Look what catches the eye of the editor with a special emphasis on local wedding businesses, shops and suppliers.
Fate seemed to draw Marite and Artis to each other. “One week before we met, Marite recorded a video of someone singing at an open mic, which later turned out to be a video of me,” says Artis. “So, in a way, our story began before we officially met. We actually met at Marite’s friend’s birthday party, where I ended up by sheer coincidence as some people who I met during the day at a Couchsurfing meetup invited me to come along. At the party, I met a lot of friendly people, and soon we all started meeting up more frequently, going on trips and hikes together. Initially, neither of us were romantically interested in the other. But as we spent time together, we had the chance to get to know each other better, slowly and naturally, without the pressure of dating. I started to get interested in Marite and asked her out on a date, but she was not interested in a relationship at that point. Things started to change when we went on a trip to Greece with a small group of friends. That’s when we got into deeper conversations and discovered each other’s core values and personalities. We realised how similar our views on life were and couldn’t stop talking the whole trip. Not long after returning from Greece, while making burritos at home together, we decided to give our relationship a chance.”
Artis proposed on the couple’s fifth anniversary in Greece, where they first had those meaningful conversations. “We had a wonderful dinner at a restaurant, after which we went up the nearby hill to a small viewpoint overlooking a village in Meteora under the open night sky,” shares the groom. “It was a very beautiful and meaningful place for us. Marite suspected the proposal because it was an unusual amount of planning by me. She later told me that she was also keeping her expectations low in case it didn’t happen. When I proposed, I was very nervous. Nobody else was around, but exactly when I asked the question, a motorcycle honked as it passed by. She replied, ‘Of course, yes!’ We stayed up on the hill, reflecting on our life journey together and looking forward to a new chapter in our future.”
See more from their wedding in the current issue. Download your free copy at www.yourkent.wedding/free-download
Aisling and Liam met during their first week at dance school. “Liam was in his first year of the course and I was doing the foundation year,” says Aisling. “We met at a house party and were friends for about eight months before starting a relationship.”
Liam popped the question at home after the couple had been together just over 10 years. “It was a huge surprise,” shares the bride. “I’d been away for the weekend and then went straight to work, but when I got home I found Liam had decorated our flat with candles, lights, rose petals and Polaroids of us throughout our relationship. I looked at all of them, and when I got to the last one, he kneeled down behind me with a ring.”
See more from their wedding in the current issue. Download your free copy at www.yoursouthwales.wedding/free-download
Amber Cox from Weddings with Amber Cox worked with a team of local suppliers to create this wintry styled shoot at Minstrel Court. Amber tells us: “We wanted to create a stunning winter themed shoot, showing that even if you’re having a wedding near Christmas, it doesn’t need to be full of reindeer and snow. Keeping it some-what traditional with red and green hues, we tied in glitter tablecloths and pearls that brought that extra winter sparkle. The golden hour in the gorgeous winter sunshine was the perfect backdrop for a champagne spray.”
See more from the shoot in the current issue. Download your free copy at www.youreastanglian.wedding/free-download
Broadoaks Country House Hotel, the setting for this styled shoot, is the perfect location for an exclusive wedding event. The property is nestled in the heart of the Lake District, which was the first national park in the UK to receive Unesco Heritage Site status in 2017.
The team at Broadoaks Country House Hotel tells us more: “With the ideal mixture of traditional and luxe, Broadoaks Country House Hotel has recently had lots of love poured back into the venue, making the most gorgeous setting for your dream wedding. We ensure that your wedding day will be one that you and your guests will remember for years to come with dedicated service, delicious food and, of course, a venue that’s exclusively yours for the day! With its picturesque views, there is no better place to tie the knot! Our wedding team is flexible with private tours, working around a time that suits you and your calendar. On our private venue tours, you will be able to see the hotel in all its beauty as well as have the chance to discuss all your wedding plans and ideas with our specialist team.”
See more from this styled shoot in the current issue. Download your free copy at www.yournorthwest.wedding/free-download
Georgia Bride is a local wedding stationer and the founder of &received studio based in Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire offering bespoke place name illustrations and a variety of wedding invites. Check out her fashionable designs in our latest issue available to download now for FREE!
How cute are these little beauties available to book for a wedding through Lakemoor Alpacas Dartmoor. Alpacas Juniper, Silversky and Hagrid are photographed here outside Bovey Castle in Devon at the December wedding of Elizabeth and Kyle which included an alpaca walk inside the castle. Guests got to hand-feed carrots to them, stroke them and take photographs. Read more in the current issue that's available to download now for FREE!
