Tamworth couple relieved as coronavirus wedding rules lift just in time

Not only has she delayed her wedding already, they're racing a ticking clock scheduling their big day.

Her dad is losing his eyesight.

Toni and soon-to-be husband Chris Langston want him to see them walk down the aisle, so they have rescheduled for February next year.

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"He's got macular degeneration and he's also now been diagnosed with cataracts," she said.

"His eyesight is failing, and he was given a timeline a couple of years ago which is coming in very close so we didn't want to wait any longer than we actually had to, so he could walk me down the aisle and witness our day."

Under the new rules announced on Sunday, weddings will no longer be capped at 20 guests. Instead the restriction limits venues to one guest for every four square metres.

But from July 1, dances and other close contact will be banned at weddings. The loosened rules will also apply at cafes, restaurants and churches. Funeral rules have already been relaxed from Monday.

Daine Cooper, general manager of the Powerhouse Hotel Tamworth, said the rolled-back restrictions grant more Tamworth couples certainty for their big day.

"We've already got some bookings," he said.

"You can tell even with the last round of restrictions opening up people are starting to get a little bit more hope that they can get married within the year.

"We have seen a definite increase in brides and couples coming into the venue to plan a little bit further now that they know they can at least plan something."

Liz Pike from Tangaratta Vineyards, another major wedding venue in the Tamworth area, said they already have bookings as early as August.

Miss O'Connell said it had been "heartbreaking" to cancel their wedding the first time, but many couples are worrying about being forced to cancel a second time if they jump the coronavirus gun.

One of their groomsmen is in that exact situation - he is getting married later in 2020.

Sunday's announcement has been a big relief for everyone, she said.

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"It's a massive relief knowing that we are able to potentially go ahead with everything we had originally planned by our date in February next year.

"It takes away a lot of stress. We were worried that we would have to go through the same process and potentially postpone again."

She said their vendors had been their rock through the process, particularly photographer Andrew Pearson, Tamworth Event planners, Kumbogie Woolshed, Corey's Catering, and celebrant Lyn Grace.

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