RHOA’s Cynthia Bailey marries Mike Hill at large Georgia ceremony, despite pandemic
Cynthia Bailey and Mike Hill resisted changing their wedding date and took steps to mitigate the spread of coronavirus at the event Saturday
Cynthia Bailey, a longtime Real Housewives of Atlanta cast member, tied the knot with fiancé Mike Hill on Saturday with lots of loved ones in attendance.
The wedding plans looked to be in jeopardy, due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, but the couple kept their original Oct. 10, 2020 date as the matrimony was witnessed by 250 guests at a country club in Georgia, as reported by People Magazine. Georgia, which has some of the laxest coronavirus guidelines in the country, has banned large gatherings with some exceptions.
Bailey, 53, was aided by her bridesmaids and RHOA castmates Kenya Moore and Kandi Burress and former cast member Eva Marcille. The wedding was held at Governors Towne Club, about 30 miles north of Atlanta in Acworth, Georgia.
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With a large crowd of people in the venue, Bailey made sure to take safety precautions in observance of COVID-19. She provided guests with masks and face shields from Masks by Jill & Ally, created by Jill Zarin, a Real Housewives of New York alum, and her daughter Ally Shapiro, according to Bravo, which carries The Real Housewives franchise. Bailey also hired a cleaning team to sterilize the venue prior to the wedding.
Each guest was subjected to temperature checks upon arrival. “Everyone has to wash their hands before coming inside and we will have hand sanitizing stations throughout the venue,” Bailey said. “And everyone must be wearing a mask at all times, it’s not optional.”
The newlyweds were concerned that the pandemic would cause them to postpone or pare down their dream wedding arrangements, but Bailey insisted that the pandemic convinced her that time is of the essence. Georiga’s health safety guidelines, with exception to activities that are part of essential critical infrastructure, bans gatherings of more than 50 people “unless there is at least six feet between each person.”
The wedding was initially scheduled to take place outside, where it is safer for large groups to gather, but the couple were forced to exchange vows inside due to weather conditions spurred by Hurricane Delta, People reports.
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“We are living in a very different time, and now more than ever we realize that life is too short, and to never take anything for granted,” she said. “We are so grateful to have found each other. Love with the help of God conquers all.”
During the pandemic, both Bailey and Hill self-isolated with each other for months and the restlessness has them ready to begin their new chapter. “If we could survive that, we can survive anything together,” said Hill, a TV host for Fox Sports and Fox Soul. “We’re happy, we’re ready to go.”
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