Happy couples will have to halve their wedding guests after the number allowed to gather was cut to 15 under new Covid-19 rules – but 30 mourners will still be allowed to gather at funerals.
Boris Johnson has reversed the easing of lockdown today by announcing a series of measures to prevent a second coronavirus spike.
Pubs, bars and restaurants are expected to come under a new 10pm curfew, while stronger punishments for people breaking the rule of six could also be announced.
Speaking in Parliament this afternoon, Mr Jonson said that from Monday no more than 15 people will be able to attend wedding ceremonies and receptions, in a tightening of the ‘rule of six’. The new restrictions could be in place for six months.
Weddings were allowed to resume in August with a limit of 30 guests – but tighter Covid restrictions could see that figure halve
More than 73,000 weddings and civil partnership ceremonies were cancelled after a ban was declared at the start of lockdown in March.
Last month the Government declared they could resume, but capped the number of guest to 30. Addressing Parliament this afternoon, Boris Johnson confirmed wedding guest numbers would be capped at 15.
There are no changes to the current cap of 30 mourners at funerals. In March, only 10 mourners were allowed to attend funerals, with guidance stating they were only open to ‘immediate family only’.
Earlier today Michael Gove insisted the Government was taking ‘reluctant steps’ with the new coronavirus measures, but added that they are ‘absolutely necessary’.
‘There will be more details that the Prime Minister will spell out, and again, one of the points that he’ll make is that no one wants to do these things, no one wants to take these steps,’ he told Sky News. ‘They are reluctant steps that we’re taking, but they are absolutely necessary.
‘Because as we were reminded yesterday, and as you’ve been reporting, the rate of infection is increasing, the number of people going to hospital is increasing, and therefore we need to act.’
BRIDE-TO-BE: ‘WE’LL GO AHEAD: WE JUST WANT TO BE MARRIED NOW’
Bride-to-be Felicity Challis, 34, and Leon Davies, 35, had planned to tie the knot with at least 30 of their nearest and dearest and say they’re frustrated by the government’s latest plans
Felicity Challis, 34, and Leon Davies, 35 were due to wed at St James the Great church in Ruscombe, Berkshire and say they’re ‘frustrated’ that they big day will now be curtailed.
Says Felicity: ‘It’s so frustrating especially as I work in a college with hundreds of students, and my son attends the local infant school and my daughter the local pre-school.’
ANOTHER tricky conversation: How to cut wedding guests back to 15 without causing offence…
Anyone hoping to get married with their nearest, dearest and a hundred or so friends and work colleagues looking might as well keep dreaming, for the government’s latest ruling puts big weddings off the menu for at least a year. So how should brides and grooms handle the disappointment – both their own and that of their guests?
Just weeks after weddings were allowed to resume, the Government is set to cap the number of guests at 15
Hitched Editor Sarah Allard: ‘The new rules are bound to cause stress and disappointment for couples who have likely already postponed their wedding or begun planning a smaller celebration for up to 30 guests.
‘The latest news will also come as a huge blow to so many wedding businesses who are fighting hard to look after their couples and keep their businesses afloat.’
Allard says there are things you can do though to ensure your wedding plans aren’t derailed completely…
- If your wedding date is coming up, speak to your venue and suppliers asap – they are professionals and in the best possible position to advise you on your options.
- If you plan to go ahead with a smaller day, then have an honest conversation with your guests – they will appreciate how difficult it’s going to be for you to cut down your guest list.
- For those you’d still like to join you, make sure they’re aware of any health and safety measures you’d like them to adhere to on the day.
- For those that are no longer able to attend, consider ways to still ensure they can still feel involved – whether it’s live streaming elements like the vows or speeches, or seeing them separately to celebrate.
She adds: ‘There are so many bubbles and yet we can’t have trusted friends and family (who are also part of work and employment bubbles), with us to celebrate our wedding.’
The couple say they ‘just want to be married’ at this point and so will go ahead with their wedding plans with the government’s reduced number.
THIRD TIME LUCKY? ‘WE’VE CANCELLED TWICE AND WANT OUR APRIL WEDDING TO GO AHEAD – BUT WE MAY DELAY AGAIN!’
A third delay? David Reed, 32, and his wife-to-be Samantha Brewis, 29, are now set to walk down the aisle in Bury next April…however, if there’s a chance they might be able to have a normal wedding, they say they could delay their nuptials again
David Reed, 32, and his wife-to-be Samantha Brewis, 29, are hoping it’ll be a case of third time lucky, after the pandemic has seen them call off their wedding twice before.
They were due to tie the knot at Bury Parish Church, followed by a reception at Eaves Hall in Clitheroe.
Says the couple: ‘Our intention is to go ahead in April with whatever we can have as we have cancelled twice and so as not to delay further our family plans.
‘However, if there is a definite end in sight when we could have a normal wedding, providing it is in 2021, we would consider delaying a few months for that to happen. It would just mean potentially losing suppliers and costing yet more!’
- Will this disrupt your wedding plans? Email [email protected].