“To wear or not to wear bridal face masks—that is the question.”

Well, in this age of the COVID-19 pandemic, the answer is moot and academic. While there might be a lot of people who are fighting against face masks tooth and nail, the overall majority have no problems at all wearing them. For them, it is better to be safe than sorry—or dead.

Elegant Bridal Face Masks Ideas to Fit the Occasion

The pandemic has resulted in numerous weddings being cancelled as governments around the world banned social gatherings, both in private and in public, in an effort to curb the spread of the virus.

However, as the pandemic draws to a close, people are starting to once again socialize and gatherings such as weddings are once again allowed. This is because face masks have been proven to provide protection against the disease even as there are still those who oppose this fact.

But dwelling on that side of the face mask debate is highly volatile, politically, so let’s hear it from the experts.

Are Face Masks Still Necessary

As of two days ago, 4.39 billion people worldwide, or 56.2%, have been fully vaccinated. While the figure is reassuring, it is still way below the herd immunity target of 70% to 80% of the world population. There are still a lot of potential carriers out there you can get the disease from, regardless if you are fully vaccinated or had a booster shot already.

Wearing face masks and observing the protocols are still necessary even if you are already fully vaccinated or have had a booster shot, says Dr. Kristin Englund, MD. Then adds, “….getting vaccinated does not instantly mean we can go back to how life was before. Until we have some level of herd immunity, the vaccine is now just another layer of protection against Covid19.”

The silver lining is that the CDC (Centers for Disease Control) says that fully vaccinated people can already gather indoors with other fully vaccinated people without wearing masks. But in public places, physical distancing is still required, and masks are still necessary. The reasons for these are:

The vaccine does not take effect immediately.

Though Pfizer and Moderna vaccines give you partial immunity after the first dose, maximum effectiveness of 95% is reached two weeks after the second dose. On the other hand, you are considered fully vaccinated two weeks after the first dose with the Johnson and Johnson vaccine.

Not a hundred percent protection

Vaccines, for whatever virus, do not provide 100% protection. For example, recent studies show that the flu vaccine only reduces the risk of getting the disease by 40% to 60%. The measles vaccine provides protection against the disease by 97%. While the vaccination program in the US kicked off in 1963, the disease was considered eliminated only in 2000.

In comparison, the COVID-19 vaccine is only 94% to 95% effective. So there is still that dangerous window of 5% that can get you—if you stop wearing a face mask.

You can be an asymptomatic spreader even if fully vaccinated.

Numerous documented cases are available showing fully vaccinated people being COVID-19 positive. They don’t show the symptoms but they are carrying the virus. Hence, it is still necessary to wear faces masks to avoid becoming a spreader in case you belong to this small category.

To protect the high-risk group in society

People with chronic medical conditions are at risk of developing severe cases of COVID-19. So are the elderly and those with a history of having allergic reactions to drugs and are not eligible for vaccination. These belong to what is considered the “high-risk group” who may get infected if you don’t wear a face mask in their presence.

To protect those who haven’t got the booster shot yet

Several studies show that the efficacy of the vaccine wanes over time. Hence, the need for a booster shot, especially for those with existing medical conditions, people over 65, and people working in high-risk conditions.

In view of the above arguments why face masks are still necessary, the overarching question is…

Should Brides Wear Masks?

COVID-19 is highly-contagious. To illustrate, there is the story of a huge wedding celebration was held in one of the big hotels in a certain city. While the hotel management exerted all efforts to follow the protocols, one asymptomatic guest slipped through the cordon of prevention.

Slightly after a week. seven of the guests went down with COVID-19, with one of them dying soon after from the disease. Consequently, that wedding bash caused a surge of infections in the city.

To avoid getting in that same situation, “Yes, brides must wear face masks, and so is everybody attending the celebration.

Current protocols recommend the wearing of face masks in weddings of any kind—whether elopement, micro, courthouse, classic, romantic or chic.

Take note, however, that bridal face mask mandates differ from country to country. For example, do bridesmaids have to wear masks Scotland? The answer is a bit confusing.

While there is no longer a legal requirement to wear face masks, the Scottish government directed the Scottish Industry Wedding Alliance to require guests to wear face masks during the wedding but can remove them during aspects of the event which, fall under the same hospitality rules governing restaurants, pubs, and nightclubs.

Face mask mandate in the US is not as precise. According to the CDC, people, regardless of vaccination status, must wear face masks in certain indoor public places, especially in areas with surging COVID-19 cases. This means that if you are attending or are part of an indoor wedding. it’s better to wear a face mask.

How Do You Make a Wedding Face Mask?

Making a wedding face mask does not require space science. It is quite simple and lots of tutorial videos are found on Pinterest or YouTube. Regardless of the source, you need the skills of a seamstress and the tools of the trade are necessary to make a decent one.

Making one, however, has a lot of limitations and restrictions such as materials variability, styles, sizes, colors, and fit. So unless you are making one for personal use, it is better to buy them.

Where to Buy Wedding Face Masks

You can buy wedding face masks, Amazon, and from other suppliers. Elegant and fancy bridal face masks, however, are only available from enterprises specializing in them. Here are some:

Claire Pettibone

Supplies butterfly face masks with adorable floral patterns. You can either purchase them per piece or in sets of three.  They are made with double-layered cotton with adjustable straps.

FreeSpiritBride

If you want something cool and chic, buy your face mask from this company. They specialize in face masks embroidered with something meaningful and memorable. Perfect for women who want to have memorabilia of their wedding.

