...to think that my friends wedding in Greece is not going ahead in August

[helloiamnewhere]

She seems convinced that it is going ahead and I am not so optimistic. What are the chances?

The tourism minister of Greece reckons it will be allowed!

www.itv.com/news/2021-02-24/covid-britons-can-travel-to-greece-for-summer-holidays-with-or-without-vaccine-tourism-minister-says

The thing is I would be quite happy to book something for me and take my chances, but I would probably be wary of organising a wedding where many people's plans can be affected.

It’s shit for your friend and I feel so sorry for people in her situation but I selfishly hope international travel doesn’t go ahead this summer. Lockdown has had such a big impact on mine and others mental health and at this point the most likely cause of a new lockdown is a more variant. The most likely source of a new variant is people bringing it back from abroad. A summer without foreign travel in return for an autumn and winter of freedom here seems a fair swap to me.

June the 21st for was the point for ending social gathering restrictions. Foreign travel is a completely separate issue for multiple reasons.

@Busygoingblah

It’s shit for your friend and I feel so sorry for people in her situation but I selfishly hope international travel doesn’t go ahead this summer. Lockdown has had such a big impact on mine and others mental health and at this point the most likely cause of a new lockdown is a more variant. The most likely source of a new variant is people bringing it back from abroad. A summer without foreign travel in return for an autumn and winter of freedom here seems a fair swap to me.

June the 21st for was the point for ending social gathering restrictions. Foreign travel is a completely separate issue for multiple reasons.

There are millions of people here who have their entire family abroad. Banning foreign travel and not being able to see family would impact on their mental health just like lockdown impacted on your mental health.

OP - are you asking whether the Greek government will allow weddings in August or whether people will be able to travel freely? Thosr are two different things.
It has always been allowed to travel abroad for a wedding- it is on the exceptions list. One can travel to their own wedding and so can close family members. You as a friend my not be allowed to go.
But it doesnt mean the wedding cant go ahead. That is up to Greece, obviously.

I am also getting married abroad in August, and although it is possible that some kf my UK guests can not come, the wedding will probably go ahead. The rules in my home country will most likely allow it.

Your friend is delusional. You need to level with her and make sure she understands that there is almost 0% chance it will go ahead.

It may be OK from the Greek end, but what about returning to the UK, or even the flight out there?

@Cokie3

Your friend is delusional. You need to level with her and make sure she understands that there is almost 0% chance it will go ahead.

Why on earth would you say that? August is 5 months away. Last year the whole of Europe had its first wave in the spring and by July travel and weddings were fine to go ahead. I went to a family wedding abroad myself. Lots of countries were in the green zone in terms of travel restrictions. Now we have the vaccine. And even if the UK guests can not travel because foreign holidays will not be allowed, the bride and groom and their family will be alowed to leave the UK to go to their own wedding. It is up to the Greek government to decide re weddings. To say that it is close to 0% chance is ver very pessimistic. A lot can haappen in several months.

I think there's a good chance the wedding will go ahead. I don't expect we'll be able to travel before July but hopefully then we will. It may well involve vaccination passports or proof of negative test and possibly quarantine upon returning home though.

I also would assume the wedding will happen. Most guests will be vaccinated. The UK government will be under huge pressure to explain why a vaccinated population can't travel. Countries like Greece need tourists, tourists from the UK will be low risk for them.

Remember you could go to Greece on holiday last summer.

I think this is more likely than my holiday rescheduled from April 2020 to July 2021 thats to a northern European country, I dont think they will be as ready to accept tourists and more will be shut.

I think it's pretty likely. We went to Greece last August and that was (obviously) with no vaccines. We are planning/hoping to go this summer too. August is 4-5 months away, every adult in the UK will have been offered a vaccine by then. ... I find posters on MN far more pessimistic than anyone I know in RL.

I don't think The wedding go ahead sadly in Greece. They might be able to do it in the UK. I don't think there be any foreign travel this yeAr or if there is it be very limited. Hope I'm wrong ...

There are millions of people here who have their entire family abroad. Banning foreign travel and not being able to see family would impact on their mental health just like lockdown impacted on your mental health.

This ^

@kittensarecute

Umm...all restrictions are ending in June, aren't they, unless I've missed something?? 🤔

Not necessarily. And you're relying on Greece having no covid issues. Europe is a mess.

Oh but OP, be prepared for not much being open. If there's an all inclusive option, take it.

I think you will be able to go. You might just not want to.

@diwrnachoflleyn

By August? I'd say yes. But if you don't want to go then don't. It's probably a fake wedding, a lot of destination ones are because they're not legal so the couple has a real wedding in the UK and then a fake show off.

@kittensarecute

Umm...all restrictions are ending in June, aren't they, unless I've missed something?? 🤔

It's 'not before' 21 June and subject to the four tests being met. Plus they've added 'this is all subject to review' in the last few days and various Government ministers keep warning people off booking foreign trips.

And everything has to be in the right place in Greece, otherwise, best case scenario is that they can all go, but have to quarantine for two weeks when they come back, possibly in a hotel at £2k per person.

Or, we'll be living a fairly unrestricted lifestyle in the UK, but there will be no foreign travel in or out, if they don't get it under control in other countries.

The Greeks will need vaccinated Brits if tourists from EU countries can't travel, but it will depend on their own numbers too and whether the govt here seems it a safe place to travel to.