Key tips to having a wedding during Covid in 2022!

We have been living with Covid since 2020 and while things may never be the same, we have learned a LOT about having a wedding during Covid.

One of the most important things is to stay up to date with the ever changing mandates so that you will know what is required and what is allowed. Oneoahu.org is one of the best places to check for current information. If you have a professional Wedding Planner, they can also be a great resource not just for current mandates and requirements but for ideas and suggestions to be in compliance and keep everyone as safe as possible!

Whether it is a required mandate or not, wearing masks can provide you with another level of peace of mind, so if that is something you would like vendors to do, it is very often just a matter of letting the vendors know. Some of our clients have even made it a requirement for ALL guests to be fully vaccinated to attend their wedding so keep in mind that YOU have the freedom and ability to put in a higher level of protection than required.

Communication with your vendors have become more important than ever so before hiring anyone, it is crucial to ensure you feel comfortable enough to communicate with them at any time with questions or concerns.

Covid Wedding Tips — Mike Pham Photography

One of the many benefits to having your wedding at a hotel or resort is that by the time a vendor arrives at your hotel room, they very likely have already gone through the hotel’s many Covid safety checks!

While it likely isn’t required that the Officiant wear a mask during your ceremony, keep in mind that having the Officiant stand 6’ away should be an easy way for extra peace of mind!

If your venue doesn’t provide signage, you might want to considering creating your own! Work with a Hawaii calligrapher and see how they can make it match your overall theme!

When vendors handle items or furniture that your guests may come into contact with, they can be asked to wear gloves or sanitize their hands before starting. This will help to keep items and furniture as sanitized as possible.

Voicing your concerns and ideas will always help everyone to be “on the same page” and in turn give you the peace of mind to have your wedding during such a scary time.

Let’s start with from the beginning of your wedding day! Before anyone arrives, we recommend keeping your getting ready space as empty as possible. That goes for items as well as people. The fewer items and people present, the less chance there is that the virus will spread. Once your hair and makeup vendor arrives, wearing a mask will help to keep everyone as safe as possible. Hair and Makeup artists have many professional standards when it comes to sanitation so in most cases, their professional standards are more stringent than Covid mandates. Depending on your comfort level, you can even have a bottle of hand sanitizer near the doorway so that each person who enters sanitizes their hands as soon as they enter.

Wedding Videographer — https://www.mikephamphotography.com

While you aren’t required to wear your masks during pictures, we do suggest to take a least 1 picture WITH it on to have as a reminder of your strength and perseverance to get married during such a challenging time. Be proud!

***NOTE: Most hotels take temperatures, ask vendors to sanitize their hands, and even checking vaccination cards or negative Covid test results as each vendor arrives. How great is that!

How you set up your ceremony seating can also make a difference even with outdoor ceremonies. A Hawaii wedding during Covid is the perfect time to let your creative juices flow!

Here are some additional ideas to help keep your wedding as safe as possible:

Serve your guests a plated meal (to avoid cross contamination at a buffet)
Have utensils wrapped in their napkin so utensils are touched by fewer hands
Provide personal sized bottles of hand sanitizer for your guests to sanitize their hands as often as possible
Using signage to let your guests know what you have planned!