Northern Ireland Weddings 2020 - Should you postpone or seize the day & get married with restrictions?
On the 4th June 2020 the Northern Ireland Executive announced that from 8th June 2020 weddings could take place again subject to Coronavirus restrictions.
The current restrictions state that marriages and civil partnerships;
check here for the most up to date restrictions:
can take place indoors in a place of worship if one of the parties is terminally ill, with 10 people in attendance - this includes the couples, two witnesses and the officiant (two metre social distancing rules must be adhered to)
can take place outdoors with 10 people in attendance - this includes the couple, two witnesses and the officiant (the two metres social distancing rules must be adhered to)
For some couples this news is a welcome relief as all they want to do is get legally married NOW!
But what if you had a clear vision of your wedding day, whether that was a big party with family & friends or an intimate ceremony in a cosy romantic setting with your closest loved ones. Should you postpone or seize the day?
There isn't a right or wrong answer to this difficult question and it 100% has to be what feels right for you and your fiancé.
Personally I love intimate weddings, I think intentionally small weddings are an incredibly romantic way to get married. But if you choice to get married with the current restrictions in place you aren't just choosing to have an intimate wedding, you are choosing a socially distanced wedding.
How could socially distancing impact your wedding?
There are so many little ways in which the current social distancing rules could impact upon your wedding day. Would your dad be able to walk you down the aisle? Would someone be able to help you get into your wedding dress and do your hair & make up? What would you after your ceremony? Where would you spend your first night as a married couple? Would the day feel intimate when you were physically distanced?
Would any of this even matter or do you just want to get married NOW!
If you are ready to get married and happy to take the day whatever way it comes here is a list of a few stunning outdoor venues in Northern Ireland that are licensed to host outdoor wedding ceremonies
Outdoor Wedding Venues in Northern Ireland
Ivory Pavillion, Galgorm Castle
If you want to have a religious ceremony these can take place anywhere in Northern Ireland with the agreement of the Officiant.
What if I have already postponed to a new date?
If you have already postponed to a new date you need to be aware of the implications if you then cancel. Talk to your vendors, reads your contracts and get a full understanding of the financial implications if you decide to cancel. If you did get married this summer would you still like to have a celebration with your family & friends when it was safe and legal to do so?
Wedding planning can be stressful under normal circumstances and 2020 has been anything but normal! Whether you are just engaged, have already postponed your wedding plans once or maybe even twice, don't be afraid to reach out and ask vendors for help and advice.
I'd love to help you in any way that I can.