Limits on guests, new dates and lots of stress: How coronavirus has disrupted the weddings of these Wakefield couples

But the coronavirus pandemic has brought a whole new range of pains and problems for brides and grooms-to-be, with COVID throwing the plans of so many couples into disarray.
Brides and grooms-to-be across the UK have suffered widespread disruption because of the pandemic.Brides and grooms-to-be across the UK have suffered widespread disruption because of the pandemic.
Brides and grooms-to-be across the UK have suffered widespread disruption because of the pandemic.

Figures released this week showed that more than 100 marriage ceremonies at town halls in Wakefield and Pontefract were either postponed or cancelled altogether between March 16 and June 19.

Among that number was 61 year-old nurse Jane Karch, who was due to marry her fiancee, Terry, at the end of May.

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The wedding's now been pencilled in for August 22 at Wakefield Registry Office, but the lingering uncertainty around the pandemic is affecting the couple.

More than 100 marriage ceremonies at Wakefield and Pontefract Town Halls were called off between mid-March and mid-June. Weddings at churches, hotels and other venues have also been cancelled.More than 100 marriage ceremonies at Wakefield and Pontefract Town Halls were called off between mid-March and mid-June. Weddings at churches, hotels and other venues have also been cancelled.
More than 100 marriage ceremonies at Wakefield and Pontefract Town Halls were called off between mid-March and mid-June. Weddings at churches, hotels and other venues have also been cancelled.

"It's been very stressful," Jane, from Outwood, explains.

"Even though it's been re-booked, we still don't know if it's going to happen. We don't know if there'll be a second wave or not.

"It's not a nice feeling, and it shouldn't be like that really.

"Having sent out invitations for the first date, we've now got to do them again. At the moment we've been told we'll be allowed 30 people for the ceremony, but we don't know if that will still be the case. We were going to have 100, originally."

Jane Karch and her fiancee Terry were due to wed at the end of May.Jane Karch and her fiancee Terry were due to wed at the end of May.
Jane Karch and her fiancee Terry were due to wed at the end of May.
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The couple now have wedding insurance but say they may end up postponing the big day for a year if there's any further disruption.

But even that may not be without its hitches, as the wedding industry struggles to its feet after three months of lockdown.

"We managed to rebook the car company, but the lady we spoke to said she might not have a business next year," Jane adds.

"I've got a wedding dress bought that I can't even try on, because the lady who runs the shop can't open up yet.

Emma Jackson and Luis Carrasco Barnes were due to fly to Spain for their wedding in May.Emma Jackson and Luis Carrasco Barnes were due to fly to Spain for their wedding in May.
Emma Jackson and Luis Carrasco Barnes were due to fly to Spain for their wedding in May.

"It's all been a bit of a nightmare."

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21 year-old student Emma Jackson was also due to tie the knot at the end of May.

She and fiancee Luis were set to exchange vows in sunny Spain, where the groom-to-be's family is originally from.

In a tale of woe familiar to many who've had honeymoons and hen dos called off, they've lost the money on their flights.

Ossett couple Robyn Simister and Andrew Johnson with their daughter Ivy.Ossett couple Robyn Simister and Andrew Johnson with their daughter Ivy.
Ossett couple Robyn Simister and Andrew Johnson with their daughter Ivy.

"It's been a very big pain," Emma, who's originally from Stanley and studying at the University of Huddersfield, says.

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"With everything still being shut down, I don't think it will be until next year now, when I've finished uni.

"It's been quite tough because in England you generally just have one fixed date people need to be available for.

"But going to Spain we had lots of firm dates set up for flying out there, getting the cake sorted and all of those things. So losing all of that has been a bit rubbish."

Judging by some reports, the reluctance of some companies to reimburse grooms and brides, or refuse to return deposits, could fill an entire watchdog programme.

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Others however, have been full of praise for the way their circumstances have been handled and have new dates set in stone.

Steve Davies and Chloe Allsop have also had to delay their nuptial by a year.Steve Davies and Chloe Allsop have also had to delay their nuptial by a year.
Steve Davies and Chloe Allsop have also had to delay their nuptial by a year.

Robyn Simister and Andrew Johnson, from Ossett are one such pair.

"All of our suppliers were fantastic," Robyn, who works for the Yorkshire Ambulance Service, says.

"Everything’s been moved very easily and communication’s been good.

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"We’ve been together 10 years in February so pushing it back a year, in the grand scheme of things, isn’t really a problem."

Chloe Allsop and Steve Davies took the decision in April to move their July wedding back 12 months, given the uncertainty.

"I’ve heard some real horror stories but everything’s been OK for us," Chloe, 28, says.

"Moving things back has probably been less stressful than organising the actual wedding to be honest!

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“We originally thought about putting it back until later in the year, but we didn’t see how we’d be able to go from 10 guests to 100 people so quickly.

"It's given us a bit more time to get everything sorted."

The easing of lockdown, it's hoped, will see normal service resumed for the weddings industry.

Wakefield's registry service too, will reopen from Monday.

But with social distancing and busy venues complicating matters for some couples, many are simply keeping their fingers crossed they'll be soon be standing at the altar before too long, even if it is a metre away from the vicar.

Local Democracy Reporting Service

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