A wedding DJ fears it could take at least a year for the industry to recover from the coronavirus pandemic.
Chris Dye, 44, who appears as the “Ultimate Wedding DJ,” said the wedding industry has been one of the worst hit by the crisis and is unlikely to pick up again until next year at the earliest.
Chris of Chester-le-Street, County Durham is currently on the Self Employed Income Support Scheme, but the government has announced that the next round of funding will be the last.
He calls for more long-term help to those in the industry as it rebuilds from the pandemic.
He said, “It’s been three months or less for most companies, but it’s much longer for the wedding industry.
“Additionally, we lost the months of July and August, which can account for 60% or more of wedding bookings for the year.
“Even before the lockdown was announced, many bookings had been postponed and requests for future weddings practically came to a standstill.
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“Within four days, I personally lost bookings worth more than a month.
“Moving dates has given businesses in the wedding industry a lifeline, but it still means we’ve lost a lot of work.
“Most weddings take place on Fridays and Saturdays, and for most suppliers they are at full capacity for most of the year. While the postponement means there will be a lot going on in 2021, losses in 2020 will not be made up in any way.”
Because most wedding companies are mobile, work from home, and use storage, many companies have been left without assistance.
Weddings for up to 30 people are allowed in England on July 4th. However, as social distancing measures continue to be in place, couples continue to postpone their big day.
He said: “With the lockdown in Leicester, people don’t want to plan their weddings because people may not be able to travel.
“I don’t think people are interested in organizing their weddings if they can’t hug their family and friends. It’s about togetherness and people want to hug and kiss. “
A Treasury Department spokesman said: “We are committed to helping the self-employed, and our Self-Employment Income Support Program (SEISS) is one of the most generous in the world.
“SEISS has helped more than two million people and has expanded so that eligible people can now qualify for a second and final grant in August.
“In addition, our wide range of other support is also helping people affected by coronavirus – including income tax deferrals, £ 1 billion extra assistance for renters, access to three-month mortgage vacation, business rate relief, grants, and bounce-back loans that come in.” Offer interest-free support for the first 12 months.
“As the economy re-opens, we will continue to examine how we can tailor our assistance to get people back to work, protecting both the UK economy and the livelihoods of people across the country.”