Wedding tourism on the rise in Guernsey

Wednesday 28 July 2021

A civil celebrant and long-time tour guide is seeing increased interest in Guernsey as the ideal wedding destination.

Annette Henry has been a Tour Guide in Guernsey for 25 years and has more recently become a legal celebrant, opening up her business to wedding tours.

“With everything that has happened in the last couple of years, I think there is more opportunity for visitors to consider the Bailiwick as opposed to going further afield,” she said, referring to new marriage laws that came into effect on 1 March.

People can now get married at a variety of venues as opposed to just in a church or at the Greffe. It also means that people can legally marry on any day of the week and at any time of the day.

“I’m now seeing an increase in visitors doing a reccy, scouting us out to see what we have, with the potential of getting married here next year,” she said.

Pictured: Ms Henry does wedding tours in all the islands of the Bailiwick.

The uptick in interest has seen Ms Henry confirm her first couple for 2022.

“A couple approached me a few weeks ago after getting engaged at the Little Chapel last year,” she said. “They’re now planning to get married here next year.”

Wedding tourism not only benefits the celebrants and reception venues, it can have a knock on effect to other industry areas.

“Not only are people interested in getting married here, but they’re also encouraging their friends and family to come over for a staycation – this will increase revenue for lots of other people.”

Pictured: “The beauty of the new marriage law, unlike Jersey and the UK, is that the celebrant can marry a couple anywhere, at anytime, on any day,” said Ms Henry.

It’s not only weddings that could prove fruitful to the island, Ms Henry said it could also be seen as a more “mature” spot for hen and stag dos.

“Even saying that, we don’t mind the demographics, we just want people to come over here and enjoy the island,” she said.

Visit Guernsey actively promotes the island as a wedding destination, with a directory available ONLINE.

Additionally, Ms Henry takes bookings for wedding tours on her website.