It looks like Australia will have to deal with restrictions and lockdowns of varying degrees for a while. This means that waiting for that perfect moment for your wedding and wedding reception may not be feasible — and that you have a great opportunity now, as restaurants want your business and have become more familiar with setting up wedding receptions that meet current state requirements. As you plan your wedding and reception, you'll need to gather some information first so that you can match your plans to the wedding venue at which you want to hold the party.

The Number of Guests and the Square Footage of the Venue

While you might not know the final number of guests who will attend your wedding and reception, you'll have an idea from your invitation list. Venues for weddings have to have enough room to accommodate those people while accounting for social distancing. Even if you know your guests aren't going to stay apart from each other at the actual wedding and reception, you have to have that space available. Get the number of guests, actual or estimated, and look for venues with the proper square footage.

The Vaccination Status of Your Guests and the Wedding Party

As vaccinations roll out, restrictions are changing. Unvaccinated people who don't have an exemption face different restrictions than fully vaccinated people or those who have a legal exemption. This means that you'll need to be aware of the vaccination status of your guests and encourage them to get vaccinated before your wedding if they want to take part in the main ceremony and reception. Typically restrictions mean that a big wedding reception would be a no-go if your guests are unvaccinated. Luckily a number of state governments see light at the end of the tunnel regarding getting people vaccinated.

Table and Seat Spacing

As you check out venues, ask about table and seat spacing. Does the venue place tables at pre-pandemic distances from each other? Are tables separated by dividers? How many people sit at a typical table? Even if all the attendees are fully vaccinated and continue to wear masks, you will want some space between you all as long as the government hasn't given the OK to stop distancing.

Restaurants and wedding planners have had several months now to work out ways to hold beautiful weddings within the restrictions issued by state governments. Start calling now to find out more about each venue.