Ever since the government’s roadmap announcement, there has been a much-needed sense of optimism in the air.
Although we have a way to go yet (and the roadmap is subject to change), it’s reassuring to know that things will get back to normal fairly soon. The uncertainty that we all felt in 2020 was difficult to deal with, and was very stressful for couples trying to plan their wedding.
Looking to the future has become easier now we have a timeline in place, and we’re sure many of you want to know what weddings will look like after restrictions end.
Roadmap wedding recap
To give you a recap on the roadmap: if Covid data allows, weddings with 15 people will be allowed to go ahead on 12th April, this will increase to 30 people on May 17th, and all restrictions and social distancing measures will end all together on 21st June.
This is incredibly exciting, but we must stress that these dates may change depending on data, so please bear that in mind.
Non essential shops will also have the go ahead to open from 12th April, which means in-person shopping for your wedding can resume. And when it comes to emotive purchases such as your wedding outfit, in-person is really the only thing that will do!
Deciding on a wedding date
If you’re newly engaged and are deciding on a date for your wedding, we would advise that you go for a date in 2022, rather than this year.
According to research conducted by The Knot Worldwide and published last October, 71% of couples postponed their wedding in 2020 due to the pandemic, and 90% of those couples pushed their big day back to 2021. This year is shaping up to be a very busy one, and we anticipate lots more weekday and out of season weddings than usual.
We like to think positive when it comes to the roadmap and it all going to plan, but a 2022 wedding date is undeniably a safer choice if you are wanting a “normal” wedding day. It will also mean you have all of this year to plan and perfect – and who needs more stress after the year we’ve had?
Things to consider when planning a post-pandemic wedding
While we’re super excited to get back to big busy weddings, we fully appreciate that not everyone will be ready to jump back into normal life and normal social interactions after restrictions end, and that this will most likely carry through to 2022 for many people.
It’s hard to imagine a bustling group of friends and family gathered together, hugging, holding hands, eating and dancing with one another after well over a year of social distancing measures. Getting back to normal may take some getting used to – it’s completely understandable if you feel a mix of excitement and apprehension.
Even if you do feel ready to get back to normal, it doesn’t mean all your guests will. We’re thinking especially of eldery guests who have barely left home for over a year, and very young guests too, who don’t remember what life before the pandemic was like.
We don’t mean to sound like party poopers, but it’s worth keeping in mind that this is uncharted territory, and it may be wise to air on the side of caution. But don’t worry – wedding venues will appreciate that this is the case, and will want to do all they can to ensure you and your guests feel totally at ease during your special day.
2022 Weddings at The Waltham Barns
Airing on the side of caution doesn’t mean not having a “normal” wedding with a large guest list, DJ and dance floor. It could be as simple as making sure there’s a comfortable outside space for guests, and that your ceremony and reception areas will be totally private for you and your guests on your day.
Our personal wedding coordinators have a wealth of experience in crafting dream wedding days that run smoothly and effortlessly. We’re always flexible and open to suggestions, and offer couples lots of options that aren’t always easy to find, such as barbecues, carved buffets and “Twilight Wedding” options.
We anticipate our outside wedding barbecues will be even more popular than usual after restrictions end, and we’re excited for our beautiful new wedding garden to get lots more use. On your wedding day at The Waltham Barns, couples also get private use of our flagstone courtyard, so there’s plenty of space for guests to mingle comfortably.
Let’s start planning your dream 2022 wedding
We’re not out of the woods yet, but we feel optimistic and ready to get back to what we do best – planning and creating dream weddings for our couples. Planning a post-pandemic wedding may be daunting, but rest assured that you’ll be supported every step of the way, and that all the finer details will be refined to ensure everyone has a magical day.
If you’re interested in chatting with our wedding team about a 2022 wedding at The Waltham Barns, please get in touch on the details below.
[email protected] | 01245 362210
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