Weddings ‘confusion’ over rules.

Some couples planning to marry between mid-April and mid-May face disappointment after confirmation of England’s roadmap out of lockdown.

Weddings can go ahead again from 12 April, but only in places of worship and public buildings.

Other venues had hoped to reopen too, but have been told they must wait until indoor hospitality reopens in May.

The government said the roadmap had set out which events could take place when and this plan had not changed.

“At Step 2 – no earlier than 12 April – weddings can take place in premises that are permitted to open or where a broader exemption applies such as places of worship or hotel function suites,” a government spokesperson said.

“Wedding receptions can take place outdoors only. There has been no change to this plan.”

However, the industry is warning thousands of weddings will have to be cancelled or postponed following this “confusion”.

“The roadmap indicated weddings and receptions could resume on 12th April. We have now discovered, not by being offered the information but by analysing the small print and repeatedly seeking clarity, that this is not the case,” said Sarah Haywood, spokeswoman for Weddings Taskforce, a group set up to represent the sector.

She said 70% of England’s weddings took place in licensed venues that would not be permitted to open under the rules, but that the government had failed to explain that clearly when it outlined its plan for reopening the economy in February.

Weddings Taskforce estimates around 7,000 couples will be affected.