It seems that many still don’t think that breaking the rules has consequences. Not only can you get in legal trouble from breaking lockdown regulations, you also put your family and friends in danger, especially when having large gatherings.

A couple in San Francisco tried to sneakily have a wedding ceremony in the city’s iconic Saints Peter and Paul Church. Dozens of their loved ones including friends and family were present at the event. Now, several of those who were members of the wedding party have been infected with COVID-19.

Before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the couple had intentions to marry early this year. However, when the outbreak and the resulting movement restrictions came into play, they rescheduled their wedding to July, according to The Denver Channel.

With the replanned, illegally held wedding, guests were instructed to make use of the church’s underground parking. The Chronicle reported that the bride’s father emailed guests three days before the wedding to explain safety guidelines they had put in place.

However, officials from the San Francisco City Attorney’s Office caught wind of the ongoings, and tried to stop the wedding. According to Business Insider, the officials told the couple and their guests that the wedding had to be held outside, as the city currently allows up to 12 people to gather in open spaces, without food or drink.

It was reported that thereafter, the couple took their ceremony to a nearby basketball court and had several guests tune in from a live stream. The bride, groom, and at least eight members of the wedding party later tested positive for COVID-19.

This was not the first time this church had broken rules. In June, the San Francisco city attorney’s office issued a cease-and-desist letter to several churches, including Saints Peter and Paul Church, after they held indoor masses.

Infectious disease expert John Swartzberg at UC Berkeley told The Chronicle that instances like this “infuriated” him.

“This is the perfect example of why public health officials have been trying to convince people of the problems with getting together in crowds,” he said. “And I would be shocked if we didn’t see this consequence. This should be the poster child in why people should take responsibility.”

Image: Facebook / Saints Peter and Paul Church San Fransisco (Alexey Speranksy)