Wedding guests ‘will be limited to 15 under new Covid rules – but 30 mourners allowed at funerals’
[ad_1]
Dreams of a big wedding were dealt a further blow this lunchtime – happy couples will have to halve their wedding guests from Monday, after the government slashed the number allowed to gather to 15 under new Covid-19 rules.
Boris Johnson left thousands of couples hoping to marry with extended friends and family looking on devastated after reversing the easing of lockdown today to prevent a second coronavirus spike.
Speaking in Parliament this afternoon, Mr Jonson said that from Monday no more than 15 people will be able to attend wedding ceremonies and receptions, in a tightening of the ‘rule of six’. The new restrictions could be in place for six months.
More than 73,000 weddings and civil partnership ceremonies were cancelled after a ban was declared at the start of lockdown in March.
Scroll down for video
Weddings were allowed to resume in August with a limit of 30 guests – but tighter Covid restrictions could see that figure halve
Last month the Government declared they could resume, but capped the number of guest to 30. Addressing Parliament this afternoon, Boris Johnson confirmed wedding guest numbers would be capped at 15.
There are no changes to the current cap of 30 mourners at funerals. In March, only 10 mourners were allowed to attend funerals, with guidance stating they were only open to ‘immediate family only’.
Earlier today Michael Gove insisted the Government was taking ‘reluctant steps’ with the new coronavirus measures, but added that they are ‘absolutely necessary’.
‘There will be more details that the Prime Minister will spell out, and again, one of the points that he’ll make is that no one wants to do these things, no one wants to take these steps,’ he told Sky News. ‘They are reluctant steps that we’re taking, but they are absolutely necessary.
‘Because as we were reminded yesterday, and as you’ve been reporting, the rate of infection is increasing, the number of people going to hospital is increasing, and therefore we need to act.’
BRIDE-TO-BE: ‘WE’LL GO AHEAD: WE JUST WANT TO BE MARRIED NOW’
Bride-to-be Felicity Challis, 34, and Leon Davies, 35, had planned to tie the knot with at least 30 of their nearest and dearest and say they’re frustrated by the government’s latest plans
Felicity Challis, 34, and Leon Davies, 35 were due to wed at St James the Great church in Ruscombe, Berkshire and say they’re ‘frustrated’ that they big day will now be curtailed.
Says Felicity: ‘It’s so frustrating especially as I work in a college with hundreds of students, and my son attends the local infant school and my daughter the local pre-school.’
She adds: ‘There are so many bubbles and yet we can’t have trusted friends and family (who are also part of work and employment bubbles), with us to celebrate our wedding.’
The couple say they ‘just want to be married’ at this point and so will go ahead with their wedding plans with the government’s reduced number.
THIRD TIME LUCKY? ‘WE’VE CANCELLED TWICE AND WANT OUR APRIL WEDDING TO GO AHEAD – BUT WE MAY DELAY AGAIN!’
A third delay? David Reed, 32, and his wife-to-be Samantha Brewis, 29, are now set to walk down the aisle in Bury next April…however, if there’s a chance they might be able to have a normal wedding, they say they could delay their nuptials again
David Reed, 32, and his wife-to-be Samantha Brewis, 29, are hoping it’ll be a case of third time lucky, after the pandemic has seen them call off their wedding twice before.
They were due to tie the knot at Bury Parish Church, followed by a reception at Eaves Hall in Clitheroe.
Says the couple: ‘Our intention is to go ahead in April with whatever we can have as we have cancelled twice and so as not to delay further our family plans.
‘However, if there is a definite end in sight when we could have a normal wedding, providing it is in 2021, we would consider delaying a few months for that to happen. It would just mean potentially losing suppliers and costing yet more!’
GOING AHEAD: ‘EVERYTHING IS IN PLACE – TO LET ALL THOSE BUSINESSES DOWN AT SUCH SHORT NOTICE IS CRUEL’
Going ahead: Susanne Hunt, 57, and her husband-to-be Ian, 52, say they’re heartbroken by Boris Johnson’s latest announcement but can’t wait any longer
Susannae Hunt, 57, from Swindon, was set to marry husband-to-be Ian, 52, a week on Saturday.
After ten years together, Susannah and Ian say they are devastated by Boris Johnson’s announcement this lunchtime – and feel like they’ve already waited and waited to walk down the aisle.
Susannah told FEMAIL: ‘We’ve been together 10 years and he proposed on New Year’s Eve.
We’ve hung on and on to ensure the day went ahead, cutting our numbers to 30 and now today’s announcement has left us shell-shocked.’
The heartbroken bride-to-be said: ‘Everything is in place, venue, flowers, cake, photographer…..to let these businesses down at such short notice is cruel.
She says the couple will still go ahead with their day but will now need to ‘work out what it will look like’.
Susanne adds: ‘Infection rates in the South are less. How is it fair when funerals can have 30 people?’
- Will this disrupt your wedding plans? Email [email protected].
[ad_2]
Source link