By Nicola le Couteur Bisson of Cornish Celebrants
There is some welcome news in the wedding world – a chink of light at the end of a very dark tunnel for couples and suppliers alike. Legal ceremonies (marriages and civil partnerships) can go ahead in England from 4th July 2020 with a maximum of 30 guests who are able to travel to attend the nuptials. There are still restrictions – guests must follow social distancing guidelines whilst attending and – and this is a big one – any reception must follow the guidelines for public gatherings, no more than 6 in any group, which is not the party most couples have dreamt of.
So is there a way forward both for couples and the wedding industry until these guidelines are relaxed further? We, at Get Wed Online, have been putting our collective heads together to come up with some ideas. Whilst we, along with other wedding suppliers, welcome the relaxation of the rules, it does leave a big gap in what is usually included in a wedding celebration – the reception is not allowed to go ahead in its time-honoured format!! So, in the meantime what can venues do to capitalise on this relaxation of lockdown?
You could offer to host the wedding of any of your couples who are wedding-ready (ie given their Notices of Marriage giving the name of the venue) and then offer them the option of a Celebrant led celebration at a later date with all their guests. Saturdays already booked up? How about being flexible and offering a mid-week celebration instead – could a Tuesday or Wednesday become the new Saturday? Think what else you could offer to entice them to say yes to that mid-week date.
Or how about incorporating Zoom into their ceremony to allow more guests to participate in the proceedings? The couple could have their nearest and dearest physically present (social distance compliant of course) and then the internet could connect them to other guests, everyone dressed up and wedding-ready.
With receptions – including the glass of fizz and canapes immediately post-ceremony - are off the agenda at the moment, how to celebrate afterwards whilst the current restrictions are in force may require a bit more imagination. How about offering the couple a romantic dinner for two delivered to their room following the intimate ceremony, and to share the menu with the rest of the guests, add in zoom and they can all eat together, drinking the same wine, and speeches and toasts could still be enjoyed.
As and when restrictions are lifted further, think outdoor ceremonies - social distancing is so much easier to maintain when out in nature, and the virus doesn’t spread so easily outdoors. Consider asking your couples to undertake the legal ceremony first, followed by a Celebrant led wedding celebration – no licensed area required so venues can use garden areas previously not utilised.
You may need to rethink the catering – if social distancing and “Bubbles” are in place, think picnics - your guests can sit in family groups to eat – everyone together but apart. Consider teaming up with fellow - planners, marquees, caterers, florists, etc to offer packages to help couples visualise their day – after all some may have planned the wedding once and may be feeling very low at the prospect of doing it all again. There are some amazing clear structures being built which would allow groups to be in their individual bubbles, whilst feeling part of a wider group.
We are going to be strange times for a while yet, so we all need to think imaginatively to allow our celebrations to take place joyfully and inclusively.
