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i don't really have an answer cause i'm in the exact same boat but i hope your friends will understand about the wedding and everything. solidarity comrade
I just want to say I hear you, and I'm sorry that you've been forced to make these choices between health and safety, and social interactions that could potentially harm/maim/kill those around us. I am still masking, and have lost friends over it. It makes every interaction outside of home more stressful and alienating for sure, but my experience is that good people and good friends will treat the mask as just another piece of clothing, like a scarf or hat, because seeing someone in person is a very different level of connection than via phone or online. I don't think it's an exaggeration to say wearing a mask takes guts and some serious metaphorical cajones at this point, so I completely understand wanting to avoid any situation like you mentioned. Wish I could offer more help on that, but my reasons are personally driven and might not apply to everyone.
All that being said, I have successfully attended a couple weddings, parties, and a concert wearing my n95 with a cloth mask over it that matches my outfit. It can be hard to speak with it on sometimes, as someone who is generally soft spoken, but for people who really wanted to chat it wasn't a problem. You gotta do what feels best for you, because at the end of the day, you matter, and your comfort is important.
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Totally feel you. I visit with my besties every few months, but since I'm staying at their place I'm also masking (n95gang) the entire time I'm inside, using nasal spray, I keep an air filter in my room, and eat my meals outside. They already thought I was weird to begin with so I try not to worry about it. I can't say I'm not concerned the entire time I'm there, especially since they have kids, but I don't see there's much else I can do. If we do activities, I try to make sure it's an outdoor one. I've passed on going out to eat with them, and they understand. It does bother me, because I do see that they're starting to rack up on infections and I really worry about how long they'll have before they're regretting it all. But the whole world is telling them it's okay and I just haven't found anything I can say to undermine that.
I wish I knew because I am definitely dealing with the same exact thing. My partner and I dread weddings and any large indoor gatherings. There is just a consistent anxious feeling throughout any social situation where I get cornered in a poorly ventilated area, even with a mask on I get that fight or flight feeling at times. I think some of it is covid and some of it is social anxiety that I ignored precovid because you are supposed to in order to be part of society or something…
