As of June 19, Marylanders can have weddings within the guidelines provided by the state. From outdoor weddings to indoor weddings, we’ll take you through everything you need to know to plan your COVID wedding safely.

While here at Walk the Aisle we share content, venues and resources that span the DMV area, we’re focusing on Maryland in this post because COVID laws differ from state to state. 

The Logistics

 Maryland is allowing weddings that adhere to the following guidelines:

• Indoor & outdoor weddings with social distancing measures

• Venues (including religious facilities) can host at 50 percent occupancy based on their fire code certificate

• Face masks are required for all staff at events at food service establishments, and any venue may require guests (over age two) to wear face masks.

• While there is no specific gathering limit, the order advises event hosts to adhere to the recommendations of the CDC.

• Outdoor ceremonies and receptions do not have capacity restrictions unless they are held at a facility that is subject to them.

• Events held at an individual’s home do not have capacity restrictions.

There’s a lot to unpack here, so let’s start with location. Outdoor weddings are the safest choice, as transmission of COVID outdoors is far less likely than indoors. Even if your wedding is at your home where there is no capacity restriction, try to keep the majority of the events outside.

If your wedding is indoors, check what their capacity is so you can get your guest list in order. Also, check what your venue’s mask policy is. There is mounting evidence that masks are the key to stopping transmission, so if your venue requires them, wear that mask!

*Please note: as the situation in each county changes rapidly, remember to continuously check your county’s restrictions about event capacities for both indoor and outdoor events, even when hosted at an individual’s home.*

The Guests

When compiling your guest list, there’s a few factors to consider. You’ll need to take into account the health and ages of your guests, the distance your guests live from your wedding location, and the number of people you’d like to invite. A pandemic isn’t exactly the time for a huge wedding with every single one of your friends and family—keep the guest list concise and simple with the people you love most. That being said, your great-grandparents, even your grandparents, might need to FaceTime or Zoom in for the ceremony for their health and safety. Out of state guests may need a virtual invite, too, to avoid travel and accommodation risks.

Keep the guest list short, sweet and local!

The License

Maryland is allowing couples the option of mailing their license application or submitting it at a courthouse drop box to help limit the spread of COVID-19. Instructions for submitting may change depending on the county in which you are obtaining your license, so make sure to read their instructions specifically.

Remember: get your marriage license in the county where your ceremony will take place!

The Food

Weddings often have buffet style food, which is a big no-no in COVID times. If your wedding is at a venue, try to set up individual plates of food with your caterer to be served while seated at distanced tables. Try to avoid a cocktail hour as well—the less mingling while mask-less, the better. If your wedding is at your home, individually plated food is a difficult goal. If you’re going buffet style for a home ceremony/reception, ensure that there’s plenty of hand sanitizer and hand-washing going around. With fellow adults, this should be easy, but for kids it might be best if their parents make up their plates. Ask your guests to take these precautions for their safety as well as the safety of others!

That’s our comprehensive rundown of how to have a Maryland COVID wedding safely, so you can celebrate with your friends and family and (hopefully) not create a superspreader event. If you and your guests follow CDC guidelines, you’ll likely be good to go.