Outrage as Wigan couples struggle to make bookings for weddings until 2021

Katie Street, owner of Ashfield House in Standish, has accused registrars of refusing to arrange weddings this year, even though small celebrations can now go ahead under the Government’s coronavirus guidelines.

But Wigan Council chiefs say they are busy trying to rearrange ceremonies cancelled during the pandemic - and have been handling a larger numnber of deaths than usual due to Covid-19 - and do not expect to have capacity for new bookings until 2021.

The popular venue has won a host of titles, including being named the best wedding venue in the UK in 2017, 2018 and 2019 at the Wedding Industry Awards.

But it is claimed that couples are now being prevented from tying the knot there in 2020.

Ms Street said: “We are thrilled to be able to do weddings once again, albeit on a smaller scale, but we are incredibly frustrated that we are being prevented from taking new wedding bookings by the registrars. I believe this is not the case for all areas of the country, some registrars are allowing new bookings.

“Couples are trying to book small weddings for later this year and have been told by the registrars that no new bookings are being taken until next year. This is an absolute outrage.

“The wedding industry is one of the last to get up and running and even now, the size of weddings we are allowed to do are not even making a profit. We now have the opportunity to take new bookings and try to offset some of our huge losses but the registrars’ unreasonable and authoritarian policy is preventing us from doing that.

“The Government have said clearly that weddings are allowed and have put forward guidance to make sure they are safe yet the registrars are not prepared to take new bookings - this makes no sense whatsoever and is incredibly unfair to those couples wishing to marry. If the Government say it’s safe to marry and the registrars are happy to conduct ceremonies already booked, what possible reason can they have to refuse to do new bookings? It’s either safe or it isn’t.”

Ms Street fears for the impact this could have, not just on Ashfield House but other businesses too, particularly at a time when the Government is trying to revive the economy.

She said: “Surely the registrar services are there to support residents and businesses; right now they are acting against them. Residents are still paying their rates and we have paid our approved venue license fee, yet the service is being withheld.

“The Eat Out to Help Out and furlough schemes have been fantastic to support businesses getting back up and running, yet here we are being actively prevented from taking bookings by the very organisation that is supposed to be there to support us.

“Once the furlough scheme ends in October my fellow wedding suppliers and I will need every penny of revenue we can get just to survive. These few new bookings were a glimmer of hope in an otherwise bleak situation.”

Under the rules imposed due to the coronavirus pandemic, up to 30 people can attend a wedding or civil ceremony in a “Covid-19 secure venue”. This includes the couple, guests, officiants and third party suppliers, such as photographers.

Registrars have been focusing on deaths during the pandemic and while bookings for weddings can be made, they do not expect to have capacity until 2021.

It is understood Wigan Council is trying to arrange around 600 weddings in the next few months for couples whose ceremonies were cancelled or postponed due to the pandemic.

Lesley O’Halloran, the council’s assistant director for customer services and culture, said: “As a council, we have a duty of care to ensure the well-being of our residents, businesses and staff members.

“Throughout the pandemic, registrars teams across the country had to prioritise death registrations. This is still our main focus, closely followed by birth registrations.

“Now the guidance surrounding weddings has recently been relaxed, our small but dedicated registrars team is working really hard to support customers who were disappointed earlier in the year when their weddings were postponed or cancelled.

“If dates become available, we will take new bookings, however, we don’t anticipate this capacity to be available until the new year due to high demand. We remain committed to supporting our local businesses through this uncertain time and will offer advice on how to be Covid secure so both employees and customers feel safe.”