Whether face masks or hand sanitizer, if we are being honest, the aesthetics of a wedding are extraordinarily important. After all, you only want to get married once in your life, spend enough money on Decoration out and definitely want to avoid that Wedding venue resembles a hospital. Therefore, we have some tips and tricks here on how to organize a corona wedding without having to compromise visually while still not ignoring the applicable regulations.
- What should be considered when choosing a wedding venue?
- Are wedding celebrant ceremonies possible despite Corona?
- How does correct communication about COVID-19 work?
- What options do we have regarding wearing a face mask?
- How do I provide hand sanitizer without looking like a hospital?
- Is a served menu or a buffet more suitable in times of corona?
- Does a safety and hygiene concept have to be created for weddings?
What should be considered when choosing a wedding venue?
In times of Corona, when searching for a venue, it is primarily important to consider how many guests you want to invite. In consultation with the venue, you should have them draw a to-scale seating plan for you. According to the current Corona ordinance in Berlin, the same rules apply to events as to the gastronomy sector. This means that up to 6 people are allowed to sit at one table, as long as these tables are 1.5 meters apart from each other.
At weddings where children's tables are planned, in most cases the children come from different households. Since many children cannot yet understand what it means to keep their distance, there is a playful trick – you put a large teddy bear on every second chair. This cuddly friend not only ensures that distance is maintained, but also looks cute.
For indoor weddings, it must be ensured that the air is refreshed at regular intervals. For this, it is recommended to choose a venue that has a professional ventilation system or offers the possibility to open the windows. Alternatively, summer weddings can also take place outdoors.
Are wedding celebrant ceremonies possible despite Corona?
Currently, the regulations for civil wedding ceremonies are such that only a minimal number of family members and witnesses are allowed to attend. Of course, this is a shame considering that many couples want to get married in front of their friends and relatives. An outdoor wedding ceremony, covered with a sail for example, offers a solution here. In this case, the regulations for cultural events apply. Persons from the same household can sit directly next to each other, and all other seats must be spaced 1 meter apart from one another.
Now you might think that it surely looks messy if the chairs are set up in a seemingly wild pattern for the eye, so for the visual appearance it is naturally nicer to set up a few more chairs and not occupy the seats that are to be kept vacant. With the help of discreet place cards and an usher, you additionally ensure that everyone sits in their assigned seat.
How does correct communication about COVID-19 work?
Since the regulations can change from time to time, it is very important on the wedding day that the service, bar, and kitchen staff are properly instructed. Should Photographers, DJs, or other artists attend the wedding, you must not forget to brief them as well. Communication with the guests is always the most difficult part, as they usually arrive individually, so it is very important to hang signs right at the entrance area informing them about the measures.
DEHOGA Berlin provides templates for information signs on its website. Among them, you can find signs that include all basic measures, such as maintaining distance or wearing a face mask. However, since these are in the DEHOGA style, it is recommended to use them only as a template and to adapt them to the aesthetics of the wedding, e.g., color coordination with the decoration and inclusion of the personal wedding logo.
During the welcome speech to the wedding guests, the so-called COVID-19 guidelines can be briefly mentioned again. For guests who wish to be especially cautious, there should also be an option—such as wearing a gold sticker—to indicate that they prefer to maintain social distancing and do not wish to be approached without a mask.
What options do we have regarding wearing a face mask?
According to current regulations, it is mandatory to wear a mouth and nose covering if a distance of 1.5 meters cannot be guaranteed. This means that a mouth and nose covering must be worn when entering the venue until taking the assigned seat. Once seated, the mouth and nose covering can be removed. As soon as guests leave their table again, such as to go to the restroom or to the bar, they must put their mouth and nose covering back on. Since there will always be guests who forget their face mask, it is always advisable to have a few disposable models on hand.
However, a face mask isn't exactly a stylish accessory. So the question is: How can you make the most of it without breaking the rules? Change the design! Custom-made masks are currently more than just in the Trend. Here, the bride and groom can fully unleash their creativity, whether with golden wedding logo, your initials, the wedding date, or a custom design that matches the decor. These reusable fabric masks can be handed out right at the entrance on the wedding day and also make a lovely Corona party favor.
How do I provide hand sanitizer without looking like a hospital?
As a bridal couple, it is your duty to provide sufficient disinfectant. Be it in the restrooms, at the CandyBar, at self-service counters or at the entrance. However, if you don't want the venue to look like a doctor's office, simply putting out disinfectant dispensers from the drugstore is out of the question; instead, you should consider decanting the contents into attractive soap dispenser containers.
In addition, contact surfaces such as door handles and counters should be disinfected regularly. Since the bride and groom certainly won't want to take care of this themselves, it is advisable to hire a disinfection officer.
Is a served menu or a buffet more suitable in times of corona?
Self-service buffets as we know them are not allowed during the COVID-19 pandemic, so there is the option to Staffed buffet featuring, for example, live cooking stations to enhance the dining experience, where everything—whether it's homemade pasta, sliced fish, or a flambéed dessert—is freshly prepared right in front of the guest.
Anyone afraid of lines forming at the buffet should consider getting a A multi-course meal served directly at the table Have your food served to you. This is the most COVID-safe way to do it. The servers are thoroughly trained, no one has to wait at a distance from the buffet, and anyone who’s really hungry is sure to get seconds.
Does a safety and hygiene concept have to be created for weddings?
As with any event, it is mandatory in Berlin to have a Safety and hygiene concept to create. You can already find plenty of templates online that can be revised relatively easily. In this case, have your wedding venue send you the floor plans or seating arrangements and incorporate them into your concept. You can also draw the wayfinding system into these room plans. In addition, all mandated measures that you apply to protect everyone present must be recorded in the concept. These include, among other things, the locations where information signs and disinfectant dispensers are placed, how often contact surfaces are disinfected, how crowds and queues are prevented, and how one-way systems are managed.
The safety and hygiene plan also includes the Collection of contact data for all guests, artists and staff members. This can be created in advance using the guest list. Since when sending the Invitation Cards Since you likely already have their home addresses, you just need to compile them into a list and verify that they are actually present on the wedding day.
To be on the safe side, we always recommend a Wedding planner to hire someone who will take care of all corona measures before, during, and after your wedding. This way, you can hand over the responsibility and sit back and relax completely.
