that you are kept abreast of all developments and protocols as the pandemic progresses.

Fun ways to safely include loved ones

  • Virtual/ streaming wedding
Ivy Summer, the author of Poise Over Panic: How to Plan a Wedding in a Pandemic, has seen the coronavirus affect engaged couples in many ways. “There are couples who originally planned to host a bicoastal wedding reception, but those plans were inevitably disrupted by shelter-in-place orders and consequential travel restrictions,” she says.

Elder offers a way around this with an innovative new solution at the Overlook Barn. “Provide a livestream option,” she urges. “This allows higher-risk guests to stay home and still celebrate with the couple and also is a way to reduce your guest list of people who will be there in person.”

A lot of wedding videography and photography companies have updated their pandemic repertoire to including livestreaming services. Plus, livestreams are often recorded. These recordings are also easy to share after the fact, forever memorializing your nuptials in a way that you can enjoy again and again.

  • Drive-by wedding
Guests can visit a location between certain hours, driving by slowly while they greet the couple from the safety of their cars

Preparing for a change of plans

Flexibility is one of the most important things you can maintain when planning a coronavirus wedding. Says Meyer, “If you’re flexible about having your wedding on a weekday or end of the weekend, you not only save money, but might be able to have all the vendors you’ve previously booked and not have to miss out on nonrefundable fees.”

In case you do find yourself drowning in fees, leading wedding website The Knot has created a $10 million financial assistance program to assist wedding professionals severely impacted by the coronavirus.
Keeping guests informedOne of the most difficult parts of planning a wedding is maintaining communication with all involved parties. Not just guests, bud vendors, too.

Building a free wedding website can be a great way to instantly update all of your guests and vendors, keeping everyone in the loop. Your site will allow you to update all of your family and guests with a single post, freeing up more time for you to plan with your vendors. You can also give specific details and instructions surrounding coronavirus precautions so your guests will feel more comfortable supporting you on your big day.

Read the room
Before you make a final decision, Elder suggests going straight to your guests. “Send a quick survey out to your guests to gauge their comfort level in attending if you do not postpone; this will help you decide if postponement is right for you.”

If you do decide to change your date, Summer recommends that you reach out to your VIPs before setting a new date. “If you can’t imagine yourself getting married without them, then get in touch to ensure they’re available for your new wedding date.”

Wedding insurance
McCord Jones addresses the problems affecting the entire industry. “For vendors, they are in a hard place because their contracts do not address pandemics, and many couples are requesting all deposits and payments to be returned, as they may need the funds due to job losses.  This proves to be a nightmare for the entire industry.”

Wedding insurance could help. There is the traditional form of liability insurance that will protect you from liability relating to wedding-related accidents and injuries. There is also cancellation insurance, which can protect you financially should you have to cancel your wedding for any of the covered reasons.

If you’re thinking about postponing your wedding
When asked about what is missed most about weddings, Promoleaf’s survey showed that over half of respondents (53%) said what they miss most is hugging and interacting with the bride and groom, family and friends. Dancing, buffets and open bars, particularly among male respondents, are also very much missed. Postponing your wedding could allow you the opportunity to save that human interaction by choosing a date in the future.

Give yourself time to process
“A wedding is a huge life event,” says McCord Jones. “My best advice, as a former wedding planner, is to do some soul searching with your fiance on priorities which choice will grieve you most.”

There are also practical reasons for not postponing. McCord Jones says that in addition to the stress, a postponed wedding could impact financial and family planning goals. If you find yourself in the situation where your health insurance may be impacted by postponing your ceremony, consider a courthouse wedding or an elopement and save your celebratory reception for down the road.

Find support
Wedding websites like The Knot, Wedding Wire and Wedding Pro have always been popular forums for brides and grooms, but those forums have evolved into emotional support groups in the age of COVID-19. Websites and social media groups like those on Facebook are an excellent source of support from those who are experiencing many of the same challenges as you and your significant other.

“Take the time to mourn,” says Willard. “You are dealing with the loss of the anticipated experience. Months and years have gone by planning your wedding. It’s important to acknowledge these things and allow yourself to move on.”

