2020 Bride/Groom

woodchuck · 18-09-2020 12:20pm

douglashyde wrote: »

For you and your wedding in May '21, I honestly believe that virus or not arond, sentiment will have changed and we truly will be 'living with it'.

I hope ta fcuk... just makes it SO hard to plan anything. All we have is the 6-9 month plan atm, so have to assume for now that that will still be in place for our wedding next year.

I hope you manage to get sorted with your wedding

If you do decide to reschedule though, consider mid-week. We went for a Sunday as it meant we got to keep all of our suppliers. The venue were decent too, letting the cheaper Sunday prices and minimum numbers apply. And people only need to take one day off work (if at all - might not bother if 11.30pm end remains).

I've seen on Facebook that some 2021 brides are already starting to reschedule for 2022. So securing suppliers might not be as hard as you expect.

yourdeadwright · 18-09-2020 1:08pm

I spoke to a Garda today who said they have not been told it will be a law against leaving Dublin, Just a recommendation, now that may change later

douglashyde · 18-09-2020 1:16pm

yourdeadwright wrote: »

I spoke to a Garda today who said they have not been told it will be a law against leaving Dublin, Just a recommendation, now that may change later

Yes, this will be key (under 3 & 4).

Announcement today that travel from greenlist into Dublin could leave Dublin.

Lodwick · 18-09-2020 1:57pm

yourdeadwright wrote: »

I spoke to a Garda today who said they have not been told it will be a law against leaving Dublin, Just a recommendation, now that may change later

I really dont know how they'll police this, thousands of people a day travel to Dublin for work school and now tourists on top of it.

It'll most likely be an honor system (which im hoping for as id like to still be able to have my wedding in Meath next week)

Alkers · 18-09-2020 2:30pm

woodchuck wrote: »

The whole thing is an absolute joke. We thought that this plan would give us some sort of framework to start planning again for next year. But they've thrown their own plan out the window again. At least it's giving me a lot of "what ifs" to discuss with our venue :rolleyes: What if we go to level 3, will you still let us have a wedding with only 25 people or cancel. What if they close restaurants, will you still open just for our wedding or cancel.
(

It's terrible timing that they released the plan while they were just about to change the level for Dublin but otherwise there's nothing else they can really do. Having the certainty of the plan is all well and good but there will always be the uncertainty of whether a specific location will be in Level 1,2,3,4,5. Whenever a level is changed for the worse, people are going to loose out and for those immediately either side of a level change it's particularly unfortunate but I don't really see how else they can do it?

woodchuck · 18-09-2020 2:34pm

Alkers wrote: »

It's terrible timing that they released the plan while they were just about to change the level for Dublin but otherwise there's nothing else they can really do. Having the certainty of the plan is all well and good but there will always be the uncertainty of whether a specific location will be in Level 1,2,3,4,5. Whenever a level is changed for the worse, people are going to loose out and for those immediately either side of a level change it's particularly unfortunate but I don't really see how else they can do it?

The issue I have is that they're not sticking to the levels as outlined. If we knew we'd clearly fit into levels 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 at any given time, we could come up with 5 different plans for our wedding. However earlier in the week they had Dublin on level "2 and a bit" and now it's look like it'll be level "3 and a bit". There's a big difference between level 3 as outlined in the plan and level 3 as is being now proposed for Dublin - closure of restaurants being the main factor that would influence our wedding, which wasn't supposed to be part of level 3.

For example if the week before our wedding we were on level 2, I would've thought worst case scenario we'd go up one level to level 3 within a week and have that plan B ready to go. However if they decide to go to level 3 and add a load of extra bits at the last minute, there's no way we can plan for that ahead of time.

Why have a plan outlining 5 levels at all if they're just going to pick and choose from each level and effectively create new levels on the fly?

yourdeadwright · 18-09-2020 6:32pm

So they said weddings this weekend can go ahead as planned
Does that mean if a Dublin wedding with its Reception venue in Meath it can go ahead?

appledrop · 18-09-2020 8:42pm

yourdeadwright wrote: »

So they said weddings this weekend can go ahead as planned
Does that mean if a Dublin wedding with its Reception venue in Meath it can go ahead?

Yes 100% this is ok.

You might have even got away with this next weekend if actual venue is in Meath as the venue is still allowed have wedding with 50 people, just up to them if they are going to turn people away if from Dublin.

Ffs this is all a shambles.

douglashyde · 18-09-2020 9:34pm

appledrop wrote: »

Yes 100% this is ok.

