Once the NSW population has reached the 70 per cent double vaccination target, fully vaccinated people will be able to enjoy a range of freedoms.

These freedoms are expected to include being allowed to attend weddings – but not everyone is happy about it.

Previous restrictions that calculated guest capacity under the ‘one person per four square metres’ rule have been scrapped and replaced with a blanket order that applies to every location – big or small.

Under the new, less restrictive rules, small and large premises will be able to host weddings or wedding celebrations, but all premises will be capped at 50 guests.

This new rule has angered industry experts, as they argue that many businesses could accommodate more than 50 people, even with COVID-safe plans in place.

Contrastingly, indoor entertainment and information facilities including cinemas, theatres, galleries and museums have been authorised to operate with one person per four square metres or 75 per cent fixed seated capacity.

This decision has been lampooned by several high-profile businesses, such as Navarra Venues, whose general manager, Giovannino Navarra, has labelled the discrepancy “unfair and discriminatory”.

“Why can’t we reopen at 75 per cent or by calculating how many people will fit under the square meterage rules?” Navarra asked.

“If our employees, suppliers and customers are all vaccinated, what’s the difference between 50 or 500 guests?

“Why penalise those who are responsible for organising the most important event in a person’s lifetime?

“We’re asking the state government to listen to our argument and give NSW residents some relaxation after this long lockdown.”

These sentiments have been echoed by the Doltone House Group, which has invited the NSW government to reconsider its position on weddings.

The group’s executive director, Paul Signorelli, argues that the opportunity to attend a wedding could incentivise people to get vaccinated.

“This could represent an opportunity to support the vaccination campaign,” Signorelli said.

“In fact, engaged couples could convince unvaccinated family and friends to book their vaccine in order to attend the wedding.”

Reconsidering the number of guests allowed at weddings would also help other event-based companies.

Corporate Christmas parties make up a large part of revenue for numerous  event-centric companies, but many fear it is too late for these NSW businesses.

“There isn’t time for large companies to organise celebrations that are usually set up three or four months in advance, “ Signorelli said.

“So we expect a drastic drop in this area too.”

The wedding and events sector faces a slower, more problematic reopening after the 2021 lockdown, as the state government has provided no certainty regarding the likelihood of businesses operating at maximum capacity again.

The entire state is wondering what the new “normal” will look like after 80 per cent of the population has been fully vaccinated; and whether people will be able to attend big events such as weddings or corporate parties with hundreds of guests.