‘New marriage law part of recipe for success’
NEW marriage laws and the appeal of staycations have created a recipe for success in encouraging couples to marry on any day of the week, on any island in the Bailiwick, at any time.
That is the belief of Annette Henry, who has 25 years’ experience as a local tour guide and has recently qualified to become a civil celebrant.
‘I can see so many benefits of combining tourism with tying the knot,’ she told the Guernsey Press.
‘Sadly, tourism has seen a steady downward trend over the years, largely due to cheaper flights abroad, but after the year we have all experienced many people are becoming more interested in short-haul destinations and less stress when planning their holiday.’
The Bailiwick is therefore an obvious place to experience beauty, diversity, history and uniqueness.
Mrs Henry said the islands need to look at fresh ideas in encouraging visitors to our shores.
‘During the last year, when permitted, all the islands saw a huge surge in staycations, with islanders enjoying being reconnected with their own Bailiwick and realising exactly what amazing places we have right on our own doorstep.
‘Combine this with the new marriage laws, which have come into practice this month, and we have a recipe for success in encouraging couples to marry on any day of the week, on any island, at any time of the day.’
By promoting this, she believed the Bailiwick could become an incredibly popular wedding destination, with friends and family enjoying a break while also celebrating the marriage of the happy couple.
‘Hotels, restaurants, tourist attractions and tour guides, together with coach companies, cafes and local events, all potentially seeing a surge in visitor numbers,’ she added.
As a qualified civil celebrant, she was very excited at the thought of legally marrying couples in the most wonderful, imaginative places, showcasing all the Bailiwick has to offer.
