I think part of it is as a dire warning because at least the first 7 deaths (I haven’t heard one way or another about the 8th yet) were not of people who attended the wedding, but completely innocent bystanders who were cared for at a nursing home one of the guests works at. Given this, I’m not surprised that they were made an example of.
My wife and I are from large families. One sibling, two nieces, and one cousin who also worked with my wife. One of these had been delayed from last spring. 3 traditional receptions in banquet halls and one backyard reception. Four in 3 months is a little busier than normal, especially when neighbors and friends aren’t having any. We’ve slowed down to about 4-5 a year as the nieces and nephews have paired off.
Wisconsin is basically fully open with a mask mandate and has been since the state SC threw out the governor’s lockdown in May. Indoor dining seating appears to be restricted to about half so that may be in effect. I haven’t been in any that were that full except once when we were going to chose the outside patio anyway.
I had to postpone two that I had booked this year, and have turned down two others for obvious reasons.
An extended-family member had their wedding scheduled for this summer. They decided to go with just a courthouse wedding for themselves on the appointed day, and have rescheduled the big celebratory gathering with friends/family for next summer.
If they had held the full-blown wedding as originally scheduled, I would not have attended. I’m hoping the vaccine arrives in time for me to get inoculated before next summer, otherwise I will have to decline.