Loved up South Aussies just want to get married: weekday, quick-turnaround weddings in new trend

The opening of borders has boosted hopes for a surge in marriages but wedding traditions may not quite be the same in the post-coronavirus world, experts tip.

Going forward a lot of our clients are turning to outdoor / marquee weddings, says Alyse Vozzo from The Stylist's Guide. Picture: Domenic Scopelliti from Visual Domain.

A rise in elopements, a surge in outdoor, weekday weddings has become the new norm for loved-up couples as a result of the pandemic.

But feelings are mixed about what it will mean when the borders open this week, some saying it will provide a boost to the wedding sector while others fear it will create new uncertainties.

Weddings Botanic Gardens venue manager Elliott Horner said his team was preparing for a busy period.

“We’ve definitely seen a surge (in interest) over the past few weeks … news the borders will be opening has renewed confidence,” he said.

“We are expecting to be pretty flat out with up to four or five, even six, weddings on our most popular days over the next few weeks andgiven the backlog of the past few months, we anticipate we’ll have two to three years of events in the next 18 months.”

Fleurieu couple Claire Field, 22, and Tristen McArdle, 25 in their last minute wedding at McLaren Vale Function Centre. Picture: Brenton Edwards

Mr Horner said couples were increasingly open to midweek weddings, also noting a rise in the number of couples eloping.

“People just want to get married and there is a lot more flexibility and willingness to compromise on things such as the day,” he said.

“We are also finding people are trying to book much closer to the date, so two to three months in advance rather than the traditional (pre-Covid) 12 to 18 months.” It’s a trend McLaren Vale Function Centre events manager Tina Burden is also witnessing.

“This week, I had someone wanting to book for a wedding in six weeks … couples are holding out until the last minute due to the uncertainty Covid has caused,” she said.

Young Fleurieu Peninsula’s Claire Field, 22, and Tristen McArdle, 25, organised a weekend ceremony, which was held yesterday, at the venue in just over 72 hours.

“We stumbled across the McLaren Vale Function Centre and thought, we’ll give them a call and won’t hold our breath … I called about 8.30am on Wednesday and Tina was just amazing and went out of her way to help us, we are just so grateful,” he said.

Adelaide wedding plannerAlyse Vozzo, of The Stylist’s Guide, said people just “wanted to get married”.

“I’ve found a lot more people have the attitude, ‘it is what it is, and we are just going to married’ … open to do it when they can,” she said. She said the opening up of borders created new uncertainty.

“There has been a lot of talk among our clients this week around vaccination … for some it is quite stressful as they don’t want to tell guests they can’t come unless they are doubled-vaxxed (as many venues now require).”

DJ and event organiser Ryley Smithson agreed many in the industry had mixed emotions.

“I see 500 people minimum a week and the chance of me having to go into isolation more than once is extremely high … the next wave of things we are concerned about,” he said.

“We have been riding the wave for the past 18 months and we just need to keep holding on,” said Ayers House events manager Debbie Beelitz.

Adelaide Convention Centre. Picture: Russell Millard

Schools blame jab policy for ditching functions

By Andrew Hough

Several high schools have scrapped or postponed end of year celebrations due to a new Covid-19 vaccination policy at Adelaide’s biggest venue.

In a blow to the hospitality industry, a growing list of events have been either been cancelled, delayed or changed after the Adelaide Convention Centre announced it would enforce a double-vax policy.

It comes as a number of venues have imposed similar bans on unvaccinated guests, notably Adelaide Oval, the Entertainment Centre, Coopers Stadium and Zoos SA.

Operators say its due to authorities reopening borders on Tuesday and a likely surge in Covid-19 cases.

Among events being cancelled include high school graduations, formals and other end of year celebrations after some did not get vaccinated due to their studies.

Christmas parties have also been delayed, or cancelled, while next month’s UniSA graduations at the convention centre have been postponed. A major cheerleading competition has been cancelled.

Anthony Kirchner, chief executive of Adelaide Venue Management – which operates the convention and entertainment centres said: “We have a responsibility to ensure that we keep all persons using our venues as safe as possible”.

He said the short notice was regrettable but the decision only made after the government’s quarantine matrix was released last Monday.

“We understand the disappointment this decision has caused for schools, students and their families preparing for graduations and end of year celebrations.”

Mr Kirchner said given that borders open on Tuesday, “we’re not in a position to alter these new entry requirements given they are focused on public health”.

An Adelaide Oval spokeswoman said clients had been “overwhelmingly supportive” but said some had opted to postpone.

Originally published as Loved up South Aussies just want to get married: weekday, quick-turnaround weddings in new trend