SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News) – New York will lift its dancing restrictions for weddings starting Monday, May 3. These restrictions included having zones in order to keep distance between other guests. Guests who were dancing had to remain in these zones with their family members or household when dancing. The “zones” were all six feet away from each other.
Despite these restrictions, wedding venues were having a difficult time implementing these rules, according to the financial officer for Sky Armory in Syracuse, Kevin Samolis.
“It’s almost impossible to enforce them,” Samolis said. “You’re in a lit environment during a reception and you’re telling people where they can dance. It’s just, it’s almost impossible.”
In addition to weddings, Gov. Andrew Cuomo also announced that professionally catered events will be allowed to be hosted in private homes beginning on May 3. This means that the previous restrictions of having gatherings of 10 people indoors and 25 people outdoors is no longer in effect, as long as a licensed caterer is working the event. Cuomo did not say how many people could be at these events specifically, but social distancing and mask rules still apply.
These lifted restrictions come alongside the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s announcement that anyone who has been fully vaccinated for 14 days no longer needs to wear a mask outside unless they are in crowded settings such as concerts or stadium events.
Wedding venues are still restricted to 75% capacity, with a maximum of 150 people at indoor events and 500 people at outdoor events. Sky Armory will wait to hear what New York state has to say about the mask mandate being lifted for fully vaccinated people outdoors, Samolis said. It is unclear if wedding venues will be considered, “crowded settings.”
“We follow whatever state guidelines are placed upon us,” Samolis said.
Though the dancing zone restriction at weddings has been lifted, social distancing guidelines and masks are still required at events. These restrictions were lifted in order to follow and coordinate with neighboring states, Cuomo said. Cuomo also announced that curfews will be lifted for restaurants. Outdoor dining curfew will be lifted starting May 17, and indoor dining curfew will be lifted starting May 31. Gym and fitness centers, offices, and casino’s capacities are increasing on May 17 as well.