This editorial shoot took place at Baddow Park. The brief was to create a long weekend wedding for those couples wanting the keep the party flowing from Friday night to Sunday lunch! A venue like Baddow Park really feels like your own country pad for the weekend! And what's best you can have so many outfit changes! Who needs one bridal gown when you can have three?
See more images from tis shoot at: An Essex Wedding - January/February 2025 (Issue 120)
N2 Sweet Lab, based in Maidstone, Kent, has a passion for chocolate, cakes and desserts. The company offers a range of delicious treats that would make wonderful favours or thank you gifts. The owners, Ned and Nina, tell us: “During the pandemic we had a lot of free time and decided to dedicate it to chocolate. It started out as making desserts, cakes and of course, our favourite chocolates. Slowly we gained popularity, and interest grew, and so did the orders. As demand continued to grow, we decided it was time that our love for chocolate took a physical form outside of our home. In September, N2 Sweet Lab opened its doors and invited all chocolate lovers, be it big or small, to join us in our passion of enjoying bonbons, bespoke cakes and treats suited for celebrations and even the smallest occasions. Our love for chocolate inspired us to create something that would bring others joy and let us be a part of every special moment that marks their life."
Meet more local companies in the current issue. Download your free copy at www.yourkent.wedding/free-download
Rebecca Burt is a jewellery designer based out of her studio in Canton, Cardiff, where she creates textural organic jewellery from silver, gold and gemstones. Working on one-off pieces, small stock collections, commissions and remodels, her jewellery aesthetic features carefully selected gemstones with playful colour gradients.
“My pieces are all influenced by having a directional quality that captures movement and a sense of flow, using mark-making and building up silver grains to create wearable pieces of jewellery,” says Rebecca. “Everything is made and crafted by my hands, allowing for no two pieces to be exactly the same, giving each piece its own individual personality!”
Meet more local suppliers in our Handmade in South Wales feature in the current issue. Download your free copy at www.yoursouthwales.wedding/free-download
Katy and James met through work and quickly became friends. “We got in touch again a few years later and that initial friendship meant we just felt comfortable together, but it was still so exciting,” says Katy. “I just remember on the first date non-stop smiling and being big kids together at the funfair.”
James proposed on a beach in Hastings, in the same spot where the couple met for their first date. “He had put together a treasure hunt, which led us to discover the ‘treasure’ aka the engagement ring and he popped the question,” shares the bride. “The whole day had been so thoughtfully planned out – it was such a surprise that he had kept very well hidden.”
See more from their wedding in the current issue. Download your free copy at www.youreastanglian.wedding/free-download
Lucy and Robin met in August 2020. “It sounds cheesy, but we both just knew,” says Lucy. “We were inseparable from the start.”
Robin popped the question while the couple were exploring the island of La Digue in the Seychelles. “It was a dream destination and somewhere we had both been wanting to visit for a long time,” shares the bride. “We did some island hopping, and unbeknownst to me, Robin had a plan to propose at sunset on the beautiful Anse Source d’Argent Beach on the little island of La Digue. His plan was scuppered by a tropical storm that night, unfortunately, so we had an early sunrise trip back to the beach the next morning. We had the beach to ourselves and we were exploring the amazing scenery when he asked me to marry him on one knee in a little cove surrounded by boulders. I was taken by total surprise and we were both in tears.”
See more from their wedding in the current issue. Download your free copy at www.yournorthwest.wedding/free-download
Sammi is the owner of the award-winning mobile hair extension business Rose Elle Hair Extensions based in Marlow, Buckinghamshire. Read her top tips for having hair extensions in the latest issue available to download now for FREE!
Congratulations to The Tartan Fox by Adam Handling which has been added to the Michelin Guide. It's on my list to visit! Turn to page 49 of the new issue available to download now for FREE to read all about it!
Alice and Stuart became Mr and Mrs Tyler on 1st August 2024 at Houchins. Ally looked beautiful, she describes her look, "I wore a Stella York dress. I never thought I’d pick that style of dress but then when I tried it on I knew straight away that it was my dress. I wore a veil which was so long which made me feel like a princess!" See more of this wedding at: An Essex Wedding - January/February 2025 (Issue 120)
Carly from Bridal Boutique at Chilham tells us the latest fashion trends.
"Bridal fashion continues to evolve, with 2025 embracing trends that balance timeless elegance with fresh, modern details. Designers that are popular at the moment include Milla Nova, Love Story London, Paloma Blanca and Eva Lendel, who blend classic sophistication with contemporary flair perfectly. Brides are gravitating towards dresses with luxurious fabrics, impeccable tailoring and romantic designs that feel both fashion-forward and classically beautiful.
