Coronavirus: What Are The New Rules For Weddings?

This past year, ceremony and reception restrictions have changed again and again, and now we're coming out the other side of our third lockdown (please God say it's the last one). But we're desperate to know what the wedding 2021 coronavirus picture will look like. What are the new rules for weddings and will big weddings happen in 2021?

For moths now, the campaign group What About Weddings has been calling for clarity on what is going on, raising awareness about the suffering wedding industry. Couples who are hoping to marry this year are desperate to know what to do and whether a wedding in, say, July will need to be socially distanced.

Meanwhile, legal body The Law Commission is calling for changes in England and Wales to marry at home, outdoors - and even remotely, saying current laws to marry in a civil or religious ceremony are 'ancient', 'unnecessarily restrictive' and have led to weddings becoming more expensive. Thanks to both groups' campaigning, we now have more clarity from the government on what weddings will look like in 2021.

Hitched, a wedding planning destination, found that 69% of couples who postponed their 2020 wedding plan to tie the knot between April and August this year. According to their research, UK couples are planning on inviting between 75 and 125 guests on average to their post-lockdown wedding if restrictions are lifted. So plans for big weddings in 2021 certainly haven't gone anywhere. But what do you need to know if you're planning a spring or summer wedding? We've broken down the questions everyone's asking...

What are the new rules for weddings?

As of 17th May, government guidelines state that weddings can proceed with up to 30 attendees. However, social distances is still required between people who do not live together and guests must wear face coverings. From the 21st June, it was thought all restrictions would be lifted on events like weddings - however the four week extension of lockdown cast that into doubt.

Boris Johnson has clarified what the new rules are for weddings, stating that weddings are no longer subject to the capacity limit even with lockdown extending. These rules are for England only - Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland all have slightly different rules around weddings.

'Weddings can still go ahead with more than 30 guests provided social distancing is in place,' Boris Johnson said in a press conference today.

Can you dance at weddings?

Until 19th July, dancing will not be allowed at indoor venues, and will be 'strongly discouraged' at outdoor venues.

So, when will big weddings be allowed?

According to today's announcement from Boris Johnson, from the 21st of June. He said that weddings are the exception to the lockdown extension, and that there is no cap on the number of guests who can attend, as long as the venue adheres to social distancing guidelines - this might mean there's still a cap on the number of guests who can attend, depending on how many people the venue can accommodate safely.

Are sit down meals allowed weddings?

Yes, people can sit at a table of up to six people, and food and drinks can only be served to table. Which means...

Are buffets allowed at weddings?

No, buffets are still not allowed at weddings - nor are stand-up drinks receptions.

Can my dad walk me down the aisle at my wedding?

'The great news is that dads can walk down the aisle from April 12, but that decision is down to the registrar so it’s important to check this before your big day,' she continued.

Will mask wearing and social distancing be enforced?

Sarah says: 'For weddings taking place from April 12 onwards, the ceremony needs to be socially distanced however this is unlikely after 21st June.'

Rosie Woodhouse from What About Weddings says: 'We hope to see a return to non masking and non socially distanced celebrations as soon as it is safely possible to do so.' She hopes weddings in 2021 will look increasingly 'normal' as the year progresses and the vaccinated population increases.

'Governments across the UK are taking a cautious approach to social gatherings at weddings. We are encouraging them to look to the science of vaccination progress that will enable the lifting of social restrictions and for parity with entertainment and sports gatherings for this incredibly important rite of life,' she says.

She adds that couples planning to marry may need to 'build some flexibility into their planning and keep in close contact with their suppliers who are working very hard to keep their couples updated and advise on working with any restrictions applicable at the time of their wedding.

'Our Facebook group What About Weddings has built a fabulous supportive community for couples and suppliers and provides regular updates about legislation and all things wedding,' she adds.

They are also working very hard with government and industry to achieve insurance that is achievable and appropriate and that will give couples confidence to plan their wedding days.

Will wedding numbers be restricted?

This depends on when your wedding is - the main restriction is whether your venue can host you and your guests and remain Covid secure. If you're unsure, the first thing you should do is speak to your venue, who will be able to tell you what their capacity is with social distancing.

Can I hold my wedding outdoors?

