Reopen Virginia Wedding and Event Venues!

Reopen Virginia Wedding and Event Venues!

Started
January 21, 2021
Petition to
Governor - Virginia Ralph S. Northam
Signatures: 14,230Next Goal: 15,000
Support now

Why this petition matters

Started by Kelsey Leeper

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the event industry is being destroyed. Help us reopen local wedding and event venues SAFELY. 

Under the current restrictions, gatherings are limited to 10 people. Needless to say, this is not feasible for venues to operate under such a small guest count limit. 90% of all clients booked with wedding and event venues have either CANCELED or POSTPONED, leaving business owners with no source of income and no deadline of when they can reopen. If this continues, the events industry will cease to exist. When will people be able to celebrate weddings, gradations, birthdays, funerals, etc. again? When we are able to celebrate, will event venues even be in business? Why is it possible for people to safely eat at a restaurant but not safely eat at a wedding? Why are we not being given the chance to safely commune? 

The wedding industry is estimated to be worth $300bn a year worldwide (according to The Economist) and affects more than just venues. Photographers, caterers, florists, DJ's, bands, hair and makeup artists, bakeries, event planners, rental companies, etc. are all suffering from these restrictions. 

Our event venue is 20,000+ square feet in size and yet, we are only allowed to have gatherings of 10 people or less. Restaurants that are not even a quarter of our size are frequently having 50+ patrons in their facility at one time. Retail businesses are open, gyms are open, amusement parks are open but event venues are essentially SHUT DOWN. We are asking to be under the same restrictions and limits as restaurants and other businesses. We will gladly follow any guidelines put in place as long as we can increase the guest limit for events. We can easily enforce:

  • Mask mandates
  • Physical distancing 
  • Enhanced cleanings 
  • On-site alcohol curfews/ other curfews
  • Limits on dancing/other close proximity activities 
  • Guest list tracking for easy contact tracing 

We are willing to go the extra mile to keep our clients and their guests safe. We have put blood, sweat and tears into building this venue (as have many venue owners) and we want to keep it open for people to use. We can do that with your help, please consider signing this petition to reopen the event industry in Virginia SAFELY. 

 

Support now
Signatures: 14,230Next Goal: 15,000
Support now
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Decision Makers

  • Ralph S. NorthamGovernor - Virginia