Post-Lockdown Wedding Rules Are Unveiled
Post-Lockdown Wedding Rules Are Unveiled:
• Father can't walk his daughter arm-in-arm down the aisle
• Couples must wash hands after exchanging rings
• Receptions are banned
• The good news is that you are allowed a photographer
Fathers cannot walk their daughter arm-in-arm down the aisle and couples must wash their hands before and after exchanging rings in post-lockdown weddings.
New rules issued by the Government today also ban receptions when the ceremonies are allowed to restart with up to 30 people in England from Saturday 4th July.
The plans are intended to maintain social distancing at weddings as the coronavirus pandemic continues.
An estimated 250,000 weddings usually take place in the UK each year, but most couples have been affected by restrictions that came into force in March.
Here are some of the new rules which will make for very different weddings:
1. CEREMONIES - Keep distanced during 'short' ceremonies
The new rules urge people from different households to maintain social distancing between one another, which will be 'one metre plus' from Saturday.
They say this 'may require marriages or civil partnerships to be adapted to remove practices that would otherwise have brought people into contact with one another, unless required for the marriage or civil partnership to be legally binding'.
The guidance adds that 'where this is the case precautions should be put in place to minimise contact and ensure the timeframe is as short as possible'.
This means that fathers will be unable to walk their daughter arm-in-arm down the aisle - and people from different households will be banned from hugging or kissing.
Couples have been told that ceremonies should only be done in a 'Covid-19 secure environment' and be 'kept as short as reasonably possible'.
This means they should be limited to the parts of the ceremonies that are required so that the marriage or civil partnership can be legally binding.
2. RECEPTIONS - Maximum of only two households indoors
The Government has asked that the number of attendees at the service should 'ideally be kept to a minimum as far as possible', but will allow up to 30 to attend.
At a glance: What are the rules for weddings from this Saturday?
This includes the couple, witnesses, officiants and guests, and staff not employed by the venue, which may include photographers, security or caterers. However it does not include staff employed by the venue.
The guidance adds that 'any receptions that typically follow or accompany marriages or civil partnerships are strongly advised not to take place'.
Small celebrations can only be held if they are groups of up to two households indoors, or up to six people from different households outdoors.
DURING THE SERVICE - No singing or shouting allowed
Meanwhile people have been told to avoid 'singing, shouting, raising voices and/or playing music at a volume that makes normal conversation difficult'.
This is because of the potential for encouraging shouting which would raise an increased risk of transmission of Covid-19 from aerosol and droplets.
It means spoken responses 'should also not be in a raised voice' – and singing and playing of instruments that are blown into should be avoided.
If it is required for a ceremony, one person should be allowed to sing or chant, and the 'use of plexi-glass screens should be considered to protect guests'.
The Government has suggested couples consider using recordings instead of singing. Organs are also allowed but must be cleaned before and after.
All guests should follow social distancing guidance - and venues should look at changing seating layouts, improve ventilation and use face coverings.
The guidance also states: 'Visitors should avoid touching property belonging to others, such as shoes which, if removed, should be placed and collected by their owner while adhering to social distancing principles.'
For the exchanging of rings during the ceremony, hands 'should be washed before and after' and the 'rings should be handled by as few people as possible'.
And where a small child is involved, they should be held a parent, guardian or member of that child's household.
RITUALS - no full immersion or washing others' body parts
Any washing rituals should now be done before arrival at the venue, and people 'should not wash the body parts of others', according to the rules.
Full immersion should also now be avoided, and all others present should stand distant from any splashes and stay socially distanced.
Venue managers have also been urged to take steps to prevent visitors from touching or kissing any objects which are handled communally.
Books, reusable and communal resources such as service sheets, prayer mats, or devotional material should also be removed from use.
But single use alternatives can be provided as long as they are removed by the attendee, and people can also bring personal prayer mats or religious texts.
Venue managers have also been asked to discourage cash donations and continue to use online giving resources where possible.
Religious communities have been told to adapt traditional aspects which might have seen celebrations take place over many hours or even days.
No food or drink is allowed to be consumed at the ceremony 'unless required for the purposes of solemnisation', according to the rules.
DRESS FITTING - Dresses in quarantine and face masks
Bridal shops reopened on June 14, putting in measures such as plastic Champagne flutes, dresses put in quarantine and face masks for fittings.
Brides-to-be choosing their gowns are allowed to bring one person with them, with FaceTime and Skype used to include other friends and family members.
Hand sanitiser, face masks and disposable gloves are available, with face coverings worn by both brides-to-be and staff in the changing rooms.
Once a dress has been tried on, it is sprayed with disinfectant fabric spray and quarantined for 72 hours.
Customers showing symptoms or feeling unwell are instructed to reschedule their appointments.
