Weddings

That weddings held in churches be allowed the same number of guests as they are allowed in for services on a Sunday ie 50 people.

Why the contribution is important

It makes no sense that you can work in a school of 1500 pupils, teach over 200 pupils face to face daily, eat in the restaurant of the hotel you are getting married in with 70 other diners, go to a church service and sit with 50 people yet for your wedding can only have a total of 20 guests. If these figures of 20 are arbitrary then they make no sense and link into nothing else the Scottish Government is insisting on. Please review the numbers allowed to attend for a wedding.

by LC67 on October 05, 2020 at 03:57PM

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Average rating: 4.7
Based on: 83 votes

Comments

  • Posted by Duckbay21 October 05, 2020 at 16:21

    Also makes no sense to not be allowed to cut cake, make speeches or have a first dance

  • Posted by aisha October 05, 2020 at 16:43

    I absolutely agree. I am a Muslim and are struggling due to the limit on numbers to hold a religious ceremony which requires 2 families joining together. Many Asian households are joint with generations under one roof and with 2 families exceeds the current numbers. Many couples are unable to live together until the religious ceremony can take place. This means everyone lives are on hold. We need to move forward now. If an increase numbers is allowed in covid secure venues only this would stop people breaking the law and holding events in the home where the risk is higher with no control measures. Even paying for tests for your guest before your event will also be welcomed. But we cannot hold a wedding with 20 people...this does not cover your immediate family. This is causing tremendous stress and anxiety.

  • Posted by LS7 October 05, 2020 at 18:32

    Allow wedding ceremonies so couples can be together and feel a bit more normal.
    Limit if necessary the number of people or hours of the reception in covid safe venues but allow the ceremonies
    Many couples need to be marry due to personal/cultural beliefs, if the ceremony doesn't take place they are still away.
    With adequate measures a ceremony can take place and for sure a quick/short reception, not difference with a day out at the pub
    not the optimum but still a sense of normality in these mad times.

  • Posted by CatMacIdeas October 05, 2020 at 19:04

    People at weddings usually have an emotional investment in the others there and want to keep them safe. The same cannot be said of pubs and restaurants where you are there with hundreds of strangers. Also, staff in pubs and restaurants are usually too busy to keep an eye on what people are doing whereas weddings usually have an event manager who keeps an eye on things throughout the day.

  • Posted by lhillis01 October 05, 2020 at 19:58

    Keep rules for a period of time to allow weddings to take place without the unknown if they will go ahead when they plan

  • Posted by Kayrob October 05, 2020 at 20:01

    Weddings should be allowed to happen. The people who are invited can make up their own mind whether to attend or not due to their own safety or fear of the virus.

    Wedding guests are usually their nearest and dearest, not complete strangers.

  • Posted by Orchard1 October 05, 2020 at 20:13

    We have tried to get married twice this year already and have had to cancel due to tightening restrictions. We have now planned a wedding on our own with our children next week during the October break. Which is now hanging in the balance again with the threat of a lockdown of sorts....I really cannot take anymore of this uncertainty and last minute decision making. It really is cruel to keep messing with people's lives like this.

  • Posted by Louann86 October 05, 2020 at 20:26

    I think this should apply to all wedding venues not just churches. I think a set number for ceremony and guests needs to agreed and kept for a number of months as the uncertainty is heartbreaking for couples and disastrous for businesses. I also think if social distancing can be adhered to during the ceremony then masks should not be mandatory. If all guests are sitting what difference does this make to when someone is sat at a table eating? Surely as long as people are socially distanced then the ceremony can be conducted without masks. Members of parliament do not have to wear masks whilst sitting on the benches.

  • Posted by MRSH20 October 05, 2020 at 20:34

    Why can’t we please isolate and get tested for the bridal party and guests, and allow numbers based on venue size. The amount of damage this is doing emotionally, financially on couples and multiple business’ are being destroyed. Italy are able to test and turn results around in a very short period, why can’t we adopt that approach. It makes no sense to have a blanket 20 people which for most doesn’t even allow all immediate family, this could be done in a COVID secure environment, where measures are in place and if guests, bridal party even had to pay for their own test to prove they were COVID free to allow business to continue and marriages to go ahead without the huge burden this is placing on everyone. Ireland are able to have more numbers, we can’t rely on Westminster who are not proactively doing anything they are reacting to situations arising, instead of planning ahead. We need to adopt a better approach in Scotland and this is achievable if we follow leads such as Italy and Madrid where they can test quickly.

