All the latest wedding news for couples getting married in the UK, along with bridal fashion and beauty inspiration and honeymoon ideas.
Worried about your dad's wedding speech? Here's some top advice from Speechy
'The Speech Surgery' with Heidi Ellert McDermott, founder of Speechy & author of 'The Modern Couple's Guide to Wedding Speeches. At Speechy, we believe that all great speeches have good story-telling at the heart of them. So instead of hunting down one-liners, encourage your dad to simply tell his favourite stories. Remind him that he can call on your mum or siblings for help with content and constructive feedback, and send him links to lots of various speech examples to get his brain thinking.
Posted by Danielle Harvey on 15 April 2024
The best place in the UK for a springtime wedding
A new study has revealed the areas in the UK with the best vendors and venues for spring wedding ceremonies, with Essex being crowned top for both. The research conducted by photo wall art creator StoryBoards analyzed data from a popular wedding planning site, to identify the UK regions with the highest quantity of top-rated vendors and venues, including vineyards, cake companies, and stationery brands. Most brides and grooms will agree that planning a wedding is stressful, as trying to pull off an event that feels unique to the couple while managing expectations, budget, and family can be difficult at times. Thankfully, beautiful venues exist to help make the whole process easier.
Posted by Danielle Harvey on 10 April 2024
Surrey wedding cake supplier on hand at County Wedding Events' Signature Wedding Show
Lake Thomas Cakes is located in New Malden, SW London/Surrey and has been established since 2007. The business is run by Shenaz Lake-Thomas who creates and makes all the cakes and who will be on hand at the County Wedding Events' Signature Wedding Show at Mercedes-Benz World on Sunday 28th April to talk about your wedding cake ideas. "We offer a variety of wedding cakes, anything from traditional to quirky designs with a selection of flavours to choose from, as well as cupcakes and sweets for the discerning customer," shares Shenaz. "Our cakes are made to order and we work closely with the clients leading up to their special day and ensure they receive a beautiful quality and a tasty cake. We offer a complimentary consultation where you have the opportunity to sample some of our delights and assist creating your designed cake into reality. If you would like to see previous examples of my work then please have a look at my website.
Posted by Danielle Harvey on 10 April 2024
Does your mum need help with her wedding speech? Read these tips from Speechy
The Speech Surgery with Heidi Ellert McDermott, founder of Speechy & author of The Modern Couple's Guide to Wedding Speeches. Firstly, reassure your mum that we work with lots of mothers (both of the bride, and increasingly, the groom's) so it's no longer unusual to see a mum on the mic. Whether your mum is standing in for your father, speaking in addition to him or your dad isn't part of the picture, we generally find mothers have a lot to say! In terms of getting your mum excited at the prospect of delivering a speech, rather than dreading it, send her a few blog posts to show her how simple writing her speech can be.
Posted by Danielle Harvey on 8 April 2024
Your ultimate hen do survival guide by SilkFred
With April being the most popular month for hen do's, and online fashion destination SilkFred finding that 625 people will be attending at least one hen do this 'hen do season' (with 93 of respondents attending 3+ hen do's)*, we've sat down with Georgie Mitchell, Wedding Planner, Coordinator and Wedding Expert at Silkfred and Head Stylist Megan Watkins, who have shared their ultimate 'Hen Do Survival Hacks' to manage everything from budgets and schedules to styling tips and mastering the art of saying "no".
Posted by Danielle Harvey on 6 April 2024
For centuries, great occasions in life have been punctuated with Champagne. However, there are several myths surrounding the drinking, storing and essence of Champagne. As a result, the Champagne Bureau UK* wanted to bust those myths to separate fact from fiction and demonstrate how best to enjoy the pinnacle of sparkling wine, as well as ensure that you aren't fooled by some of the most common Champagne myths. Myth: Pop the cork and spray Champagne in times of celebrations. The blunt pop of the cork and the fizz of the fine bubbles – instantly reminiscent of celebration – is a sparkling start to any special occasion.
Posted by Danielle Harvey on 5 April 2024
Dream dresses at Signature Wedding Shows
Bespoke dress and bridalwear designer, Tanya Dimitrova, founder of London-based Mia La Vida Bridal, will be on hand to talk through your dream wedding dress ideas at our Signature Wedding Show at Mercedes-Benz World, April 28th. With a vision and passion to create timeless wedding and evening pieces, and to fulfil a lifelong dream of making a defiant mark on the high-end world of couture bridalwear, Tanya listens to her clients' requirements to design and make a creation you'll never want to take off!
