Record number of weddings in Dorset in the run up to lockdown

A record number of weddings took place in the three days in the lead up to this week's national lockdown.

46 couples tied the knot at back to back, 15 minute marriage and civil partnership ceremonies in Dorset this week.

Weddings of any number aren't allowed under the new restrictions and many couples will have missed out on their ceremony due to the new rules.

Catherine Butcher is one of the brides who was worried when she heard a new lockdown might be coming over the weekend:

"The run-up to our wedding was obviously pretty stressful knowing that the cases were rising, not being sure what it would mean if we went we went into tier two, and then of course suddenly, there's a lockdown happening and oh my word are we going to make it?"

"And actually we did make it, the lockdown was declared for the Thursday and we were due to get married in Dorchester on the Tuesday.

"It was a bit scary but we did get there."

When the lockdown was announced, the registrars contacted all the couples who have ceremonies booked within the next four-weeks to let them know that these could not go ahead.

The couples were offered the chance to bring their ceremony forward to Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday this week. In total, they brought forward 19 ceremonies to take place before the new restrictions come into effect on Thursday.

They also conducted six ceremonies at external licensed venues.

Cllr Jill Haynes, Dorset Council Portfolio holder for Customer & Community Services, said:

“A fantastic achievement for the whole team. Everybody willingly stepped into the breach at such short notice to make this happen.

“The couples are very pleased and grateful that we have been able to accommodate them – even if they only had a few hours’ notice that they were getting married.

“Also, thank you to our venue partners who have been so accommodating.”

The majority of the ceremonies that have been impacted by the new lockdown have been rescheduled.