You might have even got away with this next weekend if actual venue is in Meath as the venue is still allowed have wedding with 50 people, just up to them if they are going to turn people away if from Dublin.

Ffs this is all a shambles.

It's an absolute mess: A Comms disaster. Literally a playbook of not what to do.

woodchuck · 21-09-2020 11:37am

Failte Ireland have updated their guidelines for reopening hotels (includes guidance for weddings):

https://failtecdn.azureedge.net/failteireland/Guidelines-for-Re-opening-Hotels-and-Guesthouses.pdf

No major changes, but it obviously takes into account the new 5* level plan. And it states the number of guests without making any reference to staff or suppliers. So hopefully suppliers and staff don't have to be included in those numbers any more.

*5 levels my hole...

Pen Rua · 06-10-2020 1:11pm

We just had our wedding this past weekend, so we’ve been exceptionally blessed with the timing.

It was a super day in the end, and overall everyone commented that the smaller wedding working better than a big wedding.

In the end, we had just under 40 guests. We had three drop out on the Thursday since one of them tested positive (they are in another part of the country; didn’t travel; haven’t seen them in a long time).

The hotel was super and it ran so smoothly. The DJ and dancing worked out well.

At the end of the day, it felt like a normal wedding. Just with a lot less people, masks, and a little less interactions.

All in all, a super day. We are delighted we pushed on.

But equally feeling for all the couples suddenly thrown into disarray this week. I can’t imagine how hard it is for them.

woodchuck · 07-10-2020 2:28pm

Does anyone else think that the level 3 restrictions for wedding don't make sense? On the one hand they're saying weddings can go ahead with 25 people. But on the other hand, they're saying that guests can't attend if they're travelling from another county. It seems incredibly unlikely that your 25 guests will all be in the same county as the venue. So a lot of weddings will effectively be cancelled, unless guests intentionally break the restrictions.

It just doesn't make sense. Either let weddings go ahead, or don't.

Neyite · 07-10-2020 3:01pm

Yes, but I can see their point in some ways, they have to keep the rules simple otherwise people won't follow them.

They can't say that travelling across county borders to be a guest at wedding is essential travel. Then you'll have everyone in cars claiming to be off to a wedding and it can't be policed.

chinguetti · 07-10-2020 3:01pm

Got married on Saturday in Dublin, 25 guests at it. It was a great day and a few people have come back to say it was the best wedding they had been at. Alot of stress with it due to all the changes but we had a ball and are still wrecked.

Friends and family came to meet us outside the venue and we got photos with them all which was lovely and thus they were part of the day too. Started at 2 and finished at 12.30 as residents in the venue could stay while the rest had to leave at 11.30. We went from photos to the meal to the first dance so there was no downtime for us which meant that your day isn't lessened, its just more intense and full on.

The venue were also brilliant and helped set up a screen for messages for everyone who couldn't attend on the day which was lovely. We had to cancel the DJ a few weeks ago as was looking like we'd up up with 6 people at one stage so late in the day, we hired a guy with a guitar who sang for 3 hours and he was brilliant.

One thing, your celebrant will tell you if you must wear masks and not the venue from what we were told. We didn't wear masks but our guests did during the ceremony and didn't make an ounce of difference.

woodchuck · 07-10-2020 3:33pm

Neyite wrote: »

They can't say that travelling across county borders to be a guest at wedding is essential travel.

I get that it's not technically essential travel*. But it's absolute kick in the teeth to say you can have a wedding with 25 people, when realistically it's not feasible if people can't leave their county.

*Although what if you're one of the parents? Technically the photographer can cross the county border to photograph the wedding as it's for work purposes, but the parents of the couple can't! How does that make sense!?

Neyite · 07-10-2020 3:41pm

I know, it's a bit silly.

alicantra123 · 16-10-2020 5:17pm

Anyone else getting married in the next week or two finding the past three weeks the worst so far? The amount of change almost every few days has been torture. I'm getting married next week and have had to make about 7 different plans at this stage and still have no certainty if any of them can go ahead. I feel really sad about the whole thing today. At this stage I don't even know if my fiancé's parents can come to the wedding and my plans for my friends to call to the garden since I can only have 6 people are now uncertain. I don't want to postpone because I already postponed from April and the last 8 months of uncertainty have been so awful I can't go through it again.

