(COVID-19 and your wedding – updated on 23rd March 2020. Further updates as and when there are any changes to government advice/legislation).
With the increasing media coverage and enquiries over the past week or so regarding COVID-19 (Coronavirus), we’ve put together some information for any of our couples who may have concerns about their upcoming wedding.
None of us know exactly what’s going to happen at the moment, but we want to help reassure you as much as we can, in what is an unprecedented time.
Please help us (and you) stay safe
Firstly, we are now conducting all meetings over Skype/video call, to comply with the government’s advice on social distancing. Especially as we’d usually conduct meetings in a cafe or pub!
Further to the government’s advice on Friday 20th March, we’ve decided it’s best not to go ahead with any pre-wedding or portrait shoots at the moment. We’re adhering to the social distancing advice and staying at home as much as possible, and we feel it’s best for our clients’ safety as well as our own.
If you have an upcoming wedding (August onwards) we’ll be in touch with you around three months before your wedding to touch base, and we’ll review the situation then. Should your wedding be going ahead (which of course, we very much hope it is!) we’ll have plenty of time to fit in a shoot with you, providing we’re well, and you are too.
Should a shoot be able to take place in the coming months, please do tell us if you’ve had any symptoms and need to self-isolate. We need to stay healthy for all of our couples, if we can. Shoots can always be re-scheduled; it’s not the end of the world.
Likewise, if we’re showing symptoms, we’ll be self-isolating so that we all stay safe!
Will you still photograph our wedding?
The short answer is yes, if it’s currently going ahead. We’re following updates closely so we’re fully informed on the latest advice from the government. Nothing has changed and your contract with us remains the same, with the same payment and final balance deadlines.
What happens if we decide to postpone our wedding?
Our first advice is to speak to your wedding insurers about what happens if you postpone your wedding date. They will let you know the next steps, which will help when you chat to your suppliers.
Please let us know as soon as possible if you are thinking of postponing. We want to do everything we can to work with our couples who feel this is what they have to do. In the current circumstances we’re happy to move your wedding booking to a new date on the condition that we’re available. There will be no additional charges to move your wedding date. We still want to photograph your wedding, so please do check our availability before booking a new date, if you’re considering this and want us to be there! (P.S. We really want to be there!)
What happens if the government stops weddings, or our venue tells us we have to postpone?
Again, your first port of call is your wedding insurance. They will let you know what to do, before you speak to all your wedding suppliers.
We completely understand that this would be very disappointing for both of you. Assuming that you both still want to get married once any restrictions are lifted, we’ll be happy to transfer your wedding photography booking to a new date, providing we’re available. Please keep in regular contact with us so we can find a date that suits all of your wedding suppliers’ availability.
Again, there will be no extra charges from us to move dates.
What happens if you catch COVID-19?
We’re taking all the precautions we can to stay fit and healthy for your big day. However, should the worst happen we will follow the government guidelines by self-isolating and will not be photographing your wedding. Your health, and the health of your guests, is of the utmost importance and we don’t want to put anyone at risk of infection. To be prepared, we already have potential back up photographers (of a similar style to us) to cover your wedding should this happen. In the event of this, we would then edit the photographs from the back up photographer(s) and deliver your final images as normal.
We are part of a very large network of wedding photographers (and other wedding industry professionals) and it has been amazing to see how everyone has been coming together to help each other in the last week of turmoil.
Overall, try not to panic. These are unusual circumstances but you will get through it. Please do get in contact if you have further questions or need to discuss things on a more individual basis. Whatever we can do to help, we will. We’re all in this together!
Heather & Colin
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We are wedding photographers in Yorkshire and Lancashire
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Natural, relaxed, creative wedding photography from a husband and wife team based in Skipton, North Yorkshire. Serving Yorkshire, Lancashire and the UK.
