Weddings limited to groups of five people

Couples’ plans for their big day are in turmoil as new guidance prevents large ceremonies and receptions

Weddings must be limited to just five people, the Church of England said yesterday as the coronavirus continued to tear at the fabric of British life. Thousands of engaged couples face having their big day plunged into turmoil by new guidance designed to minimise the spread of the deadly illness. In an update titled “practical guidance for weddings”, the Church said that the couple should have a maximum of two guests, to act as witnesses, and a priest.

WEDDINGS must be limited to only five people, the Church of England said yesterday as the coronavirus continued to tear at the fabric of British life.

Thousands of engaged couples face having their big day plunged into turmoil by new guidance designed to minimise the spread of the deadly illness.

In an update titled “practical guidance for weddings”, the Church said that the couple should have a maximum of two guests, to act as witnesses, and a priest for the ceremony.

Physical distance should be observed “as far as possible”, the Church said, although it made a concession to this rule for the bride and groom, who appear to face no restrictions on kissing.

It advised families and friends of the couple to instead consider following proceedings on a live stream “through platforms such as Skype” or by watching a recording at a later date.

The advice, said to have been issued by the Archbishops of Canterbury and

York, is likely to trigger a spree of cancellations and comes after public worship was suspended “until further notice”.

Around 60,000 religious weddings take place in England and Wales each year, according to the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics, meaning the new diktat could have farreaching implications.

Princess Beatrice revealed earlier this week that she had cancelled her planned wedding reception in Buckingham Palace Garden due to concerns over coronavirus.

The 31-year-old, who is due to marry Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi at The Chapel Royal, St James’s Palace, London, on May 29, now faces potentially having to shut out her closest family from the ceremony. The new rules mean that Beatrice could, for example, invite her parents, but not her sister, Princess Eugenie, as well.

The Palace previously said the couple were “very much looking forward to getting married”, but the latest measures may raise further questions about whether the service can go ahead at all.

The couple said on Wednesday they had been examining whether a private marriage with a small group of family and friends would be feasible.

Senior royals, including The Queen, the Duke of Edinburgh and the Prince of Wales, would likely be barred from proceedings under the new guidance, which said: “Sadly, those over the age of 70 and those with an underlying health condition are strongly discouraged from attending any in the present circumstances.”

All priests will be told they do not have to touch the rings to bless them, nor do they have to touch the couple’s hands as part of a prayer or blessing.

In a sign of how seriously the Church is taking the risk of infection, it said no other “personnel”, such as organists, would be allowed to attend the service.

Couples who have already paid any fees or deposit to the Church will be offered a refund or, if they wish to go ahead regardless, the chance to have a blessing at a future date with more family and friends in attendance.

It also suggested receptions should not take place “to limit social gatherings”, with the guidance recognising “this is a very difficult time and will prompt a number of further questions”.

The Bishop of Manchester, Dr David Walker, said: “Couples and parents, friends and families will have been planning for months, even years for their special moment, whether a wedding or a christening.

“Now it can go ahead – but with only the minimum required in attendance. You may need to cancel or postpone. Whatever decision is made, God’s love and blessing will still surround all those who would have been there that day.”