Discouraged over low attendance...due to Covid?

Unfortunately, there is still a pandemic and it seems to be getting bad again. Maybe some people just don't feel comfortable attending an event with that high of a guest count. I wouldn't take it personal though.

I went through this too, so I just want to say it sucks and I understand.

We invited 190 people, had 100 RSVP yes, and around 90 attend. None of my family came, and only one of the ten or so coworkers (plus spouses, so around 20 people) I had invited. We had to track down so many people for RSVPs.

Our wedding was in April, when things looked like they were clearing up. The reception was outdoors, the ceremony indoors in a church that would have held 10x the number of people in normal times. All of this information was on the website. People will say it was covid, but several people went to another wedding with absolutely no precautions a couple months later.

To be completely honest, I do feel like it changed my relationship with some of the people who didn't come and especially those who didn't RVSP. I am the type of person to "show up" for friends and family and so for that to not be reciprocated left me feeling like it isn't worth it for me to make the effort for them.

But there is a silver lining. With the exception of the # of guests, some weather stuff (it was very windy, which I guess helped with air circulation!), and normal things that go wrong with weddings, I can say the wedding was exactly like I wanted it to be. We put a great deal of work into it for 2 years and I think it really turned out well. Yours will too!!

Don’t take it personally, you are not alone ☺️ We have a lower acceptance rate than originally expected as well, but honestly there are so many reasons related to Covid beyond just health concerns: less financial security, numerous rescheduled events blocking up calendars, fatigue over postponed celebration, and even general reluctance to travel/ commit to things after more than a year without. It helps me to remember that while I make a very strong effort to show up for friends, we have had to miss weddings even before covid and it had nothing to do with the couple! That said, we just upgraded our cocktail hour food and welcome party and are pumped that with fewer people we will get to spend more time with our closest friends - there is a silver lining!

I feel you, we are in a similar situation ourselves and also postponed from last fall. However, only one couple has expressed feeling uncomfortable attending a large gathering due to covid. The others have cited reasons that feel very much like a cop out especially after expressing their excitement about attending our wedding for the past 2 years. I know we’re not supposed to take it personally, but I understand feeling bummed and slighted especially after the hell that covid couples have gone through to be able to have as safe as possible a wedding with the people we care about. There are silver linings, and I’m trying to focus on them too right now. It’s hard when it feels like relationships have changed because of this.

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YES! Exactly - almost no one has actually cited COVID fears, so it ends up seeming like a lot of lame excuses.