  • Posted by ljsmall1984 October 05, 2020 at 20:42

    Venues are allowed to accept customers up to the number that can safely socially distance. That should be also true for weddings as they are often held in huge ballrooms or barns that can seat hundreds of people normally, so would easily safely accommodate more than 20.

    It’s also unbelievably stressful to try to organise something with so much uncertainty so it would be so helpful to actually give people a guarantee that things won’t change for a set period of time. The anxiety and mental illness issues experienced by couples really needs to be taken more seriously. I’ve heard of at least 6 brides who are now on medication to help them cope.

  • Posted by Gillian90 October 05, 2020 at 20:43

    After postponing twice this year already and now worrying about our date for next year my mental health regarding this has took a bashing, with stress and anxiety. We should be able to go ahead with our weddings with a guest list of 50 with track and trace in place and certain covid secure procedures. It should be up to the guests discretion if they are willing to attend or not. If the couple and guests are willing to provide all the correct details so they can be contacted easily if needed then the wedding should be able to go ahead. Temperature checks on arrival hand sanitising throughout the day, frequent hand washing,.

  • Posted by Lesleymc13384 October 05, 2020 at 21:07

    I agree with all of the above comments. Weddings should go ahead as would be normal but only if the following criteria are met:
    All members of the wedding party, all guests and all suppliers must give their details to the couple and venues which are kept for track and trace purposes.
    Any guests with symptoms must not attend.
    Regular handwashing and sanitising carried out.
    Each venue deep cleaned between events.
    Guests make decisions as to whether or not they can attend.

    For the stress, financial burden and anxiety of having to cancel, for the industry which is struggling due to cancellations, for the suppliers, in particular bands, who are losing out greatly we need people to be allowed to celebrate the love the have with their closest friends and family.

  • Posted by rubytuesday October 05, 2020 at 21:12

    I agree with the above comments. My daughter had to postpone her wedding in April , moved it to October and now less than a week before it's due to take place has no idea whether it will actually happen due to talk of further restrictions. The stress and anxiety this has caused is not the build up any bride and groom and their families should have in the run up to their wedding. Weddings/funerals have been very regulated throughout the pandemic because it's easy to do that. There are already so many restrictions being put on their day due to social distancing, wearing facemasks etc, but they are happy to go along with them so that they can get married. It's a day they won't get back. Don't make things any worse for couples, let them have their day.

  • Posted by JennStraine91 October 05, 2020 at 21:22

    I agree to increase the number to a more realistic amount of people (approx. 50) for a longer period of time to allow couples to plan appropriately. The uncertainty is driving couples and businesses into depression on what should be one of the happiest times of their lives. Track and trace is an absolute must as well as hand hygiene carried out throughout the day. Also, traditions which are significant such as the first dance and the bride not wearing a mask should be allowed. These are momentous moments many couples and family members think about and to have those special moments snatched away when so much is already compromised is cruel. The Government claim they are looking after the health of the nation but what about mental well being? Healthy mind equals healthy body just as much as healthy body equals healthy mind.

  • Posted by Annathommo October 05, 2020 at 21:47

    There is absolutely no consistency with the covid rules and weddings. How is it fair that I can sit in the pub with 100s but can’t be married in front of my family and friends who I can easily track and trace? Surely you could allow a % of venue capacity. I.e allow 25% of venue capacity so if your venue holds 100 then 25 people could attend with plenty of space to socially distance. Scotland is also the only country to not allow background music, and having a singer in the background while having our wedding meal will not cause anybody to shout or speak louder. There are fans attending football games but I can’t have a little atmosphere at the most important meal of my life!? The inconsistent restrictions that have been placed on wedding have put our family plans on hold, lost us thousands of pounds and caused unnecessary stress. If we were allowed a % of venue capacity we would know what we could plan for and actually get on with things and be married! It’s the uncertainty and inconsistency that is causing us all to postpone to 2022/2023 and driving the wedding industry out of business

  • Posted by Act23 October 05, 2020 at 21:48

    I agree the numbers should be made to be more realistic. Even just changing to 30 would make it easier for so many people.
    I don't understand how restaurants can have hundreds of people coming through their doors everynight but we can have a ceremony and meal for more than 20 people....

