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Sylvester Wong and his fiancee, Leslie, had planned for a big wedding with family and friends on April 25.

Now, they’re rushing down to City Hall to get their marriage licence to elope.

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With wedding venues and catering companies shutting down because of COVID-19, adhering to government orders of social distancing, where does that leave people who had planned on tying the knot?

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“We lost a year and a half of planning that was already hard because we were trying to fit two cultures and everyone’s expectations,” Wong, 39, said Tuesday.

“Just when it was coming together, the epidemic pulled the rug out from under us. We had pressure from all sides to cancel, postpone, continue the wedding, all sorts of opinions.

“We wanted to protect our family and friends and keep them safe, but we are still going to fight for our date.”

Wong said he received an email from their venue, Artscape Wychwood Barns, confirming they would be cancelling all events. The venue refunded their deposit and their caterer and photographer were happy to postpone. However, the couple as well as their guests, are out of money from the hotel they booked.