The event industry has risen from the ashes, with wedding organisers springing into action as venues reopen at full capacity and chefs ease back into the swing of cooking, reflecting a recovery in macroeconomic activity.
As the next step in phased economic reopening plans, Prime Minister Hun Sen on November 12 announced the lifting of a recent 200-person cap on wedding guests, but cautioned that receptions must respect social distancing norms and abide by Ministry of Health guidelines.
Seng Hok Heng Catering Services general manager Touch Ratha told The Post on November 15 that the company managed to have a number of reservations for morning wedding parties, but that bookings exploded 10-fold following the prime minister’s announcement.
He noted that a lack of clarity in the situation surrounding weddings prevented many from taking place. Although acknowledging that restrictions remain, Ratha said the move takes “the right protective measures”.
Things are also looking up for wedding venue reservation businesses.
Te Rangs, who handles reservations for the Leap Mongkul Wedding Place in the capital’s Por Sen Chey district, said bookings have seen a notable increase, especially for year-end parties and others set to kick off 2022, adding that people have tried to schedule overlapping events.
He noted that the building is spacious enough to allow for 1.5-2m social distancing, comprising three sections, each of which can accommodate more than 500 people.
He predicted that activity will pick up even further as vaccination rates climb and the Covid-19 situation improves.
Tom Thany, the owner of the Prornethneary wedding planning company, has also been keeping very busy accommodating her clients, as many seek to reschedule morning ceremonies to full-day events – especially those slated for next month – amid a flurry of new bookings.
The prime minister advised planners only to invite people who have been fully-vaccinated against Covid-19.
“On the other hand, if an individual missed a dose due to a health problem, as recommended by a doctor, then it’d be okay to let them attend.
“But those who [intentionally] avoid the jab should not be invited to weddings because they could be agents of Covid-19 transmission,” Hun Sen said.
