Covid Wedding – How many people can attend a wedding?
I’ve covered a couple of weddings during the Covid-19 pandemic and throughout lockdown. Here are some handy tips on what you can expect for your covid wedding.
.jpg)
Covid Wedding – Socially distanced covid 19 wedding & marriage tips. So, we’ve all heard the news regarding the new guidelines, 15 people at your big day. First of all, let me clarify something, this is 15 people, not including suppliers, this maximum number includes all those at the ceremony, including the couple, witnesses, and guests. Anyone working is not included as part of the limit on attendees.
.jpg)
There is good news in the fact that in my experience, venues, suppliers, registrars, and ministers are being very switched on and super organised in helping make your wedding day run as close as possible to what you had planned before COVID hit. I’m sure we all agree the restrictions are there for a good reason, as a photographer it is my duty to abide by the guidelines, whilst at the same time supplying the awesome imagery I’m renowned for.
I’ve compiled a quick summary of the headline rules and regulations around COVID-19 weddings. Further information can be found on the Covid-19 Guidelines website here.
During the ceremony
The latest government guidelines advise that the bride, the groom, a vicar, registrars or children under 11 and anyone else who is exempt from wearing face masks for medical reasons are the only people who may go without a face mask at a wedding. Everyone else present is required to wear one. Used alongside physical distancing and frequent hand-washing, this will help keep everyone safe as they gather to celebrate your special day.
.jpg)
Music & singing
The good news is, you can still have music for your ceremony, official guidelines state that “where music plays a big part in worship, and recordings are available, we suggest you consider using these as an alternative to live singing to mitigate risks.” So yes, you can still have music at your ceremony! If you are getting married in a church and would like hymns, the rules are slightly different, they state “singing should be limited to the performers, and worship should not include congregational singing.” So in other words, your guests won’t be able to sign, but any performers will.
Signing the Register
Normally use photographers are banned on pain of death from daring to sign the actual registrar at most weddings. COVID-19 has put paid to this rule, now there is just one real registrar and it can be photographed whilst being signed! So no need for those painfully awkward set-up fake signing register shots anymore!
I specialise in hands-off, unobtrusive photography, so being socially distanced from yourself and your guests is not a problem for me, it doesn’t affect the way I work at the ceremony, so no need to worry about that.
Reception
Receptions are still allowed, from 28 September, receptions and other celebrations for weddings and civil partnerships can continue to take place, but only in the form of a sit down meal in a COVID-19 secure venue. No more than 15 people may attend. Such receptions must not take place in people’s private homes (or adjoining outdoor spaces like gardens), given that these will not have the same COVID-19 secure measures in place. (taken from the government guidelines website)
.jpg)
Once the reception is done, some more rules come into play. With cake cutting, this will be limited and there will be no dancing!
Local lockdowns
Don’t forget, the tips above related to the overall rules regarding social distancing at weddings, it might be that your local area has different rules in place, so for example, if an area has a local lockdown, it might be worth checking if the rules are different.
Numbers
The new rules are no more than 15 people at a wedding, this is black and white with no exceptions, I can’t see this changing in the next few months, so if you’re planning your covid-19 wedding, plan it on the basis of having no more than 15 guests.
My Covid Wedding – Socially distanced wedding tips – summary
.jpg)
My Covid Wedding – Socially distanced wedding tips – summarySo, now you’ve read my little summary around the restrictions regarding covid weddings, what does this mean for your photography? Well, from my point of view, it doesn’t really change the way I work or the quality of photography you’ll receive from me. I pride myself on adapting quickly to any situation, my ethos on wedding photography is ‘telling a story’. Therefore, the photos you receive from me will show your day in a true and honest way, I won’t be asking you to gather in with friends and family, or asking you do hug people, I’ll just let your day be what it is, and photograph it.
Don’t forget, I offer special packages suited to socially distanced weddings, details can be found here.
