George Boyle
Planning a wedding during the COVID-19 pandemic has been challenging for many couples. Wedding venues have had to adapt to become COVID-secure, implementing measures such as enhanced cleaning and sanitisation, social distancing, and reduced guest lists. Some couples have opted for two-part weddings, with an intimate legal ceremony followed by a larger celebration at a later date. Wedding venues have also offered virtual tours to help couples select a location, and some have utilised webcams to allow guests who cannot attend in person to view the ceremony remotely. Despite the challenges, couples have found creative ways to make their COVID-secure weddings special and memorable.
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What You'll Learn
Social distancing and reduced guest lists
Planning a wedding during the pandemic comes with its challenges, but there are ways to ensure your special day is safe and memorable. While the guest list may be shorter than you'd hoped, and social distancing measures are in place, there are still ways to create an intimate and unique celebration.
Reduced Guest Lists
One of the most significant impacts of COVID-19 on weddings is the need to reduce guest lists. This can be a heart-breaking task, but it's important to remember that your nearest and dearest will treasure the memory of your wedding day, regardless of the number of guests. As one couple put it, "The Mill Barns was so full of love that it felt SO much bigger and never for a moment felt like anything was lacking." It's also worth remembering that, even without restrictions, you don't have to invite the maximum number of guests allowed. Giving your guests a little extra space at their tables will make the celebration more comfortable for everyone.
Social Distancing
To ensure social distancing, your venue may ask you to complete a COVID-19 risk assessment. This will determine how many people your venue can safely accommodate while maintaining social distancing. If your wedding is outdoors, your venue will need to ensure there is enough space to accommodate your guests with 2-metre social distancing.
Other Considerations
To make your guests feel safe, you can ask them to take a lateral flow test on the morning of the wedding and encourage them to send you a short video clip if they are unable to attend due to a positive result. You can also ask suppliers and venue staff to do the same before setting up. Additionally, consider the airflow in your venue, especially in the dining area, and open windows to improve ventilation.
While the pandemic may have disrupted your dream wedding plans, adapting to the situation will ensure you still have a wonderful and memorable day.
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Venue sanitisation and staff precautions
To ensure your wedding venue is Covid-secure, there are several precautions you can take. Firstly, it is important to sanitise the venue between weddings, especially if it is a space that is used by others outside of the wedding party. Windows should be kept open to ensure good airflow, especially in spaces where many people will gather, such as the wedding breakfast area.
In terms of staff precautions, waiting staff should sanitise and change gloves between each course and each task. It is also advisable to ask suppliers and venue staff to take a lateral flow test before setting up and working at the venue.
To ensure the safety of guests, it is recommended to ask guests to take a lateral flow test on the morning of the wedding and display a negative result. This will help ease concerns and prevent the spread of the virus.
It is also important to be mindful of social distancing measures. The number of attendees should be determined by how many people the venue can safely accommodate while adhering to social distancing. A risk assessment should be carried out, especially if there are more than 30 people attending. This will help identify how many people can attend while maintaining a safe distance.
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Two-part weddings
The COVID-19 pandemic has forced many couples to postpone or cancel their weddings. However, some couples have opted for a two-part wedding to comply with government restrictions and ensure the safety of their guests.
A two-part wedding involves a legal ceremony with a handful of witnesses, followed by a larger celebration at a later date when it is safer to do so. This format allows couples to comply with restrictions on social gatherings while still officially getting married. The second part of the wedding is a chance to celebrate with all friends and family, who may not have been able to attend the initial ceremony.
A two-part wedding provides a unique opportunity to focus entirely on the couple's commitment during the official wedding and then celebrate with loved ones at a later date. It also enables couples to adapt to changing circumstances and government advice, such as reduced guest lists and social distancing requirements. By keeping plans flexible, couples can ensure their wedding is COVID-secure and memorable.
To make the two-part wedding experience special, couples can introduce new traditions or adaptations to traditional rituals. For example, guests can send video messages or write notes as replacements for a receiving line. The wedding can also be made virtual, with vows, rings, speeches, and the first dance streamed online for elderly or shielding family members to view from home.
Overall, a two-part wedding is a creative solution for couples who want to officially marry while ensuring the safety and well-being of their guests during the COVID-19 pandemic. By embracing flexibility and innovation, couples can still have a memorable and meaningful wedding experience despite the challenges posed by the pandemic.
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Wedding routine adjustments
Wedding routines and traditions have had to be adjusted to comply with Covid-secure measures. The pandemic has forced couples to be creative and adapt their wedding plans, but it is still possible to have a beautiful and intimate ceremony.
Firstly, it is important to be flexible and accept that plans may change at short notice. Couples have had to reduce guest lists, and some have opted for a two-part wedding, with a small legal ceremony followed by a larger celebration at a later date. This can be a positive, allowing the couple to focus on each other and then celebrate with friends and family separately.
Traditions such as the bouquet toss and receiving line have been replaced with creative alternatives. Guests can be asked to send video messages or notes, creating a lasting memento of the day.
To ensure Covid-secure venues, measures such as increased cleaning and sanitisation, regular glove-changing, and the use of QR codes and webcams have been implemented. Social distancing is also key, with venues determining their capacity based on their Covid-19 risk assessment.
It is also important to communicate with your venue and suppliers, understanding their Covid-secure measures and any contingency plans. Being informed and adaptable will ensure a safe and memorable day.
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Lateral flow tests
While there is no standard definition of a "COVID-secure wedding venue", the term generally refers to venues that can provide a safe environment for weddings during the COVID-19 pandemic. This includes venues that adhere to local health and safety guidelines, such as social distancing and reduced guest lists, and may also include additional measures such as sanitisation stations and mask-wearing requirements.
To ensure the safety of guests and comply with local regulations, couples planning weddings during the pandemic may choose to implement COVID-19 testing as a preventative measure. Lateral flow tests, also known as rapid antigen tests, are one option for COVID-19 testing. These tests are typically self-administered at home and can provide results within 30 minutes, making them a convenient option for pre-wedding screening.
To facilitate the use of lateral flow tests for wedding guests, couples can include relevant information in their invitations or wedding websites. This can include instructions on how and when to take the test, as well as guidance on reporting test results. In some cases, guests may be required to show evidence of a negative lateral flow test result upon arrival at the wedding venue, similar to vaccine certification requirements.
In certain regions, negative lateral flow test results may be accepted as an alternative to vaccine passports for entry into high-risk venues. This approach has been implemented in Scotland, where individuals can gain entry to venues such as nightclubs and large events by providing evidence of a recent negative lateral flow test, regardless of their vaccination status. This measure aims to reduce the spread of COVID-19 while allowing individuals to safely participate in social gatherings.
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Frequently asked questions
A Covid-secure wedding venue is one that has put precautions in place to prevent the spread of Covid-19 and ensure the safety of couples, guests and staff.
Many venues have 3D virtual tours, which you can explore from your home. You can also ask your venue team about the precautions they are taking to be Covid-secure.
A Covid-secure wedding venue might sanitise between weddings, offer hand sanitiser throughout the day, and ask waiting staff to sanitise and change gloves between each course. They might also display separate QR codes to support the NHS Covid-19 app.
Social distancing measures are determined by the venue and are based on each venue's Covid-19 risk assessment of both indoor and outdoor spaces.
Ask your guests to take a lateral flow test on the morning of your wedding and request that suppliers and venue staff do the same. You can also ask your venue to open windows to get some airflow going before you arrive.