Anyone else out there feeling the same??

douglashyde · 17-10-2020 5:23pm

alicantra123 wrote: »

Anyone else getting married in the next week or two finding the past three weeks the worst so far? The amount of change almost every few days has been torture. I'm getting married next week and have had to make about 7 different plans at this stage and still have no certainty if any of them can go ahead. I feel really sad about the whole thing today. At this stage I don't even know if my fiancé's parents can come to the wedding and my plans for my friends to call to the garden since I can only have 6 people are now uncertain. I don't want to postpone because I already postponed from April and the last 8 months of uncertainty have been so awful I can't go through it again.

Anyone else out there feeling the same??

We are on our 3rd venue change now due to due to the chopping and changing of govt rules and IMO over the top restrictions on retail/society & weddings.

Our original date was May, now it's next Saturday.

I personally think the govt are trying to get to the mid term before imposing further lockdowns but the next couple of hours will be crucial.

anonomousangel · 17-10-2020 8:33pm

Mine is next Sunday. We're really just hoping that they make the announcement late enough that they leave our weekend alone but the uncertainty is very difficult at this stage. Trying to carry on with the last minute bits while avoiding thinking about how we could be down to 6 is tough.

browne_rob5 · 17-10-2020 8:35pm

anonomousangel wrote: »

Mine is next Sunday. We're really just hoping that they make the announcement late enough that they leave our weekend alone but the uncertainty is very difficult at this stage. Trying to carry on with the last minute bits while avoiding thinking about how we could be down to 6 is tough.

We're next Saturday and hoping for the same.

Weepsie · 17-10-2020 10:53pm

We're end of november. Our backup venue can't do less than 30, so now plan c, and plan d in the works but might be pointless as some immediate family can't travel now.

douglashyde · 18-10-2020 11:45am

anonomousangel wrote: »

Mine is next Sunday. We're really just hoping that they make the announcement late enough that they leave our weekend alone but the uncertainty is very difficult at this stage. Trying to carry on with the last minute bits while avoiding thinking about how we could be down to 6 is tough.

we're in the same boat.

The postponement until 'early next week' is good and I believe smart boxing to line up lockdown with kids being off.

The concern is do they start it early and 'go hard' straight away when the kids get out of school.

browne_rob5 · 18-10-2020 9:41pm

jellybear wrote: »

Hi all, I just spotted this on gov.ie under the level 4 section, thought it might be of some interest to those with upcoming weddings. It seems to suggest we will all move to level 4 as new restrictions for weddings come in to effect from tomorrow.

That screenshot is referring to the change in levels that happened in Cavan, Donegal and Monaghan last week. No new guidelines will be issued until tomorrow.

jellybear · 18-10-2020 9:54pm

browne_rob5 wrote: »

That screenshot is referring to the change in levels that happened in Cavan, Donegal and Monaghan last week. No new guidelines will be issued until tomorrow.

Oh right. Apologies, I read it differently as it was under the general level 4 section, as opposed to the specific link for Cavan, Donegal and Monaghan. It's very misleading. Sorry for any confusion and hopefully tomorrow's announcement won't have even more of an impact on your special days.

_feedback_ · 19-10-2020 7:51am

In the same boat as some of you here too.. this Saturday is our date. Only hope is that they exempt weddings this weekend. Though think it is unlikely, as when Dublin went to Level 3, the announcement was made on a Monday (with effect from Wed) and they didn't exempt weddings that weekend. The latest nationwide changes were announced on a Tuesday (with effect Thursday) and they did exempt weddings that weekend.

The last few weeks have been really difficult.. This weekend just passed should have been really exciting but it was just a case of pausing for us.. Anything else we need to do requires payments, and can't commit with all the uncertainty..

Fingers crossed for later

douglashyde · 19-10-2020 5:27pm

_feedback_ wrote: »

In the same boat as some of you here too.. this Saturday is our date. Only hope is that they exempt weddings this weekend. Though think it is unlikely, as when Dublin went to Level 3, the announcement was made on a Monday (with effect from Wed) and they didn't exempt weddings that weekend. The latest nationwide changes were announced on a Tuesday (with effect Thursday) and they did exempt weddings that weekend.

The last few weeks have been really difficult.. This weekend just passed should have been really exciting but it was just a case of pausing for us.. Anything else we need to do requires payments, and can't commit with all the uncertainty..

Fingers crossed for later

Regardless of what your thoughts are about how over the top these restrictions are. It would be pure cruelty to stop weddings happening this week & weekend given all the suppliers for the most part will have been paid up.

19-10-2020 7:19pm

woodchuck wrote: »

I get that it's not technically essential travel*. But it's absolute kick in the teeth to say you can have a wedding with 25 people, when realistically it's not feasible if people can't leave their county.

