An engaged couple got an unwanted wedding present yesterday – $1,000 in fines for a breach of Covid-19 safety regulations at their pre-marriage celebrations.

Traci Woolridge, 38, and Dennis Joell, landed in Magistrates' Court after they held a bridal shower and bachelor party on the same night.

But the May 16 event at Woolridge’s home in Happy Valley Road, Pembroke broke the rule that no more than ten people could attend a party.

Woolridge and Joell, 38, of East Shore Road, Sandys, pleaded guilty to the offence when they appeared before magistrate Maxanne Anderson.

Victoria Greening, who represented Joell, explained that the couple had organised separate parties at different venues, but planned to swap over venues halfway through the evening.

Ms Greening said that Joell and his friends arrived at his fiancee’s house before Woolridge and her group had had time to leave.

She added: “For those few minutes there were more than ten people in the house.”

Ms Anderson fined the couple $500 each and gave them a three month conditional discharge.

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