You can - and some restrictions - like dancing - are lifted if your reception is taking place outside. But it's worth noting that if you hold your wedding in a marquee, then two sides would need to be up for it to count as an outdoor venue.

Will international weddings be able to go ahead in 2021?

It doesn't look likely that abroad weddings will be able to happen this summer. At the moment international travel is banned in the UK until 30 June, unless you have a 'reasonable excuse'. Otherwise you risk a £5,000 fine if you leave the country. After June, things might relax, but it seems unlikely that foreign weddings will be able to go ahead for a while yet.

Duncan Sutcliffe of Sutcliffe & Co Insurance Brokers says: 'Wedding insurance is currently very hard to find. All the wedding insurance companies I approached this week have suspended the sale of new polices, although any existing policies should still be valid.

Should I book a honeymoon?

Regarding honeymoons, Duncan says: 'The travel prospect still remains uncertain so we would strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance that will include cover for cancellation due to covid, or at the very least will cover you if you catch covid whilst abroad. Many travel insurance polices now exclude or restrict cover in relation to Covid so check the details. We would recommend booking through a travel agent and using the protection of regulated suppliers. Purchasing your holiday on a credit card rather than a debit card might also give you an added level of protection. Travel insurance is unlikely to cover you if you travel against the advice of the Foreign & Commonwealth Office.

When booking venues and suppliers check the contract to ensure you are entitled to a postponement or refund if your big day is disrupted. Be cautious about paying large deposits to suppliers who may be financially weakened by the last 12 months.

There is lots of speculation about the need to provide evidence of a vaccination – your venue or honeymoon destination might change their policy in the future to make evidence of vaccination compulsory

Gary Rycroft, Chair of the Law Society’s digital assets committee and consumer law expert says: 'As the vaccine gets rolled out it would be lovely to think that the wedding industry will have less upheavals in 2021, than 2020, but really who knows? I hope there will more weddings allowed in 2021, but last-minute disappointment could well remain a threat in 2021 as the vaccine continues to be taken up .'

**Bernadette Chapman, head of the UK Alliance of Wedding Planners, says: '**I’m hoping that as we enter into summer larger receptions will be back but possibly with restrictions in place. It would also be wonderful if the government passed the law to allow legal ceremonies in gardens. And it would make sense if marquees can be considered Covid secure venues with a planner , caterer or marquee company taking responsibility for this on the day and the lead up.'

Patrizia Cilli, Wedding Planner at patriziacilli.com **says: '**Many wedding trends we saw in 2020 are fading and making space for a new wave of amazing trends and a fresh approach to the way couples will wed next year. I don’t expect a large number of ‘big fat crazy weddings’, instead I see weddings with even greater attention to detail, style but most importantly experience-oriented celebrations deeply rooted in sentimental values, until at least the end of the second quarter of 2021.'

What should brides and grooms-to-be hoping to get married in 2021 think about/be wary of?

Gary Rycroft says: 'I think "expect the unexpected" must remain the philosophy to live by for now. From a legal perspective that translates to making arrangements and signing contracts which have defined ‘wiggle room’ and ‘exit strategies'. For example, discuss with providers of wedding products, services and events what you want to happen if there has to be sudden change of plan, say to reduce numbers, or if there is a further lockdown which prevents ceremony going ahead. It would be unwise to assume that the best laid plans are foolproof.'

**Bernadette Chapman says: '**One of my key bits of advice is to be willing to be flexible if needed. We have seen this year that no matter how much we’ve planned, weddings have still had to be postponed or they have ended up being very different to what they expected. Remember the most important aspect is you exchanging vows so if the “party” looks a little different that’s ok. It would be my advice to have someone like a wedding planner (or delegate someone else to help you) who can assist if plans need changing. Wedding Planners this year were postponing weddings sometimes 2/3 times for their clients, ensuring all suppliers could make the new date and handling the paperwork. Having someone to help you is going to make a huge difference. I would urge couples to only hire suppliers with legally sound contracts, this way it is protecting the couple and the suppliers. All too often couples hand money over to suppliers without doing their due diligence first. So check references, check have they been active on social media this year? Can you see they have been pushing their business forward as much as they can?

