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The Current COVID Wedding Rules in England

UPDATED: 14th June 2021

N.B. The following applies to weddings in England only. We are expecting official confirmation from the government tomorrow which will be updated here.

Finally, we can give you the news that we’ve all been waiting for – big weddings are back! The government has announced today that while other restrictions will remain in place, weddings with more than 30 guests will be able to go ahead in England from 21st June! Your patience and resilience through all of this have been incredible and we are so excited to watch you celebrate, even if there will still be some more restrictions in place than we had hoped for.

We know it can be tricky to work out exactly what these restrictions are and what is just guidance, but hopefully, we can help. Below are the latest rules, as reported by the Deputy Political Editor at The Telegraph. This should give some additional clarity about what is and isn’t allowed from 21st June.

From June 21st:

Allowed:

Unlimited attendees at wedding ceremonies and receptions, so long as they can be accommodated in a COVID-secure way
Musical entertainment, with a group of up to six performers allowed inside, and up to 30 performers allowed outdoors
The wedding couple’s first dance
Speeches, with the Government guidance urging that these take place outdoors or in a well-ventilated area where possible. Public address systems, such as microphones are preferable to raised voices.
Cutting of the cake
Guestbooks and camera stations are allowed, however, contact should be minimised, with hand sanitisation stations encouraged before and after use

Not Allowed:

Indoor dancing
Stand up drinks receptions at outdoor or indoor wedding venues

Advised Against:

Dancing outdoors
Communal singing, which includes hymns
Reusable service booklets and devotional materials. Single-use alternatives that can be binned should be used instead
Cash donations, with alternative online giving encouraged instead

Obligatory:

Facemasks must be worn indoors during wedding ceremonies and receptions, except for when eating and drinking
Table service for food and drink, with no more than six guests per table
Risk assessments are mandatory for all wedding venues, as well as guests celebrating on private land if more than 30 people are attending

Make sure you download the Bridebook app and update your wedding location and date. This will ensure you get breaking news that is relevant to your wedding, whenever it is announced. To get the latest updates follow #whataboutweddings and The UK Wedding Taskforce on Instagram.

The Latest COVID Wedding News

Update: The Times has reported that the government will (finally!) lift the 30-person limit on weddings, even if the easing of other lockdown restrictions is delayed beyond June 21.

We will be keeping you all up to date if there are any changes to the rollout of weddings, so you’ll never miss the latest news. Download the Bridebook app today so that you are first to hear of any changes to policy that may affect your wedding.

Whilst restrictions are set to end on the 21st of June, weddings are still likely to be a little different for the next couple of years. The “new normal” will probably still affect a few things at your wedding. And while there may be no major fixed rules, we want to give you some tips on how to navigate through the early days after restrictions end.

Below are our top tips for planning a post-COVID wedding.

1. Keep up to date with latest government restrictions

Firstly, make sure that you know the particular COVID rules in your given area. Remember that there are often slight differences in policy between England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Keep up to date with everything here.

Also, while the government has said that there won’t be different rules for different regions, this policy may change. Particularly, if pockets of the countries see mini-outbreaks. Again, make sure you know the rules for your wedding location and your hometown. This way you won’t get caught out with any last-minute changes.

2. Make contingency plans for guests coming from abroad

One thing that definitely won’t be back to normal straightaway on 21st June is international travel. With new variants and differing vaccination rates, some restrictions on travel are sure to remain for a while.

As a result, we recommend making some contingency plans for any guests who are planning to come from abroad. Keep up to date with which countries are on which lists (red, amber, green). This will ensure you know which guests may need to quarantine and who may need to order tests for early release from quarantine.

Travel rules are likely to remain in flux for some time yet, so do think about how you will mitigate this. Will you still go ahead with some live streaming options? A lot of venues now have this capability so do ask ahead of time. Similarly, we have seen some couples use computer tablets at tables for guests who are abroad and can’t make it to the ceremony.

Have a chat with your partner and work out what will work for you and your day.

3. Check your honeymoon destination

Since travel restrictions are likely to continue, you will also need to keep an eye on the rules for your honeymoon destination. Again, keep up to date with the latest for your particular country at the government-specific site.

Know what the quarantine rules are so that you can book the required time off and make sure you have your tests done well in advance.

Remember to do the same if you are having your hen do or stag do abroad, particularly if your bridesmaids or groomsmen aren’t quite as on-the-ball as you.

4. Keep your guests feeling safe

Even when restrictions end, some guests may still be nervous. It has been a really tough 18 months and some people want to take things a bit more cautiously than others. And that’s fine.

Make sure you know which of your guests might need a little more reassurance in advance. You can then provide badges for people who want to signal to others that they would like to keep their distance a bit more.

