If there is one thing about the latest round of restrictions to stop the spread of COVID-19 that Mary Simoes is grateful for, it's that they were invoked during a quieter time of the year.
This week, provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry lifted a closure on gyms but extended a ban, first announced just before Christmas, on organized indoor gatherings such as wedding receptions.
Had they come into effect during the summer, Simoes would have taken a massive hit as the owner of Storybook Weddings.
Even so, Simoes said the coronavirus has had an effect.
Some couples start planning their nuptials as much as two years in advance and in the time since the pandemic was declared in March 2020, Simoes has encountered a fair number of frustrated brides who've given up on hosting a big wedding and have settled for something more modest.
"They're just tired of waiting," Simoes added.
Simoes said she has "quite a few" weddings lined up for this coming summer. She remains hopeful both for herself and for her clients that they will go ahead.
"We're just trying to keep them excited about getting married and we tell them, if anything happens moving forward we offer a full refund just because we don't know what will go on," she said.
Looking back, Simoes said the past two years has been nothing like she's ever seen in the 16 years she's been in the business. When the pandemic was first declared, Simoes had to close her downtown store for a time and is now open by appointment only.
Simoes is hopeful that things will finally have returned to normal when she is once again able to put on her showcase event, the Storybook Wedding Bridal Expo. Typically held in October, the event has now been put on hold twice.
"I'll just stay positive and hopefully this will clear by the spring," she said.
VENUES ADAPTING TO CHALLENGE
Shirley Prokopchuk, catering and events manager at the Prestige Treasure Cove Resort, said the changing public health restrictions has been tough on couples planning their weddings.
“With weddings, there have been numerous brides and grooms who have postponed their weddings multiple times,” Prokopchuk said. “We lost two weddings just this month, because of the restrictions.”
During the spring and summer last year, the hotel was able to host seated wedding receptions with dancing available in the hotel’s outdoor patio area, she said.
Restrictions on indoor dancing has resulted in fewer fundraisers and other celebrations over the past year as well, Prokopchuk said.
However, the hotel has still been able to host a number of seated dinners, concerts, meetings and other events, with COVID-19 safety restrictions in place, she said.
“From our situation for catering events, we’re still busy,” she said.
Many engaged couples are postponing their weddings by a whole year, in the hopes the pandemic situation will be different then, added Treasure Cove vice-president Connor Bull.
“As any restrictions come in, we get a level of uncertainty,” Bull said. “On the hotel end, we’re probably not as impacted (as catering and events). All in all, we’re in the business of people and the business of hospitality.”
It’s frustrating not to be able to provide couples the wedding they’d planned and dreamed about, but Bull said everyone just has to work together to get through this time.
“We’re going to see that business come back,” he said.
Prokopchuk also manages bookings for the Hart Community Centre, and said the 400-person-capacity community centre is normally too large for typical wedding receptions. However, if weddings are allowed to resume at 50 per cent venue capacity later this year, the centre could host a 200-person event.
So far, the public health restrictions haven’t had a major negative impact on bookings for the community hall, she added.
“We can do sit-down concerts. We can do sports events at 50 per cent capacity,” she said. “November and December were booked up with Christmas events. (And) we’re booked for the spring, going forward.”
