Slashed wedding guests, our new normal?

Guest lists poured over and numbers reluctantly streamlined to abide by the government guidelines? Well the contrasting news outlining different guest numbers according to location is leaving many brides gritting their teeth in dismay.

Depending upon your planned wedding date, months of meticulous planning undertaken to execute your dream wedding may be temporarily on hold, however there has been some hope on the horizon as restrictions are slowly being lifted.

In Scotland, wedding receptions - but without alcohol - can take place with up to 50 people from 26 April.

Wedding ceremonies in Northern Ireland are currently limited to 25 people and receptions are banned. But dates for lockdown easing reviews are set for 15 April, 13 May and 10 June.

From 29 March in England, weddings can be attended by a maximum of six people. This will rise to 15 after 12 April if Covid rates remain low, increasing to a limit of 30 after 17 May. Receptions are included in the plans, but only in certain venues.

Where family relatives or friends are unable to attend given the restrictions on numbering, churches will be happy to explore ways to allow others to join the service, either through platforms such as Skype, and live streaming or recording the service to send at a later date to anyone unable to attend.

In addition, the government has advised that elderly and health compromised individuals avoid attending weddings until the situation has stabilised.

However, this doesn’t mean that they can’t be included in your celebrations.

Here is the 2021 bride's best ways to get them involved:

• Ask your venue if they have video link equipment and invite absent guests to join you via video call for the speeches or ceremony