Weddings are back on! Get planning!
Finally, some good news – weddings are back on! Okay, things might not be moving as fast as we would all wish, but it’s great to feel things are finally returning to normal.
While some of you might still be concerned about planning anything at the moment, there are lots of reasons why it’s safe to start planning your big day, but before we get to that, let’s take a look at what the new wedding rules actually are:
- From 29 March up to six people can attend a wedding. This number includes the couple, so not great if you have a big family!
- From 21 June, all wedding restrictions will be lifted meaning big weddings can start to happen again. Yeah!
These dates are dependent on the outcome of event pilots, which are starting in April. These will look at whether enhanced testing could allow weddings to go ahead without any social distancing being needed. Figures crossed the pilots go well!
Why it’s okay to plan a wedding
As we come to the end of a third lockdown, I don’t blame anyone who still feels a bit worried about making any wedding plans. After all, we never thought this pandemic would be with us a year on, so what happens if we have to enter lockdown for a fourth time?
The good news is your consumer rights are protected, so you might as well get on with your wedding plans! And, if you do end up postponing your big day? Well, while rescheduling is a massive headache, you shouldn’t lose out financially. In fact, if you have to postpone your wedding and the venue can’t offer you an equivalent date, such as a Saturday, then you could ask for a price reduction.
And bear in mind, if you do need to postpone, venues and suppliers can’t suddenly decide to charge you more, so you might as well get a date in the diary. Sadly, some unscrupulous businesses have tried to increase their prices, so just watch out!
Can I claim a refund if wedding restrictions come back in?
If the worst should happen and the government brings in more restrictions, which means your wedding can’t go ahead without breaching the latest rules, you will be entitled to a refund. This also includes ‘non-refundable’ deposits (yes, really!) although a supplier can subtract some costs, such as planning. If they do that, always ask for a full breakdown of costs.
Since you will be able to ask for a refund, whether it’s due to local lockdowns, restrictions on travel or a limit on the number of guests you can have, it might be worth getting a date in the diary now. We should know in a few weeks whether 21st June is going to be ‘pandemic independence day’ or not!
If you want to understand a bit more about your rights, before you start your wedding plans in earnest, take a look at this guidance on consumer wedding rights from The Competition and Markets Authority.
Book your wedding videographer with confidence
As mentioned before, having a wedding videographer not only gives you a cinematic wedding video that you can watch time and time again, but also means you can share your wedding with anyone who is unable to attend. As some people may still be a bit wary about travelling, it’s the perfect solution, and I can even arrange a live-stream service, if you’re interested.
And if you do make a booking and then want to postpone your wedding either due to lockdown restrictions, because you need to self-isolate, or just because you think it’s better to wait, don’t worry, you won’t lose your deposit! Just let me know your big day is postponed and confirm your new wedding date as soon as possible.
Find out more about my wedding videography services
If you interested in finding out more about my wedding videography services, please get in touch. I’ve been delighted to capture a number of socially-distanced weddings over the last few months, so no matter how your wedding day pans out, you’ll have a cinematic wedding video to remember.
