Long struggle goes on for wedding industry
FIRMS FACING MONTHS OF LOSSES
FROM being reunited with family to enjoying a pint in the pub, this is what Geordies are most looking forward to once coronavirus restrictions are lifted.
Boris Johnson announced his roadmap out of lockdown on Monday, giving people hope of returning to life without restrictions.
He announced that all restrictions could be lifted on June 21 as he unveiled a four-stage plan to ease the country back to normality.
And with an end date in sight, people on Newcastle’s Quayside shared what they’re most looking forward.
Andy Carlisle said: “I can’t wait to cuddle my granddaughter. I see her over Facetime, but I can’t wait to hug her and feel like a proper human again.”
The 58-year-old plans to visit is two-year-old granddaughter, who lives in Bristol, once travel is permitted.
He added: “Just being able to travel to another part of the country or go to the pub for a pint, it’s those little things I’m looking forward to.
“I feel positive that maybe life is starting to open back up.”
Rachel Burns, 27, can’t wait for stage four of the government’s roadmap out of lockdown, which allows weddings to take place with no limits.
Rachel, from Gateshead, has had to re-arrange her wedding twice as a result of coronavirus restrictions and hopes she will finally be able to enjoy her dream day in July.
She said: “My wedding day was originally booked for February 2020, but when it seemed inevitable there would be restrictions we postponed it until April.
“We had everything sorted and it’s been so stressful so I hope the wedding can finally go ahead in July.”
Newcastle University student Sean Simpson is looking forward to fulfilling his dream of studying abroad for a year in Rotterdam, Holland.
The 20-year-old’s placement last year was accepted and then later cancelled on the same day due to coronavirus restrictions.
But he is holding on to the hope that he can complete his placement this year when travel is permitted in stage three of the government’s roadmap out of lockdown, which will be actioned no earlier than May 17.
Sean said: “I will be happy if I do get the chance to do my year abroad this year. That’s something I could look forward to.”
He added: “I think lockdown has been a nightmare for students and I think they will just be happy about going out.”
Megan Easby, a first-year marine engineering student at Newcastle
University, echoes Sean’s views. The 20-year-old said: “I think people will definitely be looking forward to getting out to pubs and bars and once they open they’ll probably be really busy.”
Susan Dunn, 45, is looking forward to visiting friends and family in their homes.
She said: “When we’re allowed into someone else’s home again I think it will probably feel weird, but I can’t wait to sit in someone else’s lounge and have a cup of tea.
“It’s the simple things in life that you miss that we would have taken for granted before.”
WORKERS from across the North East’s wedding industry have called for urgent help from the Government as they face at least another four months of struggle before returning to normal.
Photographers, florists, wedding planners, stylists and dress shop owners are among those who have spoken of the devastating effect of the past year, with some facing the prospect of losing their businesses altogether.
Announcing its roadmap out of lockdown on Monday, the Government gave some much-anticipated details around resuming weddings, which have been largely unable to go ahead for many months.
As of March 29, weddings can proceed with up to six attendees and will no longer be limited to exceptional circumstances.
On April 12, they will be able to take place with up to 15 attendees in premises that are permitted to open, and on May 17 the number increases to 30.
It will be June 21 at the earliest that the Government plans to remove all limits on weddings and other “life events”, subject to the outcome of the scientific
Events Research
Programme.
Ahead of Boris
Johnson’s announcement, Newcastle wedding photographer Sean Elliott teamed up with Saying I Do Wedding Planning for a photoshoot in support of the “What About Weddings” campaign.
The shoot, at Newcastle’s Theatre Royal, brought together a group of wedding and arts professionals to create “a photographic statement with a strong message”.
The image of the lone bride and groom against a vast backdrop of empty seats is designed to be a reminder of “what’s missing and at risk of crumbling in our industries without proper support and understanding”.
The campaign calls for “mean ingful support” for the industry, with wedding venues treated the same as hospitality businesses in allowing them to operate safely on higher capacity numbers.
Sean said: “So many of our businesses directly underpin the hospitality sector – the list is huge – yet so far we’ve received none of the same meaningful support.
“For myself and other businesses currently out of work, the situation is beyond critical. For many others, it’s sadly too late.”
Speaking after Mr Johnson’s announcement, he said: “I’m glad they’re being cautious, but it means I’m in lockdown for another four months and I need to have some support financially otherwise, once again, I’m scrapping around trying to find work.
“I’m glad they’re being cautious, I just hate how they have put everything into little pigeonholes, and a wedding has been pigeonholed in the same way as a nightclub.
“I think it should have been 50 guests, and that would have economically allowed a lot of people like myself to crack on for the next three months. Even 30 would have been better than 15.
“I’ve been to several weddings with Covid-19 restrictions and the venues are so terrific, they’re managing the situation incredibly well.
“It’s not being looked at as a serious industry. It’s as if people think we’re doing it for a hobby, but we’re not – we’re paying our mortgages with it.
“We need support now, otherwise the whole thing’s going to collapse in on itself. We have a glimmer of hope, I want to be positive, but people need to know we are struggling.”
I’m glad they’re being cautious, I just hate ‘‘ how they have put everything into little pigeonholes, and a wedding has been pigeonholed in the same way as a nightclub
PHOTOGRAPHER SEAN ELLIOTT