500 signatures reached
To: Kansas City Missouri Mayor Quinton Lucas, Kansas Governor Laura Kelly, Johnson and Wyandotte County KS Commissioners
Mayor Lucas, Governor Kelly, Johnson and Wyandotte County Commissioners: Require masks at weddings
Wedding vendors [photographers, caterers, djs, planners, etc.] are required to wear face masks when working at an event to protect our clients and their guests. We fully support this. Everyone in attendance should also be required to wear masks [with the exceptions of the wedding party during the ceremony, when eating and drinking, and when portraits are being taken], in order to protect each other and us. Without this requirement, it puts everyone at risk. Guests can choose not to attend a wedding if they don't want to wear a face mask. We, as contracted and paid vendors, do not have that choice, without risking our livelihood. The mayor, governor, and county commissioners should require masks of all attendees at weddings and other similar events.
Why is this important?
Many studies have proven that face masks help stop the spread of Covid-19, and the CDC is calling for universal mask wearing. Masks have been mandated in public places already, but one area that hasn't been addressed in Kansas and Missouri is events such as weddings.
These type of events have the potential to be super spreaders, especially now that gathering limits have been lifted. Outbreaks in many areas have already been traced back to social events like weddings. People in attendance are not always able to adhere to physical distancing guidelines, such as when they are watching the ceremony, mingling and dancing. We, as contracted vendors are also required to be there, but we are not being protected while doing our jobs.
Several other cities, counties and states across the United States [such as Jackson, TN, Platte and Clay Counties in Missouri, Springfield, MO and the states of Oregon, Louisiana, and Texas] have put mask mandates in place for weddings and similar events so that people can continue to hold their events, and make sure that everyone in attendance is protected.
Tell Mayor Lucas, Governor Kelly and the County Commissioners to amend their respective mask mandates to include weddings and other social events.