Uncertainty looms for Victorian weddings after coronavirus gathering clampdown
Victorian couples hoping to tie the knot face months of uncertainty after the non-essential mass gatherings— including weddings— were banned because of coronavirus. Here’s how to best manage your plans.
VIC News
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Engaged Victorian couples face six months of uncertainty after non-essential mass gatherings were banned to prevent the spread of coronavirus.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison cancelled all events that would attract crowds of more than 100 people indoors and 500 outdoors to prevent person-to-person COVID-19 transmissions.
The new measures will include weddings, which are considered non-essential gatherings.
Couples can still get hitched in the coming months but uncertainty looms over restrictions on fewer than 100 people events with more information to be revealed after Friday’s cabinet meeting.
Venues are contacting couples set to marry in the coming months with the choice of either proceeding, postponing or cancelling their event.
The Maple Group told couples with upcoming weddings at either of its venues — Fenix in Richmond or Hawthorn’s Leonda by the Yarra — could proceed if they had fewer than 100 guests.
Events exceeding that guest threshold will either need to be postponed or reduced in size.
The Maple Group will reassess this process at the end of May.
Wedding industry insiders are encouraging couples to postpone rather than cancel their big day.
Wedding planner Laura Wills, of Wanderlust Creative, told her clients to hold off until later this year if they’d previously planned to marry before June 30.
“Unless the venue allows you to hold an event for less than 100 people, I’d say this weekend your wedding is going to be postponed,” she said.
“Weddings are an event where you are hugging, kissing, dancing and drinking — it’s one of those events where you’re in contact with more people than any other. Unless it’s a small elopement, I’d be postponing.”
“All couples that are booked from September onwards, it’s full steam ahead.”
Weddings by Jess celebrant Jess Kerr is marrying a couple this weekend, but won’t be hugging them.
“I’ll be disinfecting my equipment like my microphone and not sharing that with the bride or groom,” she said.
“I won’t be giving my couples a hug after they get married. It’s better to be safe.”
Ballarat bride-to-be Mel Dunne, 30, is hoping to still marry her finance Matt Skontra, 32, on April 18 but fears there’ll be more mass gathering clampdowns.
“We’d still really like to go ahead but realistically it won’t happen,” she said.
“At the end of the day everyone elses health is more important than Matt and I getting married.”
After the Rock wedding planner Georgie Karloci said couples hoping to get married in the coming months should hold tight.
“Communicate to all your guests and vendors on how you’re feeling,” she said.
“If the wedding includes a lot of international guests, understand they may no longer be able to attend and postponing may avoid a lot of stress.”
Ms Karloci said if couples weren’t sure whether to proceed with their wedding, given the dynamic environment, they should choose a date in the future when they’ll make that decision and stick to it.
WHAT TO DO IF YOU’RE GETTING MARRIED
— If you can, postpone rather than cancel your wedding.
— Remain in constant contact with your guests, venue and suppliers.
— If you’re marrying in the next couple of weeks, reduce your guests or consider eloping.
— If you’re marrying in the next six months, consider postponing until September.
— Couples uncertain about cancelling or postponing their wedding should set a date in the future to make that decision, with the hope of more government direction on the issue.
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