Patrizia Cilli says: 'Firstly, everyone’s health should be top priority, and this can be carefully planned out with wedding professionals able to produce and manage COVID secure weddings. Couples can arrange for their guests to get tested for Covid before being able to attend the festivities. Also, couples could also consider limiting the guest list according to the guidelines we are expected to follow, should these continue. Couples should consider working with weddings planners who can not only take care of traditional wedding planning duties but also oversea contingencies should COVID restrictions still be in place. Couples should be ready to accept several compromises such as getting married during weekdays, (due to the several postponed weddings of 2020) having a reduced number of guests (depending on the country’s rules) and other different aspects in order to guarantee healthy and safety for them and their guests. Creativity will be the key!'

Do you have any advice for what brides and grooms-to-be should be doing now if they want a wedding in 2021?

Gary Rycroft said: 'Weddings should be joyous occasions but the planning of them should be hard-nosed! Ask wedding businesses how they managed the unexpected events of 2020 and agree what should happen if similar difficulties arise next year with your booking.

'Most disputes arise because the parties involved have a different idea of what should happen when something goes wrong. The experience and learning of 2020 really is ‘plan for worst and hope for the best.

'Key issues to consider are - what should happen to any deposit money if the event has to be postponed or cancelled? If wedding numbers get limited but you want a bigger one than is allowed do you still have to go ahead? If you have to change the date will you get a similar date – for example a weekend in the summer – if you re-schedule for the same price? And think also about ‘bespoke’ products like dresses as often you cannot claim a full refund in law if the product has already been substantially made.'

**Bernadette Chapman says: '**I would be creating 2 tiers of guests (excuse the pun), those who you really want there and those that would be nice to have. This will make it easier to reduce your list should you need to do so. Speak with suppliers regarding their COVID policies. What happens if you need to postpone the wedding due to COVID? What is their policy? In the case of wedding planners they often are happy to postpone 1-2 times FOC but after this they might need to charge an admin fee, after all its not just a date change for them, they will be contacting all suppliers on your behalf and getting contracts amended. As any restrictions regarding year or time of year for a postponement? Hire all your key suppliers now as 2022 is set to be busy years with a lot of last minute weddings and parties. Think about who can help with any anticipated admin regarding COVID? For example ensuring the wedding is COVID secure. Arranging hand sanitises, signage and social distance (if that’s still applicable)'

Patrizia Cilli says: 'Couples should start looking for their dream venue and all of their suppliers now and have a 2nd and 3rd option at the ready for each supplier in case their first choice suppliers are already booked. Be open minded and be ready for certain restrictions but it doesn’t mean that the wedding will not be fantastic. Couples should look at the big picture which is their life and future together! Love always win!

Do you think the covid vaccine/ the ongoing pandemic could affect insurance and people’s rights for weddings in 2021?

Gary Rycroft said: 'New wedding insurance products will not cover Covid-19 issues unless you are prepared to pay a massive premium, as it is a known high risk!

The law will continue to protect consumers where events have to be cancelled and the legal doctrine of ‘frustration of contract’ applies, which means the parties to a contract should start again as it were because the original purpose of the contract could not be fulfilled. The legal grey areas in 2020 [were] where weddings could technically happen, but not as the parties originally planned them.

I suspect there will be less sympathy and legal latitude for couples [this year], in the sense that after all that has happened anyone planning a wedding may reasonably be expected to assume things could not work out as planned, which is why it’s crucial to have those difficult conversation now and plan what should happen in those circumstances.'

Beradette Chapman says:'I think the vaccine is going to make a huge difference to the wedding industry. It might require a level of administration with perhaps couples insisting on guests showing proof of receiving the vaccine when RSVPing. It's hard to tell about insurance because let's face it, they have been letting down businesses and couples. Refusing to pay out in the majority of cases despite couples and businesses making payments. Who knows if wedding insurance will even be back and if so how can they possibly give confidence to couples going forward?'

**Patrizia Cilli says: '**The pandemic has drastically changed the way we are living our life at the moment and how we undertake simply daily activities. Getting vaccinated with a highly efficacious vaccine will not mean we as wedding professionals will completely abandon any suggested public health measures to ensure that we and our couples remain safe and protected.'

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