COVID-19 Spring 2021 Update: Guidance for Weddings, Receptions & Celebrations

COVID-19 Response - Spring 2021

The government has recently published the COVID-19 Spring 2021 update which sets out the roadmap out of the current lockdown for England. Read on to find out how restrictions will be eased over the coming weeks, which includes a staged return of weddings and receptions.

Source (Gov.UK)

On 8 March some of the rules on what you can and can't do have changed. However, England is still in a national lockdown. 

For weddings and civil partnership ceremonies, this means that the existing national lockdown guidance remains in place. Weddings and civil partnership ceremonies must only take place with up to 6 people and should only take place in exceptional circumstances.

The Spring 2021 COVID-19 response sets out the roadmap for a staged return of weddings and civil partnerships. At each stage, the decision to proceed to the next step will be guided by data not dates and the 4 tests set out in the roadmap. A week's notice will be provided before any step is taken.

Step 1 - up to 29th March

> Weddings and civil partnership ceremonies of 6 can take place but these should only be in exceptional circumstances.

> Receptions are not permitted.

From 29th March

> Weddings and civil partnership ceremonies can continue to take place for up to 6 people only but will no longer be limited to exceptional circumstances.

> Receptions are not permitted. However, small gatherings can take place in line with social contact limits. Therefore, they may take place outdoors in a group of 6, or 2 households (including support bubbles, if eligible to form one).

Step 2 - No earlier than 12th April

> Weddings and civil partnership ceremonies are permitted for up to 15 people in COVID-secure venues that are permitted to open or where a broader exemption applies.

> Receptions can take place with up to 15 people in the form of a sit down meal and in any COVID-secure outdoor venue that is permitted to open. Such receptions must not take place in people's private gardens or public outdoor spaces.

Step 3 - No earlier than 17th May

> Weddings and civil partnership ceremonies are permitted for up to 30 people in COVID-secure venues that are permitted to open.

> Receptions can also proceed with up to 30 people in a COVID-secure indoor venue, or outdoors.

> Further details on receptions at this step will be updated in due course.

Step 4 - No earlier than 21st June

> At Step 4, the government aims to remove all limits on weddings, civil partnership ceremonies and receptions. This will be subject to the outcome of the scientific Events Research Programme, which will include a series of pilots using enhanced testing approaches and other measures to run events of larger sizes.

At each step

* Anyone working is not included in the limit for ceremonies or receptions

* Weddings and civil partnership ceremonies, and receptions, can only take place in venues that are permitted to be open at each step

The success of the UK's vaccine rollout has seen case numbers drop significantly over the past few weeks, with hospitalisations and excess deaths also falling. If everything goes as planned, we can all look forward to a Great British Summer with fewer restrictions and the return of large weddings, receptions and celebrations. Fascinators Direct are keeping everything crossed! 🤞