Wedding season is almost upon us, which means – for many couples – months (or years, in some cases) of planning will finally come to a head.
Well, that would normally be the case, of course, but this year coronavirus is disrupting nuptials all over the globe. New measures around social distancing and isolation for the elderly and vulnerable has meant that couples getting married have been forced to revise their guest list.
Not only that, but the Church of England has now advised that weddings should be limited to five people only.
A recent study carried out by hen and stag do company Chillisauce.com found that – out of 1,500 surveyed – one in six admitted they were planning to delay their big day and 76% said they would consider having a remote wedding ceremony using a video platform, such as Skype.
Those looking to cancel could face huge problems, too. Wedding insurers, such as John Lewis and Debenhams, have withdrawn their policies and most companies are now suspending new applications for insurance, due to the outbreak.
Liz Taylor, CEO of wedding and event planners The Taylor Lynn Corporation, says the impact of coronavirus on the wedding industry is unlike anything she’s seen in her career. She states that, in most cases, wedding event insurance will not cover COVID-19 cancellations.
Liz tells Metro.co.uk: ‘Such reasons for cancelling any event, or any individual element of it, such as entertainment, falls under a Force Majeure clause. In short, this is when one of the reasons that an event cannot go ahead is due to circumstances beyond anyone’s control. ‘
So sadly, there is no reimbursement for deposits paid on such things as wedding venues and no insurance cover available to protect against this. Our suppliers and the clients are relying on the goodwill of everyone involved to postpone the wedding wherever possible.’
Liz added; ‘This is one of the biggest challenges I have faced in 34 years but I have a strategy for my clients – turning the negative into positive.
‘We are swiftly rebooking for the autumn and recommending dates between Christmas and New Year. These decisions will impact who can attend revised dates, whether the entertainer, venue, Registry Office or Church is available on the new dates – so speedy action is required.’