"Among the standout trends we are being asked for a lot is a return to simple, elegant styles. Clean lines, minimalist silhouettes, and subtle details are redefining bridalwear, proving that less is often more. Crepe and satin gowns with sleek cuts and modest necklines are particularly sought after, offering an understated yet breathtaking aesthetic that lets the bride shine.
"Subtle embellishments are adding just the right touch of glamour to these pared-back designs. Bows, buttons, and pearls are dominating bridal collections, creating delicate accents that feel luxe. Oversized bows, either on the back of the dress or as detachable accessories, are perfect for brides looking to make a dramatic statement. Covered buttons, running elegantly down the back of gowns or on long sleeves, are a nod to vintage charm. Pearls, meanwhile, are appearing in unexpected ways, from scattered embellishments on veils to intricate beading on bodices, adding a touch of sparkle without overwhelming the simplicity.
"This combination of modern minimalism and thoughtful detailing ensures that today’s brides have a wide variety of options to suit every personal style while staying on-trend."
See more top tips in the current issue. Download your free copy at www.yourkent.wedding/free-download
Jayne Nevins from Camille Accessories shares her trend predictions for 2025.
"As an accessories designer, I follow the trends with a passion because my work serves to complement wedding gown styles. My predictions for 2025 are:
"Individuality and bespoke designs. Unique pieces that add a personal touch to a wedding and emphasise the bride’s individuality.
"Layered pearl necklaces that will work perfectly with the new corseted basque waist ballgown style dresses that we’ve already seen on many runways.
"Oversized earrings are still en vogue and can make a statement on their own without the need for any other accessories.
"Pearls galore! They’re still everywhere, on veils, bags and shoes. Pearls of every size and description, from the larger baroque pearls to the traditional classic string of pearls, remain as the accessory must-have for brides-to-be."
See more top tips in the current issue. Download your free copy at www.yoursouthwales.wedding/free-download
Hannah from Coco & Pearl tells us her wedding dress trend predictions for 2025.
"The mix-and-match approach offers a level of customisation that appeals to modern brides. It’s a trend that allows more flexibility in tailoring the top and bottom to the bride’s unique shape. Why not opt for a separate top for the ceremony and a chic, easier-to-move- in option for the reception, so you can dance the night away?
"The return of the princess-inspired ballgown is a beautiful twist on traditional bridal fashion. Layered skirts will allow brides to embrace drama, volume, and a sense of fairytale magic, all while adding a modern flair."
Head over to our Bridal Boutiques feature in the current issue to see more trend predictions. Download your free copy at www.youreastanglian.wedding/free-download
Charlotte Mills creates bridal shoes that are handcrafted with love and designed so you can not only treasure them forever but also wear them again and again. The company offers a range of block heel wedding shoes, in standard and wide-fit, and even has multiple heel height options to choose from.
Every pair of Charlotte Mills’ handcrafted shoes bears delicately embossed words on the luxurious leather soles, which have fast become the Manchester-based brand’s signature mark.
Charlotte tells us more: “With each purchase, a glittering silver sixpence will become your something old; the shoes are, of course, your something new; the luxury envelope we include is your something borrowed; and, finally, the exquisite blue detailing of our shoes’ in-sock will become your something blue.
“Wielding an innate desire to create shoes that endlessly delight and inspire (not to mention steal brides’ hearts across the globe), I have been applauded throughout the industry for my scrupulous attention to detail, my inherent ability to infuse my designs with a playful spirit and sense of romance and, most importantly, my designs’ tried and tested comfortable fit. Each and every style is carefully crafted utilising the very finest of materials and the most celebrated of skills. The aforementioned signature details are hand-finished, adding that final flourishing touch to a special shoe for an equally special day.”
In 2023, Charlotte launched The Aisle Edit. Housed at the company’s Manchester headquarters in a converted church. The Aisle Edit is the UK’s only bridal department store working with only female-founded brands.
See more of the latest trends in our Handmade in the North West feature in the current issue. Download your free copy at www.yournorthwest.wedding/free-download
Check out the latest news from Mill End Hotel and more on page nine of the latest issue available to download now for FREE! This delicious afternoon tea served at the luxurious Devon country house property is a must-book to celebrate Valentine's Day.
I was so lucky to be invited to The Store, a boutique hotel located in the heart of Oxfordshire. The spa here is outstanding and it's the ideal place for a pre-wedding pamper, first-night stay or a mini-moon. Read all about it in the latest issue available to download now for FREE!
