Phase 2: Elopements and Small Wedding Guidelines in Washington State.
On June 19, 2020 the Governor of Washington announced that non-religious wedding ceremonies could occur if they follow the same Phase 1–3 guidelines as those required for religious services. In addition, on June 23, 2020, the Governor gave the order for all people in the state to wear face coverings when in public, both indoors and outdoors. Officiants and ministers are considered business professionals making these rules mandatory for all services they provide.
Pierce County and surrounding areas have moved into Phase 2 of the states plan to reopen in response to the COVID-19 virus. During this phase, there are some looseing of restrictions, but there are few rules that are important for couples, wedding parties, planners and guests. The following lists some of the important guidelines to keep in mind while planning your small wedding or elopement during phase 2:
- Wedding indoor venues must be at 25% of capacity. For a small wedding this means that you will need to take into consideration the square footage of the space you are planning to use for your wedding. Most public venues will have the maximum capacity posted for you, but you should ask the venue staff when you book it. For example, if the venue you plan on using can accommodate 55 people, then you can only have 13 people plus the staff at…