A bride and groom have been showered in confetti as they left the register office after getting married as the Government relax coronavirus restrictions.
Bride Sarneet Singh, a geriatric trainee at St Mary’s, and groom Neil Bhadresha, a doctor at St Thomas, were surrounded by guests as they left Kensington and Chelsea register office yesterday.
The couple beamed and were flooded with confetti by their wedding guests as they left Chelsea’s old town hall.
Wedding receptions for up to 30 guests will now be permitted in a further easing of England’s lockdown, after plans to allow celebrations were put on hold.
Bride Sarneet Singh and groom Neil Bhadresha beamed as guests threw confetti when they left Kensington and Chelsea register office yesterday
Guests celebrate the wedding as receptions for up to 30 guests are now allowed in England
Boris Johnson announced that, from yesterday, newlyweds will be able to mark the occasion with friends and family at a small reception following the ceremony.
But this must only be in a location that adheres to Covid-19 guidelines, and should not take place in people’s homes or gardens, according to Government guidance.
British couples who feared their wedding receptions would remain cancelled due to the pandemic have also shared their relief at the government’s decision to allow the celebrations from yesterday.
Claudia Green, a bride to be and founder of Green Fox Bakery based in London, said it means ‘the world to her’ as a woman who is getting married but also as someone who is a supplier in the wedding industry.
Wedding guests gather around a car as the bride and groom drive away from the register office
A photographer takes pictures of the wedding party standing outside the register office
Her wedding had already been cancelled twice this year, with a new date currently set in May 2021. But they have decided to have a small ceremony in the next few weeks.
She added: ‘Being able to have our closest family and friends to celebrate with us after our ceremony means the world to us.
‘We are really thrilled about the new guidelines regarding larger receptions. It’s a welcome relief!
‘We’ve had such a terrible year and it’s really nice to be able to legally get married and have an occasion to celebrate before our “real” wedding next year!’
Lauren Naylor, 39, a beauty brand consultant, from Leigh-on-Sea in Essex, had her May wedding cancelled – but is determined to have her nuptials this month.
People stand outside and watch a live stream of Sarneet Singh and Neil Bhadresha’s wedding
One woman wipes her eye as another grins while they watch the live stream of the wedding
She’ll be sticking to her more intimate event following her nuptials as it’s easier than trying to put together an occasion for a ‘tricky number’ of people.
She found a cancellation at Chelsea town hall in July, where they are allowing 16 people maximum in the ceremony room, despite a capacity of 38.
She said: ‘Of course, we’re happy at larger numbers, but to be honest 30 is a tricky number.
‘I’d say you either do an intimate, small wedding at 20 and under or go large.
Guests who could not attend the ceremony watched on a live stream outside
‘So I still think a lot of weddings and wedding venues will struggle to go ahead. I’m truly grateful, and happy that some of the wedding industry can commence work.
‘However, for us, we’re sticking as we were (including small numbers at the local pub afterwards)… but at least it will be a day to remember!’
Jed Brown and Sophie Luckhurst, both 27, revealed they plan to have 24 guests attend their ceremony at Shottle Hall near Belper, Derbyshire.
They told BBC East Midlands that they are ‘thrilled’ they can celebrate with their family and friends following their ceremony when they get married later this month.
They added that they were still ‘worried’ about whether the event would go ahead as planned.
Plans to allow receptions to go ahead from August 1 were postponed by the Prime Minister with just 24 hours notice due to a rise in the prevalence of coronavirus in the community.
Claudia Green, a bride to be and founder of Green Fox Bakery based in London, said it means ‘the world to her’ as a woman who is getting married but also as someone who is a supplier in the wedding industry
Making the announcement, Mr Johnson acknowledged that it would be ‘a real blow’ to those who had made plans.
Updated guidance says that, where possible, attendees at a wedding reception should remain seated, while dancing should not be allowed due to a risk of transmission.
Seating arrangements should follow social distancing guidance, meaning at most two households are seated together, with outdoor table service preferred.
Activities such as cake cutting should limit the number of guests involved where possible, the guidance states, while recommending that throwing of confetti or a bouquet is avoided.
It says that speeches should be given outside or in well-ventilated areas and advises that neither the speaker or any observers raise their voices, to avoid a risk of aerosol transmission of the virus.
Lauren Naylor (pictured with her partner), 39, a beauty brand consultant, from Leigh-on-Sea in Essex, had her May wedding cancelled – but is determined to have her nuptials this month
Previously, wedding receptions or parties were not allowed to take place, with any celebration following the ceremony instructed to follow the social distancing rules of six people outside or two households inside.
Weddings and civil partnerships with up to 30 guests have been permitted in England since July 4, where this can be safely accommodation while adhering to social distancing.
This is the maximum number for all attendees at the event, including the couple, guests and any third-party suppliers, such as photographers.
Casinos, bowling alleys, theatres and gig venues were also reopened, along with allowing up to 30 guests at wedding receptions, yesterday.
Audiences are allowed back into theatres and indoor venues, providing audiences keep to social distancing guidelines.
Tattoo studios, beauty salons, spas and hairdressers can also now offer additional services, including front-of-face treatments such as eyebrow threading.