Brides and grooms of 2020 & 2021 have not had it easy, and this year it’s become a must to add COVID-19 testing to the long wedding & event planning lists in efforts to ensure guest safety and peace of mind. Sameday Health, one of the leading COVID-19 testing providers in the US, offers weddings & events testing capabilities in 15 states, with the option of buying tests in bulk for their guests, as well as on-site testing set-ups. We asked them some of our burning questions around COVID-19 testing for weddings:

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Q: When did you start brainstorming the idea for providing large group testing for events?
A: We debuted our wedding testing offerings within the last month due to the high demand we were seeing for brides and grooms hosting their weddings this summer through the end of the year. With not everyone vaccinated yet, brides and grooms will want to keep everyone at their wedding safe by getting their guests tested. Right now, we have a few weddings booked across the west and east coasts with two upcoming ones in Southern California (150 guests) and Miami (35 guests), and we’re excited to break into the New Jersey market.

Q: How accurate are the rapid tests?
A: Sameday Health uses RT-PCR (real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction) tests, which are more than 99.9 percent accurate via non-invasive mid-turbinate nasal swab. PCR tests detect the virus’ genetic material and are considered the gold standard for COVID-19 testing. Sameday Health also offers rapid antigen testing with results in 30 minutes or less.

Q: With the vaccine rolling out, is it still important to be tested before attending a wedding?
A: Absolutely. It’s imperative to get tested before attending a wedding or large gathering as several attendees may not yet be vaccinated or may choose not to be vaccinated. Though the vaccine greatly protects us from contracting COVID-19, it does not mean we cannot still contract and spread the virus.

Q: What does the pricing for your services look like? Is it by the number, hour, etc? Do you require a deposit?
A: The discounted price for bulk testing is $112.50 for individuals for a rapid antigen test – this is the cost of what the bride and groom would pay for the onsite testing offering at their wedding. The rapid antigen reveals results in 30 min or less to guests before heading into the wedding. If guests elect for a PCR test (should they go in person to one of our testing sites days prior to the wedding), the cost is discounted at $157.50.