Your Hampshire and Dorset Wedding - Page number 9 - May/June 2021 (Issue 86)

All the latest from around the region NEWS Nearlywed RAISE A GLASS Let the fun be-gin! Now’s the time to get out your diaries and book in some fun activities in the lead-up to the big day. With restrictions easing, there’s a full list of courses and tastings in the pipeline with the Hampshire Wine School so you can raise a glass, or three, either virtually or in real time. There are 62 tastings available to choose from including face-to- face tastings starting with their best-selling Saturday ‘Intro to Wine’ with lunch and champagne on 22 nd May, from 11am to 4pm at St James Tavern in Winchester. To grab your spot, visit www.hampshirewineschool.com If spirits are more your thing there’s a range of gin, rum, whisky and cocktail tasting evenings coming up too, as well as food and wine pairing workshops, what’s not to love? NEW VENUE ALERT If you’re looking to celebrate the great outdoors on your big day, check out this exciting new venue. The team behind the recently relaunched Silent Woman Inn in the heart of Wareham Forest, has set up a new wedding and events space, showcasing two of Coastal Tents’ giant tipis. Operations director Rob Barr, explains, “With COVID-19 impacting so many aspects of our lives, we have worked hard to provide a secure wedding and events venue along with a flexible system if couples do need to change dates.” Bookings for 2021 and 2022 are available now and the venue will be holding an open day on June 6 th along with local wedding and events suppliers. To mark the launch the company offered couples the chance to win a wedding reception at the venue and the winners Andy Barber and Hayley Dent have now been announced. General manager at Wareham Forest Weddings and Events Danielle Brown said, “We are so excited to be working with local suppliers to not only create a venue and space to showcase the beauty of Wareham Forest but also to give the lucky couple the chance to celebrate with us free of charge.” To find out more about the venue, visit www.warehamforestweddings.com 21 years young Hampshire-based Makeovers by Melinda has reached a major milestone. Owner Melinda Hollis is celebrating 21 years of the business and to mark the coming of age she’s introducing a raft of new initiatives including a fresh new outlook on wellbeing. She explains, “I’m offering a more holistic wedding service which will not only include hair and make-up and select beauty treatments as usual, but will also be focusing on the bride’s wellbeing, and their partner too if they want. I’ve been working with and using essential oils and supplements for six years now, firstly to help keep me healthy and I have been introducing them to my clients who love them too.” During the pre-wedding consultation and trials Melinda likes to get to know her brides from the outside in. “We often discuss health issues or challenges that they have, it can be physical, mental or emotional and I’m truly grateful I have some natural solutions to help them,” she adds. “There are many emotions that affect newlyweds-to- be as they plan their wedding and never more so than during this past year.” The business is in the process of getting a fresh new look with a rebranding and updates to the website to reflect the changes. Melinda is also running a 10-day Health and Wellbeing Experience via a pop-up Facebook group in May and will be sending out samples of essential oils to help with sleep, stress and emotional worries as well as teaching how to use them. The cut-off date is 6 th May, visit the website www.makeoversbymelinda.co.uk to find out more. Chocolate heaven Multi award-winning New Forest based chocolatier Kerry Witt is offering the perfect get together for chocolate- loving hens with a range of fun workshops. If you’re staying nearby she can bring the party to you for a girls’ night in or you and your bride tribe can visit chocolate HQ and learn the secrets of tasting like a professional or try your hand at making your own delicious truffles.What’s not to love? To find out more visit www.chocolatebymisswitt.com www.facebook.com/DarimaFramptonPhotography www.sam gavinsphotography.com YOUR ESSENTIALS 9