St. Louis Wedding Celebrant: Autumn 2020

Mask ON!

One of the many factors couples have to consider in planning a wedding during this pandemic is the wearing of masks.  For some, wearing or not wearing a mask has become a political statement. The medical experts among us say that it is a proven way to reduce COVID-19 transmission rates. Since I accept this as a good health practice, I choose to go with the “abundance of caution” approach.

The bottom line for me? The safety of all the ceremony participants, as well as our loved ones at home.

The following is an edited copy of an email exchange with one of my couples from this past August.

Hi Ruth!

I just wanted to check-in and make sure that you would still be able to do our ceremony in October? We are planning to have it and have a backup plan just in case our venue has to close.

Thanks!

Autumn Couple 2020

Hi, A. Couple.

It is good to hear from you!  Thanks for checking-in.

Yes, I am still doing ceremonies, (and) I’m glad that you’ve got a back-up plan because the ground is going to keep shifting under our feet for a while and anyone planning an event these days needs to be flexible.

All the best,

Ruth

Ruth,

So glad to hear that you will still be able to officiate for us. Are you comfortable with officiating the ceremony without a mask on? Just thinking ahead for pictures and whatnot. We are leaving the choice up to our guests as to what they feel comfortable with, but we would like our main ceremony pictures to not be filled with them.

Thanks!

Autumn Couple 2020

Hi, A. Couple.

I can appreciate your preference to not have a lot of people wearing masks in your ceremony pictures. But I have been wearing a mask for all ceremonies I’ve officiated since the beginning of the pandemic. I feel a responsibility to my husband, and to anyone else I’m in contact with, especially at weddings. Officiants do a lot of talking at ceremonies. Without the mask, if I am unknowingly carrying the virus, I could easily pass it on to you, your families, and friends. And that is one wedding present you do not want.

All the best,

Ruth

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