Your Sussex Wedding - October/November 2020 (Issue 87)

AND THE WINNERS ARE… Picked at random from a group of 15 finalists, Laura and Michael from Bognor Regis have been announced as winners of the Sussex NHS & Carers Wedding Competition. A group of generous Sussex wedding suppliers, along with Cottesmore Hotel Golf & Country Club, have gifted their services to give this lucky couple the big day of their dreams. Laura is a radiographer specialising in breast cancer care and works for Western Sussex Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. Michael proposed in the historic ruins of Reculver, Kent. Laura remembers him being incredibly nervous, and couldn’t work out why he’d brought wine and plastic glasses along for a simple walk in the country. They share their home with their dog, Baxter, who’s gearing up for his role as ring-bearer. Laura and Michael say, “It still hasn’t sunk in. The Sussex wedding team have brought some sparkle and magic into our lives and we can’t wait to start planning our perfect day together. We’re so grateful to everyone involved, volunteering their time and services. Every person who entered the competition is a superstar, and it makes me proud to be part of the NHS family.” THIS JUST IN Worthing-based Hire Your Day offers everything you need for your wedding from chair sashes, vintage crockery and centrepieces, to easels, hay bales, fairylights, lanterns and draping. A little birdy told us to keep an eye on the website as many new products will be arriving over the coming weeks. To celebrate, Hire Your Day is offering a 10 to 20 per cent discount on these items, so hurry over to www.hireyourday.com no w. To the manor born The owners of hugely popular Sussex wedding venue The Ravenswood, have now acquired Highley Manor, Balcombe, in a bid to help couples unable to find a new wedding date after losing their original during lockdown. The venue group, which also includes Crowcombe Court in Somerset and Rushpool Hall in Yorkshire, brought Highley Manor into the fold to ensure the many couples booked at The Ravenswood could all move to a secure date there or to a prime date at this new nearby venue. A spokesperson told us, “We were all too aware that a lot of couples won’t be able to find their dream venue next year, so we wanted to make sure we had something amazing to offer.” Highley is currently being renovated, which includes the addition of a getting ready room and an outside ceremony room. Discover more at www.highleymanor.co.uk GOOD GOLLY! The UK Heritage Awards, hosted by Visit Heritage, honour the very best historic houses, gardens, museums and heritage sites in the country. The winners were recently crowned across 12 categories including Best Wedding Venue, and were adjudicated by a panel of judges. Chichester’s magnificent Goodwood scooped the wedding venue award as joint winners with Victoria Baths in Manchester. This Sussex jewel also claimed the accolade for Outstanding Customer Experience. The judges said, “Goodwood offers a first-class luxury bespoke experience, where you can sit back and be looked after in a superb heritage setting. There are excellent customer reviews and a stunning backdrop for photos.” Find out more at www.ukheritageawards.co.uk an d www.goodwood.com beeholmesphotography.com 10