A Scottish local authority is to charge some couples for rearranging their wedding day should it be postponed due to the Coronavirus pandemic.
Argyll and Bute council says it will not take any further bookings for ceremonies until the end of June and warned those hoping to delay their big day beyond three months of its original date they will face a £30-per person fee for the change.
Advice given on the authority’s website also states that a number of options are open to couples who have to postpone their big day during the current crisis.
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Couples from overseas who planned to get married in the area’s picturesque landscape have also been warned they cannot book a new date over three months in advance.
A statement published by the council said: “We understand this is an extremely worrying time for anyone who has a wedding booked over the coming months whether with the Argyll and Bute registrars or another celebrant.
“If you have booked your wedding with Argyll and Bute Registrars then we will certainly try to accommodate a new date for you, working with yourself and your venue or other suppliers to get a date that suits.
“Your marriage notices are valid for three calendar months from the date they are signed so if you are looking to delay the wedding until a date within this period, then they will not need to be re-submitted and the fee you have paid will stand.
“If the new date is out with this period of validity then you will have to re-submit your marriage notices and pay the statutory fee for these (£30 per person) again.
The local authority also warned those who wish to move their wedding away from the area will have to wait 29-days before an official ceremony can take place.
It also advised couples to consult public liability insurance policies before making any decisions.
The statement continued: “We are sorry to hear that so many couples have lost their overseas weddings in recent weeks. Due to the ongoing situation, we have made the decision not to take any new bookings for weddings to be conducted until the end of June.
“If your wedding is booked with us then the fees you have paid can be transferred to another date, other than the statutory marriage notice fees which will have to be paid again if the new date of marriage is out with the three-month validity period of your marriage papers. If the new date is subject to any annual increases then these will have to be met.
“If you have your ceremony booked with us and have submitted your marriage notices then the location of your marriage can be changed to anywhere within our council area which could be another venue or any other suitable place, as long as you have the permission of the landowner and Public Liability Insurance to cover the event.
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“If you are looking to change your booking to another council area then we can return your paperwork and statutory fees to you and you can submit it to the relevant office. However, the 29-day notice period will start again before you are legally free to be married.
“If you have not yet submitted your marriage notices then you can choose to submit them to another council area but will lose any deposit you have made to us.
“This information also applies to weddings which are to be conducted by another celebrant.”
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