Inslee announces delay to tighter wedding, funeral restrictions

OLYMPIA — Newly announced restrictions on the size of weddings and funerals will be delayed until Aug. 10, four days later than was previously stated, Gov. Jay Inslee posted on social media Sunday.

Effective at 12:01 a.m. Aug. 10, attendees at weddings and funerals will be limited to 20 percent of the building’s occupancy limit or 30 people, whichever is less, and receptions will be prohibited. Attendees will have to be able to maintain six feet distance at all times. The tighter restrictions were originally announced last Thursday.

Previously, counties like Grant County currently in Phase 2 of the state’s “Safe Start” plan could have up to 25 percent capacity or up to 200 people in the building, whichever was less, for religious ceremonies, including weddings and funerals, according to mid-June guidance from Inslee’s office. Counties in Phase 3 were previously able to have up to 50 percent or 400 people, whichever was less.

— Emry Dinman