As lockdown eases and weddings start taking place again, Cornish business CherryTop Weddings is tapping into a trend for couples using technology to bring in-person and virtual guests together.
Many couples getting married during lockdown relied on technology to help them celebrate with friends and family who could not be there in person. Wedding industry experts believe that the use of technology in weddings is a trend that is here to stay.
Weddings and receptions with up to 15 attendees can take place from April 12. That number increases to 30 from May 17 and the Government has indicated that, subject to certain public health criteria being met, all limits will be removed from weddings from June 21.
“I expect hybrid weddings – with guests attending in-person and others joining virtually – will continue to be popular,” said Hazel Parsons, wedding organiser from Out of the Ordinary Weddings in Cornwall.
“The pandemic has accelerated the adoption of technology in many areas of our lives, and weddings are no exception. Live streaming has helped couples getting married in lockdown to share their celebrations with family and friends who are unable to attend in person. Even after coronavirus restrictions are lifted, I expect that trend to continue.”
One business that is tapping into this trend is Truro-based family business CherryTop Weddings.
General manager Alex Ridd said: “Although the idea for CherryTop Weddings came before Covid-19, the interactive experience we have developed meets Covid-19 safety rules and is a perfect way to bring together guests who attend in person and guests who join virtually. It injects fun and brings people together no matter the size of wedding and if everyone is in the same room or not.”
There are two elements to CherryTop Weddings’ experience: printed personalised Love Story booklets with activities and games for guests to enjoy, and an online interactive ‘Wedding Wall’, where guests can take part in activities, share their photographs, well wishes and watch a live stream.
“When we were developing CherryTop Weddings we had several things in mind,” Ridd added.
“We wanted to allow couples to inject their own personality, which they can do by using their own photos and selecting and creating the games and activities that appeal to them. We also wanted to make it easy. Technology should enhance a couple’s special day, not detract from it.
CherryTop Weddings’ bespoke content management system has been developed in conjunction with Newquay-based technology company Flowmoco.
