With the coronavirus vaccine and rapid testing making huge strides, along with the government commitment to a weddings task force, we can finally have confidence in how weddings might look and feel in 2021.
Latest Update - 17th May: Unlocking measures have gone ahead as planned across most of the UK. In England, Step 3 of the unlocking process is now in place. Indoor wedding ceremonies and receptions of up to 30 people are permitted at covid-safe wedding venues and outdoor receptions in private gardens are also permitted for 30 people.
Read Weddings After Lockdown in 2021 for a summary of and the links to the available wedding guidance in each UK nation.
The below information was last updated in February 2021. It is no longer being updated and being kept for reference purposes only. Please see our article, Weddings after Lockdown in 2021 for the latest information, our summary of what is allowed for weddings at each unlocking step and the links to official government guidance and reliable sources.
What are we expecting?
On 22nd February 2021, Boris Johnson made an announcement setting out his four steps to easing England’s lockdown for different parts of society and the economy. Boris Johnson says the lockdown will be eased in four steps with a minimum of five weeks between each step. While we await full guidance, below we explore how we believe weddings are affected in each step.
The Prime Minister hopes to be able to lift the majority of rules by 21st June, but this is dependent on cases, deaths and hospital admissions continuing to fall. The five-week period between each step is to ensure four weeks for data to be gathered with at least 1-week notice if any changes need to be made. Boris Johnson was clear that the decision to move into the next stage will be based on “data not dates” but gave a rough estimation as to when this might be at the earliest. Read our article on how weddings are affected by each step of unlocking for more information on this.
- April to June - If these four stages go ahead, we shall see a steady expansion of weddings. It will be easier for local authorities to regulate and monitor weddings in Covid-safe venues and we'd like to see those venues opening under restaurant guidelines with numbers dictated by risk assessments and capacity. Solutions are needed to enable Covid-safe weddings to take place in other venues such as marquees at home, as these events haven't previously been overseen by anyone with Health and Safety training. Many other activities such as photobooths, close-up magic, fireworks, live entertainment, as well as drinks and canapé receptions, have now been adapted to work within Covid guidelines and may be permitted under Covid-risk assessments.
- July to September - The number of recent bookings for this period, especially September, shows that confidence is high. There is real hope that weddings can return to near-normal later in the summer. It is so much easier to enable good ventilation and use of outdoor spaces in the summer months. We are confident that data from Spring weddings will demonstrate that larger weddings with fewer restrictions can be supported and that any breaches in social distancing haven't put guests or staff at unnecessary risk.
- October onwards - Advances in ventilation for venues, along with a wider rollout of vaccines, should ensure that it is safer for large numbers to socialise indoors during the winter months. This may be the point that marquee weddings at home become comparatively safe, with processes for COVID-safe weddings in venues well documented and easy to replicate.
The COVID Vaccine
- The recent news of the three different vaccines with up to 90% effectiveness is really positive news for weddings.
- More than 21 million people in the UK have already received at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine, so the vaccination programme is progressing well.
- If the Oxford vaccine is approved it will allow large numbers to be vaccinated before the start of the traditional wedding season.
- We’re yet to discover if the vaccine will prevent transmission as well as infection.
- As the vaccine is 90% effective and some will choose not to have it, it's likely to be used alongside at least one other means of infection control; rapid testing or social distancing.
Rapid Testing
- Rapid testing is already widely available. Tests costing under £20 take less than 20 minutes using a lateral test, similar to a pregnancy test.
- Weddings seem the perfect place to trial rapid testing and contact tracing for the wider events sector. The guest lists are pre-defined, the numbers involved are comparatively low and those involved will be highly motivated to comply.
- Potentially, guests can be tested as they arrive, then they can attend the social distanced ceremony. By the time the ceremony is over, test results will be back. Those showing signs of infection, as well as their close contacts, would be sent home.
- PCR testing is more expensive (at around £65 per guest) but significantly more accurate and gives peace of mind by delivering the results 48 hours before the wedding so it is likely to be the preferred method for the wedding party.
