Government guidance on weddings is changing from month to month, so to help you understand the rules around holding a wedding as of 8 December we’ve put together this helpful guide.
How To Organise A Wedding Post-COVID-19
November's lockdown restrictions put a stop to wedding ceremonies and receptions but with the new tier system – that came into force on 2 December – guidance on weddings changed slightly, with the regulations differing between the tiers as follows:
- Tier 1 Medium Alert: 15 people can attend wedding ceremonies and receptions.
- Tier 2 High Alert: 15 people can attend wedding ceremonies and receptions.
- Tier 3 Very High Alert: 15 people can attend wedding ceremonies, but receptions cannot take place.
After 2 December, wedding ceremonies and receptions can take place with 15 people in attendance in tiers 1 and 2. The 15 person limit only applies to the couple and their guests, staff will not be counted in this number. If your area is under tier 3 restrictions, the number allowed at your ceremony is the same but receptions cannot be held, even at COVID-secure wedding venues.
Finding a COVID-secure wedding venue allows you to host your ceremony and reception post-coronavirus, which is why the choice of venue is more important post-coronavirus than ever before.
Finding A COVID-Secure Wedding Venue
If a wedding venue is COVID-secure, it has enough space for households or bubbles to socially distance from each other and staff. There will also be significant hygiene and cleaning processes in place to reduce the risk of virus transmission.
When looking for your dream wedding venue in current times, check to see if the location is doing as much as possible to remain hygienic. Here are some examples of practices to look out for:
- Employ fully-trained staff in deep cleaning and decontamination methods.
- Assess cleaning efficiency with ATP testing.
- Decontaminate all high-traffic areas and touch points throughout the day, using the correct cleaning materials and industry-leading techniques.
Wedding venue spaces should also be adapted to make social distancing easier for everyone. One of the most noticeable ways of doing this is by installing new floor design plans, so guests and staff understand where to walk to keep a distance of 2 metres from one another. Placing sanitiser stations in high-traffic areas, such as entrances and exits, is also best practice for ensuring guests and staff can maintain good hygiene.
If you got engaged during the lockdown or have been planning your wedding for a while, here are some tips to help you host your dream wedding.
Communication
You should remain constantly up to date with any developments on coronavirus restrictions, but make sure you only check reliable news sources. If any changes are made to restrictions, then contact your venue and suppliers to ask if this affects your wedding day.
Speak to any guests who are elderly or vulnerable to understand their thoughts and feelings. You can take into account any concerns they have and make changes to your day so they feel comfortable. If there are friends or family members who can’t be guests at your wedding, there is a solution.
Virtual Guests
Whether it’s because of limitations on event size or underlying health conditions, there may be people unable to attend your wedding day. In 2020, a lot of socialising has become virtual and this is something weddings post-COVID-19 can benefit from. For friends and family who are living abroad, elderly, or have underlying health conditions, using online meeting services ensures they can be a part of your wedding. Set up laptops or iPads with Zoom or Skype open and your friends and family can remotely share all the special moments of your wedding day with you.
Unique Venue
In unprecedented times like these, you may have to be creative and find a unique wedding venue that is COVID-secure and can host your dream wedding day. You need a venue that is flexible to any changes in government guidance, so you don’t lose any money and waste any time. However, as a couple, you also need to find a safe venue that works with you to make your wedding day special and unique even in the post-coronavirus world we’re living in.
At Franklin’s Gardens, we have a range of COVID-secure spaces available at affordable rates. We have also reduced the deposit you require and provide flexible payment plans.
We understand this is a difficult time, if you need to reschedule your event due to COVID-19, we will work with you to move your date with no financial penalties.
To book your wedding with us or find out more, get in touch with our team today. Give us a call on 01604 751543 or please feel free to fill in the enquiry form on our Contact Page.
