Coronavirus: What are the rules on weddings?

Image copyright Getty Images

Weddings of up to 30 people will be allowed to take place in England again from early July, as part of the easing of lockdown restrictions.

About 250,000 weddings take place in the UK each year - adding an estimated £10bn to the economy.

But coronavirus has disrupted many of this year's ceremonies. If your wedding was cancelled, or you can't have the kind of day that you would like, what are your rights?

Are weddings allowed at the moment?

In some circumstances, depending on the size and location of the ceremony.

Weddings or civil partnerships with up to 30 guests can take place from 4 July in England. They had been banned under almost all circumstances since lockdown began on 23 March.

Northern Ireland has allowed outdoors weddings with 10 people present since early June. Wales and Scotland also now allow wedding ceremonies to take place, but social distancing must be observed, and big gatherings are not allowed.

How will coronavirus affect my wedding?

As weddings typically bring lots of families and friends into close contact, they are particularly vulnerable to the spread of coronavirus. The government has published guidelines on how to have a ''Covid-secure'' wedding in England, once they can take place again from 4 July:

Venues can only reopen if they can do so safely Ceremonies should be kept as short as possible No food or drink should be consumed unless it is essential for the ceremony Group singing and playing of instruments should be avoided A maximum of 30 people should attend ceremonies, 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 photographer Social distancing of at least one metre between different households should be practised at all times It is''strongly advised'' that receptions do not take place afterwards, with only small celebrations of six people outside or two households inside taking place The venue should keep a temporary record of visitors for 21 days, in case they need to be traced

The government says it is working with the weddings industry to see how receptions could take place safely in the future.

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

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

Check alternative dates with your venue as soon as possible, and then ask your suppliers if they would also be able to switch.

Couples ''do need to be understanding of what venues and suppliers are going through at the moment", says Henrietta Dunkley of Ellis Jones Solicitors. She specialises in dispute resolution, and is due to get married in August.

Image copyright Getty Images Image caption Many venues will have lost significant sums of money because of the pandemic

Many venues and suppliers are likely to have lost significant sums of money, so try to find 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 you The lockdown means a business can't provide a service You can't proceed with the event because of the lockdown

An exception is the costs a business has incurred on your behalf already, such as 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 breakdown of costs.

Image copyright Getty Images Image caption Even 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 and is technically allowed to take place, that's where things become trickier.

Read the small print in your contract to check the rules on cancellation or date changes of the businesses you are using. And then ask them what they are prepared to 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.

A few wedding insurers are paying out now under some circumstances. For example, John Lewis suggests it will refund you if restrictions mean your wedding cannot be held and you can demonstrate you have tried to recoup the money from your venue and suppliers.

Image copyright Getty Images Image caption It'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, meaning they cannot just hike up their prices.

Ms Dunkley says some couples have found venues are charging them far more for a postponed wedding than if they tried to book the same date as 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 - the rise in costs for goods and services over time - 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.