Couples wanting to marry may be celebrating the relaxation of wedding restrictions, but according to one local celebrant, the industry is heading towards a crossroad.
For the past three months, weddings have been capped at just five people, the betrothed, the celebrant and two witnesses.
Restrictions were eased on June 1, and now couples can have up to 20 guests as well as a celebrant and photo/videographer at their wedding, provided social distancing, including the four square metre rule, is observed.
Jeff Hindmarsh is the man behind Joined By Jeff.
The Chittaway Bay marriage celebrant loves love but thinks this latest change will fracture an already depleted industry.
“When the restrictions first came in, it was a huge shock to the industry.
“Small weddings weren’t uncommon before then, but they became the only weddings virtually overnight, and that caused a lot of upset, confusion and worry for couples and associated services in the wedding industry,” Jeff said.
With many couples choosing to postpone their wedding rather than go ahead with something on a smaller scale, Jeff said a vacuum was created in the industry and he’s worried that a schism between factions within it could be looming, as couples opt to ditch grand weddings for smaller, more intimate ceremonies.
According to Jeff, the disparity between the financial impact on certain factions is to blame.
“Something I don’t think anyone was expecting was for couples to embrace smaller weddings.
“I’ve done about 30 of them since April, with plenty more booked in, and all the newlyweds have said that they wouldn’t change a thing.
“They are embracing the opportunity to forgo the big, white wedding.
“They don’t want to spend a fortune or feel obligated to invite everyone they’ve ever met to their big day, and thanks to COVID-19, they don’t have to,” Jeff said.
But even the smallest wedding still has its essentials like the dress, the cake and the flowers, and therein lies the problem for the wedding industry, part of it’s being left at the altar.
“Parts of the industry directly connected to the ceremony itself, the celebrant, the dressmaker, the florist and so on, are all being energised and are still getting work, but parts of the industry like musicians and hire cars just don’t have a chance in the current setup,” Jeff explained.
Venue operators have arguably been hit the hardest since the restrictions came in and they’ll remain vulnerable so long as measures like the four square metre rule are in play.
If left in this situation, Jeff believes that many venues will simply fold, which would prove disastrous for the Coast as a thriving wedding destination.
“There’s only a handful of venues that could accommodate even a moderate sized wedding under the four square metre rule.
“There’s no easy fix for this and it’s causing grief on both sides, with couples trying to cancel and get back deposits and venues desperate to keep them.
“I’ve heard that venues are doing whatever they can to keep bookings, whether that’s promising them a new date or giving them a credit, but what I’m hearing from couples is that they just don’t want to go ahead anymore.
“But it seems like venue operators just don’t have the money to give back,” Jeff said.
With the industry continuing to fragment, Jeff thinks it’s on the cusp of major change.
“It’s definitely premature to think that the industry is on the mend because of the restrictions easing.
“I know venues are worried about long term viability and I think they have a right to be,” Jeff said.
Source:
Interview, Jun 4
Jeff Hindmarsh, Joined by Jeff
Reporter: Dilon Luke