  • Posted by GrannyMac October 05, 2020 at 21:57

    I feel small weddings of 20 should be aloud in family gardens, as it will be family that’s going, I’ve had to change all my plans to a public space, in which anyone could go along, then onto a venue for a meal, I had geared everything for my garden and spent a fortune, now you have to keep the economy going, totally unfair as I’d feel safer in my garden.

  • Posted by Susieg77 October 05, 2020 at 22:01

    Church Venue should not trump all other venues - if they can be Covid safe and take an appropriate amount based on distancing then weddings should be going ahead. 20 makes it almost impossible for even just close family when you have a big family. Why can I go to a restaurant or pub with more total randoms who don’t care one jot about each other’s health and safety but can’t have 50 close family and friends in exactly the same venue/environment? Makes no sense. Increase numbers and even consider things like providing a negative test 7 days before attending for example - need to get creative here.. aside from the pain and distress this is causing couples it is destroying the wedding and events industry too.

  • Posted by LauraPaton October 05, 2020 at 22:02

    I agree with all of the above comments.

    Ceremony and reception numbers should be based in venue capacity and their ability to ensure weddings are Covid secure not based on an arbitrary number.

    Weddings can very easily be tracked and traced as the couple will have the names and contact details of all attendees.

    The couple should also be allowed to have a first dance. English guidance has this exception, it’s often a very large part of a wedding reception

  • Posted by PamDev October 05, 2020 at 22:03

    If the guests can get temp checks or get tested before coming to the ceremony and the venue can hold a large capacity then 50 people of close friends and family to the bride and groom can be accommodated

  • Posted by Samanthaforbes28 October 05, 2020 at 22:08

    Weddings should go ahead as would be normal with the following rules:
    All guests, suppliers, wedding party are either tested 24hrs before the ceremony is due to take place or are tested on arrival if there is anyway to speed up test results.
    Or all wedding party, all guests and all suppliers must give their details to the couple and venues which are kept for track and trace purposes.
    Any guests with symptoms must not attend.
    Regular handwashing and sanitising carried out.
    Each venue deep cleaned between events.
    Guests make decisions as to whether or not they can attend.

    For the stress, financial burden and anxiety of having to cancel, for the industry which is struggling due to cancellations, for the suppliers, in particular bands, who are losing out greatly we need people to be allowed to celebrate the love the have with their closest friends and family.

  • Posted by Suzyed October 05, 2020 at 22:15

    I am 1 of 9 children and the they all have partners and have 14 nephew and neices I cannot choose between who comes and who doesn't and thats even before my husband to be family is thought of then my dad ... i lost my mum 2 years ago to dementia and my dad doesn't think he's going to be with us long enough to see my wedding and walk me down the aisle . I cannot choose and will not but I have had to cancel my wedding 3 times this year and at the end of my rope .... we can all sit in a resteraunt with 50 strangers but cannot have a wedding with 50 or pray with 50 perisioners but not have a wedding what is going on we r never going to get over corona so let live and see what happens we cannot keep running

  • Posted by mcdonaldk October 05, 2020 at 22:15

    Increase the number of people allowed at weddings. The wedding industry will collapse if normal ceremonies/ receptions do not start to take place soon. I would rather be in a room surrounded by my family and friends, than be sat in a pub surrounded by strangers. The number of people should be based on the size of the venue as larger venues can definately hold more people safely. It would also be very beneficial to give a clear outline of your plan to increase numbers/receptions being allowed and dates of this happening. Couples save for years for their dream wedding day and want to know if this can happen in advance, not weeks before.

  • Posted by Lj_x October 05, 2020 at 22:23

    Allow minimum 50 guests at weddings, ensuring that covid secure measures are in place like everywhere else, schools, pubs, restaurants. It can be done. Consider allowing bands to play low key acoustic sets to allow the industry to survive. Also consider the option to pay for tests for guests, this would be an expense most couples, if not all, would be willing to incur in order to be able to have their immediate family/friends witness their special day. Also I agree with ensuring rules stay in place for a set period of time to avoid further stress and anxiety of couples planning in the near future.

