The wedding industry in the UK has been one of the hardest hit by the country’s many lockdowns and Covid restrictions over the last 16 months.
According to What About Weddings, a community supporting wedding businesses and couples through the pandemic, there are currently over 250,000 couples waiting to get married when restrictions on weddings finally ease, with many having postponed their original wedding date at least once.
The news that ‘freedom day’ on June 21 will likely be delayed will throw many couples’ plans into jeopardy and once again and put pressure on the already struggling wedding sector.
What are the current wedding restrictions in England?
From May 17, weddings and civil partnership ceremonies have been allowed to go ahead with up to 30 people in attendance.
Weddings with up to 30 people in attendance (including the bride and groom) can take place in churches, registry offices, ‘Covid-secure’ venues that are permitted to open, in outdoor venues and in private gardens.
Anyone attending a wedding ceremony or reception must wear a face covering if the venue is indoors (except when eating or drinking). However the bride and groom – and those who are leading services – do not have to wear a face mask.
Under current restrictions, ceremonies and services need to be kept as short as possible. This means that anything that is not necessary to make the marriage or partnership legal and could extend the length of the service – such as readings – are not allowed.
Receptions and post-wedding celebrations are also now permitted to take place – with the limit of up to 30 guests in place.
Wedding receptions can take place either indoors (but not in private homes) or outdoors (which does include private gardens). If a wedding reception is taking place in a marquee in a private garden, then the marquee must be at least half ‘open’ to be allowed. This might mean having half of the walls of the marquee open or rolled up for example, to let air in.
While a seated meal is permitted as part of a wedding reception, entertainment is restricted.
Dancing is advised against ‘due to the increased risk of transmission’. Aside from a couple’s first dance, dance floors and other spaces for dancing must remain closed.
Indoor professional performances can take place, such as a wedding band or music during a ceremony, but for inside venues, the band can consist of no more than six people.
When could current wedding restrictions in England be eased?
In the Government’s original roadmap out of lockdown, all limits on weddings, civil partnership ceremonies and receptions were due to be eased on June 21.
However, following the sharp increase of coronavirus cases in the UK caused by new Covid-19 variants, this date will almost certainly be delayed.
Boris Johnson is due to address the nation in a press conference on Monday June 14, during which he is set to confirm what delays are necessary for the UK’s ‘freedom date’ from restrictions.
It is expected the PM will urge patience from the public and announce that the final stage of lifting restrictions will be pushed back one month.
This would mean that the current restrictions on weddings will not be eased until at least July 19.
However, according to The Times, limits on weddings may be lifted anyway, even if social distancing and other restrictions remain.
Ministers could decide to bring weddings into line with funerals, which had the 30-person limit scrapped last month.
Unlimited guests would also be allowed at events such as bar mitzvahs and christenings under the plans.
In light of the news that the previously proposed ‘freedom date’ of June 21 will be delayed, What About Weddings are putting pressure on the government to provide clear guidance for weddings.
This includes a specific roadmap and rules for the sector, in which around 50% of the 400,000 people who work in the industry in the UK have received no financial support throughout the pandemic so far and have had their businesses crippled by the ongoing uncertainty and rule changes regarding larger-scale private events like weddings.
MORE : When will dancing at weddings be allowed again?
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