Bride and groom's first dance is the only dancing allowed under Covid rules
The bride and groom’s first dance will be the only dancing allowed at weddings under new coronavirus rules that have been widely criticised by the sector.
Critics have warned the guidance, published by Downing Street two days ago, ‘unfairly penalises’ the wedding industry with many couples now abandoning their planned nuptials.
Although weddings can now go ahead from next Monday, a maximum of 30 guests will only be allowed and face masks must be worn inside.
Dancefloors at the reception are also banned and only groups of up to six musicians can perform indoors.
Confusion continues to abound within the industry regarding why these restrictions remain in place for weddings.
Sarah Haywood, from the UK Weddings Taskforce, said: “It's dented consumer confidence.
"People are giving up now, they don't believe the Prime Minister isn't going to do a U-turn over June 21.
"(The guidance) kept not coming and not coming and not coming - now it's come out and had a significant impact on events next week.
"This is supposed to be a happy time for people planning their weddings."
Some of those planning their weddings have been using the hashtag on social media WhatAboutWeddings to share the problems they are facing.
We are dismayed and incredibly concerned by @BorisJohnson’s comments this evening. So many businesses and couples are surviving right now solely on the promise of a full lifting of restrictions in June. We must keep speaking up. #whataboutweddings
— #WhatAboutWeddings (@WAWofficialUK) May 14, 2021
Questions about whether babies count towards the limit of 30 people, and why dancefloors must remain closed, are just two examples of answers people are searching for on social platforms.
"It is completely unacceptable that this guidance came out so late, and that now it has, it's not clear and it continues to be unfairly penalising our sector over others," said Haywood.
"We're being penalised because they've got some idea everybody's going to be hugging and kissing.
"We know exactly what's going to happen, when and where everybody's going to be sitting - there is no reason now for us to be left at 30.
"We understand why before, our activities needed to be curtailed, but we don't understand it now.
"At what point are they going to acknowledge that weddings are an important part of society? People want to get married.
"This is serious people running serious businesses, providing a service that's wanted."
