Why The Greenes Still Mask at Weddings
Five years ago this past weekend, Will and I wore (crappy cloth) masks to a wedding for the very first time. Back then, it was… weird. People gave us funny looks. One guest even “joked” that Will should take his off. We had no idea that wedding would be our first brush with COVID exposures — a foreshadowing neither of us could have scripted.
Fast forward to 2022, and COVID wasn't just an inconvenience for me; it landed me in the hospital with pulmonary blood clots. I had been in isolation for 8 days leading up to the hospitalization, and the car ride to the ER was the first time I really saw Will for the first time in that stretch, only to be separated again once we arrived. Needless to say, it was a traumatic experience and one I hope to never relive. I was on blood thinners for six months, and I dealt with long-COVID symptoms that were, quite honestly, terrifying. Though I’ve thankfully recovered and the blood clots have resolved, I’m determined to do what I can to stay healthy. That includes wearing a mask when I’m indoors at large events, especially during the busiest and most interactive parts of a wedding day.
Now, I know it’s not always easy to chat with someone in a mask. I miss the ease of smiling with my whole face, and I definitely miss not sounding like I’m whispering through a pillow. But the truth is, masking helps keep my anxiety low and my immune system a little less stressed — and, perhaps most importantly, it helps ensure we don’t have to cancel or miss any future weddings. (Spoiler alert: I genuinely love showing up for you on your big day.)
Most people are wonderfully kind and understanding, and to those who are — thank you. Thank you for seeing past the mask and knowing it’s not a wall, but a choice rooted in care. Occasionally, though, there are those side-eyes, the hesitant approach, or the awkward “Why are you still wearing that?” And while I get it — it’s human to wonder — I hope sharing a bit of my story makes the answer a little clearer. I never expect anyone around me to also mask up or to make different choices for themselves, but I do dream of a day when my choice will always be respected by everyone around me as well.
So, if you see me behind the camera, mask on and probably still tearing up during your vows, know that I’m all in. I may be slightly muffled, but I’m smiling under there. Promise.