# Go to wedding with a cold? Need answer fast! **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 11, 2013, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/go-to-wedding-with-a-cold-need-answer-fast/671011 "2013-10-11T18:49:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![jayrey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/47e85d/32.png) [@jayrey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayrey)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2013, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/go-to-wedding-with-a-cold-need-answer-fast/671011/1 "2013-10-11T18:49:02Z")
One of my very favorite former law clerks is getting married tomorrow. I have known and her fiance for several years. Our former judge is performing the wedding, and I was looking forward to seeing him and a few other old colleagues (and guzzling champagne) at the reception. Last Monday, I developed a sore throat. By Thursday (yesterday), my cold was in full swing but I HAD TO be at work. Did what I needed to do and got out of Dodge by late afternoon. Slept 11 hours last night. Cold is still with me; I didn’t go to work today. Will probably go back to bed soon and sleep some more. I could probably pull myself together enough (with the help of DayQuil) to go to the wedding tomorrow (in the early afternoon), but should I? Am I still contagious? There will be a lot of hugging and chatting and I am afraid of spreading germs and/or inflecting people. Normally, I would stay at home, but I’ve been waiting for this couple to get married for several years and really, really want to be there. Advice? I’m leaning toward NOT going but would love to have y’all give me an excuse to go. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Bravo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_bravo/32/493_2.png) [@Johnny\_Bravo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Bravo)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2013, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/go-to-wedding-with-a-cold-need-answer-fast/671011/2 "2013-10-11T19:01:36Z")
Yeah, you need to err on the side of being contagious. If you do go, you’ll have to make like the elephant man and mask up, and avoid all the fun social parts of the wedding anyhow. Wait 'till after the honeymoon and take them out to a nice dinner or something. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2013, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/go-to-wedding-with-a-cold-need-answer-fast/671011/3 "2013-10-11T19:12:50Z")
I think I’d have to give my regrets and not go, too - I think you’re still in the contagious stage of your cold, and staying home when contagious is your best bet. Taking them out for a nice dinner afterwards is a good idea, too. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2013, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/go-to-wedding-with-a-cold-need-answer-fast/671011/4 "2013-10-11T19:19:46Z")
This happened to me once: some friends (wonderful folks but not best friends) were getting married, and I got horribly sick the day of the wedding. I ended up going, and even dancing with the bride (I told her I was sick and she laughed at me and grabbed me for a dance anyway). I always was told that the only excuse for declining an invitation once accepted was death. But I figure it was probably a mistake for me to go; I have no defense except that I wasn’t thinking clearly, being sick and all. ---
**Author:** ![jayrey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/47e85d/32.png) [@jayrey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayrey)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2013, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/go-to-wedding-with-a-cold-need-answer-fast/671011/5 "2013-10-11T19:20:53Z")
Thanks, \*\*Johnny Bravo \*\*and **Cat Whisperer**. I know you’re both right. Grrrr! What lousy timing! Ok, I’ll stay home. :(:(☹ ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2013, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/go-to-wedding-with-a-cold-need-answer-fast/671011/6 "2013-10-11T19:26:16Z")
I would go to the ceremony and just let everyone who tries to touch you know that you’ve got a cold. Go to the reception, eat dinner, leave early. You can manage to not lick and sneeze on others for a couple hours. Don’t shake any hands. Say you’re getting over a cold - no one will be mad. The pediatrician in my family always says that you’re most contagious early on. According to MedlinePlus: > [@](#): > > People are most contagious for the first 2 to 3 days of a cold. A cold is usually not contagious after the first week. ---
**Author:** ![Heart\_of\_Dorkness](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/4bbf92/32.png) [@Heart\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heart_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2013, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/go-to-wedding-with-a-cold-need-answer-fast/671011/7 "2013-10-11T19:37:56Z")
No, no! I’m with **ZipperJJ**. I say _absolutely_ go! It’s not just any old get-together, it’s their _wedding_, for pete’s sake! If it were my wedding, or even if I were just a guest, I would hate for someone to think they had to miss it just because of a cold. Now, if you’re not physically feeling up to it, that’s another thing entirely. But if you’re primarily concerned about infecting people, wash your hands often (especially after you touch your mouth or nose), and if you have to cough or sneeze, turn away from whomever you’re talking to and [cover your mouth with your elbow](https://www.google.com/search?q=cover+mouth+with+elbow&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=PlBYUs7OO7Wo4APHn4HACQ&ved=0CDAQsAQ&biw=1680&bih=895&dpr=1) rather than your hand. And if someone leans in for a hug or a deep, soulful kiss, you can just smile and put your hands up gently and say, “Oh, I shouldn’t; I’m getting over a cold.” Unless you’ve actually got, like, pertussis or strep throat or something, I think it will be fine. ---
**Author:** ![Audrey\_Levins](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/73ab20/32.png) [@Audrey\_Levins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Audrey_Levins)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2013, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/go-to-wedding-with-a-cold-need-answer-fast/671011/8 "2013-10-12T03:06:23Z")
You are most contagious the day before you develop symptoms, if that helps. Like Heart of Dorkness said, just tell people that you’re getting over a cold and don’t want to spread any germs. I’m not letting a stupid cold keep me away from something awesome I’ve been looking forward to for ages!