Couples' wedding heartbreak as dates get pushed back again
Couples have spoken of their heartbreak as their dream weddings have been plunged into uncertainty yet again due to Covid.
Wedding planners and couples in the region have hit out at being left waiting for clarification from the Government – as thousands face cancelling or postponing their big days again.
Thousands of weddings across the country will have to be cancelled following confusion over the Government’s roadmap out of Covid restrictions.
A Wedding Taskforce, set up with the support of Government to represent the sector, had expected all venues to reopen from April 12 based on “widespread” interpretation of guidance published on February 24.
There was more confusion when the Government confirmed, after weeks of asking, that weddings and receptions are only permitted for 15 guests between April 12 and May 16, in places of worship, public buildings, locations and outdoor settings that are already permitted to open.
It was feared this would affect around 7,000 weddings across the country planned before May 17. Under-fire ministers then updated the guidance again, clarifying that some other venues, such as hotels, would be allowed to host weddings.
Sarah Williams, from Oldbury, was due to get married in December last year. Sarah and partner Darren Davies were going to rebook it for May and then due to the unknown of the restrictions, but have now have decided to push it back to August 21.
Sarah said: “Originally we had planned for 60 guests, and this was cut down to 30, then in December it was cut down again to 15. But this includes the staff at the Registry Office.
“It’s hard to have to choose who you want there and it causes arguments within the families.
“My partner’s best man got diagnosed with terminal cancer, now due to the time we have lost because of Covid, he won’t be at our wedding. It’s been really tough.
“It’s disappointing, to build our hopes up and then we are back in lockdown again and everything we have been looking forward to has changed.”
Businesses are also losing out on valuable trade due to the number of weddings being cancelled or postponed.
Black Country couple,Christine Padgett and Brian Rippon were due to get married in May 2020, but now are looking at August. The couple are now on their fourth date.
Christine said: “We have been very lucky we had deposits on most things, but we have to pay to put our notice up again at the registry office, pay for new invitations and new outfits for the grandchildren as they have grown out of them.
“We have lost our deposit on our honeymoon cruise.
“The new date still looks grim at the moment we can’t finalise the guest list because we don’t know how many can go. It’s been very upsetting and heartbreaking.
“We have had high anxiety every time we had a date getting close, it is just so stressful telling everyone the date has changed again.”
Laura Holness, director of Laura Bird Bridal, based in Himley, works in wedding hair, make up and floral design. She is trying to be optimistic for the summer. and hopes that couples will not be forced to postpone their ceremonies again.
Laura said: “Bookings have continued, mainly for 2022, and there has been a lot of postponements to begin with, one of my clients has just moved her date for the fourth time.
“The new updated roadmap has meant that bookings have been coming in thick and fast. Although I physically haven’t got work to do the admin side has been quite strong.
“However, the announcement in terms venues having to limit capacity, particularly hotels, means that brides may have to rethink the venue or capacity.
“I have mixed feelings. Weddings are one of the last on the list for things to go ahead as normal, I do think it’s strange that other events can go ahead with reduced capacity. But on the other hand, you have to think about how people interact at weddings, it is more ofan intimate affair and the Government are being cautious.”
