Churches are open at 30% so why cant i have my wedding!!

I feel your frustration. I contacted my venue this week with regards to the recent update to see if we can use their grounds to hold my outdoor ceremony in August. It would have 30 people all together max and they said right now they cannot accommodate me.

Hopefully they come out with another update with more details for venues/churches shortly.

Its understandable the way you feel about this whole situation with the church holding more people for the Sunday service and weddings/funerals due to the situation of distancing. Your frustration is right to have given you made such a sacrifice to cut your guest list down and they still don't want to hold weddings.

I do also understand they want to respect the idea of others not getting sick and the limit to seat people according to what is set until the restrictions do rise further more. In the case of not having a church wedding, a religious Officiant may be an alternative to choose if you still want to have the wedding to go ahead. Consider this option as a secondary.

View quoted message

Religion holds major political clout and it's very obvious their lobbying has swayed certain political decisions. Let's face it, a typical religious session is essentially a form of lecture: you have theatre style seating with a speaker at the front talking. Why is this special allowance not given to other events within the vein of that format? Business/education conferences, special talks of particular interest, support groups, academic lectures, etc? But I digress as it's getting off topic.

I will say, some people have different reasons for wanting/needing to get married at a certain time, many of which are very valid. You may not agree with their choices, but I think we can all agree that covid has made what's supposed to be a joyous occasion into a very sucky situation.

I asked my priest this question and here is his response:
Why, as I am sure you will ask, is Sunday different than weddings/funerals? The Ontario Medical Officer explains: a regular Sunday gathering would for the most part be people from the same local region, whereas weddings and funerals draw people from not only the local region but other regions as well. An outbreak of COVID as a result of Sunday mass is more easily contained, while an outbreak at a funeral/wedding, with people from other regions, is far more difficult to contain and spreads the virus in a far broader manner. Clearly not something we wish to see happen.

All of the rules and restrictions seem so confusing, especially in different provinces. In NB they're now allowing indoor weddings of up to 50, or outdoor gatherings of 50 but it doesn't talk about receptions just "ceremonies".


I hope that you can have your ceremony in a church like you've planned for!

View quoted message

I'm rooting for you! I hope you can get married

View quoted message Ah! Thanks.
Yeah this whole thing sucks, but the poster sounds like a petulant child. I'm not religious, but church services are arguably more important than a wedding reception, particularly at this time. They offer support, community, and assistance.
Not to mention, church services are usually 1-2 hours where a wedding reception is 4-7. The amount if time in an enclosed space surely informs what kinds of activities are permissible. And if someone is still planning a wedding for 300 people this summer, I have very little sympathy. That person is delusional.

View quoted message The problem is telling 290 people after the ceremony they're not invited to dinner.

I don't understand the problem? Ceremonies can be 30% capacity, am I wrong? So a wedding ceremony in a 1000 seat church can be 300. Am I missing something? Is this not the same as services at the church? What's the problem?

View quoted message Yep. Receptions indoor and outdoor are capped at 10 people. But indoor ceremonies can have 30% capacity and outdoor can have 50 people. Nothing makes sense anymore but at least it’s progress and I feel some hope for my September wedding. I need 50% capacity indoor for reception and I’m golden.

I just saw on CP24 that they just made an announcement about weddings and funerals. They are increasing it to 30% capacity for indoor weddings and 50 people outdoor. We have to see for more information

Let's be truly honest, Canada's response to the pandemic had been pretty abysmal all things considering, especially Ontario, Quebec, and Alberta in particular.


You want to know why religious institutes can congregate en-mass? Political clout and lobbying. If you're looking for legitimate reasons based on actual science, you'll be severely disappointed.

View quoted message Yes we spent very similar time planning as well (two years). We haven't rescheduled yet, but the thought of that decision becoming closer is very very discouraging. Our hands are tied. Not only does planning a wedding create stress, add a pandemic to that.

View quoted message

Me too!! i already have a list of all my guests names emails phone numbers and addresses!! ugh its just so upsetting. we spent a year and a half making this day perfect. we have had everything done for MONTHS and now just to reschedule it all its sooo depressing

View quoted message I agree with you. I would have one right beside my guest book! If I could have a 100 people wedding it would only be close friends and just family. If a church can do it ( and you cannot guarantee that every parishioners will keep track) why can't we?

View quoted message

We could keep a log at our wedding. we have our families names and phone numbers. and aww i feel like those functions may not happen anytime soon

View quoted message

If thats the reason i can log everyones names and phone numbers lmao i have all that info. plus i know my family has been working from home and keep distancing from others. im so upset

I agree with you. It doesn't make sense to me. Our parish is asking us to keep a Mass Log. They want us to keep track of the days we have gone to church for contract tracing. My wedding is in October and we don't know what to do. We have our stag and bridal shower too and it's not looking good. If I could get my money back for those venues and just stick to a small wedding.

View quoted message Ya I didn’t think they did, but that was their reasoning behind it,so I am guessing they have made the approach for it the same as restaurants where they have to log everyone’s names and phone numbers for tracing purposes. I figured the same thing that with a wedding you would have a guest list etc, definitely agree with you, it doesn’t make much sense!

View quoted message

Churches dont log every single person going in. like my parish im registered but they know each week that i attend. unless theyre doing attendance at the door. with a wedding we know all of our guests and have a list of everyone. i just dont get it!!

I totally agree with you, doesn’t make a lot of sense, but I heard on Doug Ford’s conference something along the lines of how because churches have logs it’s easier to track who was there for contact tracing for COVID and due to the intimate setting of weddings the precautions are less likely to be followed and can contribute to the spread. Personally though on one hand I think it’s funny many can return back to work etc but can only gather in groups of 10, but on the other hand the rules in place (mask wearing, social distancing etc) isn’t really possible for a wedding and personally I’m not feeling pictures in masks lol