Engaged couple’s wedding plans go ‘out of the window’ following May bank holiday change

Couple question lack of notice from government

Rustic wedding bouquet (Getty Images)

An engaged couple say their wedding is under threat due to changes to next year’s early May bank holiday.

The UK government recently announced that the early May Day bank holiday will be moved back four days next year from Monday 4 May - Friday 8 May to coincide with the 75th anniversary of VE Day, or Victory in Europe Day.

The May Day bank holiday is traditionally held on a Monday but will be postponed to the Friday and form part of a three-day weekend of commemorative events.

However, Simon Aherne and Anna Cousins say the lack of information surrounding the change of date has put their wedding day into question.

The engaged pair plan to get married at Kingscote Barn in Gloucestershire on Sunday 3 May - the day before the traditional bank holiday Monday.

On Saturday, the couple learned of the change of bank holiday which has meant their original plans have gone “out of the window”.

"Most of our family are teachers or in the entertainment business - so the bank holiday worked out perfectly for us," Mr Aherne told the BBC.

“Now we are just sitting here wondering what we are going to do."

Bride getting ready (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

The teacher said that they respected the move to mark the VE Day anniversary but failed to understand the lack of warning to the bank holiday change.

"How can the government just chuck this on people with 11 months to go?” Aherne asked.

“They have had time to prepare and could have given people a lot more notice.”

The husband-to-be explained that he and his fiancée have invited more than 100 people to the wedding but are concerned they will now only have around 20 attendees given the change of bank holiday.

"If we have to cancel, we are going to lose our deposits - we are talking thousands of pounds,” Aherne added.

Since news of the couple’s predicament came to light, a petition has been launched calling for the government to keep the traditional May bank holiday the same.

The petition has so far garnered over 380 signatures at the time of publishing.

Greg Clark, the secretary of state for business, energy and industrial strategy, said moving the bank holiday was a "right and fitting tribute".

"VE Day marked an historic moment in not only our nation's but the world's history and it is important that we commemorate this great occasion on its 75th anniversary,” Clarke said.

"Honouring those who did their duty - whether on the battlefields of Europe or through their efforts and sacrifices here at home."

The bank holiday will move in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, but not necessarily in Scotland as bank holidays are devolved to Holyrood.

This isn’t the first time the May Day bank holiday has been moved.

It was first changed from 1 May to 8 May in 1995 to mark the 50th anniversary of VE Day.