Updated Roadmap for Weddings 2021. Help and Advice For Booking Weddings During Covid-19

This is the latest roadmap and government plans.

From April 12, at the earliest, wedding receptions will be able to go ahead with up to 15 people in places that are permitted to be open. This appears to be outdoors only.

Then, from May 17 at the earliest, numbers for ceremonies and receptions will hopefully increase up to 30 people.

It is hoped limits on numbers at weddings will be scrapped altogether from June 21.

As things stand under the current government restrictions and guidelines weddings can only go ahead with up to six people in exceptional circumstances such as terminal illness.

From April 12th there will be allowed a total of 15 guests, this includes the marital couple but does not include the suppliers such as wedding photographers etc. Weddings can only take place in COVID-19 secure settings and a sit-down meal for those guests is likely to be permitted.

From May 17th it is hoped that this number will increase to 30 people and with the same restrictions as above.

For the full govt roadmap see here

What do we do next?

If you and your partner are in a state of anxiety over wedding plans, try not to worry, you are not the only ones. Sadly, this has affected tens of thousands of couples in the UK all wanting to have their dream wedding surrounded by all their friends, family and loved ones.

Having had nearly a year of dealing with the rescheduling of weddings let me try and help with some advice.

1. Speak to your venue, try to see how the land lies about moving your date. Be prepared for them to be busy, they may be isolating, furloughed, or closed and so unable to respond immediately! They may also advice, which is commonplace, that they can only deal with postponements for couples whose weddings are in the next 3 months. This is because of the ever-changing guidelines but does not help with your already heightened anxiety.

2. If you can get new dates from your venue please do not book any until you have spoken to your main suppliers such as the photographer, caterers, make up, hair etc. Check when they are available and if they are making any additional charges, I am not, but others might!

3. You may also want to consider a weekday. Venues are getting terribly busy with the back log of the last year and all those waiting to get married during the pandemic that have not yet booked but are now feeling confident enough to make the jump. A Saturday in August is a busy booking at the best of time and the next couple of years will be even more so. Why not try for a Thursday or Friday, you will find the venues are a whole lot cheaper. A month ago, I would have said 2021 was destined to be a busy year but that is no longer the case and 2022 is filling up quickly with both new and postponed bookings so don’t be too late to book.

There is a comprehensive blog of mine on your rights in relation to bookings during covid-19

Why not have a micro wedding?

I have done a few so called micro weddings. Some due to COVID-19 and some through choice even before COVID-19 came along. They are surprisingly great days. Couples invite the people that matter to them, no distant aunts, and uncles who you have not seen for years. No hangers on that you most probably will not even speak to on the day, yet you are forking out lots of money for them to be there out of loyalty. Cosy, intimate, special, and meaningful to name but a few good reasons to keep it small. There are lots of options open to you, they may not all be perfect but currently things are not perfect! Go with what you want and not what your parents or other advisors think is the right way to do it!

Lastly

Please do not try to sidestep the government guidelines on weddings, looking for loopholes or blatantly disregarding them. To do so is putting you, your guests, and the suppliers at risk. Moreover, there is the financial side of the fines, insurance that is not valid and for your suppliers their credibility when suddenly up pop the pictures on social media and the police come knocking on your door!

I hope this helps, it is only my thoughts and views and should not be taken as definitive, I am just trying to help.

If you are in need of more help or would like to book or have a chat please contact me.