The UK Wedding Taskforce has confirmed that wedding ceremonies can take place in licensed, purpose-built wedding venues from 12 April.
The Mirror reports that weddings with up to 15 guests will be able to take place from 12 April, which comes only a couple of weeks after the government stated that a number of weddings would not be able to go ahead due to purpose-built wedding venues not being included in the guidance.
According to the UK Wedding Taskforce, 7,000 weddings would be unable to go ahead if country homes, barns and boutique hotels that do not have dedicated functions rooms would not be permitted to reopen.
The Taskforce says this accounts for around 71 per cent of weddings that do not take place in registry offices, places of worship, conference centres, and hotels that have a separate function suite.
The guidance has now been revised, and the government has confirmed that weddings can go ahead from 12 April, as long as they are held in a COVID-secure licensed wedding venue.
This does not include receptions, and it is currently unclear if there is any update to this portion of the guidance. Prior to the change in guidance, wedding receptions were only permitted outdoors.
Chris Naylor, the chairperson of the UK Weddings Taskforce, said: “The UK Weddings Taskforce is pleased that following its intervention, the government has reversed its decision and will now allow wedding ceremonies in licensed venues from step 2 (12 April).”
He added that the news was very welcome for couples and wedding businesses, and the Taskforce was now waiting for further guidance for receptions.
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