On February 22nd 2021, the government announced four steps to easing the coronavirus lockdown affecting different parts of society and the economy, with Boris Johnson stating that there will be a minimum of five weeks between each step, to allow for the gathering and analysis of data before the next step. The ultimate goal is to remove social restrictions on 21st June 2021. Couples have been provided with some much-needed confidence and positivity following the announcement.

Key dates and notes regarding weddings, from:

• 8th March - wedding ceremonies can take place in exceptional circumstances only, with 6 attendees

• 29th March - weddings ceremonies can take place with 6 attendees

• 12th April - weddings and receptions permitted with up to 15 guests

• 17th May - weddings and receptions permitted with up to 30 guests

• 21st June - restrictions on weddings will be abolished

As per government guidance, these are the earliest possible dates, subject to tests and the four conditions at each phase. Official documentation can be viewed from the government website.

Despite everything, demand for weddings remains very high and given that we now have dates to work towards it is definitely a step in the right direction. With this green light, wedding industry experts are predicting a sharp rise in enquiries to venues and suppliers, and a boom in weddings is expected to follow.

After securing your wedding date and venue, you should be contacting your first choice suppliers quickly. If you haven’t booked your wedding photographer yet, as your award-winning and Top Ten Wedding Photographer of the Year 2018, I would love to chat with you about your wedding plans and you find out how I can help make your wedding day a success and capture those beautiful memories for you. In 2021, I celebrate an important milestone - a 10 years anniversary in wedding photography. Experienced, passionate and dedicated, you won't find a harder-working wedding photographer!

I am also very pleased to announce our coronavirus guarantee whereby couples can book in confidence - should your wedding be cancelled or postponed due to the coronavirus, a full refund will be issued on your deposit.

For a much more detailed and excellent coverage on how these four steps affect weddings, you can read the article at Guides For Brides. Their current coronavirus news on weddings is also worth a look and constantly kept up to date.