OP here to report back on last month’s wedding. Happy to say that among nearly 200 guests and about 50 staff and vendors, NOT ONE CASE OF COVID was reported to us. I think six factors contributed to this result:
- Testing. We asked everyone to take a rapid antigen test the morning of the wedding.
- Advance Precautions. Many close friends and family quarantined or took full precautions (masking with N-95 in public indoor spaces, testing before getting together with people outside household) for two weeks prior to event.
- Outdoor Time. Ceremony and cocktail hour were held outdoors, reducing the total amount of indoor time.
- Staff Masking. We provided KN-95 masks for waitstaff and bartenders. To us, it was not enough to ask them to wear a “mask.” We provided non-counterfeit KN-95s.
- Ventilation. This was key. After the cocktail hour, the sit-down dinner/dancing was indoors for four hours. We chose a venue that had completely revamped it ventilation in response to covid. Air changed six times per hour, which is the recommended rate for restaurants. This means that the entire volume of air in the room was completely replaced by outdoor air six times every hour.
- Luck. Can’t underestimate the extent to which good fortune came into play.
Thanks for all your input and the robust discussion!