*Although what if you're one of the parents? Technically the photographer can cross the county border to photograph the wedding as it's for work purposes, but the parents of the couple can't! How does that make sense!?

Seems unlikely the photographer would be there all day and evening, drinking dancing and hugging people?

Batgurl · 19-10-2020 7:49pm

RTE just retweeted that wedding guests numbers will remain at 25 until the end of the year. Small win but may be some solace for couples.

douglashyde · 19-10-2020 8:13pm

Batgurl wrote: »

RTE just retweeted that wedding guests numbers will remain at 25 until the end of the year. Small win but may be some solace for couples.

you stole my post, if true we will be so happy after the ****tiness of wedding planning since our original date in May.

Same joy goes out to anyone else getting married this year.

douglashyde · 19-10-2020 8:53pm

Moody_mona wrote: »

I saw this on the Irish Times but it led me to believe it was for the ceremony only?

also seen this. ugh.

douglashyde · 19-10-2020 9:50pm

https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/2dc71-level-5/?referrer=http://www.gov.ie/level5/#weddings

Up to 25 guests can attend a wedding ceremony and reception, irrespective of venue.

Wedding can go ahead inc. reception.

Moody_mona · 19-10-2020 9:50pm

douglashyde wrote: »

you stole my post, if true we will be so happy after the ****tiness of wedding planning since our original date in May.

Same joy goes out to anyone else getting married this year.

Confirmed, I'm deleting my other post.

mooreman09 · 19-10-2020 9:57pm

So, guests can travel to other counties now I'm presuming?

douglashyde · 20-10-2020 12:38pm

mooreman09 wrote: »

So, guests can travel to other counties now I'm presuming?

Yes, exception has been made for weddings and funerals to the 5KM. If you really wanted to torture yourself you might ask if this is 5KM within the county.

alicantra123 · 20-10-2020 1:58pm

Has anyone had clarification from hotels as to whether guests can stay overnight? My fiancé's family are travelling across the country to attend (as they are now allowed) but hotels can't say yet whether they can stay the night?? Seems nonsensical to me as I don't really see how them staying in a hotel room after would increase risk. If we were getting married in a guesthouse in the middle of nowhere would we be expected to all get home at 11.30pm??

mooreman09 · 20-10-2020 3:55pm

alicantra123 wrote: »

Has anyone had clarification from hotels as to whether guests can stay overnight? My fiancé's family are travelling across the country to attend (as they are now allowed) but hotels can't say yet whether they can stay the night?? Seems nonsensical to me as I don't really see how them staying in a hotel room after would increase risk. If we were getting married in a guesthouse in the middle of nowhere would we be expected to all get home at 11.30pm??

Don't expect common sense to apply. These decision makers are capable of anything.

woodchuck · 21-10-2020 8:23pm

https://covid19.failteireland.ie/industry-updates/government-update-on-wedding-guidelines-october-21-2020/?fbclid=IwAR3TSJ2rJNqVBa2kXlBqNyy7g-s4_2V_u9AMMHxfmyK96wIc_OCXkc8dFf4

Government update on wedding guidelines, October 21 2020
October 21, 2020

Fáilte Ireland have received an update from the Department of an Taoiseach relating to weddings in level 5 of the Resilience and Recovery 2020-2021: Plan for Living with COVID-19.

This information will be updated over the next 24 hours within the guidelines.

Guests (ceremony and reception) – 25 (not including bride, groom and essential staff)
Travel – guests can travel to attend wedding
Hotel accommodation for guests – permitted for bride, groom and 25 guests only
Hair and make-up services – not permitted (in any setting)
Wedding dress shops – closed to public
Baker/cake – permitted
Photographer – permitted
Live music/dancing – not permitted (reception fully seated)
Novelty supplies/acts – not permitted

Hogzy · 21-10-2020 9:05pm

We were due to get married in May of this year but postponed to December. Our wedding was due to be circa 200-220 guests. Due to the proximity of the lockdown to the date of our wedding we had paid a large % of the fees prior to our wedding. All in all we paid the equivalent of around 160 guests.

Given the fact we are now unable to have a wedding of this size for the foreseeable future, we asked for a refund of the difference of 160 (which is what we paid already) and 25 guests and our venue is refusing to refund us. Given they are unable to uphold their side of our wedding contract it seems ridiculous that they are not refunding us.

Does anyone have any experience getting refunds from venues?

theguzman · 23-10-2020 8:06pm

I am getting married in 4 weeks time, Me and my Fiancee had been trying since April to get married in Ireland but faced an uphill battle of bureaucracy from the HSE with more hurdles than you'd get in Cheltenham, my Fiancee is from Latin America and not an EU Citizen.

