These public health measures are in place to keep you, your guests and celebrants safe during the period of COVID-19.
Who the guidance is for
This guidance applies to:
- any marriage taking place on or after 17 February 2021
- all couples who are still planning to marry or hold a civil partnership in Jersey during the period of COVID-19. It is not currently possible to state how long the period of COVID-19 will last
- legal marriage ceremonies (whether they are in a church or a civil venue) and to all civil partnership ceremonies
- both indoor and outdoor venues
This guidance does not apply to wedding receptions and parties. There are separate public health measures in place for these events.
Public health guidance on gatherings and events
Ceremony venues
All wedding ceremony venues need to comply with public health guidance. This includes
- hotels
- places of worship
- heritage sites
- other hospitality venues
- a private home
It will be their responsibility to ensure that each room or area being used for a ceremony complies with public health guidance.
If your ceremony is taking place at a private venue such as someone’s home, garden or field, it will be the owner and responsible person’s role to ensure that they comply with public health guidance.
Marriage celebrants - religious officials and authorised civil celebrants responsibilities
The person responsible for conducting your ceremony has a legal duty to make sure that the ceremony complies with public health guidance.
If your ceremony does not comply with public health guidance, they can halt or delay the ceremony to take the steps to make sure it is compliant.
If physical distancing requirements are not adhered to or the maximum attendance number is exceeded, the celebrant will refuse to conduct the ceremony until these measures are made.
Temporary Register Office
As the Office of the Superintendent Registrar is currently closed to the public, a temporary Register Office has been created at the Old Magistrate’s Court, Seale Street, St. Helier where small ceremonies can take place. Email
weddings@gov.je for more information.
Number of attendees at a ceremony
The amount of people who can attend your ceremony will be restricted by (a) physical distancing requirements and by (b) a maximum number of attendees who are permitted to be at your ceremony.
The maximum number of people who can attend your wedding is 40 people. This includes:
- the couple getting married
- guests (including children over the age of 3)
- the celebrant or religious official
- photographer
- anyone else assisting with the wedding
Any person attending a wedding ceremony in a location which is their place of work will be excluded from the 40 person limit and will be permitted in addition to the 40 person limit. This includes the:
- religious official leading a ceremony in a Church
- venue staff
Every person attending a ceremony must comply with physical distancing rules in place on the day of the ceremony.
Currently, a physical distance of 2 metres must be maintained between anyone who is not from the same household or from within an individual’s physical bubble.
The size of the room or area where your ceremony is taking place will therefore dictate how many people can safely be present within physical distancing rules.
Your venue will advise you of the number of people that can be in the room or area where your ceremony is taking place (i.e. within physical distancing rules). If you are marrying in a private venue, the owner of the venue must make this assessment.
Separate public requirements apply to gatherings such as wedding receptions, parties etc.
Public health requirements at the ceremony
All aspects of the ceremony must comply with public health requirements.
Mask wearing
Persons attending a ceremony must wear a mask or other mouth and nose covering.
Attendance register
Every person attending a ceremony will be asked to provide their name and contact details in an attendance register. This will allow contact tracing if it is later discovered that one or more attendees had COVID-19.
It's the venue’s responsibility to keep this record of attendance, or if you're marrying at a private venue it is the owner’s responsibility.
Arrival and departure of guests
In line with public venues, ceremonies taking place in private venues must coordinate guests to enter and exit the location in a controlled way and not to congregate in any one area or areas.
Orders of service
Orders of service should be made available to your guests in digital format. If this is not possible, paper copies should be available on chairs or in a pile at the entrance and safely disposed of after the ceremony.
Procession of the bride/groom and bridesmaids/groomsmen
Only persons from the same household can be within 2 metres of one another.
The bride and any person walking with the bride/groom, including bridesmaids and groomsmen and (if relevant) the person giving the bride and groom away, must be 2 metres away from anyone else not in their household.
Exchange of rings
Rings should be held and handled only by the couple. They should not be handed to the couple or handled by any other person at the ceremony.
Live music and performance
Singing, in addition to woodwind and brass music, is strongly discouraged both outdoors and indoors because of the very high risk of dispersing droplets and therefore of spreading infection.
This is particularly important in indoor settings where older members or vulnerable guests are present because of their increased risks from COVID-19.
Signing the legal documentation
Your celebrant/religious official will supply a pen for the signing of documentation.
Your celebrant/religious official will ensure that the pen is wiped down after each person has used it.
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