Wedding industry leaders are hoping to avoid another “catastrophe” when Nicola Sturgeon announces her latest plans to bring Scotland out of lockdown.
The First Minister is due, next Tuesday, to reveal more details of her proposals to begin reopening the economy from April 26.
And Duncan McConchie, co-founder of the Scottish Wedding Industry Alliance, is hoping it provides more clarity for the industry than when she set out the initial stages of her strategic framework last month.
Mr McConchie, who is managing director of Laggan near Gatehouse, said: “The last time she made an announcement was the biggest catastrophe for the industry.
“In that afternoon, between 2.30pm and the close of play, the team at Gretna Green had 200 calls from couples looking to cancel, postpone or in disarray. The Scottish wedding industry as a whole lost £32 million worth of bookings.
“By contrast, in England – although their route map is heavily caveated – bookings have gone up 200 per cent.”
Mr McConchie is calling on the Scottish Government to increase the number of people allowed to attend a wedding to 20 by March 26 and 50 by the end of April.
Under the present restrictions, just five people are allowed at a ceremony – including the happy couple and the celebrant.
The First Minister this week announced that, from March 26, the number of people allowed at religious ceremonies, such as church services, will increase from 20 to 50.
Mr McConchie believes that should also be the date that 20 people are allowed at weddings with the number rising to 50 the following month.
He said: “It would mean a lot more couples would go ahead. We know asking to go straight from four to 50 at the end of April is quite a lot but asking for 20 at the ceremony only is a far smaller step.
“The numbers we are having, in Dumfries and Galloway at least, are lower than they were last year when we were allowed 20 guests and then moved to 30 and 50.”
Last week, Mr McConchie and other members of the Scottish Wedding Industry Alliance had a group call with 16 MSPs to express their concerns.
On the back of the that, South Scotland MSP Joan McAlpine raised the issue with Ms Sturgeon at Holyrood.
The SNP representative said: “The wedding sector is very important to Dumfries and Galloway, especially in Gretna where it supports many jobs and livelihoods.
“The industry has been badly hit by the pandemic so I was happy to speak out on their behalf.
“Representatives from the sector told me they’re reluctant to take bookings for the summer season because they’re liable for any costs if they have to cancel further down the line.
“The First Minister acknowledged the issues and she’s keen to get businesses trading again as soon as it’s safe to do so.”
