Uncertainty on venue numbers casts cloud over wedding plans

Engaged couples are battling to book a wedding venue, with reception centre operators still in the dark over whether they can safely comply with coronavirus rules.

Confusion over limits at wedding receptions has engaged couples battling to book a venue.

While its been announced weddings can have up to 100 guests, reception centre operators still have no guidance on whether their venue’s size will impact on if they can safely take that number.

Rules about the size of dancefloors and how to keep guests at a safe distance are yet to be finalised, so some venues are refusing to take bookings until rules are clarified.

Bramleigh Estate chief executive Mary-Anne Lowe said the Warrandyte venue had been inundated with couples trying to book their wedding receptions.

But she is hesitant to lock in bookings until the state government provides further advice.

“I read through the information and I had a lot of concern on Sunday night, and I rang Business Victoria three times and got three different answers,’’ Ms Lowe said.

“I even rang them again yesterday and the answer I got was: ‘We don’t have an answer. We can’t give you information. Call back in a couple of weeks’.

“There are hundreds of examples across Victoria of brides that have really tried to keep their spirits up.

Mary-Anne Lowe of Bramleigh Estate. Picture: Tony Gough

“They put up with a postponement, they’re happy to deal with restrictions, but we don’t know anything. We don’t know about spacing and dancefloor requirements. 

“There’s no information, and the misguided information that’s been delivered by the government and by Premier Andrews is ridiculous.”

The number of guests allowed at a wedding ceremony — currently just 10 — will increase to 100 on November 23.

But some operators say they need more clarity, with confusing hospitality rules restricting venues to 100 people indoors, but with a maximum of 20 people per group.

According to advice from Business Victoria, wedding reception venues are expected to be able to have up to 100 people but the venue must allow for one person per 4sq m inside.

Tables must seat a maximum of 20 people and be 5m apart.

There are as yet no guidelines on the band, staff and spacing on the dancefloor. The agency also said the changes were not locked in.

Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton previously said weddings were high-risk and would be among the last businesses in Victoria to open.

Opposition spokesman David Hodgett said: “You can’t announce that at 11.59pm on a Sunday night that weddings can recommence with larger numbers and expect wedding venues to be able to magically gear up for this instantly. It’s ridiculous.”

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