Keep your vendors in mind
For many of Meyer’s couples, moving dates and locations have presented a serious issue. “Not all vendors are able to move to their new locations, or they are losing out on deposits from venues,” she says. “It costs more money and is a headache to get rescheduled.”

Work with your vendors to find the best solution for your wedding. Vendor contracts and cancellation policies may vary, but many wedding vendors are committed to executing their clients’ events.

As a wedding planner, Meyer recommends using professional services like hers to help with the rescheduling process. “If you have a wedding coordinator, talk to them and see how they can help.”

Make sure you have all your vendors onboard before announcing anything to your guests, cautions Melanie Levin, the owner and principal planner of LuckEleven Events in Los Angeles. An easy way to track this, Willard recommends, is a group message. “Get all of your vendors’ emails into one message.  This will dramatically reduce the amount of communication that you have to do with each of the vendors.”

Update your guests
Your wedding website can help here, delivering details about travel cancellation and refunds. Your coordinator may also be able to help negotiate hotel room blocks. But you also need to prepare to watch the guestlist dwindle.

Couples are dealing with new limitations and requirements being instituted by both new and old venues. This could mean significant changes to your guest list, whether it is due to space, budget, or illness. And you’ll have to accept the fact that some of your guests are uncomfortable with the idea of attending a wedding in a pandemic.

Reevaluate your budget
A wedding is a carefully balanced house of cards, and the slightest change can have significant bearing on your plans and budget. Regardless of whether you choose to postpone your wedding, you should take this opportunity to reassess your budget.

The average wedding in 2019 cost nearly $34,000, but coronavirus has introduced all sorts of new expenses that can seriously impact your budget. Many couples are using personal loans to help cover the new costs associated with their wedding plans.

Additional Resources
  • CDC Considerations for Events & Gatherings
  • WeddingPro COVID-19 Planning Resources 
  • Minted Wedding Planning Guide During the Coronavirus
  • Wedding Wire’s COVID-19 Wedding Advice Guide
  • The Knot Official Guide for COVID-19 Wedding Help

Lena Borrelli is a Tampa-based writer who specializes in personal finance, home improvement, and moving content. She's worked with leading industry titans, such as Morgan Stanley, Wells Fargo, and Simon Corporation. Her work has most recently been published on sites like Bankrate, The Simple Dollar, Fiscal Tiger, ADT, and Home Advisor, as well as many other websites and blogs around the world.

Click here to go to Part 2: After the Wedding...

The Future of Large Events

9/14/2020

 
With in-person gatherings limited for the time being, many of our corporate and non-profit clients are struggling to figure out new ways to get together staff, clients, and/or supporters in an effective, safe, yet fun, environment. Our friends at Key Signature Entertainment have come up with a great solution. It can be done! Be sure to check out the links to their websites for more information.

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​
Multi-Site Events and The Future of Live Entertainment 
In-person and hybrid events can be a key solution in the difficulties that we're facing with human connection and a low sense of morale. One of the most common challenges that event industry professionals have been facing since the pandemic began is figuring out how to host events safely, effectively and efficiently during these uncertain times.

For North Carolinians, the phases of reopening have posed many obstacles for hosting in-person events despite industry professionals' preparedness to enhance event safety measures. For South Carolinians, state restrictions have been more lenient, but safety is still a concern.
 
For everyone, multi-site events can be a game-changer.

What is a multi-site event? Simply put, a multi-site event is a function that takes place at multiple locations simultaneously and offers a similar experience at each, from the decorations to food and beverage, and, our personal favorite, entertainment.

How are multi-site events a safer option? By offering multiple locations, a multi-site event can allow more guests to participate while practicing social distancing and makes it easier to trace the location of guests by assigning them to a venue.

Where does live music fit? Thanks to technology, there's a bit of flexibility in how multi-site events can utilize live music. Because the goal is for each event site to have a nearly identical experience across the board, the first things to consider are the genre of music and number of musicians. Once the genre and size category are settled, you can choose between having a different, yet similar Key Signature musician perform at each event site, or one Key Signature musician stream to all sites remotely from a professional sound stage with turn-key production offered by one of our sound production partners.

