I have been invited to a wedding and another big party in the summer

My view is that if people wish to arrange gatherings of any kind within the guidelines they should do so. If some guests are uncomfortable with the plan they should stay away with no hard feelings on either side. It’s totally understandable and normal that people want to celebrate special occasions.
In answer to the poster who is concerned about using toilets I would say that it’s almost impossible to avoid unless you spend all your time at home. There was an interesting article in the Times some weeks ago by a GP saying that as long as you wash and sanitise your hands it’s quite safe to use toilets outside the home. I have been doing so throughout on trips to the park etc. Otherwise I would have been able to leave the house for more than a short time.

I hope by end of June things will be eased. Summer parties in the garden are so nice because everyone can be invited; neighbours, children, dogs, everyone I don't normally have to dinner parties. A friend does wonderful finger food, brings it already plated and my oldest grandson and a couple of his friends earn a little cash handing it round and pouring drinks. It has to be quite last minute depending on the weather but always goes well!

Just heard rumours that Boris wants to extend lockdown until September Hope not I want to be able to attend parties and weddings in August. We cannot go on forever being locked down and not meeting people We are social creatures

Government advice at the moment is that having the vaccine will not stop you getting or transmitting Covid it to others

I bought my outfit in Feb 2020 for my son’s wedding 16th May 2020, with approx 150 guests. That was obviously postponed and a new date set for September 2020, again postponed and another date set for October 2021, so I am really hoping to take my outfit out of the dust cover and get to wear it.........3rd time lucky hopefully and yes I am feeling optimistic ?☺️

Our sons wedding was planned for July last year. It did happen but only with 6 guests parents and witnesses. Big reception rebooked for August this year so ??
More important question though - should I get another outfit or use same one

HomeAgain123

Rosie1959 I’m with you I have a wedding July 17th and looking at ‘roadmap’ I intend going if everything goes to plan

I always try to be sensible but life goes on
We are going away hopefully end of May to a large hotel complex with my son daughter Son in law and assorted grandchildren
My husband myself and my daughter will have had both vaccines by then my son and SIL may have had one.
I intend to start enjoying life again while we can I trust the vacinne no point in having it if I did not

Rosie1959 I’m with you I have a wedding July 17th and looking at ‘roadmap’ I intend going if everything goes to plan

I think it’s very optimistic and could end in tears but that’s just my view. I certainly won’t be going to any large gatherings.

I have just had an invitation to a wedding in August. They did actually get married on the day they had first planned & had only 2 people there to witness it so this is the reception. 2nd marriage for both.
Our first thought was that we wondered if it will be possible even as far away as August. Time will tell!

Even if and when we can enjoy celebrating special occasions on a large scale it will be sensible for us not to indulge in hugging and kissing as we used to pre Covid.

One of our daughters was due to get married at the end of June but they have posponed until next year as the proposed lifting of restrictions in June is not guaranteed. They, along with our other daughter, live 300 miles away so we have kept our hotel booking in place at the moment in the hope that we will be able to see them and the grandchildren then ??

I too feel it unlikely that these celebrations will be able to be held in the coming summer.

Unless and until I have been vaccinated, I shan't even consider going to any large function and will politely decline due to the health risk I potentially pose to others and them to me.

One of the universities I am associated with is planning a face to face open day in June and full graduation for people with families in July... Now that is what I call optimistic!

Will you have had your vaccine by then Jillybird ?

It will be a year and 5 months since the 1st lock down, the vacintion programe will be near completion by August/September, if England doesn't get back to near normal by then, I think we will be in big trouble. Humans are sociable people and the mental health effects of the isolation is really sad.

It is interesting to hear other people's views.

The wedding is family only, so multi generational. I imagine most people will have had two vaccines apart from those under 50 (I am under 50 but will have had two hopefully as I booked for my second one beginning of June) I had accepted the invite last year and it was cancelled twice so I feel I have to go. I also feel I can't say no as it is family but I do feel it is a bit optimistic and I do wonder if it will go ahead in the same manner - I am not one to be offended if they change their mind and uninvite me either fwiw - people need to get on with their lives in whatever way suits them moving forward.

The house party and pool and gardens I am less enthusiastic about it will be mainly people in their 20s!

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

The main fly in the ointment so far is the delay on vaccines which hopefully will be short and the powers that be get it sorted.
Some I feel would be happy for us to be shut down forever but many are not prepared to put things on hold indefinitely especially the younger population
Business cannot afford to be shut down they can’t go on forever
So I for one hope we manage to stick to the roadmap if not I fear many will be totally unwilling to stick to any type of ‘rules’
Yes there is a third wave but if the vaccinations do their job it should not cause a rise in deaths or hospitalisation and these are the key drivers.

It’s really interesting to hear your views on this . I have a wedding booked for August this year ( I am an older bride!) It was originally booked in 2019 for July 2020 . A large wedding for over 100 . Of course last year after a lot of work it was postponed and it was stressful having to move everything & everybody to the new date. I’d love to just cancel but deposits were paid and our venue if the government says weddings can go ahead expect us to , they just seem to want to get their businesses going again . So we’ve decided to go ahead but in a different way . I do have the feeling some won’t want to mix . Masks and social distancing , no dancing etc .But I can’t see what else to do .
It’s so unpredictable isn’t it and who would want a mass gathering I feel but I have to do planning shortly with not knowing if the plug will get pulled again last minute ??‍♀️? . Me and 250,000 others have been affected apparently x

The power of positive thought is amazing, so start looking for your outfits, x

What ages are the guests likely to be? Will they all have had both Vaccs? I have a friend who refuses to have the vacc (something we disagree on)

I can't see the problem if everyone has the vaccs passport?

Get up and get going!!

My Son and future DIL, have been trying to get married since last year, original wedding date was May 10th, that was changed to March 12th this year, then April 10th, now June 1st! unless anything drastic happens to change us coming out of lockdown, they will be allowed 30 people at the ceremony but not to sit down and eat! I think it’s likely to be like that for the whole summer this year.

Never mind optimistic - pie in the sky feels more like it at the moment
On the news last night - a school somewhere having to close due to a covid outbreak - hope this is not a sign of things to come but fear it will be - they reckoned 2-3 weeks after schools had reopened would be the telling time - I fear we will be hearing of a lot more in the weeks to come

Very optimistic - things still uncertain. I’d be happier with a much smaller number of guests. Even then, it might not happen.