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Coronavirus: Small, COVID-Secure Wedding Inspiration

Coronavirus: Small, COVID-Secure Wedding Inspiration


Cat Arnott
Cat Arnott Updated:
8th of March 2023

Since the latest government announcement on July 4th,  small, intimate weddings with less than 30 attendants have been able to go ahead. However, some couples may be struggling with how to minimise their wedding. We spoke to Cote How, who shared with us a recent wedding which was within government guidelines and still managed to be magical! Here is how this gorgeous venue managed to prepare for a COVID-secure wedding.

After a lot of hard work and adaptation, Cote How were finally able to safely host their first COVID-secure micro wedding. A week of preparation led to a small and sensational marriage in the Fairfield ceremony room. Hopefully, insight into this process will show that it’s still possible to have a joyful and love-filled wedding during these strange times. 

Small wedding ceremony at Cote How

Being COVID Prepared

Cote How spent endless hours reviewing the government guidance in order to understand fully what they should and shouldn't do. Safety is paramount for all, including couples, guests and staff. However, Cote How is dedicated to safely hosting as many weddings as possible to spare couples of further disappointment.

Luckily, Cote How specialises in small, intimate weddings! These include elopements or weekend weddings for up to 32, with the average guest numbers being only 20. They also offer a variety of wedding packages. For example, a ‘Simple 2-hour Ceremony Only’ with no food or drinks or Mid-Week weddings that include a meal only. These packages already perfectly fit within government guidelines. So, Cote How is able to provide the perfect solution for a COVID-secure wedding! 

Getting ready for the first wedding of the season has its own usual pressures. Cote How had to content with this, alongside COVID safety measures and procedures that had to be produced at short notice once the guidance became clear. So, they got creative, particularly with the signage. Of course, health and safety reminders are necessary. However, Cote How felt they should be subtle yet still effective. They even added some humour where they could. For example, including 20-second song lyrics for washing hands – “Bohemian Rhapsody” by Queen to “It’s Raining Men” posted in handwash areas! 

Couple hand in hand getting married at Cote How

Wedding Day Precautions

However, this does not mean they took their safety precautions lightly. All visitors, including couples, guests, staff and registrars, had a temperature check upon arrival.  This adds extra reassurance that the venue is focused on being safe and minimising risk.

While carefully adhering to guidelines, Cote How wanted to minimise the impact visually, especially for the ceremony. So, they needed to ensure that each household bubble could sit at least 2m apart.

Cote How's first wedding was a micro wedding for just 6 people. So, each household was comfortably spaced 2m from each other and from the two registrars. They also had to socially distance themselves from each other. The largest ceremony room, the Fairfield, was rearranged by following the guidance. It also went under a risk assessment and completed the registration service COVID checklist with glowing approval! Windows and doors were kept open for air circulation. Hands were washed and sanitised before and after the ceremony.

Ceremony room, Cote How

The registrars also helped keep things safe! They suggested the couple and their witnesses bring their own pens and pocket tissues. So, signing the register would flow smoothly, without the need to clean the pen between users. Small details such as these are essential for maintaining safety without sanitising the wedding day atmosphere!

The couple was included in these preparations. Cote How sent them a walkthrough video of the ceremony room to show them where to sit and how to enter the room. Guidance notes were also sent out, explaining what to expect. This offered reassurance that the venue was sufficiently prepared and also allowed the couple and their guests to be fully informed before they arrived.

Couple and four wedding guests at Cote How

A COVID-Secure Ceremony

Of course, with only 6 people in attendance, there were some essential guests missing. So, Cote How arranged a live stream for those unable to attend. These guests loved that they were able to feel part of the occasion and watch the entire ceremony. The wedding was beautifully conducted by the fabulous Kendal registrars, who expertly guided Lynn and David through the signing process. The registrar very briefly had to wear a face mask in order to observe the process safely! 

Lynn and David's wedding had been postponed from early June. So, it was a great relief to the lovely couple when they were told their wedding had been given the go-ahead! When the day of a postponed wedding finally arrived, it is truly emotional!

As this pandemic unfolds, we need to face the reality that there may be restrictions in place for a while yet. So, you may decide to get married sooner rather than later. Your wedding is about starting a new chapter of your life with someone you love. If this means a micro wedding or elopement, why not? We are lucky these intimate ceremonies are now able to go ahead. So, we hope this has given you some reassurance that a beautiful, emotional wedding ceremony is still possible under the current conditions. Thanks to Cote How for sharing this wonderful wedding. 

Celebratory cake cutting at Cote How
Cat Arnott

About the author


Cat Arnott

With a Masters degree in History, Cat is the best person to consult if you need wedding facts and information fast. Her passion for weddings has led to her having a broad and up to date knowledge of trends and traditions and she is here to research on your behalf to find the answer to any wedding related problem.

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