Wedding venues call for clarity after year of postponements

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Wedding venues have called for greater clarity from the Welsh Government as they look to address a growing list of postponed and reorganised weddings.

The majority of weddings due to take place during 2020 were postponed and re-booked as public gatherings were banned for most of last year.

For those that did go ahead in the summer and autumn, restrictions continued to limit gatherings to 15 people indoors and 30 people outdoors.

With a backlog of weddings growing week-by-week, organisers have now called on the Welsh Government to provide an idea of what will be possible for the remainder of 2021.

There are a number of large and small venues used for weddings throughout the Caerphilly county borough.

Llechwen Hall Hotel, located just outside Nelson, had 120 weddings booked during 2020, of those less than 20 went ahead.

Victoria Jones, Weddings and Events Manager at Llechwen Hall, told Caerphilly Observer: “Initially, we worked on a month-by-month basis, but it quickly became clear we would have to be more flexible with people.

“We have had 11 weddings since August, and only four of those have managed to have sit down meals.

“At the moment I am not planning any weddings for the next few months even though we have 172 weddings booked for 2021.

“A lot of those have now been moved back to 2022, but we need to know what we are able to do this year.

“There has been word of a roadmap for hospitality being released, but really, we need to know what the plan is going into spring.

“For me, if they can give us an outline based on the capacity of the venue, that would be really useful.

“If they were able to give us an idea of how many people will be able to attend by summer or autumn, that would just give us an idea of what we are working with.

The Welsh Government’s current restrictions are in line with its Alert Level 4, meaning ceremonies can take place in line with a venue’s capacity, however receptions and parties are not allowed.

Wales will remain at Alert Level 4 until the Welsh Government’s next lockdown review on Friday, February 19.

If there is a change to Wales’ Alert Level, venues for conferences and events remain closed in Alert Levels 3 and 2.

Ms Jones said further guidance is needed to work with couples due to get married and provide them with an idea of what options are available:

“My message to people would be to perhaps start thinking about plan B.

“Remain positive and excited because even if we do have to move the date, it will come around quickly.

“Look on the bright side and look at the bigger picture. It will be okay if you have to move it to a later date, but if you do choose to have a smaller wedding, it can still be really beautiful.”