Your West Midlands Wedding- April/May 2020 (Issue 67)

SUITE SPOTS The 4* Grade II listed Mercure Burton Upon Trent Newton Park Hotel has unveiled a number of renovated guest rooms. 21 of the hotel’s 50 bedrooms, all located in the original house, have now been totally refurbished. This includes Privilege and Classic Doubles, most with stunning garden views, as well as the Superior Bridal Suite which has been completely redesigned and upgraded. Commenting on the refurbishment, general manager of the Mercure Burton Upon Trent Newton Park Hotel Wilma Gallagher said: “I’m thrilled to unveil our new guest bedrooms, designed to create a modern luxurious feel with the charm and cosiness of our traditional country manor setting. In particular, the bridal suite which has been totally revamped and I’m proud to present to prospective couples. Wedding bookings are a key business for us as one of the most desirable wedding venues in Staffordshire, so it’s vital we can offer couples a special and top quality experience from start to finish.” Visit mercureburton.co.uk A LITTLE BIT OF LUXURY Billesley Manor Hotel, near Stratford-Upon-Avon, has recently completed an extensive refurbishment, designed to re-establish the Elizabethan manor as a luxury hotel and wedding venue. After returning to private ownership in 2017, last year saw investment lovingly spent on the venue’s elegant event space, which overlooks the historic 120-year-old topiary gardens and is the perfect place to say, ‘I do’. Alongside this work, the spa and health club received a complete renovation, elevating the facilities and offering a relaxing, tranquil environment for guests. 2020 has seen further exciting changes made to the reception, the Great Hall and its gallery, the restaurants, corridor and lounge areas, the Cedar Barn and the Manor House bedrooms – as well as a soft refurbishment of the Topiary Wing. The hotel has recently expanded its offering of ceremony spaces to facilitate outdoor weddings. From 2019, Billesley Manor began offering ceremonies in their Topiary Garden; one of the finest Topiary Gardens in England decorated with more than 100 years of history and inspired by Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland . Here, guests can now tie the knot outside in front of up to 80 of their nearest and dearest. Check out billesleymanor.com TIME TO INDULGE For those looking to truly indulge before or after the big day, Laura Ashley Hotel The Iliffe, Coventry is offering an Ultimate Indulgence Package priced from £259 for two people. The package includes an overnight stay for two people in a deluxe room, with a bottle of champagne, box of chocolates and bouquet of flowers in your room upon arrival. In the evening, guests will be treated to a three-course dinner with a glass of wine each in the Willows Restaurant, followed by a prosecco breakfast and a late checkout the following morning. Laura Ashley Hotel The Iliffe is a luxurious boutique hotel located just three miles from Coventry city centre. The hotel features elegant interiors showcasing the Laura Ashley Home range and its exquisite, high-quality inherently British fabrics and furnishings throughout. Call 02476 303 398 or visit lauraashleyhotels.com Award win Midlands-based make-up artist Emily Grosvenor has been crowned the UK’s best in bridal beauty at ​the 2020 UK Wedding Awards. ​ Emily said: ‘I was thrilled just to be shortlisted for the award, so I was overwhelmed when my name was called out as the winner. It’s an honour to be part of so many beautiful brides’ wedding day and it means so much that they would take the time to vote for me as the winner of the Best Bridal Beauty category. I love my job and I’m dedicated to creating a truly personalised look which leaves each bride bouncing down the aisle as they begin their married life with their partner. This award motivates me to continue creating lasting memories for each bride I work with.”​Visit emilygrosvenor.co.uk 10