Wedding Take Two: Fresh Air and Green Pastures

Yes! While our previously-planned 2020 wedding had to be canceled due to COVID-19, we are counting our blessings and looking at the greener grass of 2021, feeling lucky to have the opportunity to celebrate with the same people, in the same spot, and for the same reason, now with the addition of Katie being done with her fellowship and our year of distance. It isn't possible to tell our story or to be the couple we are today without acknowledging the people who made it possible. So please, give us the honor of celebrating with you in this magical part of the country. We acknowledge that the COVID situation is still evolving and remains fluid, but we are staying optimistic that by August 2021 things will be looking much better.

We met while climbing trees along the banks of the Connecticut River, had first conversations on runs along the Appalachian trail, found friendship exploring the Green and White mountain forests, companionship admiring the silence of New England winters, and closeness living together in our first upper valley home. By the time Katie saw Nick's most energetic dance moves and heard his first 100 corny jokes, she loved him too much to do anything but laugh. And by the time Nick realized that, with this particular roommate, his grocery bills would quadruple and that he might never be on time again, he was likewise too far gone. So, we're finally getting married. We truly can't wait to celebrate these last seven years together, and the many years to come, with all of you.

As the Covid pandemic continues to evolve, we have continued to consider how to best mitigate risks for our family and friends attending our wedding. The emergence and surge of the Delta variant here in the US has further complicated risk management for group gatherings. For our wedding, we have informed and updated our knowledge and understanding of the current federal, state, and local guidelines, confirmed vaccination status of our group of guests, and taken steps to minimize risk of spread at the event itself. Guidelies: We first look to our federal, state, and local guidelines around COVID. The CDC (1) https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/fully-vaccinated-guidance.html\ Vermont state guidelines (2) https://www.healthvermont.gov/covid-19/protect-yourself-others https://www.healthvermont.gov/covid-19/travel-quarantine

Our wedding: Demographics / Guests The vast majority (>99%) of guests have been vaccinated. The few who have not been vaccinated will have two negative tests, including a negative PCR test within 72 hours and a negative antigen test the day of the event. Additionally, they and any guests who prefer, will wear masks when indoors. This is in keeping with the most recent CDC recommendations for all people, regardless of vaccination status, to mask indoors if in an area of “substantial or high transmission”. While Windsor County, Vermont is not one of these areas, several counties from which our guests are traveling are currently listed as “High” or “Substantial” risk areas. With this in mind, all guests should feel free to wear masks when inside. Space and Physical-Distancing All of this said, the vast majority of events, excepting the rehearsal dinner, bus to the wedding, and dinner/dancing inside the barn, will be entirely outside. When on the bus, all guests regardless of vaccination status will be required to mask, which follows local Vermont regulations for public transportation. We will provide hand sanitizer and extra masks at the event. When inside, we will maximize physical distancing by spacing out the tables, clustering groups of guests (families, etc.) and moving several tables outside. *The barn itself, depending on our definition of indoors, is a quasi-outdoor space, where two large doors will be open for airflow, in addition to air that will flow between the slats of wood that make up the barn walls (yes, this is a functional, thoroughly New England-weathered barn!) Additionally, if there is no natural airflow, we will be setting up a large, high-powered fan to maximize airflow across the dance floor and in the barn.

Key Points: All together, considering the current federal and state guidelines, the available data they draw from, the demographics of our group, the setting in which our wedding will take place, and the measures we are taking to mitigate risk of transmission, we want to reassure you all: The risk of Covid transmission will be low at this event, comparable if not less than the day-to-day exposures we face in our respective communities (considering the > 99% vaccination rate, outdoor venue, and mitigating factors for time in our indoor spaces) In the unlikely event that transmission were to occur, among those vaccinated (>99%), the risk of infection and illness from Covid is low, and the risk of significant illness, hospitalization, and death still lower. *We are grateful to have had access to these vaccines, which have demonstrated themselves to be so extraordinarily effective not only against infection but against the most meaningful outcomes they are aimed to prevent, hospitalization and death. And, most importantly, we appreciate that, despite the pandemic we all continue to live in and the uncertainty we continue to live with, you are willing to come together for our wedding, which has been long-anticipated and long-awaited. We care about each of you, your wellness, health and safety, and that you feel as comfortable as possible at our wedding. Considering the relative risk of exposure in this group and in this setting, we are hopeful and excited to be together with all of you in just a few days to simply celebrate!