Whilst the last number of months have been quite stressful for many brides and grooms, they can now see a clear path ahead that allows them to plan with confidence. On Friday the 19th of June, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar announced that Ireland would be proceeding into phase 3 of the easing of restrictions in Ireland. No doubt this announcement brought great relief to our couples who have been awaiting this news for quite some time. Let’s have a quick recap on the information provided for social gatherings:
Please do note that all the information provided below is subject to public health guidance and the ongoing decline in Covid 19 cases.
From the 29th of June until the 20th of July, government and NPHET have advised that gatherings of up to 50 people can take place indoors with social distancing in place. Outdoor venues have a bit more leeway and can accommodate up to 200 people during this timeframe. Keep in mind that these numbers will need to include staff and any wedding suppliers that need to be onsite such as the photographer and videographer.
July 20th sees the introduction of phase 4 and therefore a further increase on numbers allowed. For those of you getting married during this time, you can allow for up to 100 people indoors or 500 outdoors. Social distancing will of course have to be in place at your venue during this time, however some careful planning can mean that sitting family groups together can make this a wonderful occasion.
Should you find that the current guidelines and numbers are too restrictive, it’s worth considering the following options:
• Rescheduling of your wedding day until a clearer picture of the pandemic has emerged.
• Opting for an outdoor event instead of indoors. Whilst the good old Irish weather can be a bit unpredictable, the venue may be able to offer a marquee for your celebrations.
• Live-streaming of your event to family and friends.
• Reducing the numbers on your guest list.
• Speak with family and friends and get an idea of how attending an event makes them feel. What are their concerns? Once you have this information you can then work towards solutions that make everyone feel comfortable.
• Consider a two-part wedding. Many brides and grooms have opted to go ahead with the ceremony itself with limited numbers in attendance and are planning the ultimate celebration when all restrictions have been lifted.
• If you are planning a destination wedding, it’s vitally important that you communicate regularly with your venue/wedding planner and keep up to date with travel guidelines in your chosen country.
To our brides and grooms in Tipperary, Kilkenny and right across Ireland, we look forward to working with you to find solutions to any concerns you may have. Over the past number of months, the team here at Drangan Video have been working around the clock to develop solutions for all of our budding brides and grooms. We are here to offer any guidance we can and of course will accommodate any rescheduled dates that we do not already have a booking for. Our very best wishes to you and yours, it’s time to get planning for that special day and enjoy every moment of the planning process.