You could seat them nearer to open doors or windows to get more ventilation. Simply increasing the number of sanitisation stations around the venue can put some people at ease.

Similarly, if you are a bit nervous about having your wedding straight after restrictions end, let your guests know what you expect from them. This way there won’t be any surprises on the day.

5. Talk to your venue about their safety measures

The staff at wedding venues want you and your guests to feel as safe as possible on your big day.

Many venues now have protocols for making a venue more COVID-secure. This can include greater distancing at tables, one-way systems around the property, and increased ventilation. As we mentioned above, many also have the ability to livestream parts of the event.

Chat to your venue to let them know what things you need on your particular day and they are likely to be very accommodating.

6. Download the Bridebook app

The Bridebook app is where you can get the latest and most up to date news for weddings. If things change, this is where you’ll find out first.

Update your date and let us know where you’ve booked your venue. Then we can provide you with the most relevant information for your specific wedding date and location.

7. Have fun!

Restrictions are due to end on 21st June, so there should be no major rules at your wedding outside of travel restrictions. Instead, it will be up to you to find the right balance for you and your guests. But remember, it has been an incredibly tough 18 months and one that we know people can’t wait to put behind them. People have never been in bigger need of a great party. Your wedding will be a celebration that will live long in the memory. So be safe, but enjoy it! You deserve the best day of your life.

FAQs: The Latest Wedding Rules in England Explained

England is currently in Stage 3 of unlocking, but what does this actually mean for your wedding?

We know that navigating through all of these regulations can be really tricky, so we are here to help. Our team has reviewed the current government advice and pulled together a list of the top FAQs so you can double-check you’re following all the guidelines for your big day.

A summary of the current guidelines: Weddings and civil partnerships can take place either indoors or outdoors at a Covid secure venue from May 17th. The reception can include a seated meal and entertainment. Ceremonies and receptions are allowed in private gardens but not inside private homes. Stage 3 is expected to last until 20th June.

Who is included within the 30 people? Up to 30 people can attend the wedding reception, not including any working staff. This 30 does however include children of any age.

What counts as a Covid-secure venue? A venue that has completed a COVID specific risk assessment. We recommend you talk to your local authority or venue to find out more.

Do guests need to wear masks? Face coverings are required by law indoors across the UK. Therefore, masks must be worn throughout the ceremony with the exception of the couple and officiant. Guests can remove face coverings when eating or drinking.

Do guests need to be socially distanced? There is no longer a requirement to seat guests at socially distanced tables. There is a ‘greater emphasis’ on personal responsibility and people are encouraged to ‘exercise caution’ where necessary. Ultimately, this decision will be up to you.

Is live music allowed at the reception? Indoor performances can take place but outdoor performances are ‘preferable’. Professional performers should make sure they adhere to the Performing Arts Guidance. Amateur choirs, bands and musicians can perform in a group of up to 6 indoors and up to 30 outdoors.

Can there be dancing? Dancing is ‘advised against’ except for the couple’s first dance and dance floors must remain closed. Any close contact is deemed a personal choice.

Is congregational singing allowed? Communal singing should not take place indoors or outdoors at Step 3.

What counts as outdoors? An outdoor reception can be partially sheltered, however, 50% of the walled area must remain open.

Can there be more than 6 guests at each table? This is down to a personal choice, but we recommend you check in with those attending, especially if some of your guests are vulnerable.

Is confetti allowed? Confetti isn’t specifically mentioned in the guidance. However, activities such as cake cutting and game playing can take place provided appropriate measures are in place. There is much more detail within the document for specific cultural and religious features. We recommend you read up on this for more detail.

Can we have features such as guest books and photo booths? As above, these are allowed but appropriate measures are encouraged, for example, adding multiple hand sanitisation stations.

Can we have a drinks reception? A standing drinks reception cannot take place. In line with the current guidance, food and drink must be ordered and consumed whilst seated.

Are we allowed to stay overnight? In Step 3 of the roadmap, hotels are allowed to be open. Provided that your venue is legally allowed to be open during this step, you will be able to stay overnight.

What is next for weddings?

We are so excited for champagne to be flowing, cakes to be cut and cheesy tunes to be pumping. The end of these restrictions is so near and we can’t wait to watch you (finally!) have your moment. We know how tough it’s been to watch your original date pass by, but your day is so close and trust us, it’ll be worth every second of the waiting.

Here at Bridebook, we are pretty positive that restriction-free weddings will be allowed after June 21st. With the roadmap going according to plan and a strong vaccination rollout, we feel incredibly confident that you’ll be able to say “I do” in the way you dreamed of very soon. Keep your eyes peeled for new information, we promise we’ll update you as soon as we can.

