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THE REVERE ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2021 Page 11 What to keep in mind when planning or rescheduling a wedding during the pandemic T here are always a lot of moving parts when it comes to planning a wedding. Add a pandemic to the mix and it can easily feel overwhelming. That said, many couples have proven that with a little ingenuity and fl exibility and a few precautions, it is possible to pull off a beautiful and safe wedding, even in the face of extremely challenging circumstances. You, too, can make a success of your wedding during COVID-19. To do so, the Better Business Bureau (BBB) recommends the following tips. • Follow government guidelines. Don’t go with your gut feeling when making important decisions on how to keep your guests safe. In the United States, read the COVID-19 “Considerations for Events and Gatherings” web page of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for guidance to help you make wise decisions for yourself and your guests. Don’t forget that each U.S. state and Canadian province might have its own guidelines and restrictions on quarantine, travel and gatherings. Use the CDC’s directory to fi nd the link to your state’s Department of Health for the latest news on restrictions regarding travel and social events. • Come up with a COVID-19 plan. You want your wedding to be memorable and fun, but most importantly, you want it to be safe for you and your guests. Right away, decide how to protect the most important people in your life by setting up some clear guidelines, and then stick to them. Take the time to sit down with your partner and make tough decisions about social distancing, how many guests to invite and whether to wear masks. If you need to dramatically reduce your guest list, think about what workarounds you might be able to implement. • Come up with a “Plan B.” Despite your best laid plans, things may still go awry with ever-changing restrictions. Come up with a Plan B you really love. For example, many couples have chosen to have a tiny backyard wedding with immediate family members while planning a larger gathering for later. Some couples who don’t want to skip the big wedding have decided to get legally married now and celebrate later or simply postpone their wedding. • Hire an event planner. Event planners can be invaluable at this time. They have open lines of communication with wedding vendors and venues; they keep local restrictions in mind and likely already have experience planning a COVID-19 wedding. Get recommendations from friends and family who have used a wedding planner in the past, or look up wedding planners on BBB.org to fi nd local event planners who run BBB Accredited Businesses. Be sure to research each company’s business rating and read consumer reviews as well. • Always read the contracts. Reading contracts is critical during a pandemic. Fortune.com reminds brides- and groomsto-be that in today’s fl uid situation, it’s important to check with vendors and venues to fi nd out “what the cancellation and rescheduling policy is, when you have to make the decision, and whether your deposit will transfer over to the new date.” • Communicate with your venue and vendors. With fl orists, photographers, DJs, caterers, venue staff and many other vendors to take into account, it’s important to make sure everyone is on the same page when it comes to your big day. Only hire vendors who have good communication skills and talk about the big “what-ifs” up front. What will the vendor do to ensure everyone’s safety? What is their reschedule policy if you or your partner are exposed to COVID-19? What is the vendor’s backup plan if they are exposed to COVID-19? What will happen to your deposit if governmental restrictions force you to reschedule? Make sure you understand and feel comfortable with a vendor’s answers before you hire. • Order everything you need well in advance. The pandemic has aff ected shipping times for many companies, so if you’ll be doing the bulk of your purchases online or at stores that need to place an order, start early. Experts recommend ordering wedding dresses, for example, at least six months early, which will allow plenty of time for a return, exchange and/or alterations. • Give guests safe gifting options. An online gift registry will allow guests to purchase gifts from the safety of their home and ship them straight to yours. If you postpone or reschedule your wedding and you are already registered at a store, WeddingWire.com off ers excellent advice on registry etiquette during COVID-19. • Go virtual. One way to keep your guest list large without endangering anyone’s health is to host a virtual wedding. Virtual parties are gaining popularity as the pandemic drags on and can be a fun and safe way to celebrate your marriage with the ones you love. • Keep your guests in the know. Let your guests know about any changes to your wedding plans as soon as possible. In addition, be completely transparent about the number of guests who will attend your