SOME couples are looking to push their weddings back to as far ahead as 2023 after the government announced new restrictions on the amount of people who can attend, a North-East wedding photographer has said.

Claire Hirst, 35, from Darlington, has more than 50 weddings booked in for next year as customers have postponed their big day. New government restrictions announced on Tuesday reduced the number of people who can attend marriage ceremonies to 15 from 30.

Ms Hirst said: “I’ve had to move 98 per cent of my weddings into 2021.

“I’ve had to close 2021 I’m so busy, which is great, but won’t leave any time for the other shoots that might come up.

"People were initially happy to move to 2021 as I think we all knew of the bigger picture, but this new drop from 30 to 15 (in attendance) for the next six months concerns me.

“As far as I know, no Covid spike has come from a wedding event and all the venues I deal with have been so vigilant with the procedures and rules I question if 15 is really necessary."

The government has also included guidelines that ask venues to keep ceremonies as short as possible and not provide food or drink for those attending, unless required for the purpose of solemnisation.

Ms Hirst added: “I hope couples will take the view their wedding day will be special no matter what – sadly my inbox today is suggesting people are starting to panic and look as 2023 now, which isn’t worth thinking about.”

She has pictured two weddings under coronavirus conditions and found that both venues were very well organised.

“The first one I had was in a hotel and they were so great, especially as 24 hours before we had all received the devastating news no reception could take place, even with limited numbers, but the hotel was so organised and professional they had everything covered.

“The other was in a registry office which was small and intimate and again things were so organised and we were all keen to follow guidance set. "Each couple I think can still have a magical day regardless of the numbers it’s about two people coming together, not the size of the party.”