- A combination of PCR and on-the-day rapid testing could remove the need for social distancing for a predefined group, such as wedding guests.
Contact Tracing
- Wedding venues have been using Trusted Trace all summer to ensure guests are safe to attend and can be contacted quickly if anyone later develops symptoms. Effective contact tracing will be crucial in keeping venue staff and suppliers informed. It is already in place and working well.
Advances in Treatment
- There are regular advancements to treatments for COVID-19, with an inhaled protein treatment being the latest addition.
- Those who are affected by the virus are recovering faster.
- By reducing fear of infection, guests will be more comfortable with social interactions and will be happy to attend weddings again.
Ensuring guests feel safe at weddings
There's little point in being allowed to have larger weddings if your guests are anxious about attending, so how can you be certain your guests are safe?
The events and hospitality industry is well known for meeting exceptional health and safety standards outside of COVID times. This high standard has meant that those within the industry have already taken the restrictions and safety measures in their stride.
Venues have been expressing frustration at the limits on numbers as they are confident in being able to host larger numbers safely.
Many venues also operate as hotels and restaurants and have been safely hosting much larger numbers all summer under normal hospitality regulations.
Their reputation and the safety of their team are dependant on them taking all the necessary precautions to keep you and your guests safe.
Over the next weeks, you'll see initiatives such as WeddingSafe enabling clear communication between venues, regulators, insurers and couples.
How do I know my deposits are safe?
- The majority of wedding businesses have put themselves into a state of semi-hibernation, reducing all their overheads and waiting until weddings can take place again. The more bookings they have for 2021, the more they will sacrifice to be there next year to deliver the work and be paid in full. It's not in their interest to close! The single most damaging action a couple can do is to ask for their deposit back with a promise to "book again later".
- For those who already have insurance, we're starting to see insurers taking a more responsible attitude towards paying claims in the unlikely event that a business closes without returning deposits and pre-payments.
- For those making new bookings, most businesses now offer some form of Book with Confidence guarantee to give you the flexibility to postpone.
- Paying by credit card, if the amount is over £100, can give some protection although the business will always incur costs in offering you this option.
- If you're at all nervous about booking in the current climate, read our feature to understand why we have so much confidence in the venues and suppliers you need to book and have our list of tricky questions to reassure yourself handy.
How can I be certain my wedding will go ahead as planned in 2021?
Quite simply, you can't. However, everything is starting to point in that direction and you'll want to have plans in place to proceed if all is well. We've all learnt to deal with uncertainty and lack of control this year and wedding planning is no different. It will only be once we have seen weddings successfully taking place that we can be more confident, so early pilot events will be important.
Here are a few things you can do to help you feel more comfortable:
- Ask your venue about a contingency plan and when you need to make this decision. Just knowing that you don't need to worry about it until that date, but that there is a Plan B, can be helpful. Your wedding will happen.
- Discuss your original plans with each other and decide what's really important. For some, it is the numbers or having guests from overseas, for others it's the dancing. Be as flexible as you can on deciding what you'd be comfortable without if it means your wedding can take place.
- If you need to change plans, postpone, don’t cancel. You still want to have your big day and your venue and suppliers will work with you to make that happen.
What can couples do to help weddings take place in 2021?
Every wedding business has been touched to see how hard couples are working to enable weddings to take place. Many have written to MPs, signed petitions, shared social posts, and written emails of support.
Perhaps the most important thing you can do to help is to work in partnership with your venue and suppliers to make your day work for you as well as them.
The CMA issued guidance that compromised venues so much that it would be safer for them to close their doors until all risks of COVID were over. But they haven't and are fighting back to ensure that the balance is right and they can continue to operate.
We need couples, venues and suppliers to find the balance to help couples minimise their costs without venues running at a loss.
The costs of PPE, rapid testing, isolating venue staff, or operating with team "bubbles" will be significant. Meanwhile, couples will understandably want to be charged less if they are being asked to compromise on their day.
Striking the right balance, with all involved committed to just making every wedding happen, will be key.