Wedding photographer braces for 'another stressful few weeks' if Freedom Day delayed
and live on Freeview channel 276
Charlotte Kaye, of Charlotte Elizabeth Photography in Barnsley, said she believed the industry was heading for another stressful few weeks of costly postponements and cancellations.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson is expected to announce a delay to lifting lockdown restrictions at a press conference later.
Currently, weddings are limited to 30 guests in England.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdCharlotte said: “This morning has been busy with couples asking questions, and I feel we're heading into another stressful few weeks.
“At the same time as being frustrated at the complete lack of consideration for the wedding industry, and the complete disparity between weddings and sporting events, I'm also aware that the restrictions would have been lifted if it were safe to do so.
“This adds in another level of concern - we're clearly a little way off being safely back to normal just yet.”
The spread of the Delta variant and an increase in hospitalisations have raised fears of a delay.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdThe UK Weddings Taskforce calculates the sector will lose £325m each week if Government does not lift the rules.
It says it is now too late for many businesses to change orders - including for perishables like food and flowers - and they have already invested in hiring staff.
Charlotte said she usually does 20 weddings a year. In 2020 she did two.
The UK Weddings Taskforce says £16.5bn has been lost by the sector since the first lockdown, with 320,000 weddings postponed or cancelled.