Coronavirus: From cancellations to police interference, this is how Covid-19 is impacting weddings

With people around the world engaging in social distancing as a way to curb the spread of coronavirus, many couples have found themselves facing the decision of whether or not to cancel upcoming weddings.

Across the globe, countries are taking precautions against coronavirus by implementing rules and bans on gatherings. In the US, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has recommended gatherings of no more than 50 people, including weddings, be avoided for at least eight weeks.

“Large events and mass gatherings can contribute to the spread of Covid-19 in the United States via travellers who attend these events and introduce the virus to new communities,” the CDC explained in new guidelines.

Uganda has gone a step further, with president Yoweri Museveni announcing today a ban on public gatherings including weddings and church services for the next 32 days, while Australia has banned “non-essential indoor gatherings” of more than 100 people.

The safety precautions and fears around the possibility of spreading the disease have led many couples to cancel or postpone their weddings originally planned for February, March or April.

“My family had to cancel a wedding at 5am this morning after we all deliberated on what’s important,” one person tweeted. “We decided that our family’s and our guest’s health is more important than the wedding ceremony. If we don’t act responsibly, who will.”

Another said: “I had to cancel my wedding. MY WEDDING.”

Other couples have decided to go ahead with their nuptials, with many first changing their original plans to ensure the safety of themselves and their guests.

According to a Reddit thread for couples navigating the impact of coronavirus on their weddings, some people have decided to elope or hold smaller, intimate ceremonies and postpone their original wedding plans until next year.

“Here's my thought… elope this year and have a vow renewal the next year, since we wouldn't get to have the ceremony this year. My family generally seems on board, given the circumstances. We would treat it EXACTLY like the planned wedding, just a year later,” one bride-to-be wrote.

“We are getting married with our coordinator as our officiant on our date at our venue, just no other people,” another bride wrote. “We feel really confident that everyone will accept it given the circumstances. We are going to make it clear that it was just a small thing for us and to get to keep some part of our day and that the big show is now 2 January.

“I really think you need to do whatever feels the best for you and your future husband,” they added.

Among those opting for a smaller ceremony is Princess Beatrice, who has cancelled her planned reception at Buckingham Palace amid the pandemic.

According to a statement released by the palace, the royal and her future husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi are currently in the process of reviewing the rest of their wedding arrangements.

For brides and grooms that do decide to go through with their original plans, they face the possibility of their weddings being shut down by police, which happened to two couples in New Jersey, according to the Patch.

According to police, both weddings were broken up for having more than 50 people in attendance.

While many couples have reported wedding vendors and venues have been willing to accommodate changes in plans due to coronavirus, others have shared experiences of finding themselves unable to purchase wedding insurance and losing money as a result.

For those who do have upcoming nuptials and aren’t sure what to do, wedding industry professionals are attempting to provide couples with helpful information.