COVID Event Restrictions: NY and NJ
Photo by Lindsay Madden Photography
Welcome to Part II of our Covid-19 wedding update! The below is the most recent information that our New York wedding planners were able to gather on event restrictions in New York and New Jersey in order to stop/slow the spread of Covid-19. We researched the current guidelines to the best of our ability and they are current as of July 24th. As the situation is ever-changing, we will try to post updates periodically and as they are available to us. As always, our thoughts are with all couples who have had to postpone or cancel due to the pandemic. To full hearts AND dancefloors soon!
New York
Important Note: While New York has not put out a formal set of guidelines for weddings, we have put together to the best of our understanding, how events should be handled based on current NY event guidelines for other industries.
Indoor & Outdoor Wedding Ceremonies: Regions in Phase 4 are permitted to have no more than 33% of the maximum occupancy and no more than 50 guests total for outdoor ceremonies. A distance of at least 6 feet must be maintained amongst all individuals at all times unless safety or the core activity requires a shorter distance (couple being married, for example) or the individuals are members of the same household. Any time employees and/attendees must come within 6 feet of one another, they must wear acceptable face coverings unless they are members of the same household. If elevators are necessary at an event, only one individual is permitted at a time unless all individuals are wearing face coverings. If elevator is occupied by more than one person, occupancy must be kept under 50%. If singing is taking place, the required distance between individuals is 12 feet.
Indoor & Outdoor Wedding Receptions: New York’s regions are reopening in a 4-Phase Plan. All regions of NY are currently in Phase 4. Regions in Phase Four are permitted to have 50 or fewer guests in attendance.
Face Coverings: All individuals must wear face coverings when they are in public, within six feet from other individuals, or in a setting where they are unable to maintain six feet of distance from other individuals.
Out of Town Guests: Guests coming from the following states are required to quarantine for 14 days upon a arrival and complete the Traveler Health Form for face a $2,000 fine: Alaska, Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Mexico, Nevada, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin. Form Link: https://forms.ny.gov/s3/Welcome-to-New-York-State-Traveler-Health-Form
New Jersey
Indoor Wedding Ceremonies: Indoor wedding ceremonies may be held with 25% of a room’s capacity and no more than 100 guests (8/3 UPDATE: The maximum indoor gathering is now 25 guests, so this is 25% of a room’s capacity up to a maximum of 25 guests)
Indoor Wedding Receptions: Indoor wedding receptions may NOT be held and indoor wedding venues, catering halls and banquet halls remain closed in the state of New Jersey.
Outdoor Events & Weddings: Outdoor wedding ceremonies and receptions may be held with no more than 500 people at one time and social distancing (6 ft between guests) and face masks are required.
Other Event & Wedding Restrictions: Dance floors at all venues, indoor and outdoor, are closed due to the high risk of spreading COVID-19 in these spaces, where many individuals will be in close contact with one another.
Face Coverings: All attendees at both indoor and outdoor events are required to wear face coverings and stay six feet apart.
Out of Town Guests: Guests from the following states are asked to voluntarily quarantine for 14 days: Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin.