Shattered bride and groom-to-be say they could lose $100,000 as tightening coronavirus restrictions put dream wedding plans in jeopardy
- Young couple risk losing out on tens of thousands of dollars due to coronavirus
- Global pandemic has led to new government guidelines on indoor gatherings
- Shouldn’t involve more than 100 people and have four square metres per person
- Western Sydney bride-to-be Dina is due to have 470 guests at her June wedding
- She said because of the size of the venue she couldn’t downsize to 100 people
- ‘It’s literally a once-in-a-lifetime thing that you do,’ worried bride to be, 26, said
- Coronavirus symptoms: what are they and should you see a doctor?
A young couple’s $100,000 wedding and honeymoon is in jeopardy as travel bans and social distancing rules are tightened amid the coronavirus pandemic.
The outbreak has prompted tough new guidelines on indoor gatherings in Australia, which should not involve more than 100 people and provide at least four square metres of space per person.
Western Sydney couple Dina, 26, and Chafic, 28, were due to wed on June 7 in front of 470 guests before beginning a European honeymoon.
Western Sydney couple Dina, 26, and Chafic, 28, have seen their wedding plans thrown into jeopardy by the coronavirus pandemic
The young couple were due to wed on June 7 in front of 470 guests before the virus’ spread prompted a wave of travel restrictions and social distancing rules
While Emirates have agreed to issue them a credit voucher to use at a later date and she may get back some hotel costs, Dina said she was yet to find out if she would get deposits back from her vendors.
‘I haven’t asked the question yet, because we really don’t want to cancel. It’s literally a once-in-a-lifetime thing that you do,’ she told news.com.au.
The bride-to-be said despite the tough rules on gatherings, which were enhanced by Prime Minister Scott Morrison this week, in all likelihood the wedding would go ahead.
But she admitted to growing less and less optimistic about their special day which has so far taken 15 months of planning.
‘I’d have to plan the whole wedding from scratch. If we have to wait another year, I don’t know if we can do that,’ she said.
Dina said downsizing from 470 to 100 guests was out of the question because of the size of the venue.
Dina said Emirates had offered them a credit voucher but added she had not yet asked if she would get deposits back from her vendors
The bride-to-be said despite the tough rules on gatherings in all likelihood the wedding would go ahead
1,354 cases have been confirmed in Australia as of Sunday evening. 533 of the cases are in New South Wales and 296 are in Victoria
Some of their guests were coming from overseas, mostly from the US.
This week, the US government announced the closure of the country’s border with Canada and Mexico to all but essential travel.
‘We’d be out of pocket $30,000 – and they wouldn’t book your wedding unless you have 350 guests,’ Dina said.
It comes after 37 people people contracted coronavirus after watching a couple tie the knot in a fairy tale ceremony south of Sydney.
Scott Maggs, 37, and Emma Metcalf, 36, married in front of about 140 guests at Tumbling Waters Retreat in Stanwell Tops on March 6.
After their dream day, the couple jetted off on their honeymoon to the Maldives where they learned that six of their guests had caught the deadly virus.
Just two weeks later the number of guests who have tested positive has reached 37, including federal senator Andrew Bragg, and the figure could rise further.
The newlyweds embraced all their guests with hugs and kisses – but the happy couple have both tested negative.
In a statement on Friday, the wedding venue said all staff members who worked at the function are in ‘good health’ and the source of the contagion is ‘still unclear’.
Some of the guests attending her wedding are coming from the US – which has put in place strict restrictions between its borders on all but essential travel