After months of uncertainty and delays, happy couples can now tie the knot in the UK. Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, any gatherings were banned for an extended period of time. This meant that weddings and associated celebrations simply couldn’t take place throughout much of 2020. Fortunately, the easing of these restrictions means that weddings can now go ahead, providing certain precautions are taken.
If you’re getting married or attending a wedding in the UK, you will need to be aware of the need to socially distance. However, this needn’t prevent you from having a great time when celebrating with your loved ones. In fact, many couples are finding innovative ways to celebrate their special day in light of the current restrictions.
Planning a wedding can be overwhelming at any time but these additional factors can make it even trickier. With these handy tips, you can organise the perfect way to celebrate your wedding and keep guests safe:
1. Serve refreshments outside
Instead of choosing an indoor venue for your nuptials, why not get married outside instead? The crisp Autumn leaves are a perfect backdrop, while a wedding at sunset is always romantic. As well as having the ceremony outdoors, you can serve drinks and canapes outdoors too.
Hiring a fridge trailer means you’ll have chilled beverages available at all times, so there are no limitations when it comes to what you can serve.
2. Hire a marquee
Hosting your wedding outdoors makes it safer for your guests to attend, as the transmission rate of COVID-19 is believed to be higher in indoor environments. In addition to hosting a champagne reception outside, you can arrange for the entire day to take place outdoors, if you choose to. British weather isn’t particularly reliable, but a marquee will ensure guests are protected from rain showers or sunshine.
What’s more – a marquee can easily be setup in advance and decorated to suit your style and tastes.
3. Install hand sanitiser stations
Washing your hands regularly is one of the best ways to reduce the spread of coronavirus. Similarly, hand sanitiser with a high alcohol content can kill the virus and prevent you from passing it on to anyone else. That’s why many public places, like shops and eateries, are installing hand sanitiser stations.
Wherever you choose to hold your reception, you can reassure guests that their safety is of paramount importance by having hand sanitiser stations readily available. By placing them in strategic locations, they’ll be a discreet yet essential addition to your big day.
4. Use outdoor heaters
If you are going to host some or all of your wedding outdoors, you’ll want to be prepared for any weather. Luckily, outdoor heaters are a great way to prevent your guests becoming too chilly if the temperature drops. Available to hire at reasonable rates, you can have them setup in advance, which minimises the amount of preparation required on the big day.
5. Order custom face masks
Wearing a face mask helps to prevent COVID-19 being transmitted from one person to another. Due to this, it’s compulsory to wear them in certain situations, such as in shops or on public transport. If you want to encourage your guests to wear face masks, why not have custom face mask designs made in advance? From personalised masks to funny slogans, you can be as inventive as you like when you’re designing bespoke face masks and they’ll be a unique way for everyone to remember your special day.
6. Take out wedding insurance
Wedding insurance is a great way to cover your costs if anything prevents your big day from going ahead. As COVID-19 regulations could change at any time, it’s advisable to talk to venue owners and suppliers about what will happen if your wedding can’t go ahead on the planned date. Similarly, you may want to take out wedding insurance to prevent you losing money. However, do be aware that not all wedding insurance policies will cover pandemic-related losses. Take the time to read the small print and talk to the insurer before you purchase a policy, so you’ll know exactly what’s covered and what isn’t.
Enjoying Your Big Day
A wedding is always a cause for celebration, so don’t let the restrictions lessen your enjoyment. Although you will need to make some changes to your original plans, there are numerous ways to celebrate safely and in accordance with the relevant guidelines. Whether you opt for an outdoor wedding, a reduced guest list or a virtual reception, you can be confident that you’ll remember your big day for all the right reasons.
