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UK allows outdoor weddings for first time

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Agence France-Presse

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2021/overseas/06/21/jeremy-wong-weddings-k8kichh4wu4-unsplash.jpg"/><figcaption><em>Photo by Jeremy Wong Weddings on Unsplash</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>LONDON, United Kingdom - The British government said Sunday it will permit outdoor non-religious wedding ceremonies in England and Wales for the first time, boosting a sector hard-hit by the pandemic.</p><p>Up to now, England and Wales have only allowed Jewish and Quaker weddings outdoors, while others have to marry in a room or a fixed permanent structure. Scotland does allow outdoor weddings.</p><p>Justice Minister Robert Buckland told Sky News the reform gave &quot;greater flexibility&quot; for weddings to &quot;have more guests in a safe way&quot;.</p><p>Under the new rules, from July 1 people in England and Wales will be able to have non-religious weddings and civil partnership ceremonies outside or &quot;under a partially covered structure&quot; at approved venues such as hotels, the Ministry of Justice said.</p><p>The rules are temporary, running to April next year, though the government said it would consult on whether to make them permanent.</p><p>It called this a &quot;boost to the wedding sector&quot;, allowing all aspects of weddings to take place outdoors for the first time.</p><p>The rule change provides more flexibility &quot;especially during the pandemic,&quot; the government said, although its commitment to change the rules predates the virus.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/life/05/20/21/5-crazy-rich-asian-weddings-of-the-philippines">5 crazy rich Asian weddings of the Philippines</a></li>	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/life/04/14/20/intimate-celebration-no-buffet-how-covid-19-could-transform-ph-wedding-industry">Intimate celebration, no buffet: How COVID-19 could transform PH wedding industry</a></li>	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/business/05/30/21/ana-offers-weddings-on-plane-grounded-by-prolonged-pandemic">ANA offers weddings on plane grounded by prolonged pandemic</a></li></ul><p>Wedding organizers and owners of venues have complained that restrictions on celebrations during the pandemic have made their businesses unviable. </p><p>Wedding planner Sarah Haywood, spokeswoman for the UK Wedding Taskforce campaign group, tweeted: &quot;Some good news! Let&#x27;s keep it coming&quot;.</p><p>The government said it was considering further broadening the rules on weddings including allowing a wider range of locations and for weddings to be held remotely &quot;in a national emergency&quot;.</p><p>Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who himself got married in May, delivered welcome news to couples this month when he scrapped a 30-guest limit on weddings, with permitted numbers now dependent on the size of premises. However guests are still not allowed to dance at weddings.</p><div><strong>am/tgb</strong></div><div><strong>© Agence France-Presse</strong></div><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen" frameBorder="0" height="100%" id="ivsplayer01" scrolling="no" src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/html/iframe-src.html?iframeid=ivsplayer01&amp;key=e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603&amp;spid=3001339&amp;vid=1654412" width="100%"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div>

<p>LONDON, United Kingdom - The British government said Sunday it will permit outdoor non-religious wedding ceremonies in England and Wales for the first time, boosting a sector hard-hit by the pandemic.<br /> </p>

LONDON, United Kingdom - The British government said Sunday it will permit outdoor non-religious wedding ceremonies in England and Wales for the first time, boosting a sector hard-hit by the pandemic.