We are getting married in Gibraltar next month, we would have gone to Las Vegas except for the Covid travel ban into the USA. Just a simple ceremony, exchange vows and rings and sign the documentation, no family members will attend just the two of us. It will cost under €400 and we are happy out. My flights to Gibraltar got cancelled today but I rebooked it. This way allows us to move forward in our lives, provide security, certainty and privileges for my partner and as we want to have Children we both agreed to wait until after marriage for this also. Next year we will be married in the Roman Catholic Church also in a spiritual ceremony if the calamity has receded.

blacklilly · 24-10-2020 11:41am

Hogzy wrote: »

We were due to get married in May of this year but postponed to December. Our wedding was due to be circa 200-220 guests. Due to the proximity of the lockdown to the date of our wedding we had paid a large % of the fees prior to our wedding. All in all we paid the equivalent of around 160 guests.

Given the fact we are now unable to have a wedding of this size for the foreseeable future, we asked for a refund of the difference of 160 (which is what we paid already) and 25 guests and our venue is refusing to refund us. Given they are unable to uphold their side of our wedding contract it seems ridiculous that they are not refunding us.

Does anyone have any experience getting refunds from venues?

Yes, we had a very similar situation. They have no legal entitlement to difference. I would recommend you contact citizens advice in the first instance and take it from there.
We got our money back but it took a while

Neyite · 25-10-2020 3:02pm

theguzman wrote: »

Next year we will be married in the Roman Catholic Church also in a spiritual ceremony if the calamity has receded.

Sorry, on this particular point, here in Ireland you can't get married in the RCC if you already have had a civil marriage. In Ireland the RCC church wedding incorporates the oaths that make the civil part legal. It's very specific wording that can't be changed.

The RCC can offer you a church blessing of your civil marriage, or you could do some sort of vow renewal, but because the legalities built into the RCC marriage ceremony, you won't be able to have that because you already did the legal bit.

Now, having said that, if you just wanted to get legally married, but your faith is important to you, a priest can conduct the marriage rite (which is legally and spiritually binding) without a mass (that's only a modern addition to the process) - you'd just need two witnesses and your priest present. You would need to still attend the HSE appointment and satisfy their requirements regarding paperwork plus there's baptismal /confirmation paperwork and a declaration that you are free to marry to satisfy the RCC paperwork side of things.

theguzman · 19-12-2020 11:33pm

Neyite wrote: »

Sorry, on this particular point, here in Ireland you can't get married in the RCC if you already have had a civil marriage. In Ireland the RCC church wedding incorporates the oaths that make the civil part legal. It's very specific wording that can't be changed.

The RCC can offer you a church blessing of your civil marriage, or you could do some sort of vow renewal, but because the legalities built into the RCC marriage ceremony, you won't be able to have that because you already did the legal bit.

Now, having said that, if you just wanted to get legally married, but your faith is important to you, a priest can conduct the marriage rite (which is legally and spiritually binding) without a mass (that's only a modern addition to the process) - you'd just need two witnesses and your priest present. You would need to still attend the HSE appointment and satisfy their requirements regarding paperwork plus there's baptismal /confirmation paperwork and a declaration that you are free to marry to satisfy the RCC paperwork side of things.

We have since gotten married abroad, however what we need is called a convalidation, where basically the Church will bless us and recognise us as being married, however our situation is further complicated by the fact that my (legal) wife is not Catholic, Christian or of any religion.

Neyite · 22-12-2020 1:05pm

theguzman wrote: »

We have since gotten married abroad, however what we need is called a convalidation, where basically the Church will bless us and recognise us as being married, however our situation is further complicated by the fact that my (legal) wife is not Catholic, Christian or of any religion.

You can still get a blessing I'm sure.

That's all it is really - a priest says a few prayers to bless your marriage. A sound priest would have zero issue with doing one for you. Back when I was considering a civil ceremony I had chat with a local priest and told him point blank I'd no belief system whatsoever and he and I had a very nice chat about the secular stuff he could substitute. There's no promises or prayers required from your wife if that's a concern.

spitonmedickie · 22-12-2020 6:02pm

Hi folks, any update from venues about what this might change? Will be getting married between Christmas and New Years so at least we have clarity on the numbers but I'm finding it hard to see if any of the nitty gritty changes and the level 5 link above doesn't work anymore. The living with covid plan and the gov.ie website only get you so far without the operational guidelines.

2020 Bride/Groom

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