Asking guests to take a covid Test to attend wedding? - Responsible or Rude?

As a healthcare worker testing people for covid daily, it is almost impossible to get a test in the US if you are asymptomatic, heck it's hard even if you have symptoms. Unless you can find a way to get everyone tested on your own schedule and dime I don't see how this would be feasible

I don't think that's viable. i mean i agree with taking precautions like if you feel sick in any way then definitely do not come! and definitely social distance and have sanitizer and masks available if guests need, etc.

it's not even super viable for everyone to get tested right now anyway you know? and the results might actually take some time to get. my friend got tested recently and it took 5 days to get the results. i mean that's fine and all but it's not really viable for everyone to be able to go and get it done.

It sounds like a good idea but I think that it would not actually work. Who is going to go out of their way to get tested just to go to a wedding? Maybe family?? Though, you can still get tested and be cleared but catch Covid after anyway.

Not feasible. What if you have cases of false negatives? The covid precautions card you mentioned is definitely a good idea, but I don’t think the required testing is a good idea en masse. The time to get test back, the actual test itself is awful uncomfortable, and there is no guarantee that even after the test comes back they might catch it elsewhere (airport if traveling, etc.) in the days before the wedding.

I don’t think this is a reasonable request to make at all. Like many others have said, it’s still hard to get a test done if you’re asymptomatic. If you want to enforce masks or even take temperatures upon arrive, that’s one thing. I really don’t think a nurse is going to get a guest a test ordered for the reason of their friend is requiring it in order to attend the wedding.

I think that would be difficult depending on where you live. I live in a place where anyone can get a free test even if you don’t have symptoms but not all states are like that. And they would have to not be around anyone else after getting their negative test result.

Yeah, good luck to your friend. In many states it’s impossible to get a test without symptoms. And even if you test negative, that doesn’t mean much. They could contract the virus on their way home from the testing center or from the front desk attendant at the venue.

Like others have stated, I applaud the safety factor. However in reality, and from my understanding, you have to basically be dying to get a test or have someone living with you test positive. I think the requirements are something like shortness of breath and 103 temp for 2 or more consecutive days are the two main ones.

View Quoted Comment I just went to a local clinic and did one this week - I just said I was going to see a family member that was immune compromised and no issues!

View Quoted Comment To add, others I know have done as well - we are in Chicago as a reference.

Like others have said, I think it's a good idea in theory if testing was that widely available and easily accessible - but it doesn't seem feasible quite yet!

I'd focus on the social distancing guidelines and safety measure you can put in place at your wedding and share that information on your website as well. Temperature checks and / or social distancing wristbands are other ideas you could explore as well!

View Quoted Comment In South Carolina we don't have enough tests for everyone so limiting to those with symptoms

Good in theory, but not feasible. Each person would have to self isolate/quarantine at their homes after their test for 3 days until the wedding as they could easily pick up COVID in those 3 days. That is what we require for outpatient surgeries. Maybe family/close friends would be willing to do this, but would be very hard for people who work. I also am not sure about pricing where you live, but people would also likely have to pay for a portion of their test since they would be outpatients/asymptomatic. I believe around me (Ohio) to get a test electively/without a doctors order it is around $60.

We are opting to ask everyone (our wedding is in July and will just be small with family) to wear masks when not socially distant. I agree with the PPs, I’ve had several family members be notified they came into contact with someone with Covid and were not ordered tests because they did not have symptoms.


For photos we won’t and from what I’ve read as long as people are careful (like cough into your elbow, etc) and the unmasked exposure is only a few mins it should be okay.

Asking to have everyone tested is impractical for many reasons and can come across as rude. It's not her place to try to enforce it either.


Wear a mask, keep your distance and go from there. Those who are uncomfortable will stay home.

I agree with a lot of previous posts, my FH was experiencing symptoms and a doctor didn’t think it was enough to test him. We ended up going to one of the free convention centers to get tested and sat in a FIVE hour line to get swabbed. We’ve been waiting roughly a week for results. Getting tested is pretty difficult contingent on the state. In FL it’s like jumping through burning hoops!

1. Getting tested a few days before they will be unlikely to receive results in time.

2. Tests are not available to everyone, especially if you don't have symptoms.

3. False negatives.

Besides being completely impractical, there’s no way I’m tracking COVID results along with RSVPs too 😂. But seriously, if it ever comes to that, I’d definitely have to elope.

I would say no to this one. the problem with this is it could take up to 10 days to get the result of the test and u can literally get infected 10 minutes after taking test. imagine walking out of the test site, going to a store or restaurant and getting infected- it can happen. Im a healthcare worker we get tested once a week and dont get the results until at least a week later by which we could already be re-infected. just tell people not to come if they dont feel well and encourage masks and social distancing

You are not crazy for thinking of at least asking people - we are thinking the same thing. We live in Miami and there is a lot of testing, I even know people that get tested weekly here. It's free and it's not required that you have symptoms. I was able to get my results the same day. So I say it all depends on where you live and how comfortable you feel asking/suggesting guests to do so.