Outdoor weddings allowed to take place from June 8
Large retailers such as car showrooms and shops in retail parks will also be allowed to reopen, ministers said, having met to review lockdown rules.
First Minister Arlene Foster said the executive would confirm the changes after it meets on 4 June.
Ministers want to ensure the R-number remains below one before lifting restrictions further.
Some measures have already been eased by ministers, as part of a five-step recovery plan.
But Stormont’s leaders stress they will only move slowly, in order to monitor the R-number – the average number of people that one coronavirus-infected person will pass the virus on to.
“It is still below one, but it is not far away from one,” warned the first minister.
Although Mrs Foster said she understood how important it was for everyone to see as much “gradual process towards normality as possible”, she said a decision on whether to allow people to visit relatives indoors had again been deferred.
Meanwhile, the health department announced there had been two more coronavirus-linked deaths in NI since Wednesday, bringing its total number of deaths to 518. A further 412 deaths have been recorded across the UK, taking its total to 37,460.
The latest announcement by the executive means Northern Ireland could move into some parts of step two of its Pathway to Recovery.
The decisions agreed by the executive on Thursday, which will provisionally start from 8 June, include:
Small weddings and civil partnership ceremonies permitted outdoors, with no more than 10 people present
Outdoor sports courts, horse trainers and dog groomers can reopen
Hotels will be able to take advance bookings, for when they can reopen again
Large non-food retailers can reopen, including car showrooms, electrical shops and phone shops
In England, all non-essential retailers can open from 15 June.
The announcement will hopefully provide clarity to the public and “ease the burden”, said Deputy First Minister Michelle O’Neill.
Both ministers stressed that shops could only reopen in line with physical distancing measures, and that the Department for the Economy will set out further guidance next week.
Shops will not be forced to reopen from June, but it will be an indication to them that it is safe to do so, added Ms O’Neill.
However, the executive said it was not able to give a definitive date yet for the reopening of hotels.
Mrs Foster also addressed the issue of people attending funerals, where only 10 people are currently permitted.
“We recognise it is not easy when people are grieving, to abide by these rules,” said the first minister.
But she said police were investigating reports of larger numbers of mourners attending funerals, adding that files would be sent to the Public Prosecution Service.
Ms O’Neill said she recognised many people had made personal sacrifices, but stressed that the regulations would not remain in force for any longer than necessary.
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