Ohio Allows Wedding Receptions Up to 300 Guests Starting June 1

Ohio Allows Wedding Receptions Up to 300 Guests Starting June 1

Ohio wedding photographers, rejoice! Maybe. Lt. Gov. Jon Husted announced starting June 1, 2020, the state of Ohio will allow weddings of up to 300 guests. This announcement is part of Governor Mike DeWine's administration's ongoing strategy to ease up on social distancing rules set at the start of the outbreak. 

In his announcement, he said:

Catering and banquet centers will be allowed to reopen under the same rules as restaurants and bars. That includes six-foot distancing between tables and no congregating. We recognize that there are a lot of weddings and events that are important to people's lives that can and should go on. We are just asking that it be done safely– as safely as possible– to avoid the spread of the virus.

For reference, some guidelines that restaurants and bars must abide by include:

  • Minimum of six-foot distance between groups and tables
  • Increased frequency of surface cleaning, handwashing, and sanitizing
  • Wearing face coverings
  • Closing "open congregate areas" that aren't "necessary for the preparation and service of food or beverages" like games, dancing, and entertainment

That final guideline will definitely make for a really fun wedding reception.

So, wedding photographers in the state of Ohio, what are your thoughts on this new announcement? Will you be reopening your business? Or do you think it's still too soon after the coronavirus's peak to put yourself out there again? 

Lead image by Álvaro CvG / Unsplash

Laura Ersoy's picture

Laura Ersoy is a portrait and music photographer based in the New York/New Jersey area. She currently works as a Digital Designer, while also serving as Editor-in-Chief for the independent music & culture publication, EUPHORIA. Magazine.

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5 Comments

No one commenting yet? Ok I'll jump in. I don't shoot weddings but I worked hundreds as a musician.

This is totally, absolutely nuts and will likely result in sickness and even death for some of those "loved ones" who got guilted and arm-twisted into attending totally non-essential events.

Anyone who's done weddings knows that those rules will be compromised right from the start and will go completely out the window after the first hour when the liquor is flowing, people are tired of shouting across tables, and the kids are running around the room.

I am ready to be flamed.

Covid-19 round two. Ding, ding.

I do photograph weddings and I do not see any reason why they could not be happening again as we were used to before. In fact humans are only able to build their immune system only if they experience certain sicknesses and slowly build up their immune system to get stronger by going through them. There are big warnings from doctors around the world that by staying inside, separated and covered behind masks from daily life experience is not going to be to our benefits but the opposite. Cases of tuberculosis will rapidly grow, humans become weaken due to this and please be aware vaccination is good for certain sicknesses but as you already know even the flue shots do not work so do not think there is suddenly a golden vaccine for this virus! Try to keep on 6 ft distancing in countries like India, China, Thailand or in fact any bigger city around the world like New York. Try to keep kids at schools away 6 feet!!! Haha we have 3 kids at home so do no try to tell us it is possible... It is not and we are fine with that. There is more people dying daily from hunger then any viruses combine !!! That is not on the first pages of newspapers and TV presentations of presidents and prime ministers.! What a hypocrite society we live in! Stay healthy , do your part in precaution but do not let your rights to be taken away and for sure do not believe everything you see on TV in prime time offered to you on a platter without questioning it and thinking seriously about it if it is truth what you are being told or NOT! Happy shooting everyone, here in BC no big events are allowed for now so we are enjoying gardening and homeschooling children and thanks GOD and his saying :" DO NOT BE AFRAID " we are doing alright :)

It's just like the flu. More people die from heart attack, car accidents...etc. SO REOPEN NOW!!!! God will protect the believers.

Church and State doesn't matter. Y'all sheep just love giving away your rights.