Three couples say ‘I do’
SPECIAL-LICENCE WEDDINGS HELD FOR TERMINALLY ILL, BUT ALMOST 400 SERVICES ARE POSTPONED
THREE special-licence weddings have taken place in Kirklees to enable people with terminal illnesses to get married during lockdown.
But almost 400 services for weddings and civil partnerships have been postponed in the borough due to the impact of the coronavirus.
Five ceremonies were cancelled altogether.
Kirklees Council runs weddings and civil partnerships through its Kirklees Registration Service.
However in response to the coronavirus pandemic, and following Government regulations, the register offices at Huddersfield and Dewsbury Town Halls are closed.
All services, apart from death and still-birth registration, have been suspended until further notice.
Yet the vast majority of people have decided to delay their special day, with 284 couples opting to re-arrange their plans for later in 2020, for 2021, or even as far away as 2022.
A further 84 couples are waiting to re-schedule once they better understand what the Government’s approach to restarting weddings and civil partnerships will be.
Only five ceremonies have been cancelled altogether.
The council’s Cabinet Member for Corporate, Clr Graham Turner, said the pandemic had had a major impact on everyone’s lives “and sadly one of the unfortunate impacts has been the need to put weddings on hold.”
He said the couples with whom the council had been working had been “incredibly understanding” about enforced changes.
He added: “Our registrars have carried out three special-licence weddings through the pandemic so far.
“These are where one party member has been terminally ill and the ceremony has needed to take place at pace.
“I would like to thank our staff for arranging these special ceremonies, as I know that this will mean a lot to those couples at a very difficult time for them.”
As well as marriage ceremonies and civil partnerships the council can carry out naming ceremonies, citizenship ceremonies and renewal of vows.