An engaged couple say their wedding day has been left in ruins by the government’s decision to move the early May bank holiday to coincide with the 75th anniversary of VE Day.
As Ent Daily reported, Britons are set for three days of street parties as the bank holiday moves from Monday May 4 to Friday May 8 to enable people to pay tribute to those who fought in the Second World War.
However, Simon Aherne and Anna Cousins from Cardiff are two people who certainly won’t be celebrating as the move could cost them thousands.
They told the BBC that they had booked their wedding to coincide with the bank holiday as most of their friends and family are teachers or in the entertainment industry and they will now struggle to get the time off work to attend the wedding.
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The groom-to-be, who is a teacher, said: “We have invited more than 100 people, but it looks like we might barely get 20 now. If we have to cancel, we are going to lose our deposits – we are talking thousands of pounds.”
The pair were due to get married the day before the traditional bank holiday Monday. However, some social media users have said that they should “suck it up”.
One added: “If your guests don’t come because they have to go to work the next day, they were only ever in it for the free booze and not to share your happiness.”
The couple have booked a venue in Gloucestershire for their nuptials and now say they’re “sitting here wondering what we are going to do”.
They have also booked their caterers and sent out invitations to friends and family.
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Revealing that a number of their family members had served in the military, Simon said that he and his bride-to-be – who works in PR – both wanted to respect the anniversary, but added that the government could’ve given Brits more notice of the bank holiday move.
He said: “How can the Government just chuck this on people with 11 months to go? They have had time to prepare and could have given people a lot more notice.”
The government said it had made the decision and announced the news “as soon as practicable”.
VE Day – or Victory in Europe Day – took place on May 8 1945, when Allied Forces formally accepted Germany’s surrender. It marked the end of history’s bloodiest ever battle.
Announcing the date change, Business Secretary Greg Clark said: “Moving next year’s early May bank holiday to VE Day itself is a right and fitting tribute.”
He added: “It will ensure as many people as possible have the opportunity to remember and honour our heroes of the Second World War and reflect on the sacrifices of a generation.”
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