Small wedding ceremonies will be allowed in NSW under new COVID-19 safety rules.

Health Minister Brad Hazzard has signed an amendment to the Public Health Order to allow small wedding services, but not a gathering afterwards, to take place in NSW from Friday 3 September 2021.

Under the Order, a small wedding is a wedding of no more than five guests plus the wedding party (the two people getting married, two witnesses required for the marriage, one person conducting the service, and one person to record the wedding).

There are a number of restrictions concerning who may attend the wedding service:

• a person who lives in Greater Sydney cannot attend a wedding service, as part of the wedding party or as a guest, outside of Greater Sydney
• a person who lives in regional NSW can only attend a wedding in Greater Sydney if they are part of the wedding party or the parent, child or sibling of one of the persons getting married
• a person who lives in Greater Sydney, but not in an area of concern, can only attend a wedding in an area of concern if they are part of the wedding party or the parent, child or sibling of one of the persons getting married
• a person who lives in an area of concern can only attend a wedding outside the area of concern in which they live if they are part of the wedding party or the parent, child or sibling of one of the persons getting married.

Small weddings may be held outdoors, but not in domestic households. Premises that can currently be open for a funeral can also be open for a small wedding.

Gatherings or receptions following the wedding service are not permitted.

For the latest information on COVID-19, please visit the NSW Government website.