Still have questions or want to know what Key Signature is about? Give us a call at 704-568-1968 or visit our website to learn more about Who We Are and what we're cooking up to keep live music alive in the ever-evolving world of Virtual/Hybrid and live events!

Getting Wed in the Wild: Parkway Weddings and Elopements

6/2/2020

 
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Because of the current ban on large gatherings, many couples are considering eloping to the mountains in one of our many forests and parks, with a few family members and friends. Here's the 411 on that. The mountains are not as wild and free as you might suppose. Most of these places do require a permit. (A lot of people try to sneak in and do a quick wedding without a permit, but park rangers are actively patrolling to disburse groups, and there are fines for having events without permits.) Federal parks are stricter than the state parks, especially where alcohol is concerned. Local elopement companies may be able to help you find the perfect spot, but there are also restrictions on elopement companies and professional photographers doing business on public lands. Even with a permit, you do not have exclusive use of the area, so motorcyclists, tourists and other groups will be around. Some popular locations, such as Max Patch, Black Balsam, Craggy Gardens, and Looking Glass Falls, are prohibiting groups due to overuse. And the Covid-19 pandemic has brought a slew of restrictions and closings. Check before you go to assure that your chosen location is not closed due to local or state restrictions, snow/storm damage, or maintenance. Group limits and social distancing rules still apply, even in nature. 

A few tips for planning your outdoor, mountain wedding in 2020 Pick 2-3 places, and be ready to move to one of your backups if your first choice is overcrowded, or if it starts to rain. Be warned that motorcycle and vehicle noise are particularly troublesome at overlooks and spots close to the road. Sites further away are quieter, though they may require a hike. Check the internet for information about the trail and its difficulty (one we like is 
https://www.alltrails.com.) Email everyone involved beforehand with the timeline, directions, the back up plans, and the post-ceremony meetup location. Instruct guests to print these out since cell phone service is spotty at best. Tell them to proceed to the trail and start hiking as soon as they get there, so there is no gathering in the parking area, and to leave for the rendezvous point as soon as photos are done. You may find restrooms are closed, so go before you go. Needless to say, hiking boots are recommended over heels. (You can put those on once you get there.) And watch out for bugs and bears! (Read more about that and other unique aspects of getting married in W.N.C. here. ) 

Here is a list of the best places for eloping in the Western North Carolina mountains.


National Parks (National Park Service)

Appalachian Trail 
Appalachian National Scenic Trail (U.S. National Park Service)

Blue Ridge Parkway 
You can read information about the process of getting a permit to have a wedding on Parkway lands here: Wedding Permits - Blue Ridge Parkway (U.S. National Park Service). 

Carl Sandburg Home
Permits & Reservations - Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site (U.S. National Park Service)

Great Smoky Mountains National Park (National Park Service)
Cades Cove Chapels, Cataloochee Chapel, Clingman's Dome, Newfound Gap
Please call (828) 497-1930 for permit information

National Forests (US Forest Service)
Appalachian Mountains
Bridal Veil Falls, Dry Falls
Flat Top Mountain
Hot Springs, Lovers Leap
Pisgah National Forest, Big Ivy
Nantahala National Forest
Roan Mountain (Currently closed)
Shining Rock Wilderness
Whiteside Mountain
National Forests in North Carolina - Event/Commercial Permits

State Forests and Parks (State Forest Service and NC Division of Parks and Recreation)

Chimney Rock, Rumbling Bald, Eagle Rock (Chimney Rock, Lake Lure)
Gorges State Park (Brevard/Sapphire)
Mount Mitchell
https://files.nc.gov/ncparks/north-carolina-state-parks-special-activity-permit.pdf

Dupont National Forest-Currently closed to groups
https://www.dupontstaterecreationalforest.com/Pages/FacilitiesAndPermits.aspx

Grandfather Mountain (a privately-owned attraction near Linville)
Weddings | GRANDFATHER MOUNTAIN : Wonders Never Cease

How to Change Your Wedding Date- with Free Templates

5/18/2020

 
Couples around the world are making the hard decision to delay their wedding date, and I absolutely understand the heartache that comes with such a choice. It’s okay to grieve what’s lost and take time for you, but remember that you’re not alone — lean on your friends, family, and vendors as you begin your journey to plan your new wedding date. 

