Would you go to a wedding if vaccine was required?

I would not attend if that was a mandate. Where I live in a major city, only certain demographics are currently allowed to get the vaccine which is not even the bulk of the general population. In smaller cities that is not even the case.

In addition, it's a HIIPA/privacy violation.

As long as it’s easily accessible in my area I would go.

View Quoted Comment Unless the couple requesting the vaccine cards are guests’ medical providers it’s not a HIPPA violation.

Honestly i'd still want to know what safety precautions they'd take regardless.

i am already vaccinated so i'd likely go. i do also feel it's kind of odd requirement to send your vaccination card photo in though.

I would not go. Unless I was close with the couple I also would not watch the livestream consolation prize nor would I send a gift. It would probably damage my relationship with the person/couple as well.


I am a BM in an October wedding and holding my breath to see if they try something like this. She is one of my best friends so I would do what I could (negative test, etc) but requiring a shot is too far.

My biggest issue with this is that I currently can’t get the vaccine—I’m nowhere near eligible in my state, & expect it will take a while for the supply to be there for me to get it. I don’t mind sharing if I am vaccinated, & probs would share that whether or not I was asked. I would much rather know the other covid protocols in place—i.e. masks required when not eating or drinking, or at least when inside, would be a big one for me.

I’d go because I’m vaccinated but this is insanely intrusive. I disagree with making this a requirement to attend an event.

I'm already vaccinated because I work in healthcare, but I would not want to submit proof to attend a wedding. That's over-reaching and inappropriate to me.

No. Requiring a vaccine to attend is in poor taste for a number of reasons, in my opinion.

I am not anti-vaccine in any way, shape, or form whatsoever.

In fact, here's part of the reason: I'm currently unable to get the vaccine due to severe allergic reaction. I am actually the poster child for the whole "everyone who can get it should," because everyone else having it protects me as a person who is unable to get it.

But that's also exactly why requiring a vaccine is in poor taste. Am I then required to provide a doctor's note to couple proving that they advised against me getting the vaccine due to the likelihood of a life-threatening reaction?

I would happily provide proof of a negative COVID test, but that would be the limit for me.

I mean, straight up, that's a HIPAA violation.

That's someone's medical records.

And there are many reasons people can't get vaccinated - I have friends with MS, severe Lyme disease, and sometimes just straight up weird, unresolved health issues that currently prevent them from getting the vaccine. Demanding a vaccine card would force them to reveal these (often VERY private) struggles to you.

Many OBs won't clear pregnant people for the vaccine until at least 16 weeks. ...Which is usually before a lot of people announce.

I won't be going to any major events without getting the vaccine, but I need to be cleared by my doctor.

Nope. Are people actually doing this? No one is that special I’m sorry 😂😂

I personally don't understand the animosity towards this given what's going on in the world. In normal times, it would be incredibly rude and intrusive to ask anything of this sort. But weddings have been identified as incredibly high risk when it comes to COVID, and vaccines are the best way to ensure you won't be putting your guests at risk by gathering them together. What's more rude - telling someone they can only come if they're as protected as possible for literally their own safety, or having someone get sick (or god forbid die) because of something as unimportant as a wedding?

Couples who have made this decision (like myself) aren't happy about doing it. It sucks. It's awkward. It would be great if COVID just went away and we could have our wedding without having to worry about our guests' safety. But that's just not the reality right now. I didn't even have my wedding (was supposed to be the week COVID hit, canceled the week of) and people caught COVID from my wedding (they'd flown out before and caught it while traveling). And you know what? It really, really, REALLY sucked knowing someone was in the hospital because of something as trivial as our wedding. I'll do anything in my power to avoid that happening again. It just isn't worth it.

Instead of throwing vitriol at couples who are simply trying to keep their loved ones safe, perhaps think about why they've made the decision and what that says about them. It means they care about their guests' safety above their own wedding, It means they're willing to do something that might create avoidable drama because that drama is ultimately a better option than someone getting ill. We're all just trying to do the best we can right now. Please, have some compassion.