Download the Bridebook iOS app here, if you haven’t already for our latest COVID updates. For Android, download the app here.

How can I plan my wedding during lockdown? 8 things you can do to ensure you have the smoothest wedding planning experience.

Getting engaged is one of the most exciting moments of your life, tears of joy won’t stop streaming, and you can’t stop gazing at your newly bejeweled finger. But once this initial excitement begins to wear off, a sudden rush of “what now!?” begins to kick in. Don’t worry – Bridebook are here to help.

Wedding planning can be daunting even at the best of times, and the current government restrictions to curb the spread of Coronavirus may have you feeling you can’t get started with your planning. At Bridebook, we’d like to help you navigate this stressful time by discussing 8 things that you CAN do right now to ensure the smoothest wedding planning experience.

1. Designate a wedding planning day

Couple sitting in living room with laptop

It is time to get organised! Making decisions early is the best way to ensure the smoothest wedding planning process. Dedicating one day a week can be the perfect way to ensure that tasks get ticked off and other priorities (like Netflixin’ your favourite show!) do not get in the way.

Knowing where to begin with planning your big day can be overwhelming. Our personalised Wedding Planning Checklist is here to help guide you through the entire planning process. Based on your wedding date, your bespoke Checklist will let you know when to complete each task including pricing guides and suggestions along the way.

2. Reflection

It’s important to sit down with your partner and think about what you both want from your wedding. Will it be a small and intimate occasion or an extravagant party with hundreds of guests? Make sure you reflect and think hard about what is most important to the both of you, as a couple.

Start researching and looking for inspiration. You can then add any picture or ideas, from perfect playlists, to funny speech ideas to your Bridebook Scrapbook.

3. Budget

Once you have reflected on the kind of wedding you both want, you need to decide how much you are willing and able to spend. Let Bridebook do the hard work for you! With data from over 500,000 weddings, our super powerful Wedding Budget Tool helps you keep track right from the beginning. Simply enter your total budget and we will tell you how much you should spend on every expense from start to finish.

4. Guest List

Making decisions on your guest list can be a complicated process, from deciding who to invite, to keeping note of guest information along the way.

Bridebook’s Wedding Guest List Tool allows you to easily keep track of your invites, RSVPs and total attending guests. Your Guest List is split into two – one for you and one for your partner – but you can also create as many custom lists as you like! For example, ‘work friends’ or ‘childhood friends’. Your Guest List is ready to help you track all the nitty gritty details: you can track plus ones, dietary requirements, addresses and more.

5. Booking Your Venue

Finding the perfect wedding venue is one of the most important tasks on your checklist, and one which may seem near impossible in the midst of a global pandemic. However, thanks to the power of technology and innovative wedding venue teams, this is completely possible!

Bridebook has thousands of exceptional wedding venues with many of them offering virtual tours and show rounds. Get comfortable, open a bottle of wine and explore the delights of stunning venues across the country from your very own living room. When you enquire with venues, make sure to ask if they can offer a virtual show round – some are even using Facetime! We’d also advise you to keep an eye out for venues listing 360 tours.

6. Booking Suppliers

Again, this is something super fun which you can enjoy within the comfort of your own home. Keep reaching out to suppliers, as many are offering virtual services such as delivering tasting samples or pre-recorded videos – whilst unconventional, this can absolutely become a fun night-in with your partner.

Invite your friends and family to a Zoom call where you watch a number of wedding bands until you find your perfect match. How about ordering in some sample cake boxes for taste testing with your partner? Or even get creative and create your ideal wedding make-up, by following different tutorials available online.

7. The Little Things

Make the most of these dark cold months by getting on top of all the small tasks which will make your wedding wonderful. There are so many little things that you will need for your big day and now is the time to start a list. This might be thinking about gifts for your bridesmaids and page boys or wedding favours for guests. You could even get into some DIY and make some crafts yourself such as name cards, signs or photo boards for the day itself.

8. Enjoy your Engagement!

Weddings are incredibly special. It is important to enjoy this experience, together. Take some well deserved time off before you are rushed back to the speed of ‘normality’. Go for long walks, cook some delicious food, read a few books and most of all embrace having the love of your life by your side!

Looking for some more wedding planning tips? Check out our other wedding articles below.

How to plan your wedding remotely

Post-quarantine wedding trends

Why having a weekday wedding can be the best decision you make

Top tips for having a 15 person wedding (or ceremini)

Amazing deals and discounts for couples

Happy Planning!