​
First thing’s first! You want to notify everyone of your decision. Start with your wedding party and family — they’ll be eager to support you and may help you send updates to the rest of your guests. Even if you don’t have a new date chosen, it’s important to notify all of your guests that the original plan has changed. They’ll be relieved to know they can safely celebrate your special day at another time.

Once your guests are set, call your vendors to confirm that your date is changing. Review your contracts to see what their policies are for rescheduling your wedding, then clarify this policy with each vendor. Many are waiving fees for rescheduled dates and want to help you celebrate your dream wedding — just make sure you get any contract updates in writing to keep everyone on the same page. Your wedding planner will be a huge help in this process.


​Now that everyone knows the plan is changing, it’s time to get to planning. Decide which vendor is most important to you — this will likely be your venue, so call them first to discuss what dates are available. You may have a tough time getting a Saturday date, but it never hurts to ask! Once you’ve settled on a few options, it’s time to call the rest of your vendors and finalize a date. There’s a chance you won’t be able to keep all of your vendors. In this case, you likely won’t get your deposit back. Keep track of these additional fees and expenses so you can maintain an accurate budget as you plan. 


After a lot of phone calls and organizing, you officially have a new wedding date — congratulations! You can send out your new invites and enjoy the coming months knowing that you still get to marry the love of your life, and you have even more time to prepare your perfect wedding. 

-By Guest Writer Briana Marvell, for Zola.com. can be a great resource for change-the-date-cards and anything else you need to plan your wedding. Y
ou can see their full guide here. ​
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Click below to download the Printable Change the Date Checklist 
change-the-date.pdf
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Click the video to view sample templates. Click below to download them.
change_the_date_templates_zola.pdf
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Click below to download the "Questions to Ask" checklist.
questions-to-ask.pdf
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Download File


Event Planning in the Age of Coronavirus:  New Requirements Post Covid 19

5/4/2020

 
Today is May 4, 2020. Currently, the Asheville area is under a Stay at Home order that allows only essential business and travel, and restricts gatherings of more than 10 people, even on private property, unless they are all members of the same family. Our Governor, Roy Cooper, is planning to begin to ease these restrictions in three phases over the next three months, as long as our infection rates continue to decline.

What does this mean for events?
I have researched state and local government sites, and scanned the blogs of our national event planning organizations, including the Event Safety Alliance, NACE, the Natl Restaurant Association, the Convention Management Association, and others, to come up with an answers. Here is my summary of what the current thinking is nationally:

Phase 1: May. Events still restricted to 10 people or less. Attendees must wash hands, avoid physical contact, stay 6 feet apart,  and face coverings highly recommended but not required. Some state, local, and federal parks may reopen. No food or drink service at events. Current restrictions on interstate travel still in effect, with travelers required to self-quarantine for 2 weeks if they have come from out of state or out of the country. Hotels and similar lodging may re-open under strict capacity guidelines. Elevators limited to 1 at a time. Strict sanitization with approved anti-viral products required before, during, and after event.

