Wedding industry calls on province for parity as other sectors reopen
With gyms and fitness studios open again under current COVID-19 restrictions in B.C., those in the wedding and events industry say they are being left behind.
The industry is calling on the province for clarity, as to when it will be their turn to open up.
Annise Lorel and Nick Hepner got engaged in 2019. “We were planning and hoping for a 2020 wedding,” said Lorel.
The pandemic postponed that. They pushed it to 2021, again delayed for another year. Now the couple is looking to tie the knot this summer.
“Oh, it’s happening in 2022,” said Hepner. “I’m not planning another wedding.”
“Come March 2020, we understood why events were one of the first to get shut down,” said Sara Stevenson, general manager and lead planner at The Good Party in Langford, B.C. “Looking forward, we knew we were going to be one of the last to reopen.”
Stevenson says the events industry has been largely overlooked by the province since the beginning of the pandemic. What she is calling for, is parity with other industries.
“Right now, it’s the fact that we’re watching every other industry get their safe reopening plans, have a seat at that table and have the guidance to operate safely in current conditions,” said Stevenson. “We aren’t being afforded that same opportunity.”
It’s estimated that the wedding industry in B.C. generates $1.2 billion per year and because of the nature of the industry, shutdowns effect operators six to twelve months beyond the shutdown period.
Dr. Bonnie Henry, B.C.’s provincial health officer says wedding ceremonies can still happen, it’s the receptions that have been called off.
“It’s the celebrations and the parties afterwards and we know that invariably those are the settings that we’re seeing transmission,” said Henry.
The industry says many couples are not willing to wed unless they can have the reception, even if it is a scaled-back version.
“As far as weddings and events go, we have seen it drop down to one-tenth of what it once was,” said Rob Jennings, president of Jennings Florist in Oak Bay.
He says the wedding side of his business has dried up. He says his business will survive but he knows of many others that have not.
“It’s a lot of people that have been affected,” said Jennings. ”A lot of small businesses have decided, 'we’re just going to step away from the industry… we’re not going to continue to ride the rollercoaster.'"
Wedding planners say receptions can be held with proper safety precautions in place and they want to work with the province to develop proper protocols.
For Lorel and Hepner, they say they’re going to get married this summer, reception or not.
“One way or another, this is going to go down this year,” said Hepner.
“We’ll make it work within the restrictions,” said Lorel.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Person engulfed in flames outside N.Y. courthouse where Trump trial underway, says CNN
A person was covered in flames outside the New York courthouse where former President Donald Trump's criminal hush money trial is underway, CNN reported on Friday.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.
Senators reject field trip to African Lion Safari amid elephant bill study
The Senate legal affairs committee has rejected a motion calling for members to take a $50,000 field trip to the African Lion Safari in southern Ontario to see the zoo's elephant exhibit.
CFIA monitoring for avian flu in Canadian dairy cattle after U.S. discoveries
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is encouraging veterinarians to keep an eye out for signs of avian influenza in dairy cattle following recent discoveries of cases of the disease in U.S. cow herds.
She set out to find a husband in a year. Then she matched with a guy on a dating app on the other side of the world
Scottish comedian Samantha Hannah was working on a comedy show about finding a husband when Toby Hunter came into her life. What happened next surprised them both.
DEVELOPING G7 warns of new sanctions against Iran as world reacts to apparent Israeli drone attack
Group of Seven foreign ministers warned of new sanctions against Iran on Friday for its drone and missile attack on Israel, and urged both sides to avoid an escalation of the conflict.
'It could be catastrophic': Woman says natural supplement contained hidden painkiller drug
A Manitoba woman thought she found a miracle natural supplement, but said a hidden ingredient wreaked havoc on her health.
After hearing thousands of last words, this hospital chaplain has advice for the living
Hospital chaplain J.S. Park opens up about death, grief and hearing thousands of last words, and shares his advice for the living.
Vancouver firefighter in rehab at home after losing leg to flesh-eating infection overseas
A family trip took a frightening turn for Christopher Won when he was diagnosed with flesh-eating disease while in Hong Kong and now, after weeks of treatment overseas, the Vancouver firefighter is back home recovering.