Love in the time of coronavirus: Big weddings OK, but receptions must be kept small

This pandemic has brought on many changes: the way we work, the way we live and the way we celebrate with loved ones. At The Parlour at Mann's Chapel, couples are still getting married. The only difference is they're pushing the reception back until it's expected to be safe.

Posted 9:59 p.m. May 25, 2020 — Updated 11:26 p.m. May 25, 2020

Leslie Moreno

, WRAL reporter

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — This pandemic has brought on many changes: the way we work, the way we live and the way we celebrate with loved ones.

At The Parlour at Mann’s Chapel, couples are still getting married. The only difference is they’re pushing the reception back until it’s expected to be safe.

“This time makes us realize what’s really important, said The Parlour at Manns Chapel owner Aimee Flynn. "People are raising the bar as to who should be with them on their special day."

Max Fenski and Lea Zagorin had their wedding planned for May 24 but decided to push it back to August 1.

“Both of us are from the west coast and our family and friends are out there and we wanted to wait until we can safely get those people out here,” Zagorin said.

It's an emotional roller coaster for many couples who had to cancel a very special day.

“Honestly, once we kind of switched gears, we tried to have a positive outlook," Zagorin said. "It’s been an emotional weekend watching the date come and go.:

In some cases, couples are eloping and choosing to have a reception at a later date.

That’s why The Parlour at Manns Chapel is as busy as ever.

“For ceremonies only, we can have max capacity, but here at The Parlour, that’s 100 people," Flynn said. "What we're considering right now is only having events outside with 50 . We just want people to be safe and take it slow."

When receptions are canceled, other companies--like catering--are hurting.

Catering Works in Raleigh had 100 canceled events since March.

Catering companies are not included in Gov. Coopers’s Phase 2 plan, which is causing some confusion.

“The confusion right now is especially as caterers, we’ve always been held at the same standard as restaurants. So for us not to be included and go into a venue and hold events at 50 percent while still social distancing, if it's a venue that holds 300 people, why can't we have 150 people at 6 feet apart with those same permits we've always had?” asked Catering Works sales director Kelli Harrison Catering Works.

Catering Works is hoping they are part of Governor Cooper’s Phase 3 plan. Meanwhile, they’re working with the staff to put the best policies in place for when they can get back to work.

Suggest A Correction