HAPPY couples are keen to celebrate their special day with more guests with the coronavirus pandemic hampering ceremonies and receptions in the past year.

Weddings have either been postponed or reduced since the start of the Covid pandemic.

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What are the Covid wedding rules?

Under Boris Johnson's roadmap, up to 30 people are currently able to attend weddings and civil partnership ceremonies.

It comes after restrictions on weddings were eased on March 29, with couples rushing to their local registry offices to make the most of the new rules.

Are weddings rules changing on June 21?

While the restrictions were expected to be scrapped on June 21, the rules are set to remain another four weeks as Boris Johnson is expected to delay “freedom day" until July 19.

The measures will affect around 50,000 couples who booked their nuptials for the four weeks after June 21.

It means numbers will continue to be capped, while those attending will still have to wear face masks unless they are eating or drinking.

If current restrictions continue, apart from the couple's first dance, dancing would be advised against "due to the increased risk of transmission".

Guests would also still be told to be "cautious" about contact with different households.

However, the PM, who tied the knot with Carrie 16 days ago, is desperate not to ruin couples’ happy day.

Ministers were last night thrashing out plans to let more than 30 guests attend so long as they stick to social distancing. One said: “There is hope a deal can be done.”

It comes as cases of the mutant Indian strain soared by 240 per cent in just a week.

Can I have a wedding reception?

Receptions can take place with up to 30 people.

This could be in the form of a sit-down meal and in any Covid secure outdoor venue that is permitted to open, but receptions will not be allowed to take place in people’s private gardens or public outdoor spaces.

Ministers are currently considering making the rules for weddings more similar to those for funerals.

It would mean restrictions on numbers are based on how many people a venue can safely accommodate with social distancing.

However, indoor wakes are still limited to 30 people, suggesting receptions after the wedding itself could still be limited to 30 – even if more can attend the ceremony.

Sarah Haywood, from UK Weddings Taskforce, told The Telegraph businesses in the industry would "collapse" as a result of the delay to any kind of lift because "we have reached the end of the runway".

She said more than 50,000 weddings were booked for the four weeks after June 21 – many of whom had postponed their Big Day from previous lockdowns.

Ms Haywood said: "In every single meeting with Government, they said they were on track for unrestricted reopening, and when we pressed them for a contingency plan they wouldn't discuss it."

She added that 30,000 couples had already paid for their weddings in full and wedding firms would now be left having to refund at least some of that money.

The Government has said compensation would not be available.

The Prime Minister has been warned that a month-long delay in the lockdown lift will cost the economy £1billion a week, with 300,000 jobs in the hospitality sector being at risk.

Can I get married abroad?

Currently travelling abroad is only allowed to a limited number of countries on the green list.

Under current regulations, quarantine-free travel is permitted to just eleven countries on the green list – but this does not include tourist hotspots such as Spain, France and Italy.

Portugal has been removed from the green list, just weeks after it was added.

Shadow trade secretary Emily Thornberry has warned foreign holidays are "very unlikely" to be allowed this summer.

Environment Secretary George Eustice has advised Brits to stay at home this summer and not to go abroad "unless it's absolutely necessary."

What are my rights if my wedding couldn't happen?

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has published guidance on consumer wedding rights.

This says:

• If your wedding can't go ahead without breaching local or national lockdown rules, the contract is likely to be "frustrated", meaning you are entitled to a refund and will not liable for future payments
• This includes rules limiting the number of guests, telling people to stay at home or requiring venues to close
• The refund requirement covers ''non-refundable'' deposits, although a venue or supplier can subtract ''limited'' costs for services already provided
• A venue can also withhold money it has spent on your day that it cannot recover, such as on staff planning the wedding, but not for things like general staff costs or building maintenance.
• Suppliers and venues must give you a costs breakdown if they wish to withhold part of your deposit

Can I claim on wedding insurance?

The CMA's guidance states: "In many cases, where consumers have paid substantial sums in advance of their wedding, the CMA would generally expect them to be offered most of their money back.

"It would be for the business to justify deducting any amounts."

Most insurance does not cover a ''government act", so is unlikely to pay out if lockdowns have affected your wedding, while new wedding insurance policies are unlikely to cover coronavirus.

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Can suppliers and venues charge me more if I postpone?

Businesses are not allowed to just hike up prices.

Henrietta Dunkley of Ellis Jones Solicitors says some couples have found venues were charging them far more for a postponed wedding than if they were a new customer.

This is unlikely to be deemed reasonable.

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