Bridesmaids in PPE, vows al fresco, sanitiser favours ...a very modern wedding
Marriages set to get green light – but there are a few hitches
COUPLES scrambling to book a wedding date as soon as lockdown eases may have to get hitched outside – and limit the wedding party to only three or four.
Many have been forced to postpone ceremonies that were due to take place between March and the end of this month.
But on Thursday, the Scottish Government is set to give the green light for marriages to go ahead again as it announces phase two of its lockdown easing measures.
The National Records of Scotland last week told registrars that they can start accepting marriage and civil partnership applications from those looking to marry before the end of this year.
But those who do choose to tie the knot may have their special days blighted by tough anti-Covid rules.
An official memo sent by one Scots council to wedding venues states ‘it is likely that there will be restrictions on the place of the wedding, the number of attendees, and it may have to be held outdoors’.
It comes as a survey last week from online wedding planner Hitched indicated what ‘coronavirus compliant’ weddings might look like.
It suggested that couples will ask guests to colour co-ordinate PPE – such as gloves and masks – with the theme of the wedding, and give out hand sanitiser as a wedding favour, while sit-down meals will replace buffets.
According to Hitched, 87 per cent of couples postponed weddings that had been planned for this year.
Last night, James Johnson-Ferguson, the owner of the Springkell wedding venue in Lockerbie, Dumfriesshire, said he was ready to adapt to make ceremonies as safe as possible.
But he urged the Scottish Government to share guidance on how and when venues could start hosting weddings again.
He said: ‘We hope to do some weddings at some point but we just don’t know when that is. We have a large wedding venue, so where there is just three or four people in a wedding, it is not profitable. On average we have 80 day guests.
‘So far we’ve moved all our weddings either into later this year – or later – because we aren’t being told when we can have them.’
Mr Johnson-Ferguson, who fears he has lost a year’s worth of revenue due to the pandemic, added: ‘Most people get married in the summer, so you’re taking a vast dip in revenue for the year of about 50 to 80 per cent.’ The Scottish Government has previously suggested registration offices will reopen for high priority tasks and that marriages, civil partnerships and other ceremonies will be able to take place with a limited number of attendees.
The email sent by a council last week stated that, although official guidance from the Government has not yet been sent to venues, ceremonies could be held outdoors after the loosening of coronavirus regulations on Thursday.
It reads: ‘National Records of Scotland have agreed that registrars can begin to accept marriage and civil partnership applications from couples who are planning to be married during 2020. More information about ceremonies will be issued later but during phase two it is likely that there will be restrictions on the place of the wedding, the number of attendees, and it may have to be held outdoors.’ Officials added that staff were now working to process applications received by post.
A spokesman said that National Records of Scotland is in ‘regular contact with registrars to discuss next steps for the registration of vital events for future phases of the Scottish Government route map’.
A Scottish Government spokesman said: ‘We have a review point on Thursday at which time we will consider further, safe progression through the route map.’
‘Hope to have weddings back at some point’