Weddings have been postponed due to the Covid-19 crisis, however Home Affairs Minister Len Norman is bringing a proposition to the States Assembly, which will allow ceremonies to take place again.
The proposition comes with four temporary measures that will be put in place until September to allow marriages to take place while minimising ‘the risk to couples, guests and officials from the potential transmission of and subsequent infection from Covid-19’.
They include a duty on marriage celebrants and civil partnership registrars to adhere to guidance.
In his proposition, Mr Norman also explains that changes will be made so that Constables do not have to sign off wedding locations.
He said: ‘Due to the impact of Covid-19 on the hospitality sector couples have been left with significant uncertainties over location bookings.
‘It is therefore necessary to make temporary modifications to the approval-of-premises process to ensure that the approvals process is responsive, timely and able to suitably service the changing demands required at short notice during the Covid-19 period.
‘The draft regulations will, if approved, amend the approving authority to consist of the Superintendent Registrar, this is different to the current approving authority which is the Constable of the relevant parish.
‘This is to relieve the Constable of a duty during a time when they may be required to function with significantly limited staffing and resources. Furthermore, is necessary to temporarily restrict the types of premises which could be newly approved to private dwellings, however, renewals of existing approved locations would continue.
‘This is to ensure that applications for approval of locations can be processed with the required speed to enable new locations (e.g. gardens on private property) to be approved at shorter than usual notice.’
The proposition will be discussed in the States Assembly on 16 June.
