Covid 19 coronavirus: bride criticizes Australian wedding restrictions as ‘blatant prejudice’

A future wife has started a petition urging Australian state governments to reconsider their restrictions around weddings, calling it “blatant prejudice” that prevented her from moving into her new home.

Annalisa Mastrofilippo, 24, told news.com.au that she started the Change.org petition, which has collected thousands of signatures, “out of frustration and to give a voice to everyone in my position.”

The petition calls on the government to ease coronavirus restrictions on weddings and allow couples to marry as they see fit.

“For too long couples have been left in the dark without road maps and the end in sight. This is the most important day of my life and I want it to be perfect and everyone deserves to have their wedding done as they wish”, Mastrofilippo said.

She said she and her fiancé, from Sydney, had to cancel their wedding scheduled for August this year and move to April 2021. But she said the disruption has come at a financial cost, has been emotionally charged and has caused other practical problems. .

“In our culture and with my religious values, there are so many things that cannot happen until we get married, we cannot move together to the house we have bought, we cannot go on vacation and we can” Not start a family, which is the most important to us, “he said.

Mastrofilippo added that the limit of wedding guests in New South Wales has also caused him problems.

She said the 150-person limit in NSW meant that “we can’t invite all of our close family members, let alone friends. My fiance and I are very fortunate that we come from large Italian families with multiple generations. Do I tell a relative? Can they come and another relative who can’t? “

“This has been the most stressful and emotional thing we’ve ever experienced, people think it’s easy to put off a wedding and tell their family and friends that they can’t come and put their future on hold while people can go out to the races and shopping malls. and food courts and restaurants, etc. “

“By the logic of these restrictions, I could tell my 350 guests to meet me at the pub after my ceremony and that would be fine. I think if there was an outbreak, there is a better chance of it occurring in a footy game.”

He said he was lucky that their wedding venue, Navarra Venues, had been supportive throughout the ordeal.

The petition initiated by the bride-to-be demands that prime ministers of state “open our weddings” and has gathered thousands of signatures in just a few days. At the time of publication there were 600 signatures.

“Australian brides and grooms can no longer bear this blatant prejudice towards the wedding industry,” the petition demands.

“It’s time for all of Australia to come together and give couples the day they have planned and deserve!”

“We need to make a change! Let Australian weddings get back to normal ahead of these inconsiderate Covid-19 restrictions! Including pre-wedding church numbers, celebrations and receptions at home!”

Mastrofilippo also disagreed with the ban on particular activities at weddings, including dancing, singing, and limits on the number of guests (this varies from state to state).

Mastrofilippo said that part of his frustration was due to the fact that people in New South Wales can currently visit “shopping malls, restaurants, racetracks, bars and pubs, all of which are full of strangers, but I cannot allow my guests join me at my wedding, which in my opinion is a much more secure and controlled environment compared to everything else that I listed. “