  • Posted by FayeJT October 05, 2020 at 22:34

    Agree but allowing wedding venue to have numbers increasrd related to their capacity would be even better. Some venues can socially distance 100 for example. See the gov petition here for more info... https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/329339

  • Posted by GRenrut4 October 05, 2020 at 22:36

    Couples have saved for years, in the regions of tens of thousands of pounds. And in particular the couples like myself that were due to get married in the April/May dates have paid out this amount to be met with nothing to show for it.

    A wedding is not just a party it is the biggest celebration in anyone's life and to restrict still, 7months on, with no route map for the industry leaves thousands of couples and suppliers in limbo.

    Lockdown has been hard enough but for those couples who will lose thousands as businesses go under, whose lives are on complete hold to start families because they can't get married properly and have the day they've paid for, and for suppliers who are at risk of losing homes as they cant pay their bills, who have been told to get a better job - we have had enough.

     We need action, and we need a plan. Our industry hasn't caused any outbreaks so why are we being the ones punished. We can get married safely. Allow us to do so.

  • Posted by SG7508 October 05, 2020 at 22:37

    Getting married is one of the most important life events for anyone. Not to mention a human right. A balance needs to be found to allow reasonably sized ceremonies and receptions (which take months, sometimes years of planning and at great financial cost) to go ahead. The almost weekly changing rules and restrictions is not only emotionally and financially distressing for couples at what should otherwise be one of the happiest time of their lives, but also the wider impact on families, friends, service providers and vendors is equally devastating. Navigation of the rules is now so complex that guidance is being completely misinterpreted, or service providers are so frought with the worry of stepping out of line, that they are adopting blanket rules which are often contrary to SG guidance and make service delivery impossible. This sector needs to be ring-fenced in any future decision making, regardless of ongoing public health concerns.

  • Posted by CraneF October 05, 2020 at 22:50

    I would also like to see all professional staff excluded from the number of attendees. Currently catering staff do not count towards the limit of 20 people but photographers/videographers do.
    My husband is a videographer and has completed online covid safety training, he can easily maintain over 2m distance and wear a mask yet a couple would have to exclude a family member or friend to have him attend in a professional capacity. His business has been wiped out this year and showing very slow signs of picking up. The uncertainty in the industry means couples are very reluctant to book anything.

  • Posted by am1991 October 05, 2020 at 22:51

    Agree with the above that venues should be able to host the number of guests they can accommodate safely with social distancing up to about 50 guests rather than a blanket rule of 20. The fact that this number has to include photographers etc makes everything so much more restrictive when couples will often struggle to get closest family and friends down to 20 people. We had a meeting with our priest today regarding our November wedding and it is increasingly difficult to get excited about the day given all the uncertainty and talk of new lockdowns etc. While we will still go ahead with current restrictions, rules such as all guests and ourselves wearing masks, especially the bride walking down the isle, seem so ridiculous given that we could be sat in a pub all day one metre away from multiple strangers. I also have great sympathy for venues, suppliers and the various churches and other religious organisations who are trying their best to proceed safely and sensibly in the face of rules which seem so restrictive and make less and less sense when compared to those in pubs and restaurants in general.

  • Posted by PartyPeopleEventHire October 05, 2020 at 22:59

    Wedding and events suppliers support almost 1 million UK jobs and provide £14.5 Billion to the economy if Weddings and events can't go ahead with safety measures in place then they need additional support, many businesses haven't earned since March and the money that was in the bank is having to be refunded for cancellations. The alternative will be the loss of the aforementioned 1 million jobs and £14.5 billion to the economy.

  • Posted by RLawson91 October 05, 2020 at 23:01

    Allow full weddings to go ahead with an appropriate number relevant to the capacity the venue can hold - if social distancing is the must!
    Ensure evening reception entertainment such as wedding bands have access to rapid testing and same with guests to allow for first dances and guests to enjoy themselves and celebrate! The amount of money and time that goes in to planning a wedding cannot be put in to words. People should be able to celebrate with their most trusted family and friends. If possible, advise all guests to isolate for at least 7 days prior to the event to minimise the risk! This cannot go on any longer as the impact on finance and mental health of couples and the those within the wedding industry is at a crucial point now. Need to learn to live with the virus and practice safe habits that allow for lives to resume.

  • Posted by MJS94 October 05, 2020 at 23:04

    A wedding is hugely significant day in anyone’s, and their families, life. Not only have the restrictions put many couples futures on hold, it has brought around so much anxiety, stress, depression and money worries.

