AIBU to still hold this wedding reception?

[Temporary99]

I’m due to get married in 2 weeks’ time. We’ve got 30 of us in total and this includes 10 older relatives attending, so safety is very important to us.

The plan was to have a church ceremony and then a reception in my in-laws garden. We’ve taken the rules very seriously and have done a full covid risk assessment for the venue in line with the ones for businesses. It’s a big garden so we can easily spread the tables out with 2m in between, we’ve got hand sanitiser for every table, staff serving the food, one toilet per ten people, paper towels for drying hands.

With the new rules in place we’re wondering if this would be breaking the law? They’ve said the rules don’t apply to wedding receptions but a friend of mine has said they’re not allowed in private homes. All we can see is that it says they have to be in a “Covid secure venue”. We’re very confident that our venue is covid secure and have the paperwork to prove it, but don’t want to get into trouble or risk the police turning up.

The only alternative would be the one restaurant in my in-laws village, which is much smaller than my in-laws garden and is all indoors, so we think this would be less secure.

AIBU?

I guess, as well as them not being able to come and check that your in-laws' garden is 'covid secure' or whatever, the reasoning behind not allowing wedding receptions in domestic dwellings or their gardens, might be that in an official venue, someone is liable (the owner) and therefore bears the burden of enforcing social distancing if necessary. Because they could be closed down if they don't ensure social distancing as far as possible. If they let people have wedding receptions in gardens, what are they going to do if you don't socially distance? Close your in-laws' garden as a wedding venue? So, not the same incentive to make sure people are safe.

Also, for every responsible couple like the op, there might be another one where nobody cares if social distancing happens. Conspiracy theorist couple or whatever.

So, annoyingly and very unfortunately, I think YWBU to go ahead with this in the circumstances op. Awful for you though.

As a pp said though, was this allowed before the 6 person limit came back? I thought you could only have two households or up to 6 people outdoors?

www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-guidance-for-small-marriages-and-civil-partnerships/covid-19-guidance-for-small-marriages-and-civil-partnerships

This website specifically states that they should take place in commercial venues.

But then it handily defines should as strongly recommended but not legally required

So if wedding receptions are allowed at all after Monday, your reception would be against the guidelines as far as I can see but not against the law. If you're confident in your Covid planning you may therefore still choose to go ahead.

That's assuming that the page above doesn't get updated again in light of Monday's legal changes.

Ask the caterers.
If you're putting strong safety measures in place perhaps it would be alright but I think that's pretty dubious actually. I don't think the caterers will be allowed to put their staff at risk and they won't want to break the law anyway so they might have a clearer understanding of the rules.

You can have a wedding ceremony and reception for 30 people... but these must be at a 'covid secure' venue (so not a private house or the outdoor space connected with one.. ie the garden).

In this case 'covid secure' does not mean that it is safer than your garden.

It means that although it is not completely safe, it is commercially useful (so - for the economy- worth the risk ).

[quote liaun]@Temporary99 just do it. You've already said you can't see anywhere that says it's illegal. People on mumsnet aren't the experts on this. Weddings can go ahead[/quote]
Yes, weddings can go ahead. But receptions are an entirely different thing in law.

Weddings in a licensed, COVID secure venue are not the same thing as reception in someone's back garden.

Forgot to add - congratulations and all good wishes for your wedding. It is going to be memorable - even if different from your plans. Hope you and your guests have a lovely day.

Best wishes for your wedding!

Have to say, the rules are pretty clear. The maximum of 30 clearly applies to the actual marriage ceremony, not a reception or party. The rules relating to private homes and gardens, and to commercial properties, are also clear.
You might not like it, you might not feel it’s logical, but the rules are pretty damn clear and obviously you’d be breaking them if you were to go ahead

For all those saying that the rules are pretty clear and that the 30 people is for the wedding only, have you actually read the Ops post where she's cut and pasted the rules? It says wedding snd reception!

@JengaNonConfirming

For all those saying that the rules are pretty clear and that the 30 people is for the wedding only, have you actually read the Ops post where she's cut and pasted the rules? It says wedding snd reception!

This is screenshotted from the OPs screenshot

Did you miss the “sit down meal in a Covid Secure Venue” part specified as part of the reception?

Her in laws garden is NOT a Covid Secure venue.

As someone who is being guilted into going to a wedding reception like this, please please just do the right thing and cancel. I wish I didn’t have to go to the one that I have been invited to but they are close family and are insisting I attend.

Neighbours who are following the rules will be angry to see people not following the rules and will shop you in, rightly or wrongly.

You don’t want to put guests in an awkward position, or have them fined.

No @NameChange84, I didn't miss that bit and as you could clearly read, I wasn't challenging that! I was challenging the bit where most people were completely ignoring the word reception and making up their own rules and telling the op she couldn't have 30 at a reception.

Sorry, it is against the law. They were very clear about no more than 6, even in gardens.

You could be risking a hefty fine, OP.

The guidelines on the Gov website state the reception 'should' not take place in a private house or garden. The reason given is that a private house is less likely to adhere to SD rules.
However, the same page defines the word 'should' as guidelines only, not a requirement.
The main thing is that the venue should adhere to Social Distancing guidelines, and should be a sit down meal, (the latest rules change that to 'should be served' to you).