Posted on Friday 3rd July 2020
From Saturday 4 July, wedding and Civil Partnership ceremonies in Staffordshire can go ahead at registration offices and approved venues deemed COVID-secure.
The decision by Staffordshire County Council’s Registration Service follows the latest advice from Government and the General Register Office.
Reduced numbers of guests, social distancing arrangements and hand sanitisers will all be in place to ensure guests and staff are kept safe. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) will also be distributed to registration staff where appropriate.
Approved venues who are COVID-secure, meaning they have appropriate arrangements in place to operate safely can have a maximum of 30 people in attendance depending on the size of the room.
Staffordshire’s five Registration Offices will also be able to hold ceremonies. However, in order to comply with the current guidance on social distancing, changes to the maximum number of people allowed in each registration office have had to be made. This means from 4 July:
- Burton Registration office can host up to 12 Guests + Bride & Groom
- Cannock Registration office can host up to 6 Guests + Bride & Groom
- Lichfield Registration office can host up to 17 Guests + Bride & Groom
- Newcastle under Lyme Registration office can host up to 24 guests + Bride & Groom
- Stafford Registration office can host up to 20 Guests + Bride & Groom
Couples who have had to rearrange their wedding or civil partnership because of Coronavirus whose original notice of marriage has expired, will also be allowed to reapply at no extra charge.
Gill Heath, Staffordshire County Council’s Cabinet member for Communities, said:
“Our registration staff have worked extremely hard through what has been incredibly challenging times but it’s good to see wedding ceremonies and civil partnerships being allowed to resume.
“Sadly, those looking to tie the knot still won’t be allowed to have their big wedding reception or party but they can have their wedding ceremony.
“For ceremonies in our five registration offices, all will have extra arrangements in place regarding social distancing, hand sanitising and the use of PPE to help keep everyone safe. We are also reducing the numbers of guests allowed in each of our offices to ensure we comply with social distancing.
“While we will be doing our upmost to keep everything as safe as possible, we would ask that wedding guests and members of parties do their bit too by following all the guidance.”
Under the new guidelines, wedding ceremonies and civil partnerships are currently restricted to a maximum of 30 people which includes the Bride & Groom, witnesses, Registrars, and photographers.
The registration service is now working closely with approved wedding venues and assisting where possible to help them get COVID-secure so they can start to host ceremonies once again. People with a ceremony already booked at an approved venue are asked to contact them directly to make sure it can still go ahead.
People can get further details on the new arrangements in place at www.staffordshire.gov.uk