    Weddings and funerals should be a priority and be able to go ahead as normal (pre-Covid). Like Italy, fast turnaround Covid tests should be available. All bridal party, guests, suppliers and anyone working at the wedding could have one and it would be their own if they had a test or not which in turn would make their decision whether or not to/they can attend the wedding. Everyone could be reminded of hand washing/sanitising regularly, buffets could be served by staff members instead of self service and track and trace in operation.

    With the current restrictions many people can’t even have their immediate family/closest friends with them on the day. How are couples supposed to pick and choose which family members/friends make the cut? It’s so upsetting.

    It’s baffling that people are allowed to go on planes and to pubs/restaurants for example with lots of strangers but you can’t have all your nearest and dearest with you on what’s meant to be one of the best days of your life.

    This is not just an incredibly tough time for couples, it’s an incredibly tough time for venues and suppliers. The majority of suppliers are self employed and whilst some venues may be able to still offer meals/room bookings, most of their revenue comes from weddings. Everyone in the wedding industry works extremely hard and smaller weddings may not be financially viable for them.

  • Posted by Fatimaishaqx October 06, 2020 at 07:02

    I agree to increase the amount of people attending weddings to 50. If you can adhere to social distancing guidelines and get married in a covid secure venue I feel it is safe. If a max of 50 people can attend places of worship then 50 should also be able to attend weddings. This is without a doubt having a massive impact on people across Scotland and their mental health as they’ve been forced to postpone their weddings due to inconsistent advice.

  • Posted by ConnieReid October 06, 2020 at 07:18

    The numbers also make no sense as at the end of the day I can sit in a pub with complete strangers but at my own wedding I can't have people I see everyday or are my closest friends and family just doesn't make sense.

  • Posted by aisha October 06, 2020 at 08:07

    Many venues are large. Mines can hold 400 people but I can only have 20! The rules should allow venues numbers based on capacity. Surely my venue could easily allow 100 people all socially distanced? Everyone to be seated as in restaurants no more than 6 per table from 2 households. Ensure people follow the rules and many are more compliant when it’s your nearest and dearest.

  • Posted by KSchaschke October 06, 2020 at 08:19

    Agree with previous comments that this should be for all wedding venues and not just churches.
    The number allowed should be at least 50, or even based on how many the venue can hold safely (as is done in restaurants and pubs). Many of these venues would normally hold 200+.
    I don't think children should count towards the number of guests, they are not counted in any other situation so I don't understand why they have to count towards an already small number of people allowed. I also think photographer, videographer shouldn't be included in the number of people allowed. They often are 2m at least away from you.
    For me personally I have struggled with the uncertainty. We postponed from April to December and I have no idea what kind of day we can have or if it will even happen. If we could be told for definite what will be in place for the next couple of months I think that would help. Always waiting for updates and not knowing what will be said is having an affect on my metal health, particularly on the lead up to announcements.

  • Posted by Lmac25 October 06, 2020 at 08:28

    If the ceremony and reception are to take place in a regulated venue where covid restrictions are followed, numbers at weddings should be in relation to the capacity of a venue, with a cap of a higher number (e.g. 50) if felt necessary.

    If all are sitting and socially distanced, there should be no need for masks to be worn during the ceremony.

  • Posted by Amandawilson October 06, 2020 at 08:32

    The continued limited numbers at wedding ceremonies and receptions is hugely upsetting. Being allowed to put yourself in other situations with people you don’t know and have no idea where they have been, who they have been in contact with or if they have even had a COVID test or not (like so recently an MP got on a train!) but also in bars and restaurants, Supermarkets, shopping centres, theme parks, flights, buses. It’s open ended, yet I have had to postpone my wedding twice now due to these restrictions. Increasing the number of people at a wedding Ceremony and a reception with robust procedures in place - temperature checks on entry?
    Couples having to wear a mask is frankly ridiculous, we spend every day together before our wedding. The celebrant can socially distance and wear a mask with no touching so very limited risk of infection without couples wearing a mask. Speeches socially distanced, a microphone can be cleaned easily with anti-bac. The first dance, for most couples a slow dance so I don’t think we will be spraying our sweat everywhere...
    The onus should be on the venue to protect people by having a risk assessment which determines the amount of people that can be in the space at one time and numbers at a wedding should be directed by this. Robust cleaning services in place could limit transmission.
    Lastly I believe that there is so little trust in people to use their judgement, if they feel at risk would they attend a wedding? Unlikely. I know myself some of my guests cancelled their attendance due to fears about COVID which was not a problem. If people as feeling unwell would they go to a wedding and risk passing on the virus? Also unlikely unless they have had a negative COVID test first. We know our family and friends and we should be allowed to invite them to our wedding day. In the current climate with everyone fearing what the future will bring, weddings are so important to bring some joy and celebration to people lives.

