Fairytale over for grooms who may NOT kiss the bride
THEY are among the most eagerly-awaited words at any wedding ceremony.
But grooms have been told they may no longer ‘kiss the bride’ in Scotland – because they are not allowed to take their face masks off.
Rules to prevent the spread of coronavirus mean face coverings are now mandatory in places of worship.
And confusion about rules for other indoor spaces has seen some registration offices also insist that everyone attending a wedding covers their face.
Conservative MSP Oliver Mundell is calling for an overhaul of the rules – and for the maximum number of guests to be increased.
Rules introduced from July 15 mean up to 20 people can attend wedding ceremonies but only a maximum of eight from three households are allowed to attend an indoor reception afterwards.
Guidelines state that those leading a ceremony are exempt from having to wear a face covering in a place of worship – but the bride and groom are not.
Mr Mundell, the Tory tourism spokesman, said: ‘It feels like weddings have been forgotten.
‘There needs to be a more flexible approach. I have been pretty surprised by reports locally that the bride and groom have been expected to wear their mask throughout the exchange of vows, and that people have been told that it is not possible to kiss the bride.
‘Most people would see it as quite unreasonable that the happy couple are going to remain socially distanced much beyond the reception.’
Calling for the number of guests allowed at ceremonies and receptions to be increased to at least 30, he said: ‘That number doesn’t deliver the wedding of many people’s dreams, but it does mean they would no longer have to axe close family from the guest list and choose between their very best friends.’
He added: ‘I’ve heard of a lot of people putting off major life events like having children or moving house and their lives are really on hold while they wait to see if their wedding can go ahead.’
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has said she hopes to be able to increase the number who can attend wedding receptions and funeral wakes from the middle of next month.
Scotland’s rules are stricter than those in England, where 30 guests are allowed. In Northern Ireland, 50 can attend.
Alasdair Houston, chairman of Gretna Green Limited, one of the UK’s busiest wedding venues, said it was ‘nonsensical and illogical’ that wedding guests who were not allowed to stay for the reception could instead join dozens of strangers in a different hospitality venue.
He said: ‘It is absolutely shambolic, overly-restrictive nonsense and it is driving celebrations underground.’
A Scottish Government spokesman said: ‘Organised occasions such as meals and gatherings to mark a significant event like a wedding or funeral make observing the limit for mixing indoors/outdoors difficult.
‘These occasions are likely to involve larger numbers of people who, quite understandably, will wish to greet and engage with one another.
‘It is therefore not possible to arrange larger groups of this nature within hospitality settings at this time. We will keep these measures under review.’
‘See it as quite unreasonable ’ ‘Absolutely shambolic’