Coronavirus: Latest Government Guidelines for Weddings in England

Here, we have summarised the most important details of the latest government guidelines for weddings and civil ceremonies in England during COVID-19.

Latest Update - 12th July: Boris Johnson announces that Step 4 will proceed as planned for England and lockdown rules will end on the 19th of July. The tough border policy will remain in place, however, events such as weddings will be governed by guidance rather than laws.

 Read Weddings After Lockdown in 2021 for a summary of and the links to the available wedding guidance in each UK nation.

A summary of the current government guidance

Last updated in July 2021.

The Prime Minister has outlined the government's roadmap for moving out of the national lockdown in England. The roadmap for England consists of four different steps, with each step only to be introduced if it meets certain requirements based on the data. 

On July 19th, England entered Step 4 of the government roadmap which means there is no longer a limit on guests at weddings, the 1m-plus guidance has been removed and face coverings are no longer required by law. Read Weddings After Lockdown in 2021 for a summary of and the links to the available wedding guidance in each UK nation.

Guidance for holding wedding ceremonies and receptions from July 19th in England

The government published guidance for Step 4 wedding ceremonies and receptions. The guidance includes the following measures:

• There are no legal restrictions on the number of people that can attend a wedding reception.
• Legal requirements for social distancing will no longer apply and you will not need to stay 2 metres apart from people you do not live with.
• Face coverings are no longer required by law in any setting. So, wearing a face covering are now a personal choice. People are encouraged to respect other attendees and those working at events who may wish to adopt a more cautious approach.
• COVID-secure rules, including table service requirements and restrictions on singing and dancing, will no longer apply.
• If someone has been instructed by NHS Test and Trace to self-isolate because they have tested positive for COVID-19, or they’re the close contact of someone who has tested positive for COVID-19, they must still self-isolate and not attend.

If anyone becomes unwell with symptoms of COVID-19 at your venue they should go home and be advised to follow the  stay at home guidance. Call 999 if they are seriously ill.

Track and Trace

There is now a requirement that venues should keep an accurate, temporary record of visitors for 21 days. This should cover all guests and suppliers attending the wedding venue on the day or in connection with the wedding.

Our Track and Trace fully complies with the government requirements, is available free of charge and is simple to use. It has been approved by the government’s Crown Commercial Service as a solution to use during COVID-19. Anyone responsible for people attending a wedding can use this system. Please encourage your venue to use it in order to keep your guests and their data secure. 

Remote participation at your venue

Unfortunately, individuals who are required to self-isolate cannot attend the ceremony. Also, individuals who are vulnerable should follow the government’s  advice on shielding.

However, the government is encouraging them to participate remotely. We have developed a secure Live Streaming platform to enable remote participation to take place with ease.  

For the latest coronavirus news, read our latest updates.