As the coronavirus outbreak spreads in the U.S. and around the world, those planning their weddings may be wondering whether to cancel their nuptials or honeymoons.
The outbreak shows no signs of stopping anytime soon: Worldwide, more than 110,500 people have been infected, and more than 4,000 have died. In the U.S., more than 750 cases have been reported.
Between guests traveling, dozens, if not hundreds, of people in an enclosed space and honeymoon travel plans, the coronavirus is likely to affect couples planning their wedding.
"We're trying to look forward in time and guess what the situation would be," said Gregory Poland, director of Mayo Clinic's Vaccine Research Group. "That's a really tough thing to do."
Officials say it might not be time just yet to cancel your wedding, but it depends on multiple factors.
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My wedding is in the summer. Should I cancel or postpone?
Ultimately, it depends.
Amesh Adalja, a researcher at Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, says there's not a "one-size-fits-all approach" to figuring out if you should cancel an event.
"It's going to be everywhere soon, and if you're in a town or city with this virus, it may not be very impactful to cancel (your wedding)," he said.
Poland is even more certain: "With the information we have right now, I wouldn't stop a summer wedding," he said.
If you do decide to postpone your wedding, Lauren Kay, the executive editor of the wedding planning website The Knot, suggests some best practices for letting your guests know in advance.
Send printed cards, personal notes or call them individually to let them know, Kay says. If you have a website set up for your wedding guests, update that, too.
Should I invite people from affected areas?
Poland advises to not invite anyone from an area where the outbreak is severe, such as China, Iran and Washington state.
This may be an instance when postponing a wedding is necessary, especially if a parent, grandparent or another important guest lives in one of those areas.
But here's something else to consider: Adalja points out that given the rate of community spread, the coronavirus probably will be everywhere soon. Come your wedding day, if most of your guests live in affected areas, there may not be any reason to disinvite anyone.
What if my area's affected; should I cancel?
There's no firm answer to this, and Adalja says it depends on how your guests feel.
"If there's already widespread infection in the city, everyone's going to get exposed anyway," he said.
Probably, he cautions, very few people will want to come.
It may be another instance where postponing or canceling is necessary. But, again, if the coronavirus is already widespread by that point, it may not matter to your guests.
How should we protect our guests from the coronavirus?
Poland said there are several precautionary measures you can take, from the venue to the serving of the food.
He advises holding the wedding outdoors. "Ventilation and light are crucial to decreasing viral transmission," he said. In addition, distancing people "to the extent you could" – by setting seats at the ceremony a few feet apart, for example – would help decrease the risk for transmission.
As for the food options, opting for a plated meal instead of a buffet-style meal would reduce the risk.
But if you do decide to have a buffet at your reception or event, have each guest use their own silverware to serve themselves instead of a "common serving implement that everyone touches," Poland says.
Beyond that, good practices include setting up hand sanitizer stations at every entrance and avoiding instances such as a communal wine cup at a Catholic wedding.
One important thing to keep in mind, he says: Don't make your guests wear masks. It doesn't suit the occasion, and more important, they do little to safeguard healthy individuals from coronavirus. Instead, health experts advice to practice good hygiene by washing your hands for at least 20 seconds.
Is it OK to have elderly relatives there? What about pregnant women?
Invite them, Poland says, with precautions set in place.
Research suggests that the coronavirus, like other respiratory viruses, causes more complications in elderly people, immunocompromised people and pregnant women.
But that's not 100% certain: "We just don't have a lot of data to suggest that they're at higher risk," he said. "It is an issue of lack of data than lack of severity."
And if they don't come, Adalja says, that's totally acceptable: "Those are the people who may not want to come to your wedding – it might not be the best idea (to have them)," he said.
Should couples buy wedding insurance?
Yes, couples should absolutely buy wedding insurance, Kay says. Although it may be on your mind with the spread of the coronavirus, it's something that provides "peace of mind for any uncontrollable circumstance," Kay says.
A typical policy, according to The Knot, costs $150 to $550, depending on the amount of coverage.
"Wedding insurance protects a couple’s investment from circumstances beyond their control and is something we recommend for all couples, not only right now," she said.
Couples whose wedding plans may be affected by the coronavirus can "help ensure they're prepared and could be reimbursed."
She suggests checking in with your vendors to see how their own insurance covers coronavirus as well as talking with an insurance agent to figure out a plan that works best for them.
What about my honeymoon – should I avoid certain places or cancel?
Any place that's on the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's list of countries with travel restrictions should be avoided – and canceled or postponed if reservations have already been made. So far, that list includes China, Iran, South Korea and Italy.
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Honeymoon cruises may also be a cause for concern: Many cruise lines have canceled their trips en route to locations affected by the coronavirus, such as as the Diamond Princess cruise, which remains docked.
If you do go, Adalja says, it may be "logistically difficult to come back" to the country from an affected area – meaning imposed quarantines and other things that may put a damper on your honeymoon.
There is a silver lining, Kay notes.
"For starters, there will be more time to recuperate from their celebrations and they'll have more time to save money for the trip while having the opportunity to make additional plans post-wedding," Kay said.
And many airlines are making it easy by waiving ticket change and cancellation fees for recently booked flights.
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