Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1283588
13 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 30 AUGUST 2020 NEWS as a plated menu, which costs more than a finger food menu at a standard reception." Additionally, COVID-19 rules restrict weddings to 100 people indoors, or 300 outdoors. "This restriction of having such a small number of guests where dance- floors – which make the wed- ding lively – cannot be used, is disheartening couples. Many de- sire quite a large crowd." Briffa estimates the rate of can- celled weddings is lower than 5% of current dos, but at least 60% of weddings have been postponed. The silver lining perhaps is that no guest is obliged to wear a facemask. "I hope this does not become mandatory... it would increase the number of guests not wanting to attend a wed- ding. Instead, sanitisers at ven- ues, mainly at the entrance, the bistro tables and bathrooms, should be widely available." Briffa still advises prospective spouses to "keep calm". "You have two options: either prioritise the marriage, and go ahead with the celebration and start a new chapter in your life; or postpone it to give priority to the event rather than the ac- tual marriage itself, hoping for a better situation. But, in reality, it could get worse!" One of the many couples who suffered the stress of planning a 'pandemic wedding' was X-Fac- tor contestant Yazmin Helledie and fiancé Keith Panelli. Initially planning to postpone, the first wave of COVID-19 seemed to have died down soon after the soft lockdown, and the couple was on course to get hitched in September. But the recent spike in COVID-19 meant they had to postpone once again, after having got so close to the big day. "It was already stressful finding a new date that suited all people involved," Helledie said. Adding to the headache was the fact that airport restrictions made it diffi- cult for Helledie's Danish father to fly over to Malta from Den- mark. And it seems nothing could be worse for a musical couple like Helledie and DJ Panelli than a sit-down wedding. "It's not our style. We have quite a young fun crowd so we'd rather have every- one dancing. We also planned quite a big wedding, so fingers crossed, we'll be back to normal by the end of next year to be able to have the wedding we always dreamed of." Helledie has one piece of ad- vice to couples looking to get married like herself. "Don't let the stress get between your part- ner and yourself, because after all your wedding day with your handsome Prince Charming is a beautiful day that everyone should look forward to in their life." Yazmin Helledie (right) with fiancé Keith Panelli: the musical couple wouldn't dream of not having a reception wedding with a dancefloor Caterer Paul Borg Bonaci (left) and wedding planner Yurgen Briffa: pandemic weddings are headache to organise, and many spouses-to-be are postponing their big, fat Maltese weddings 24 www.gourme oday.recipes Apply Now ...is back Send your details to pzammit@mediatoday.com.mt or call on 99835860 for more information 24 www.gourme oday.recipes Apply Now ...is back Send your details to pzammit@mediatoday.com.mt or call on 99835860 for more information