Coronavirus: How many people can attend a wedding?

4 years ago 299

By Eleanor Lawrie
BBC News

Published14 August

image copyrightGetty Images

Sit-down wedding receptions of up to 30 people are allowed to take place in England from 15 August.

Ceremonies with 30 guests have been permitted since early July.

But the rules about who can attend weddings and receptions vary around the UK.

Are weddings allowed at the moment?

Weddings were banned when lockdown began on 23 March,

affecting 73,600 weddings and same-sex civil partnership ceremonies.

They are now allowed around the UK, but with different rules.

Up to 30 people will be allowed to attend a sit-down reception in England from Saturday.

Small outdoor wedding ceremonies are allowed in Northern Ireland. The number of people allowed to attend is based on a social distancing risk assessment made by the venue, as it is in Wales, where indoor receptions are still not allowed.

In Scotland, indoor wedding ceremonies of up to 20 people can be held, and receptions are subject to the rules about gatherings.

How will coronavirus affect my wedding?

The government has published guidelines on how to have a ''Covid-secure'' wedding in England.

Venues can only reopen if they can do so safelyCeremonies should be kept as short as possibleNo food or drink should be consumed unless it is essential for the ceremonyGroup singing and playing of instruments should be avoidedA maximum of 30 people should attend, and only where there is space to socially distance. This includes all guests, the officiant and any staff not employed by the venue, like a photographerSocial distancing of at least one metre between different households should be practised at all timesThe venue should keep a record of visitors for 21 days, in case they need to be traced

What should I do if I am due to get married soon?

If you feel your day will be too different from what you wanted, it is generally better to postpone rather than cancel it.

Check alternative dates with your venue, and see if your suppliers can switch.

Couples ''do need to be understanding" of current issues for venues and suppliers, says Henrietta Dunkley of Ellis Jones Solicitors.

image copyrightGetty Images

image captionMany venues will have lost significant sums of money because of the pandemic

Many venues and suppliers could have lost significant sums of money, so aim for a solution that works for everyone, she advises.

For example, if the wedding was on a Friday or Saturday or in peak season and the venue can't offer an equivalent date, it's generally reasonable to ask for a fee reduction, or an upgrade in the service you will receive.

What if I want to cancel?

If your ceremony was due while weddings were banned, you should generally be entitled to a full refund if you don't want to postpone.

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) says in most cases this would be if:

A business cancels on youLockdown meant a business couldn't provide a serviceLockdown stopped you holding the event

An exception is the costs a business has incurred on your behalf already, like a wedding meal tasting or a dress fitting.

As a result, venues and suppliers may be entitled to keep all or part of your deposit, but consumer rights law states they must give you a costs breakdown.

image copyrightGetty Images

image captionEven if a wedding can't take place, couples may need to pay for some of the services already received

If your wedding is coming up, that's where things become trickier.

Read the small print in your contract to check the rules on cancellation or date changes and ask the businesses you are using what they can offer.

Under consumer rights law, contract clauses that could be deemed unfair may be unenforceable, even if you previously agreed to them. Any ''non-refundable'' deposit can only have been a small percentage of the total price.

Can I claim on wedding insurance?

Most wedding insurance does not cover a ''government act", so it is unlikely to pay out if the lockdown affected your wedding.

However, a few wedding insurers are paying out now under some circumstances.

image copyrightGetty Images

image captionIt's a good idea to check the rules on cancellation or date changes

Many, if not all insurers are not selling new wedding policies, so this only covers existing agreements.

If not, you may have to register a claim with the administrator or can claim up to £30,000 per supplier from your credit card company for services not rendered, under section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act.

If you paid on debit card, you may be able to secure a refund under the chargeback scheme.

Can suppliers and venues charge me more if I postpone?

Businesses are not allowed to profiteer from the pandemic, so cannot just hike up prices.

Ms Dunkley says some couples have found venues are charging them far more for a postponed wedding than if they were a new customer. This is unlikely to be deemed reasonable.

However, she adds it is fair for an equivalent wedding in 2021 to cost slightly more, because of inflation, and to reflect an increase in supply costs.

The CMA has set up a taskforce to investigate harmful pricing practices during the pandemic. Consumers can fill in this form if they feel a business has treated them unfairly.

Some insurance policies will pay out if your supplier or venue goes bust.

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