wedding as well as the safety precautions you’ll be implementing during the ceremony and reception. This will put your guests at ease and give them the information they need as they decide whether to attend. • Stay positive. The pandemic hasn’t been easy on anyone, so if you start feeling down when you must change your plans yet again, know that you aren’t alone. According to The Knot’s Official Guidebook for COVID-19 Wedding Help web page, 35 percent of couples who had upcoming weddings have postponed to 2021 or later. Remember, your wedding is just the beginning – you still have plenty of meaningful milestones ahead that you will be able to celebrate with your friends and family. Baker-Polito Administration Announces Plans for Continued Reopening Massachusetts will advance to Step 2 of Phase III on March 1; Phase IV planned to start March 22 BOSTON—The Baker-Polito be considered for an award. to Administration announced on Thursday that Massachusetts would advance to Step 2 of Phase III of the state’s reopening plan on Monday, March 1, and also announced its plan to transition to Step 1 of Phase IV on Monday, March 22. With public health metrics continuing to trend in a positive direction, including drops in average daily COVID cases and hospitalizations, and vaccination rates continuing to increase, the Administration is taking steps to continue to reopen the Commonwealth’s economy. The Administration also announced more than $49 million in awards to 1,108 additional small businesses in the eighth round of COVID-19 relief grants administered by the Massachusetts Growth Capital Corporation (MGCC). These new awards are the result of work by MGCC to engage with applicants that meet sector and demographic priorities but are missing certain documents that are necessary Phase III, Step 2: On May 18, 2020, the BakerPolito Administration released a four-phased plan to reopen the economy conditioned on sustained improvements in public health data. As of October, 2020, the reopening had proceeded to Step 2 of Phase III of the plan. On December 13, 2020, in response to an increase in new COVID-19 infections and hospitalizations following the Thanksgiving holiday, the Commonwealth returned to Step 1 of Phase III, reducing capacities across a broad range of sectors and tightening several other workplace restrictions. Since the beginning of this year, key public health data, such as new cases and hospitalizations, have been closely monitored and a signifi cant decline has been documented, allowing for a return to Step 2 of Phase III, eff ective March 1 for all cities and towns. This includes the following updates to businesses, activities and capacities: • Indoor performance venues such as concert halls, theaters, and other indoor performance spaces will be allowed to reopen at 50% capacity with no more than 500 persons • Indoor recreational activities with greater potential for contact (laser tag, roller skating, trampolines, obstacle courses) will be allowed to reopen at 50% capacity • Capacity limits across all sectors with capacity limits will be raised to 50% and exclude employees • Restaurants will no longer have a percent capacity limit and will be permitted to host musical performances; six-foot social distancing, limits of six people per table and 90 minute limits remain in place Residents must continue to wear masks to prevent the spread of COVID-19, and are encouraged to avoid contact outside of their immediate households. The Travel Advisory and other public health orders remain in eff ect. Gathering Changes and Phase IV Start Provided public health metrics continue to improve, effective on March 22, all communities in Massachusetts will move into Step 1 of Phase IV of the state’s reopening plan. This will open a range of previously closed business sectors under tight capacity restrictions that are expected to be adjusted over time if favorable trends in the public health data continue. Eff ective on the planned advancement to Step 1 of Phase IV, the following industries will be permitted to operate at a strict 12% capacity limit after submitting a plan to the Department of Public Health (DPH): • Indoor and outdoor stadiums • Arenas • Ballparks Also effective on March 22, gathering limits for event venues and in public settings will increase to 100 people indoors and 150 people outdoors. Outdoor gatherings at private residences and in private backyards will remain at a maximum of 25 people, with indoor house gatherings remaining at 10 people. Additionally, dance fl oors will be permitted at weddings and other events only, and overnight summer camps will be allowed to operate this coming summer. Exhibition and convention halls may also begin to operate, following gatherings limits and event protocols. Other Phase IV sectors must continue to remain closed. COVID-19 Business Relief Grants Today, an additional 1,108 businesses are receiving COVID-19 relief grants totaling more than $49 million in awards to help with expensREOPENING | SEE Page 17

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