I know it's long. You don't have to read it all at once, but it is really important to us that you read everything on this page once with your full attention before you RSVP.

We are asking that you do this as an act of loving and caring for us and what we care about.

We got COVID last year, and now Sam has long COVID.

Unfortunately, even when everyone is intending to do the right thing, they don't always do it perfectly, and the consequences can be serious (and possibly long-term). We are trying to minimize something like this from happening again.

"Having long COVID in addition to my other disabilities and everything else has put a strain on my health this year. It has resulted in long-term and possibly permanent changes to my health, my ability to eat certain foods, and my lifestyle." - Sam

Multiple people at this wedding, including ourselves, are disabled. Some people are immunocompromised or at risk.

While we want you to be there, we also want to keep ourselves and all of you safe and healthy.

What we've done to make this event safer:

1. It's outdoors.

2. We're asking all of you to read this page we've put together.

3. We're requiring masks in certain spaces, up close with us, and up close with anyone else who asks you to wear one in their personal space (such as during a dance or having an up-close conversation).

4. We've got a list of other ways you can protect yourself, us, and other guests.

Because this is an outdoor event, we are not requiring everyone to wear a mask at all times.

We require everyone to have a mask with them at the wedding and the after-party. This mask should be a KN-95, KF-94, N95, or better. No cloth masks, mesh masks, or surgical masks without a modifier. If you want to wear a surgical mask, check out ways to modify it for a better fit.

Please wear it when requested (see below), when with us (the wedding couple), or if you've got symptoms.

We would love it if you chose to wear a mask for this event to protect us, any immunocompromised guests, and yourself.

Wear a mask with us

If you want to give us a hug, a cheek kiss, dance with us, or be in our close personal space, we ask that you wear your mask. Also, please wear your mask when we come to your table.

Mask when you get food, beverages, or interact with wedding staff

When you're in line, at any food or beverage station, or if you have to interact with the staff at our wedding, please wear your mask.

Mask if you have ANY symptoms of acute illness

If anyone in your group (you, your partner, plus-one, or kids) has symptoms of a cold, flu, COVID, or any other airborne or droplet-transmissible illness, we ask that you wear a mask the entire time you are at the wedding or after-party, including between bites and sips.

We do this literally all the time, and we know it can be onerous, but we are asking you to do this for one day during our wedding, reception, and after-party.

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*We will have some extras, in case folks forget, but please bring a mask.

Here are some other things you can do to protect yourself, us, and other guests.

Testing before you travel

If you are sick leading up to the wedding, we encourage you to test yourself before you leave home. If you test positive, please stay home and take care of yourself.

If you can't come due to illness, we will be sad that you couldn't make it, but we prefer that you rest and take care of your health, and we want to keep all our guests safe.

Masked travel

While we cannot force you to wear a mask when you travel or while you hang out before the wedding, we encourage you to wear one when you travel so that you do not come all the way to Memphis only to miss the event because someone on the plane got you sick, and you end up stuck in your hotel room or worse.

Mask if you have ANY symptoms of acute illness

If anyone in your group (you, your partner, plus-one, or kids) has symptoms of a cold, flu, COVID, or any other airborne or droplet-transmissible illness, we ask that you wear a mask the entire time you are at the wedding or after-party, including between bites and sips.

We do this literally all the time, and we know it can be onerous, but we are asking you to love us and our other guests enough to take on this one thing for this one night.

Follow the Swiss Cheese Model of risk reduction to prevent illness.

This can include:

- Getting up-to-date vaccines

- Wearing a mask indoors, outdoors with large crowds, or with anyone you don't live with.

- Washing your hands

- Physical distancing

- HEPA filtering, air circulation, and indoor-outdoor air exchange

- Sanitary routines when you arrive home, like gargling, saline rinses, washing your face and hands, etc.