Socially Distant Weddings 2022 Monterey
**As of January, 2022, weddings are allowed with few restrictions. There is currently no indoor mask mandate, and not one for outdoor weddings. As the owners we are both vaccinated and boosted. Some historical entries related to the pandemic can be found below**
April 15, 2020
My mother would always counsel me to not worry and just work through any problems. With weddings being postponed due to Stay at Home orders, what has kept me up nights (sorry, mom) is thinking about all of our couples who have booked packages and made plans with us. If the Stay at Home order is lifted, as expected, on May 4, will we be allowed to host smaller weddings (our specialty) following CDC guidelines (6' apart, guests wearing masks, using hand sanitizer etc..)?
What will a socially distant wedding look like? I spent hours looking online to see what industry experts, journalists and couples are talking about. You know what -- not much! There have been quite a few stories on "Zoom" weddings, but I am hoping that those couples understand their marriage won't be legal (at least in California and just about every other area in the United States).
Let's fast forward to May 4 and your wedding is planned for the month of May and you have 15 guests. What may have to be done:
- Double check that the venue you selected (including outdoor recreational areas) are open. Some venues decided to just close through May 31.
- If social gatherings are limited to 10 people, which guests will you need to contact and let them know you needed to make this even more intimate? Believe me, they will understand.
- What about your reception? Will you have more of a dinner for two at a local restaurant? If so, schedule a wedding celebration with family and friends back home when more restrictions are lifted (and share your wedding photos with them).
- With the requirement of being 6' apart, you may opt to forgo chairs and instead have everyone stand.
- For your photographer, if you take a group photo, make sure they have the proper equipment to take those photos (e.g. since they will be standing further back than usual, proper exterior lighting, a tall ladder, wide angle lens etc..)
- For everyone's safety, guests should bring and wear masks (and of course, not shake hands).
- With the wedding license, have one witness sign (unless a confidential license) in the appropriate spaces. The license should be handed to the officiant who will fill in their portion and mail it in (so you don't have to touch it again). The witness should bring their own pen.
This is a lot to think about BUT the most important thing to remember is that you are getting married to the love of your life. If you are like me, this crisis has helped me to realize how important my spouse is to me. "For better or for worse, in good times and in bad times" has become a more definitive phrase than I could have ever imagined. Relax the best you can and let's take this one day at a time.
Remember, we are here for you. We love what we do and look forward to helping you on your wedding day.
Kindly,
Brian Borgia, Owner
Weddings in Monterey
P.S. Scroll below to check for updates as we receive more information/updates from our state and local government.
May 26, 2020
New information continues to come through when it comes to COVID-19. Here is the latest that we know:
- For Monterey County, we currently have 7 people in hospitals and a total of 8 deaths. Our county has been very fortunate but, of course, we need to be vigilant.
- Several of the major hotels, notably the Pebble Beach Resorts and Hyatt Hotels, have said that they anticipate opening June 15th, which would signal Stage 3. Weddings are also part of Stage 3.
- Monterey County is currently requiring face coverings to be worn. CDC guidelines suggest that if you cannot socially distance (6' apart), you should be wearing some type of a mask.
- The CA State Parks in our area have mentioned that beach areas may be back open for small weddings as of June 7.
- Most of California is now at the end of Stage 2 (Monterey County should be in that same position by May 30th).
June 2, 2020
Our latest information points to weddings being allowed beginning June 12. We are not aware of any limits on guest counts but the rumor is 50 or less or 25 or less. Hotels in the area are also reopening on June 12 and restaurants allowing for some dine-in opportunities.
July 15, 2020
California has closed up some indoor places of business but under the Religious and Cultural Celebrations guidelines, we are allowed to offer our weddings with 10 or fewer people on beaches and in some parks and cliffs. Also, please check out our hotel elopement packages (all outdoor ceremonies). Restaurants are back to outdoor dining options only (for an elopement, some couples are opting for a nice suite, having a table set up, and ordering in.
April 15, 2020
My mother would always counsel me to not worry and just work through any problems. With weddings being postponed due to Stay at Home orders, what has kept me up nights (sorry, mom) is thinking about all of our couples who have booked packages and made plans with us. If the Stay at Home order is lifted, as expected, on May 4, will we be allowed to host smaller weddings (our specialty) following CDC guidelines (6' apart, guests wearing masks, using hand sanitizer etc..)?
What will a socially distant wedding look like? I spent hours looking online to see what industry experts, journalists and couples are talking about. You know what -- not much! There have been quite a few stories on "Zoom" weddings, but I am hoping that those couples understand their marriage won't be legal (at least in California and just about every other area in the United States).
Let's fast forward to May 4 and your wedding is planned for the month of May and you have 15 guests. What may have to be done:
- Double check that the venue you selected (including outdoor recreational areas) are open. Some venues decided to just close through May 31.
- If social gatherings are limited to 10 people, which guests will you need to contact and let them know you needed to make this even more intimate? Believe me, they will understand.
- What about your reception? Will you have more of a dinner for two at a local restaurant? If so, schedule a wedding celebration with family and friends back home when more restrictions are lifted (and share your wedding photos with them).
- With the requirement of being 6' apart, you may opt to forgo chairs and instead have everyone stand.
- For your photographer, if you take a group photo, make sure they have the proper equipment to take those photos (e.g. since they will be standing further back than usual, proper exterior lighting, a tall ladder, wide angle lens etc..)
- For everyone's safety, guests should bring and wear masks (and of course, not shake hands).
- With the wedding license, have one witness sign (unless a confidential license) in the appropriate spaces. The license should be handed to the officiant who will fill in their portion and mail it in (so you don't have to touch it again). The witness should bring their own pen.
This is a lot to think about BUT the most important thing to remember is that you are getting married to the love of your life. If you are like me, this crisis has helped me to realize how important my spouse is to me. "For better or for worse, in good times and in bad times" has become a more definitive phrase than I could have ever imagined. Relax the best you can and let's take this one day at a time.
Remember, we are here for you. We love what we do and look forward to helping you on your wedding day.
Kindly,
Brian Borgia, Owner
Weddings in Monterey
P.S. Scroll below to check for updates as we receive more information/updates from our state and local government.
May 26, 2020
New information continues to come through when it comes to COVID-19. Here is the latest that we know:
- For Monterey County, we currently have 7 people in hospitals and a total of 8 deaths. Our county has been very fortunate but, of course, we need to be vigilant.
- Several of the major hotels, notably the Pebble Beach Resorts and Hyatt Hotels, have said that they anticipate opening June 15th, which would signal Stage 3. Weddings are also part of Stage 3.
- Monterey County is currently requiring face coverings to be worn. CDC guidelines suggest that if you cannot socially distance (6' apart), you should be wearing some type of a mask.
- The CA State Parks in our area have mentioned that beach areas may be back open for small weddings as of June 7.
- Most of California is now at the end of Stage 2 (Monterey County should be in that same position by May 30th).
June 2, 2020
Our latest information points to weddings being allowed beginning June 12. We are not aware of any limits on guest counts but the rumor is 50 or less or 25 or less. Hotels in the area are also reopening on June 12 and restaurants allowing for some dine-in opportunities.
July 15, 2020
California has closed up some indoor places of business but under the Religious and Cultural Celebrations guidelines, we are allowed to offer our weddings with 10 or fewer people on beaches and in some parks and cliffs. Also, please check out our hotel elopement packages (all outdoor ceremonies). Restaurants are back to outdoor dining options only (for an elopement, some couples are opting for a nice suite, having a table set up, and ordering in.