Now I’ve done a couple of weddings and a few more planned for September, I am getting a better feel for what you might expect for a wedding during COVID-19.

The good news is that I am finding venues, registrars and other suppliers are being really sensible and pragmatic in making the wedding day run as close as possible to what you might have been planning before the pandemic. The restrictions in place are there for a good, logical reason and as photographers we have our part to play.

Things are still changing daily as government, venue and registrars adapt their processes, but here is a snapshot of the latest restrictions and rules…

Music

Music is not allowed to be played during the walking, during or on the walkout of the ceremony. Disappointing for couples when there is a significant song, but let’s face it, that iPhone or iPad that was playing perfectly just before always stops working the statutory 12 seconds before the bride walks in!

In fact, this routine faffing about of planning music is one of the good reasons it has been banned. Many photographers will be familiar with the common sight of five groomsmen huddled over that suddenly-silent device, and Auntie Joyce joining the fray with a proffered selection of John Denver classics…. It’s all not very socially distanced.

The other reasons music is generally banned is that it creates risk of singing and if even if quiet means that people are likely to speak more loudly to overpower it and thereby increasing the chance of infection.

During the ceremony

A bride and groom with masks on might make a good, ‘current’ photo, but thankfully is not reality. The bride and groom can be unmasked, and are in fact the only people during the ceremony that will be.

The Registrars and photographer will be masked-up, which as we are working then that’s no problem, but it’s a bit of a shame that all families need to do the same. It has created a situation where family members that all live together in just one or two households all have to wear a mask when in fact they could meet without if not at a wedding. But I suppose it’s all about the venue doing everything possible to make it safe, and family members wearing masks is safer than not.

But venues are being sensible and pragmatic too. A recent bride really wanted a photo with her Father just before they go into the ceremony, and were able to get agreement that given everyone, including me would be socially distanced by that point, they could de-mask temporarily for a photo. This is a photo that the bride will look back on in future and this sensible approach will be important for families.

Signing the Register

Photographers are well used to the rule that we cannot take a photograph of the actual register signing. The reasons for this are infuriatingly ancient. It’s to do with the fact that a mistake might be made when signing the legal document, and it’s just one of the rules to be broken at your peril! All photographs of the register being signed are in fact a FAKE register, specially brought for the purpose of the photo.

Well… guess what? This rule that dates back to 2422BC is being removed during the COVID-19 pandemic! (by Somerset and Bristol registrars at least). In order to reduce the contact of many people on the same item, the only register being signed is the real one and photos will be allowed of that real signing.

From a photographers’ point of view this is a small, thin silver lining to the COVID cloud.

Nick Church Photography Photos

The group shots will be impacted as we need to restrict to family groups. But the most important group photos are already these close family groups.

All other photos will be generally unaffected. The style I use at Nick Church Photography is to be less obtrusive and do a lot of shooting from a distance where more natural moments and connections happen. These shots are not only those that I’m passionate about delivering, they are also completely COVID-free as are socially-distanced right out the box!

After the ceremony - masks away!

With a few weddings still pressing on now, while we have nice weather, once the ceremony is over there is the potential to get back to a bit more normality. Once outside, guests can thrown their masks back in their bags with abandon and enjoy time together with the luxury of being able to read facial expressions and recognise each other!

Confetti is generally discouraged, due to the proximity of larger groups, but with people managing themselves with social distancing from other households then this can be provided.

Receptions

WIth receptions now being allowed, couples can finally plan to have a meal during the COVID pandemic. Buffets are out, with table service only usually being allowed. Families should be seated in family pods, with a maximum of two families at a table.

Later in the evening though, the restrictions rear their heads again. Cake cutting will be limited with regards to the number of guests involved, and there will be no dancing. Evening events currently are still going to be hard to plan, especially if the weather forces everyone indoors. It will be interesting to see how this develops

Numbers

Of course, these restrictions so far would not be too bad if it was not for the numbers. With venues limiting to 30 guests (and much less for many venues without as much space) then the wedding that was dreamed of is not going to be the same. As well as I might think that having a good reason numbers would be a good thing, I do understand that it’s disappointing.

Again, the best venues I work with are doing all they can. One of my partner venues at a upcoming wedding is allowed a bunch of extra guests to come to an area of the garden to allow congratulations to be given to the Bride and Groom, before they head off again. What a lovely idea and might in fact be enough to make some couples actually go ahead.

The Future - Nick’s View

We still do not know. There is chance of a second wave of infections, but this is being managed currently with local lockdowns. On one hand that is good; local lockdowns may enable a more general relaxation of rules around weddings. But on the other hand, there is a chance that a particular wedding may be impacted by a local lockdown just before the day.

I still think couples are right to postpone until a date where they can start to enjoy it again, but for many of my clients the uncertainty of when that might be and the extra work and expense means they would rather just do it. These couples are planning a wedding, accepting restrictions for what they are, and focussing on the fact that they are getting married to the loves of their lives, in the company of their very closest family and friends. Which is, let’s face it, what it’s all about really. Have a party in 2021.