Phase 2: June. Gatherings of up to 25 people are allowed (in some cases, up to 25% of capacity). Restaurants and venues may reopen, but capacity is limited. Event permits may be required. Tables must be spaced 6 feet apart, with no more than 6 per table, chairs spread out, no bar service, no buffets, and all food and drink must be delivered table side by workers with gloves and masks, so plated or boxed meals are ideal. Use of disposable dishes, flatware, and glassware required. Bottled or canned beverages preferred over open containers. Trash cans must use liners, and be emptied frequently; Step cans preferred. Linens must be laundered in hot water after every event, and all surfaces, including chairs, cleaned. Workers must stay 6 feet apart in the kitchen and prep areas. Keep staff/guest contact to a minimum, e.g., once to deliver food to table, once to replenish, and once to bus, after guests have left. Elevators may carry up to 2 people. Ubers, limos, shuttles and buses must limit the number of riders. Guests should enter and exit events through different doors, or in phases. The same with suppliers, and vendors. Guest books, photo booths, bars, self-serve drink stations, and other activity stations where people might line up are discouraged, unless a line management system that keeps people 6 feet apart is used. A check-in station is strongly encouraged, with guests signing their name and contact information in case later tracing is needed. (Possibly: Have guests answer a few screening questions, and turn those away who are sick or who have travelled from a hot spot. Temperature checks optional for guests, but not for staff.) Have hand sanitizer, alcohol wipes, and masks for guests who want them. For ceremonies, participants should walk single-file. All venues and vendors involved with the event are encouraged to have general liability insurance in case of an outbreak traced to the event. (Some companies are dropping coverage for pandemics; read your policy carefully and shop around.) Hosts should likewise have event insurance that covers an outbreak.

Phase 3: July. Gatherings of up to 50 people (or 50% of capacity) allowed, with the same restrictions as before. Special event permits may be required, not just for alcohol. Bars may reopen, but there should be more servers per guest (currently, one bartender per 50 people is recommended), no lines at the bar, strict cleanliness must be adhered to, servers must wear gloves, and bottled or canned drinks preferred over open containers. Self-service food or drinks still discouraged. Elevators may carry up to 4 people. More people allowed in buses and shuttles. Staff and vendor safety training mandated. With Covid-19 still active, hand washing, hand sanitizer, no physical contact, and social distancing still required. Salons may re-open. Air BnB/VRBO's may reopen. Hotels can take more guests. Fewer restrictions on interstate travel, except for those traveling from hot spots. International travel still discouraged.

Phase 4 (August - December) Gatherings of up to 100 people allowed, with same restrictions as in the first 3 phases. Hotels, restaurants and bars may go up to 75% capacity. Local authorities may require inspections or more conditions to issue permits for events, especially assurance that the venue is adhering to strict sanitation protocols. Reusable china, flatware and glassware may be used again, but MUST be run through a sanitizing dishwashing machine. Travel and lodging restrictions eased. 

Phase 4 restrictions may be extended up to 2 years if there if the percentage of new infections does not decline sufficiently. A surge in the percent of new cases may trigger a return to an earlier phase.


Phase 5: The Future. (These is conjecture based on my research.) 100% capacity returns, but the concept of capacity changes. Safety inspections may move from the Fire Marshal's office to a new authority, who will determine capcacity based not only on safety in case of emergency, but also on preventing transmission of infectious diseases. Possibly, staff, vendors, and attendees must provide proof that they are Covid-19 free (based on an antibody test.) OSHA requires safety and health training for anyone who comes into contact with the public.  Stricter Serv-Safe standards, and new standards for bartenders. Suppliers offer more anti-microbial products. Increased emphasis on healthy indoor air, with new types of filters for HVAC systems, humidity controls, and increased fresh air intake. Businesses closed on Sunday for Deep Clean Day. A number of lawsuits related to the Coranavirus Outbreak and the management of it surface. Supreme Court determines whether or not a pandemic is a fource majeure event or not. As a result, changes in event insurance and general liability occur. Vendors require clients to turn in head counts earlier, so they can assure numbers match what has been approved. Smaller events strongly encouraged, with discounts for weekday events and events under 50 people. Outdoor venues and those with lots of windows become even more popular. Stricter rules on tented events, with sides discouraged. Inspection may be required for tents. Handshakes, fist-bumps, kissing, hugs, and high-fives go the way of the dinosaurs :(

Please comment if you are aware of additional rules that are coming down the pipeline!
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    Miss Ellie is the perfectly proper wedding planner to whom we all turn for wedding planning advice.  To ask a question, just click the email button at the top of the page, or leave a comment and she will respond.

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