View Quoted Comment It's also important for wedding couples to understand that there are serious reasons why people can't/won't get a vaccine right now. There are many unknowns still. For people to demand "proof of vaccine or you can't come to my wedding" is very off putting to the point where people who have even been vaccinated don't want to come. Plus, not everyone can get a vaccine right now even if they wanted to because of the lack of doses available.


I keep seeing on this forum that it is the "ethical responsibility" to keep guests safe. If that's the case, why aren't keys/licenses collected at start of reception to prevent drinking and driving? Covid has been a part of our life for over a year now... amusement parks, schools, movie theaters, churches, sport stadiums, travel, indoor dining, concerts are all opening up and none of them require a vaccine.
I understand it is the wedding couples perogative to make whatever demands they want of their guests, but they need to also be fine with the response to those demands. A suggestion, rather than a demand, goes a long way.

View Quoted Comment

If you read my comment, you would see that I acknowledged the exact thing you mentioned. You're totally right, it is every individual's prerogative to be upset or not choose to come! Any couple who has made this decision has consciously decided that the health of their guests is more important than hurting a few people's feelings.

To answer your question about collecting keys... oy. While I cannot say for sure as I do not have the stats on me (and I'm not sure the stat exists), there is certainly no direct causal correlation between weddings specifically and drunk driving, in the same way as with COVID and weddings. The CDC has specifically warned against having medium to large events with unvaccinated individuals (see link), so then it naturally follows that if you are going to do this, vaccines should be at least a strong suggestion (as you mention). If not, then I sincerely hope these couples are prepared to pay the medical bills if anyone catches COVID from their wedding. They are knowingly putting their guests at risk without taking the suggested precautions.

All the places you mention as not requiring vaccines (amusement parks, movie theaters, etc.) with the exception of schools are all businesses, so OF COURSE they're not going to take such heavy precautions that aren't required by law. It works against their bottom line, they're not going to do what they aren't legally required to. Just because a private entity is doing something, that doesn't mean it's the smart/right thing to do - businesses work against the public's best interest every day!

Finally, while you're correct that couples could choose to simply strongly suggest vaccines, we all know that wouldn't actually mean anything. I had a friend who moved forward with their wedding this past Halloween and did not require masks, but just recommended them. And you know what? No one wore them, because it wasn't required. In cases like this, suggestions give the illusion of doing something but don't actually provide any protection.

TLDR: Yes, vaccinations are a touchy subject and it's everyone's right to feel differently. But as someone who has seen the impacts of COVID a wedding can have, I refuse to back down on this. I am secure in my decision, and refuse to put anyone at risk for something as trivial as my wedding.

I would go. It’s pretty much the standard in my state proof of vaccine or proof of neg covid test.

I would gladly go and feel much safer about attending. There's already talks about vaccine proof being required for travel or going to certain businesses. Who knows if they'll go through with it but that could be the near future.

View Quoted Comment It is not a HIPPA violation. HIPPA rules are between medical providers (and their subsidiaries like insurance companies) and a patient. Not between regular people, a venue, an airline company etc.

View Quoted Comment Thank you for saying this! I have such a big pet peeve about HIPAA being “used” improperly. It causes so much unnecessary angst—no matter what information someone wants or documentation someone asks for, you certainly don’t have to answer or provide! But they can ask it, no problem.

View Quoted Comment It is also one of my biggest pet peeve lately haha. If everyone was under HIPPA rules then we couldn’t speak about one family’s member health issues to another family member for example.

View Quoted Comment So for me, I think it’s responsible to only have guests come who are vaccinated but I think asking for a copy of their records is where it becomes invasive. If it were framed as “we ask that only vaccinated individuals attend” that’s be totally fine. Even appreciated! It’s the asking for proof that’s overstepping. That’d be like asking to send a copy of your ID to them to access the open bar.