A COUPLE who say getting married "means everything" have suffered a series of setbacks in their wedding plans due to Covid-19.

Kristina Horne and Stuart Rodgers were due to marry at Southover Grange in Lewes last May.

The couple from Portslade say it is unfair they have been told to pay their Marriage Notice fee again, now they have rescheduled for April.

The fee is a statutory payment which every couple has to make when they give notice of their marriage or civil partnership, at least 28 days prior to their wedding date.

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Kristina and Stuart paid the £70 fee to Brighton and Hove City Council last January and originally rescheduled their wedding for October, but were then told they could only have six people at the ceremony - including themselves and the registrar.

Kristina, 36, said: "Obviously we weren't able to go ahead with our wedding in May after Covid hit and we went into lockdown.

"When we rebooked for October 25, we were told we could only have three guests and the room they were going to put us in was also not the one I'd booked.

"We understand the Covid restrictions of course and have got our guest numbers down to 12 and rescheduled for April.

"We gave Brighton council notice of our marriage last January but now they're saying we have to pay the full £70 again.

"I was told before they were speaking to management about waiving the fee.

"I just don't think it's very fair."

Kristina, who was previously working full time at a care home, had to leave her job in August last year to care for Stuart, who has suffered with mental health problems.

The couple had already lost a £200 deposit when they had to cancel their honeymoon and are now receiving Universal Credit.

Kristina said: "It might not sound like a lot for some people but it is when you're on benefits.

"I'm a registered carer for my partner but I'm going back to do some bank shifts in care.

"The hotel we'd booked in Blackpool for our honeymoon, where we had our first holiday together, was a small family business. I wouldn't expect them to fund our deposit.

"We had already spent near on £500 on the ceremony. We believe we should either pay a reduced fee or not have to pay at all."

Kristina said the wedding means "everything" to her and Stuart, who have known each other for about 15 years and became a couple three years ago.

She said: "It's something we both thought would never happen. I've always felt like a bit of a black sheep.

"It means everything to us to be married."

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A council spokesman said: “We sympathise with everyone who has been forced to, or chosen to, delay weddings and civil ceremonies because of the Covid-19.

“We have worked extremely hard to lessen the significant impact that the pandemic has had on weddings and civil partnership ceremonies, as well as other areas of our registration service.

"We have rescheduled free of charge and refunded ceremony fees fully without penalty. We have also been helping local hospitality venues by extending their licences to host ceremonies by an additional 12 months.

“The Marriage Notice fee of £35 per person is a statutory fee for a legal process, set by government. This notice lasts for 12 months and requires an hour long in-person appointment with council staff.

“Unfortunately, this fee is not one we are able to waive at this time.”