PETALING JAYA: Here come the brides!
Wedding planners are back in business following Malaysia’s move to lift the “veil” on space capacity for events from April 1.
“My phone has been bombarded with enquiries and bookings on a daily basis, especially after the rule relaxation, with people even making bookings for 2023,” said wedding planner Muswati Latif.
These couples, she said, were getting more comfortable with the current situation and slowly easing back into planning for their weddings.
The lifting of restrictions on a 50% capacity limit for venues is part of the government’s plan to transition the country into the endemic phase from April 1.
However, businesses said they would continue to practise precautionary measures to contain the spread of Covid-19.
For example, Muswati said that despite venues being able to operate at full capacity, she still preferred that clients have their guests attend during different time slots to ensure better physical distancing.
“This way, we can minimise the risk of infection during ceremonies while simultaneously increasing the public’s confidence again,” she said, adding that she would educate her clients but the final decision would still depend on them.
Muswati estimated that it would take at least a year for the industry to return towards some semblance of normalcy.
Her company had to increase the price of its services by at least 30% due to the rising costs of raw materials, she added.
“I am thankful that my clients have been understanding of our situation,” Muswati said.
Penang Wedding Professionals Association (PWPA) secretary Evon Lye said there had also been more confirmations from couples “who had previously postponed their weddings due to the pandemic”.
Lye noted that despite relaxations towards capacity restrictions, some couples were more comfortable with smaller-scale celebrations.
“Although the announcement is great news for the industry, the number of daily cases is still a concern,” she said, explaining that weddings were mass social gatherings with the potential to create clusters.
“There are also several hotels that plan to continue maintaining the table limits during functions despite the impending transition towards endemicity,” she said.
She added that PWPA had also advised its members and clients to undergo Covid-19 self-tests prior to and after an event.
“Life still goes on and we have to learn to live with the virus.
“But self-protection is important and we still need to practise adequate physical distancing even though venues are allowed to operate at full capacity,” Lye added.
Wedding Professionals Association of Malaysia director Paul Kong said business was gradually returning for the industry.
“I’ve been working non-stop daily ever since the announcement as many customers who had postponed their weddings are coming back for our services,” he said.Kong added that despite the gradual increase in demand for weddings, other related businesses continued to see slow improvements.
“The demand for custom-made wedding dresses and shoes, among others, is still low as many customers have opted to spend less on them.
“Despite this, we are optimistic that things will improve in the future especially as we transition towards endemicity,” he said.
On March 8 when Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob announced the removal of the 50% capacity limit for event venues, he encouraged organisers to continue imposing physical distancing rules.
