Riverina weddings vendors have been "inundated" with booking requests as eager couples plan the big day with easing restrictions coming into effect.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
There will be no caps on wedding numbers from Monday with eating and drinking while standing, and dancing will be back on the table.
However, the five-person limit will remain for wedding ceremonies with people who are not fully vaccinated.
Tina Bingham, the owner of Peppermint Studios, said the restrictions and lockdown had "annihilated" her business, but they were fortunate to receive some support grants.
"We were like almost 90 per cent down with our business," she said. "We postponed most of our weddings as a lot of them didn't want to have a smaller wedding. So now what we are seeing is bookings on days or in months that are not too common."
Ms Bingham said she usually doesn't see more couples book ceremonies and receptions in January and February due to the hot weather, but booked out venues and vendors has changed that.
She said initially they were rescheduling events to March and April, but now the first part of the year was being booked.
IN OTHER NEWS:
Ms Bingham said while next year promises to be "hectic", she is extremely excited to be able to bring out her creative side at weddings again.
"I love what I do, and I cannot wait," she said.
Neil Moralde, the owner of WGM Wedding Videographers, said normally he would work 112 weddings a year. But for 2022, he already has 131 booked in.
"On Wednesday night, it went insane. My phone was going crazy, and I had to knock back 17 out of 18 potential bookings in one evening," Mr Moralde said.
"The postponed weddings take priority over any new bookings coming in. We are already 60 per cent booked in 2023."
Mr Moralde said he would encourage any couples looking to book in a 2022 wedding to "knuckle down now and get all your vendors locked away".
He also suggested looking at weekday options if it meant securing their preferred choices.
Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content:
- Bookmark dailyadvertiser.com.au
- Follow us on Twitter
- Follow us on Instagram
- Follow us on Google News
- Make sure you are signed up for our breaking and regular headlines newsletters