Boris Johnson has this evening announced that the current limit of 30 guests at weddings will be lifted from Monday 21st June, this is despite the government announcing a delay in the full relaxation of restrictions due to an increase in cases of the Delta variant.
Summary of the changes:
From 21 June the rules for wedding and civil partnership ceremonies; and wedding receptions and civil partnership celebrations will change.
From 21 June, there will no longer be a maximum number cap for attendees set out in law. Instead, the number of attendees at weddings, civil partnerships and receptions will be determined by how many people the venue or space can safely accommodate with social distancing measures in place. This will be based on the COVID-19 risk assessment of the venue or outdoor space, and the measures put in place to limit the spread of COVID-19.
In a COVID-secure venue, where the premises are operated or used by a business, a charitable, benevolent or philanthropic institution or a public body (such as a place of worship or a hospitality venue) your venue manager will need to tell you the maximum number of people who will be able to attend.
For events taking place in other venues, (such as a garden of a private home or on private land), organisers will need to make the space as safe as possible. A marquee or other structure in a private garden must have at least 50% of its walled area open at any time for it to be classed as ‘outdoors’ and for the limit based on safe capacity to apply.
If you plan on having more than 30 people in your chosen venue or outdoor space, you must do this by completing a COVID-19 risk assessment to determine how many attendees will be able to attend, and following this guidance to make the event as safe as possible. Please see information below on what a risk assessment is and how to complete one.
These events must not happen indoors at private dwellings, unless they are urgent marriages where one of those getting married is seriously ill and not expected to recover. These can take place in private dwellings with up to 30 people. This includes enclosed structures in gardens of private homes.
Some restrictions on ceremonies and receptions remain in place to enable them to take place safely. This includes Step 3 requirements on table service, face coverings, social distancing, and restrictions on dancing and singing.
Viewings can continue to take place with appropriate COVID-19 mitigation measures in place at any venue which is not required in law to remain closed. This includes, for example, any restaurant or indoor visitor attraction.
More information / Source – Coronavirus (COVID-19): Wedding and civil partnership ceremonies, receptions and celebrations – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
