Tassie weddings rocked by coronavirus outbreak

Devastated couples are having to postpone or cancel weddings due to coronavirus travel restrictions and new indoor gathering bans, in a blow to Tassie’s wedding industry.

DEVASTATED couples are having to cancel or postpone their weddings due to coronavirus travel restrictions and new indoor gathering bans, in a blow to the state’s wedding industry.

As couples make the agonising decision to pull the pin and potentially lose thousands of dollars to try to rebook for a later date, the consumer watchdog has warned they may not get their money back.

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It comes as more than 30 people caught the virus after attending a wedding in NSW on March 6.

Rebekah van Emmerik and Jason Sekay have been forced to postpone their Frogmore Creek Wines wedding on April 26 after Tasmania effectively locked down its borders.

Jason Sekay and Rebekah van Emmerik have had to postpone their Tasmanian wedding until later this year after the state implemented travel restrictions to slow the spread of coronavirus. Picture: SUPPLIED

The young couple, who work as pilots in Darwin, would not have been able to meet the state’s 14 day self-isolation requirement, and nor would their guests flying from interstate.

“The venue called us and they’re happy to postpone to any time in the next six to 12 months,” Ms van Emmerik said.

While heartbroken at having to postpone their big day, she said: “November could be even nicer. We’ll have a lot more daylight.”

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Frogmore Creek’s Shelley Bickerstaff said the winery was offering for couples to pick another date.

“At this stage we’re just getting them to put forward ideas of dates or holding tentative dates, knowing that things could change,” she said.

“We’re transferring current plans to November and holding moneys paid and deposits to kick it off when we can.”

She urged Tasmanians, where they could, to still support local businesses.

“We’re doing all of the right measures on distancing of tables and upping cleaning regimes, but if people are getting out and supporting local businesses, that’s fantastic,” Ms Bickerstaff said.

“It’s a really tough time for everyone.”

Frogmore Creek winery. Picture: AAP

An Australian Competition and Consumer Commission spokesman said couples may not get their money back if they cancelled their wedding.

“If an event you are hosting, such as a wedding, is cancelled by the venue or event organiser the ACCC expects that you will receive a refund or other remedy, such as a credit note or voucher from venue or event organiser,” he said.

“If you decide to cancel the event because you have concerns about coronavirus, this may be treated as a “change of mind”.

“In these circumstances, a consumer’s ability to obtain a remedy will depend on the event organiser’s cancellation policy.”

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The ACCC recommended consumers contact businesses directly to request a refund or other remedy such as a credit note or voucher, but said: “Given the exceptional circumstances, the ACCC encourages all businesses to treat consumers fairly.”

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