With hotels and venues closing due to social-distancing advice and the government stopping gatherings of more than two people, couples who have been planning for over 12 months for their big days have been forced to make changes.
These cancellations have had financial impacts on a string of businesses, including The Event Shop which is run by James Richardson. He revealed that he was facing postponements running into double figures and he was hoping he would be able to get some government help.
He said: ‘It is having a massive impact on myself as I am a sole trader. For brides and grooms, who have been planning their weddings for 12 to 18 months, it is devastating.
‘I am into double figures now on the amount of weddings that have had to be moved because of what is going on. 2020 was supposed to be the golden year for us, and this time of year was our busiest time and that is all gone now.
‘It is not just myself, in planning weddings there are maybe 20 or 30 businesses and companies involved and the knock-on impact from this is massive.
‘I also plan other events such as birthdays and corporates, but it looks like 2020 is going to be a write-off if this continues.
‘As a business I don’t have any back-up like assets to sell off. I have a new-born and I’ve got rent and bills to pay and this is scary.
‘I’m waiting to see what government help I can get.’
Patrycja Radzikowska was due to marry fiancé Phil at St Brelade’s Church in May.
She said: ‘I’m completely heartbroken. I just want to know how long this will last for. We made the decision to cancel as we were getting worried and it would have been a risk to family and friends.
‘My brother was coming from Norway to walk me to the church and he wouldn’t be able to get here. We have moved plans to October, so that was lucky for us.’
And endurance swimmer Andy Truscott, who was due to marry Alexandra Bland, added: ‘It is the right thing to do with what is going on.
‘We had people travelling to come, we’ve got old relatives and if they fall ill we didn’t want to have the wedding and them not be able to be there. Our honeymoon is still booked for later this year and hasn’t been impacted, so we might be going on the honeymoon before having the actual wedding.’
Eliza Blanchard and fiancé Steve Harrison were due to get married at the Lido in Havre des Pas in May.
She said: ‘We were due to become a blended family, with my children and my fiancé’s children and it makes it more heartbreaking.
‘Guests couldn’t travel to Jersey, the celebrant is in self-isolation and we had an email from the States of Jersey saying no more than two people, so we had to make the heartbreaking decision.
‘Given what is going on we have suspended it
indefinitely for now and with money we are losing it will be a scaled-back wedding.’