How to Plan a Diverse Wedding

Diverse weddings are very typical these days. It’s likely that the wedding guests and even the engaged couple themselves will come from a variety of backgrounds, such as different geographical locations, religions, cultures, and lifestyles. Diverse weddings can be beautiful and unique due to differing customs and traditions. Couples are always trying to think of ways to personalise the wedding ceremony or reception with special touches that show who they are as a couple and including cultural and traditional touches is a great way to do it. The question is, how do you plan a diverse wedding that blends geographic, religious, lifestyle, and cultural elements?

Do Your Research

The obvious place to start is to research the different wedding traditions of each family. Parents and grandparents can be a wealth of knowledge in this area. Ask them about the traditions they had at their own weddings and have them explain any customs you don’t know about. After you’ve picked their brains thoroughly, turn to online resources such as Pinterest and Google for more ideas. Blogs, websites, and books are great places to find tips on how to incorporate the different customs and traditions at your ceremony and reception.

Narrow Down Your Choices

Once you’ve done your research, you’ll probably have a pretty extensive list of ideas. Narrow down your list and decide which ones you want to include. Creating a board on Pinterest is a great way to organise your favorite images so that you can share them with your vendors, family, and wedding party for input. Remember, you don’t have to include every single custom or tradition… just use the ones that feel right to you and have the most meaning to you and your fiancé.

Choose Your Wedding Planner Carefully

Many wedding planners will specialise in weddings that celebrate specific lifestyles, backgrounds, or cultures. If you can find a wedding planner that knows about the various menu items, music, dances, traditions, and customs you want to include, your planning will go much more smoothly. Often, your wedding planner will even have a list of vendors and other resources who can help you create exactly the feel and your going for with your multicultural ceremony and reception.

Hire an Officiant Who’s Open to Performing a Diverse Ceremony

Some officiants won’t be open to performing a ceremony that might be quite a bit different than what they’re used to. When you meet with officiants, be careful to explain what you’re looking for in detail, and make sure they’re comfortable with it. If you can’t find someone on your own, don’t hesitate to ask your friends, family, and wedding planner for recommendations. One option for an interfaith ceremony may be to have two officiants that work together to perform the ceremony, one from each religion or culture you wish to incorporate.

Be Sure Your House of Worship Will Allow an Interfaith Ceremony

If you plan to have your ceremony at a house of worship, you’ll need to follow the same guidelines you did for choosing your officiant. Some houses of worship will be fine with diverse ceremonies that incorporate different faiths or lifestyles, but others may not. To avoid problems later, be very clear when you make your booking what your vision is for the ceremony and make sure they will allow it.

Create a Wedding Program

Creating a wedding program is a great way to explain different traditions and customs from the ceremony. It’s a great way to elaborate on parts of the wedding ceremony that some guests might not know about. If you need help writing the descriptions, ask your officiant or wedding planner to help you.

Music and Special Dances are a Great Way to Incorporate Different Cultures

Music is a great way to include different faiths and backgrounds. “Make sure your DJ or band is familiar with any special dances or songs you want to include at the ceremony or reception,” recommends the wedding music experts from Around Town Entertainment. You might even want to search out a band or DJ that specialises in the type of music you’re looking for. If the two of you plan to do a traditional dance that you don’t already know, be sure to sign up for some lessons ahead of time and learn the steps. If you really want to make an impression, you could have your entire bridal party learn a specific dance and perform it at the reception.

Create a Diverse Menu

Another fun way to incorporate different cultures and backgrounds is with the food. Create a diverse menu that includes dishes from each of your backgrounds. Work with your caterer to create a menu that incorporates your favorite flavors and recipes from both of your regions or cultures. Even your cocktail choices, wedding cake, and desserts can be inspired by your cultural diversity.

Consider “Traditional” Fashions

One way to honour your heritage is to wear “traditional” dress during your ceremony or at your reception. In China, the bride often wears a red dress. In Korea, brides and grooms wear a garment called a hanbok. In India, the bride wears a saree. Be sure to let your photographer know if you plan an outfit change so that they set aside time to photograph both looks.

Consider Holding More Than One Ceremony

If there are several traditions you want to include or incorporating two faiths into one ceremony isn’t working out, you might want to consider having a second ceremony. The second one could be held on a different day and in a different place, or you could have them both on the same day. If you held them on the same day, you could hold just one reception for both sides of the family.

Make it Your Own

Although the whole idea is to honor both backgrounds, make sure that the details reflect your own personal sense of style. You don’t have to make culture the theme for your entire day, just include elements that complement the feel and look you’re going for. For example, if you want to honor Jewish tradition by having a chuppah during the ceremony, choose one that complements the style of the rest of your wedding, whether it’s minimal, modern, or romantic florals.

Planning a diverse wedding may take some extra work, but it will be worth it. By incorporating different elements from each of your backgrounds, you will create a ceremony and reception that are completely unique to the two of you. These special touches can make your day one that you and your guests will remember for years to come.