A wedding without dancing? Not for us
COUPLES have reacted to the news the 30 guest limit on weddings will be lifted but social distancing measures will remain in place.
Kate Bell, 30, and 29-year-old Alex Pyman, are due to marry on August 1 and feel it is “not feasible” to have a wedding without dancing.
They have 70 guests invited to the ceremony and a further 30 to 40 to the reception, and stand to lose thousands on deposits if they cancel.
It they move their date again – for a second time – the venue will also add on additional fees.
Kate said: “I think these new rules are a token gesture. I don’t understand how I can go to an exercise class and sweat in a room filled with other people but people can’t dance at my wedding.
“People might say I shouldn’t have booked a wedding during the pandemic, but I didn’t as I booked the wedding in 2019.
“Now we have to consider whether we are happy to compromise so it can go ahead. If we cancel it we will lose £4,000 which isn’t covered by insurance because we are cancelling, not the other way around.”
Cat Ridley, 28, has already had to postpone her 84-guest barn wedding to fiance James Vine, 30, twice and is due to marry on June 26.
Last night Cat, of Plymouth, Devon, said: “I’m so angry, and I know that everyone in our position is feeling the same.
“I don’t know if I feel better or worse after the announcement, which was only a few seconds. It was
I’m angry & everyone in our position will feel the same way
CAT RIDLEY WEDDING DATE SET FOR JUNE 26
I can do an exercise class, but not dance at a wedding
KATE BELL DUE TO GET MARRIED IN AUGUST
too brief to put anyone’s mind at ease. We don’t know if what is being said is guidance or law, and what the repercussions would be for venues.
“As this is our third time trying, I feel like we don’t have a choice. I feel like there is no point in postponing again. Our family have booked accommodation, their outfits, and everything else, based on what was said in February. At least we can have everyone together.”
A spokesman for the UK Weddings Taskforce said: “We welcome that the weddings sector has been acknowledged and there is to be some partial easing of the harsh restrictions imposed upon it.”
Adam French, Which? Consumer Rights Expert, said: “Although many venues are facing financial difficulty, they must ensure they follow the rules set out by the regulator on partial and full refunds, so that couples are not forced to shoulder the full cost of the event being cancelled or made significantly smaller.”