  • Posted by dwillox1 October 06, 2020 at 08:34

    I agree with most of the above comments.

    A common sense approach should be taken with weddings. Many venues can accommodate way more than 20 people. Allow venues to increase their capacity based on how many people they can safely accommodate (including the required distancing etc etc). Many venues are currently running at a loss due to being unable to accommodate more than 20 people, this rule is doing more harm than good.

    For most couples, the being married part is the most important part of a wedding, this is being overshadowed by constant planning and re-planning for every possible contingency and is having a detrimental effect on bride and grooms mental health. Invited guests to a wedding actively choose to attend. Guests who are unhappy being in a social environment can opt not to attend, but giving them the choice, and trusting them to act in a safe way, is the key here.

    Whilst a 20 person wedding is an improvement on earlier restrictions of 10 , what we really need is a LONG TERM PLAN FOR WEDDINGS AND LARGE EVENTS to create some form of stability for the industry. The simply stated "large events may return during phase 4" is not good enough. Many venues and suppliers are already at breaking point, with no indication of when they might be able to resume near "normal" activities. This makes it impossible to plan a wedding with any sort of certainty.

    If I had known at the start of the year when I got engaged that this is the wedding planning experience I would have, I would have eloped. Now, that is no longer an available option due to the requirement to quarantine etc and my partner and I are staring down the barrel of a very expensive gun, about to have a wedding we don't want, with 20 guests, in a venue that can accommodate 120. Instead of being excited about what our wedding will be like, we're consumed with what it won't be like as the rules in place appear to change every 3 weeks.

  • Posted by WAW2020 October 06, 2020 at 10:22

    You are asking us to support you, we are asking you to support us. Stop driving couples abroad where they are able to safely have a wedding with more people, this is affecting us emotionally, financially, personally. What about the revenue to the economy, smal and large business not viable in this climate. Weddings can go ahead in a safe and secure way, just look at how other countries can safely manage this, tests could be done prior, track and trace is now showing to work and be reliable and should be utilised. Venues can accommodate more than 20 people and should be able to for weddings without putting them anywhere near maximum capacity. Why not publish the science behind, why there can be no background music to an acceptable level, there is so many questions that are unanswered. If you can’t increase capacity, based on testing, tracing and adhering to guidelines then publish the scientific reasons behind it. This is an excruciatingly painful experience and times we are living in. Let’s stop reacting and start being pro active in our approach. This can be done safely and strike a balance - please.

  • Posted by paddygordon October 06, 2020 at 11:22

    Agreed. I am a supplier who has been out of work since March with little to no business support. The government cannot ban us from working and expect us to support ourselves at the same time. It has to be one or the other (let us work, or pay for us to stay off).

  • Posted by Stacey October 06, 2020 at 11:33

    I am a bride due to get married at the end of October. I have just been prescribed anxiety pills today, which I have tried to avoid all year but it was inevitable. I have had to uninvite my sisters boyfriend, my maid of honours partner, our best man and any family members that are not immediate. Our wedding will be upstairs in a very well controlled area of a hotel, we can have dinner but no music. We must wear masks at the ceremony where we will say our vows, we will not be able to smile at each other when we are finally married.
    Once our photographer and harpist leave, we are able to reinvite 2 others to come join us for dinner, plus kids under 12. So for the ceremony we are asking those uninvited to the ceremony but invited to the meal to stay downstairs in the restaurant. They can join us afterwards.

    That restaurant is smaller than our private function area but has more people seated in it, without wearing masks, than my whole wedding party. This makes me feel nauseous.

    Forgetting the numbers as a stress, I am also unaware as to what sort of things will we be allowed, with regards to table centres, favours, gifts, make up artists... All of these things are unknown and I am 24 days away from getting married, trying to keep up a continuous wage as my absence has gone through the roof due to my anxiety which I have never experience the likes of before.

