Face Mask Weddings

2020 seems to be bringing about a new era for weddings and the way they will have to be conducted for the unforeseeable future. Everywhere in the world has their own rules and restrictions on weddings, which they will apply in their own time. But since I’m a British, Indian/Irish bride, I will be taking into account the planning for Irish or British Indian weddings.

Since August 2020, wedding receptions of up to 30 guests including staff and officials are allowed back on in the UK, with Ireland allowing a maximum of 50 guests including staff and officials. And although the UK guidelines “strongly encourage” staff and attendees to wear face coverings, wedding guests in Ireland must be wearing face masks when arriving at or leaving their tables; so in other words, at all times unless they’re sat at their table. This includes the bride and groom. The whole thing is a major change and will come as a huge culture shock for weddings, especially as I know Irish weddings to go on until the early hours of the morning but will now have to be finished by 11:30pm.

The message is simple: embrace the current situation, as although it is unfortunate, it is what it is and you must make the most of it!! It’s as the famous saying goes, “when life give you lemons, make lemonade!” Don’t let the pandemic get you down and change all the incredible plans you have for yourself in terms of your wedding, your married life, and your future. Be positive and use the situation to your advantage. And besides, think of all the money you will be saving on a smaller wedding! I understand it’s not the same, but our safety is paramount at this present time so encouraging your wedding guests to wear face masks is extremely important and not all doom and gloom.

This is your chance to re-invent weddings as we know them, be creative and use your innovation to take weddings into a new age for the unforeseeable future. Face masks are worn for our safety, but can also be turned into a huge wedding fashion statement for the bride, groom, and all the guests as bespoke face masks change the game. They can be used as part of the wedding branding, similar to the dress code discussed in my previous post, (click here to view 10 Ways to Brand your Wedding), but this time by adding the face mask to the dress code. Play around with it, request your guests to wear specific colours to match your themes, while your bridesmaids and groomsmen have their own customised masks. Alternatively, have all of the face masks made with your wedding monogram stitched onto it, and/or the name of each guest stitched onto it as a fun way of re-creating the place names at tables that can also be taken home as wedding favours. The world really is your oyster at the moment. You could also use the face masks to create a fun and entertaining game of “what am I?” for each table, where every mask has a picture or word of something that the person wearing it has to ask the rest of the table questions to find out what it is; meanwhile, all the other guests at the table can only answer with a yes or no.

Above all, you will be adhering to government guidelines and maintaining the safety of you and your guests during these difficult pandemic times. But also having fun with face masks and making them into an entertaining and unforgettable aspect of your wedding.

Looking for a bespoke face mask? Take a look at “Mary Forde Dressmaker” Facebook site for examples, design ideas, and requests!