Hospitality businesses, including events organizers and planners, were the firsts to suffer from disruptions caused by the global and rapid spread of COVID-19. Unfortunately, the same businesses will also be the last to resume operations once a state or country reopens its economy.
Large Group Events Might Not Happen Until the Arrival of a Vaccine
Although some businesses are now allowed to resume operations, they do so under fragile conditions and in a largely unsterile environment. Some jurisdictions will soon allow restaurants and hotels to reopen, but there will be strict guidelines to follow, to ensure physical distancing will be observed.
However, these venues might still be not suitable for large celebrations like weddings, concerts, conferences and reunions; not unless a foolproof vaccine or treatment is already available to the general public.
The Center for Health Policy and Outcomes, through the agency’s Director Peter Bach, issued a statement saying that festivals, concerts, conferences and sports events are regarded as the riskiest and the least essential, even if entertaining. Safe-distancing in tightly-packed venues and arenas, as well as the wearing of face masks in such large gatherings, will only prove to be difficult to enforce.
According to Dr. Dhruv Khullar, assistant professor at the Department of Healthcare Policy and Research of Weill Cornell, and a physician at the New York-Presbyterian Hospital, said that most health experts foresee that the earliest by which a vaccine will be ready is in the year 2021.
What About Small Wedding Events?
In the meantime, there may be couples who, after months of separation due to the COVID-19 lockdown, might decide to tie-the-knot even by way of a small but solemn wedding affair. Planners who will be asked to assist a marrying couple in planning the betrothal ceremonies, should be able to give guidance based on what local or state governments allow for a particular venue.
Thorough research must be conducted on what are deemed as safe in terms of numbers of attendees, which could be different for church weddings. The maximum number of attendees allowed inside churches may be fewer or greater than the number of guests who will be allowed to be at the wedding reception.
As it is, a building’s capacity to seat individuals in arrangements set at least 6 feet apart determines the number of individuals that will be allowed to witness the wedding ceremony. On the other hand, selecting a venue for the wedding reception will also take into consideration the number of guests or customers that a restaurant or hotel is allowed to host in their dining area. .
Besides, large spaces might not be practical for small receptions, since traditional practices such as wedding dances, and other activities that involve physical contact, will not be allowed.