    I think the easiest route to resolve this is to put a blanket rule across events, restaurants and pubs alike.

    If this is in the genuine interest of public safety, I recommend the government reduces every venue to a maximum of 20 guests excluding staff. So pubs and restaurants can have 20 with children of all ages included in the number. This will make the rules much fairer and clearer.

    The alternative then would be that this is no longer being looked at in the interest of public safety, and we continue to allow pubs and restaurants to fill to capacity and weddings get to go ahead under the same rule. Remember that most weddings are taking place in a pub/restaurant environment antway so there really is little difference. The biggest difference being however that at a wedding, the guests are generally included in each others bubbles, know and respect each other well and definitely should be able to respect the social distancing better than a hundred strangers in a pub.

    Please consider this, coming from a stressed, newly medicated bride to be, we need change around this matter.

  • Posted by cml02 October 06, 2020 at 13:41

    Our wedding is at the end of October. I am praying that this can still go ahead. We have cut guest lists and rearranged a whole wedding. Yes, we could postpone but many couples have saved for years and now just want to be married. Even with limited numbers, we have been so excited for our day, to have numbers reduced even further would be hurtful for many couples.

  • Posted by Caitcrafter October 08, 2020 at 19:53

    Latest restrictions 07/10/20
    Is the ban on alcohol indoors applicable to weddings? If so please be more specific. If it IS the case that no alcohol can be served at the wedding, can I suggest you allow one glass of champagne for the toast and one glass of wine during the meal?

  • Posted by shannonepickard October 08, 2020 at 21:33

    A wedding is a special occasion/milestone in any couples life and this should be spent with their closest family and friends. Having a limit of 20 people at a ceremony is near impossible when this 20 includes their photographer, videographer etc. How are you meant to celebrate this special day with a limited number of guests. You can have 40 people in a restaurant all socially distanced, adhearing to rules and restrictions yet you have to make a heartbreaking decision of who can attend your wedding or not. I think a little leeway would really help the brides and grooms out if the number increased a bit. I think if the venue/ballroom/suite is big and wide enough you could accommodate more guests to attend by still socially distancing them. Even have smaller tables with households seated together. Even let the couple enjoy their first dance together but keep everyone seated so no one is gathered, same with cutting of the cake. I just think this topic should be re considered by how much guests can attend your wedding. Please try and make this as special for them and try to make it as normal as you can.

  • Posted by cazalex1968 October 09, 2020 at 15:43

     Am an older bride to be and will be getting married next June.
    I am just hoping and praying that there are some improvements when it comes to the amount of guests at a wedding.
    Although this is not my first time it is not any less important a day.
    As our children have grown up and have families of their own the current numbers allowed make it very difficult to even include immediate family members only. It is meant to be a celebration of the union of two families but these families cannot celebrate that union fully but could all just meet up in a pub somewhere and have a few distanced drinks in larger numbers if they wished. I think if the wedding, meal, reception are being held in a controlled environment ie a hotel where distancing would be adhered to, smaller tables, sanitising stations etc the numbers could be increased slightly. I am only having a small wedding anyway but It is still stressful.
    The wedding industry needs a major boost before more hotels etc go under and more jobs are lost.

  • Posted by AileWalk October 11, 2020 at 18:54

    Wedding numbers should absolutely be increased, with the necessary precautions of course. It does not make any sense that I can go for meals out , with a much higher number and turnover of people than there would be at my wedding- the people who are there would be the same people who are there all day! The venue is usually exclusively hired for the event.The couple absolutely should be allowed a first dance and guests not to wear masks if they are socially distant - even seated in household bubbles - people don't wear masks if they are socially distancing in other areas - why should they wear them at weddings when listening to the ceremony? A routemap/framework for weddings must be reworked and published so that couples do not have to face the endless cycle of planning and cancelling. Its pretty heartbreaking. Also so that suppliers can survive - most suppliers have sensible plans in place and aren't being allowed a chance to implement these. Lets not let them go out of business when most of them couldn't do enough for couples who have been affected. Let couples and their families have their day. We have waited long enough. An increase in numbers while keeping the traditions that we can (e.g walking down the aisle with your dad and having the support of family and friends on the day) would mean so much to many of us.
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