FlorenceBridge

Their face masks are designed with 100% cotton linen and a duchess satin in front. The ties are given an uplift to make them look beautiful, and the ties are adjustable, too.

Oceanus

If you want to up the ante a little bit. Oceanus face masks will fit the bill. They are stylish and come in neutral tones or brighter hues embroidered with Swarovski crystals, such as the one in this Swarovski review.

Weddingstar

Face masks from Weddingstar come in three plies and they are washable and reusable. The masks are very comfortable and don’t make glasses fog. Weddingstar face masks have also been observed to be good for asthmatic people.

They come in various colors and designs, well made and perfectly sized. For the overly curious who ask, “are Weddingstar masks made in Canada?” Yes, they are. In fact, they carry the name of the company making them. Weddingstar is the largest face mask maker in Canada, with warehouses in the US and the United Kingdom.

Elegant Bridal Face Masks for Any Type of Wedding

Bridal face masks are nothing new. In fact, they are an important parts of a bride’s attire in some cultures. The SARS Cov2 slipped through the backdoor and, with its deadly COVID-19 offspring, imposed some changes in the way people do things, changes that will certainly last a lifetime for most.

The uptake is that people are resilient. They can bounce back from whatever situation they are pushed into and, in the process, paint a rosy picture of the gloomiest of scenarios. So what was once an item for adornment, has now become a “bridal face mask coronavirus” protective outfit (no pun intended).

Not only that, out of his genius, man has made the ungainly face mask beautiful and attractive to compliment a bride’s wedding gown. Here are a few examples.

Pearled

 

Pearls, like the ones used in this Michael Hills review, signify confidence, prestige, and personal strength. And what better way to show that than by having a bridal face mask with a pearl motif?

You can choose face masks with a few delicate accents to intricate lattice and scattered designs. In any case, the result is the same: a display of classic elegance.

Lovely bows

If you can wear bows on your hair at your wedding, why not bows on your face masks, too? The effect would be classic and amazing.

Bridal bows face mask comes in a lot of forms, from subtle to striking. You can have one that dramatically loops around your ears, or is trimmed with a tiny bow.

Lovely lace

This will perfectly fit a wedding gown or a suit. It comes in shades of ivory, white, nude, or blush. Designs range from chantilly, eyelet, or floral lace.

Something blue

Blue is a very popular color at weddings—any shade of blue. So why not a blue bridal face mask to complete the picture?

Match it with floral prints of white or ivory for a whimsy touch.

Flowery

Perfect for a wedding entourage, these flowery face masks come in pink orchid color and the satin covering comes in a blue floral pattern. They look fascinating at the altar.

What makes them a good buy is that they can still be used long after the ceremony is over. A good fit for budget weddings.

Have it silky

Even if you have a minimalist wedding (or a fan of minimalist engagement rings), wearing silk face masks will add glamour to the occasion. And they come in several tones—white or ivory, champagne, or silver—all made to look modern and fanciful.

Ivory butterfly masks

Claire Pettibone put in her creative touch by creating these lovely face masks. It is topped with ivory and accented by lace butterflies and silk ties. They are simple, yet romantic for the altar.

And for every mask sold, Claire Pettibone will donate a mask to health care and frontline workers.

Sequined

All women shine on their wedding day. So it is just fitting to have them wear face masks that shine and glitter. Sequined face masks will be perfect.

They come in white or ivory adorned with beads of pewter, blush, or gold.

Sequined scallop

This face mask has a personal touch, it is handmade at Ella’s Heirloom. And it is designed with intricate scallop details to add more glamour to your wedding day.

For the groom, Ella’s Heirloom also provides dark-colored face masks for men.

Tips on Buying Bridal Face Masks

Where to buy and what type of bridal face mask to buy for your wedding is not a big issue.  There are countless suppliers at present and the market is flooded with various styles, types, and whatnot.

But before you plunge right in, here are some tips to assure that you buy what is right for you and the occasion.

Consider double-masking

COVID-19 has mutated into something less virulent but still contagious. So it is prudent to use one mask on top of the other. To avoid breathing problems, use a cheap cotton mask underneath your elegant bridal face mask.

Buy a close-knit woven cotton face mask

The most effective kind of cloth-based face masks are made from 100% cotton and should be worn over both your nose and mouth. The downside is that they absorb perspiration rather easily. So if you don’t want to change your face mask midway through the ceremony, it is best to use face masks made of performance fabric like polyester.

Go for silk material, not satin

Silk has been proven to be just effective as a single-use surgical mask and does not absorb perspiration the way cotton masks do.

Satin mask, on the other hand, is not pure satin but contains more polyester than necessary.

Look for protective features

You want to be sure that the face mask you are using can protect you from the COVID-19 virus. So look for masks made of multiple layers of fabric, or those with added pockets of carbon-based filters. For comfort, make sure the straps are adjustable and have a tight seal with the nose.

Buy more than one

While a lot of face masks these days are reusable and washable, don’t bet on it. Buy more than what you need at present so you will always be protected well into the future.

Bridal Face Masks: The New Normal

Yes, bridal face masks are part of the new normal in wedding ceremonies. And as the coronavirus continues to mutate, the mask also continues to evolve. From a purely protective gear against the virus, it has become a fashion statement outfit.

Now, that you know more about how to protect yourself from COVID-19 on your special day, you might want to make contingency plans in view of the pandemic, check out our guide “Wed You Later: A Guide to Postponing Weddings Due To COVID-19.“