San Fran couple who insisted on 'dream wedding' with 100 GUESTS catch COVID-19, along with at least eight others, after using church's back door 'to avoid being seen' and then flying back to Nashville, San Diego and Arizona

A San Francisco couple who insisted on holding the 'wedding of their dreams' with 100 guests in the middle of lockdown have now been diagnosed with COVID-19. 

The unnamed newlyweds continued with their nuptials earlier this month - despite a ban on indoor events  - and even held a rehearsal dinner with 40 friends and family the night before the big day.

A handful of the attendees have now also tested positive for the virus, The San Francisco Chronicle reports after potentially exposed guests flew back to Nashville, San Diego and Arizona - areas which have since emerged as hotspots. 

California has been struggling with a rise in virus cases, reporting another 8,259 confirmed cases on Sunday to bring the state’s total to more than 450,000. The state has now recorded more than 8,400 deaths. A city official is said to have stopped the proceedings forcing the couple to move outside to a basketball court while the 100 guests watched on Zoom.

Guests are said to have been told to enter via the back door of SS Peter and Paul’s Church, with  invite instructions laying out how to use a parking lot and not the main entrance. 

The church leadership is said to have helped with the organization. Pastor Gael Sullivan said: 'I had said to them they had to comply with the minimum number for the service and when they showed up with more people, they agreed with sending them away.'

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Guests are said to have been told to enter via the back door of SS Peter and Paul’s Church, which invite instructions laying out how to use a parking lot and not the main entrance

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A city official is said to have stopped the proceedings forcing the couple to move outside to a basketball court while the 100 guests watched on Zoom

Guests are said to have displayed symptoms within five days; none have been hospitalized as of Monday. 

Earlier this month, Gov. Gavin Newsom banned all indoor dining, closed bars and barred indoor religious services, gyms and salons in much of the state in an attempt to limit the spread of the virus.  

UC Berkeley infectious disease expert John Swartzberg said: 'This is the perfect example of why public health officials have been trying to convince people of the problems with getting together in crowds. 

'And I would be shocked if we didn’t see this consequence. This should be the poster child in why people should take responsibility.'

One guest is said to have written on Instagram: 'There were so many turns, adjustments, will the church close, will they be able to get married in this church, that it would make your head spin!

'Down to the final 30 minutes before ceremony, [the bride] waiting excitedly in the bride room of the church, and the news comes in ... an official from the city is here telling them they can’t get married in the church. (All the while, across the street is a huge park filled with people, not wearing masks and not social distancing, but that was OK.) This beautiful church holds over 800 ... there was 80 people attending the wedding.' 

Another added: 'God was right there with her and (the groom) … whispering to them to "Press on. I’ve got this". This was the most beautiful wedding I have ever been to. 

'Not because of the backdrop of where they got married, but because of the faith, love, patience, tears and joy that were evident throughout. 

'He took care of all the details. When the photographer canceled the night before, He provided another. When the reception space canceled, He provided another one, better than the first. The caterer, the weather!'

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During the rehearsal dinner at Harborview Restaurant and Bar social distancing was not observed and masks were not worn, one onlooker said. A restaurant spokesman denied this 

The July wedding date had already been rescheduled from April, the couple's wedding website said. 

The father of the bride wrote to guests: 'Due to concerns with the visibility to the public of the wedding there is a change in arrival procedures. We will no longer be entering the church publicly through the main entrance.'

During the rehearsal dinner at Harborview Restaurant and Bar social distancing was not observed and masks were not worn one onlooker said. A spokesman for the restaurant said: 'From my observations, the guests wore masks or were sitting separately at socially distanced tables.'

The reception - held at a private home - also appears to have broken social distancing rules by allowing a large gathering.