Wedding experts in Lancashire call on Prime Minister not to forget them when setting out the country's roadmap out of lockdown

People working in Lancashire's wedding industry are calling on the government to be included in Boris Johnson's 'roadmap' for getting out of lockdown.

The Prime Minister is expected to set out how Covid restrictions will be eased on Monday (22nd February).

It'll mean sectors that haven't been able to operate, like hospitality and entertainment, will find out when they will be able to start re-opening.

Thousands of couples have cancelled weddings because of covid restrictions over the last year, leaving a huge impact on the industry.

Stephanie Beqo runs West Tower Country House in Aughton, West Lancashire, she said: "The only thing officially the Prime Minister has said regarding weddings in the future is that he hopes people can wed in the 'normal way' by summer.

"Now that's just not good enough. We need a clear timetable, we need an idea of when and how we can bring weddings back safely.

The venue have moved over two hundred weddings so far this year, with dozens of couples with several back up dates and cancellations for the year ahead still coming through.

Stephanie added: "I think what people need to acknowledge is that a wedding is not just a party, a wedding is a life event.

"For some couples, in certain cultures and certain religions, they can't even live together until they're married. There are so many couples that are waiting to start a family, this isn't just a party, this is a right of passage for people.

"The ripple effect is absolutely huge"

Stephanie warned it could take the industry several years to recover from the impact of the pandemic: "If we start opening up in April, in May, then we might get away with it only affecting us for the next four to five years. The longer it goes on, the longer that knock on effect is going to be.

"It's not just the venues, it's the florists, the DJs, the photographers, the hair and make up, the venue dressers, the singers, the entertainers, the ripple effect is absolutely huge."

A dedicated taskforce made up of thousands of industry professionals has been set up to demand more help from ministers.

Sarah Harwood is from the group, she said: "What we need is clarity, as to how that gradual easing of restrictions translates to weddings.

"We have every reason to believe that we would probably go into some kind of tiered system again, so we have made proposals linked to those tiers and of course they can be tweaked.

"By tier two, we would like to see wedding guest numbers and activities increased, and we'd like to think that by tier one, we would be opening without covid restrictions."