'Government needs to let wedding industry learn to live during Covid'

Boris Johnson needs to the wedding industry trade and open up during the pandemic, Dewbs and Co was told by a leading wedding planner.

Sarah Haywood echoed the prime minister's calls to the country when he said the UK must "learn to live with the virus".

On Dewbs & Co: Sarah Haywood from the UK Weddings Taskforce says the government needs to let businesses learn how to trade during pandemics. pic.twitter.com/vDThIDo1BM

— GB News (@GBNEWS) June 16, 2021

Speaking on Dewbs and Co, Ms Haywood, who leads the UK Wedding Taskforce, said: "Weddings are life events... it's up there with having children.

"It's one of the most cherished freedoms we have - the right to choose who you want to marry.

"We're quite serious people, running a serious business and for our clients, it's not as simple as 'tough'."

The Weddings Taskforce, set up with the support of the government to represent the sector, said 94% of weddings – 261,883 – did not go ahead as planned last year, as well as about another 100,000 over the first half of this year.

The current 30-people cap on weddings will still be lifted on June 21, but venues are now being asked to limit numbers based on space and to enforce social distancing measures, including the wearing of face coverings indoors.

Ms Haywood said the June 21 date to further ease restrictions had provided some light at the end of the tunnel - but that has been taken away, leading to concern in the industry.

She added: "We heard what the prime minster said, we've 'got to learn how to live with it'.

"Well then let's live with it! Let's use the expertise of the people in our sector."