Millions of couples are getting hitched in the pub after Covid wrecked their grand plans.
Large venues have introduced complex contracts to counter Covid threats, and there is a backlog of waiting couples who rebooked during the lockdowns.
This has driven up demand for smaller, more informal dos – and the pub trade is benefitting.
Tessa Stewart, weddings events manager at The Bell in Ticehurst, East Sussex, said: “We are seeing a lot of demand for more relaxed weddings, but people are certainly not compromising on style.
“We have more than 80 weddings booked so far for this year and after lockdowns, people definitely want a focus on family and friends.”
And wedding singer Robbie Humphries, of trio The Cash Cows, said: “People have been scaling back on some of the flashier events.
“Pub wedding bookings have gone through the roof, and with a diary full of postponed weddings, it’s hard to fit new ones in.”
According to hospitality jobs site caterer.com, around 1.8million people are planning a wedding knees-up in the pub.
A typical couple will spend £18,000 on their wedding including the venue and food, but this could rise to £28,000 in London.
Their research also uncovered 25% of people are set to go to up to three weddings this year.
It found a dramatic increase in wedding roles advertised in the first three months of 2022 compared to 2021.
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Although couples are willing to swap their luxurious weddings for one in the boozer, a lot of Brits are still concerned with keeping their wedding classy.
One wedding planner has shared her tips on how to avoid tackiness on the big day – no matter if you’re in the pub or a traditional church.
Kristina Kempton, who has been in the industry for over a decade, warned couples to avoid having clowns, magicians, buffets, large bows tied to chairs and asking for money as a gift.
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