Posted by Danielle Harvey on 4 April 2024
Moonpig reveals weddings cards are the hardest to write
Greeting cards have been a popular way to express celebrations and affection for our loved ones. We're used to purchasing cards for milestones from birthdays, weddings, new jobs and more, but how often do we struggle with what to write in a card? With the recent growth in popularity of AI models like ChatGPT, Moonpig has launched its "Smart Text" tool, a feature which uses generative AI as a writing assistant for customers who need help in those moments where they don't know what to put in a card to their loved ones.
Posted by Danielle Harvey on 3 April 2024
Thinking of doing a joint wedding speech? Read Speechy's top tips
The Speech Surgery' with Heidi Ellert McDermott, Founder of Speechy & author of 'The Modern Couple's Guide to Wedding Speeches. A joint speech follows the same etiquette principles as your standard bride and groom speech but allows you to present it as a team and play up to your relationship dynamic. But, despite the two voices, be careful not to make the speech double the length! No more than 1,500 words maximum. When it comes to writing a joint speech, it all comes down to your ability to collaborate, discuss and bounce ideas off each other.
Posted by Danielle Harvey on 1 April 2024
Things to consider when booking your big-day musicians
As the UK's largest and most sustainable musician bookings platform, musicians for weddings account for around 50% of Encore's bookings. As such, the company is well-versed in the most cost-effective ways to cut down on one of the more expensive aspects of a wedding. Please see below some best tips to help you save the most money when booking your wedding entertainment. On average, couples book musicians for their wedding seven and a half months in advance, but if your big day falls on a Saturday during peak season, you should book your musicians at least nine months in advance.
Posted by Danielle Harvey on 29 March 2024
Planning a hen (or sten) party? These activity-based bars need to be on your list
Tasty food, gorgeous cocktails and a bit of healthy competition equals a winning recipe for an amazing time for your pre-wedding get together! How does a side of shuffleboard or darts with your cocktails sound? Whether you're looking for a daytime plan or something to keep you partying into the early hours, Electric Shuffle and Flight Club are great options. Both have resident DJs banging out the tunes, and both offer fab bottomless brunch packages if an afternoon booze session is more what you're after. They're also perfectly designed for the most amazing insta-worthy pics
Posted by Danielle Harvey on 27 March 2024
Revealed the UK’s best venues with woodlands to achieve dreamy cottage-core weddings
A recent study revealed the UK's highest-rated venues for woodland-themed weddings, with Creeksea Place being named the best. The research conducted by photo wall art creator StoryBoards analysed user-generated review data to identify the UK regions with the highest quantity of top-rated woodlands venues by creating an overall rating score. The study has revealed that Creeksea Place is the most highly rated woodland in the nation. Located in Essex, the manor house, which includes picturesque woodland, has been rated five stars over 220 times giving it a perfect score of ten out of ten.
Posted by Danielle Harvey on 25 March 2024
The new Yankee Candle® SS24 collection
Find an oasis this spring with the new Yankee Candle® SS24 collection, Under the Desert Sun. The new collection will brighten the home with fragrances that exude memories of warmer days, including four refreshingly light and bright fragrances including, Desert Blooms, Aloe & Agave, Sweet Vanilla & Horchata, and Stargazing. Inspired by the unique beauty of the desert, the new collection has been designed to help escape the ordinary and satisfy wanderlust, immersing the home in sun-drenched scents. The Under The Desert Sun collection features exotic fragrances such as aguaro cactus, aloe and blue lotus, as well as soothing lavender and eucalyptus.
Posted by Danielle Harvey on 23 March 2024
Three spicy but sophisticated hen party ideas
Throwing a hen party that will please all attendees can be tricky. Striking a balance between risque and tame activities can be one of the most controversial challenges you'll face when planning. In fact, some of the more crude hen party gimmicks came out in the top 10 most hated parts of a hen party in this report. However, you can create a hen party that strikes the perfect balance between spice and sophistication, ensuring a night to remember for both the bride and her friends. Jess Martin, Hen Party expert at Ginger Ray has shared three amazing themes for the perfect spicy but sophisticated hen party:
Posted by Danielle Harvey on 22 March 2024
Experts share 5 tips on accommodating deaf guests at your wedding
Planning a wedding can be challenging, especially when there are so many decisions to be made and so many things to be considered. Whilst this is your big day, considering your guests can go a long way, especially for those who have disabilities or are hard of hearing. In the UK, one in five adults is deaf, has hearing loss or tinnitus, so the likelihood of having someone who may need additional help when it comes to hearing in attendance is quite likely. Ashish Shah, Audiologist at The Hearing Care Partnership has offered his expert advice on how you can better accommodate your deaf and hard-of-hearing guests.
Posted by Danielle Harvey on 20 March 2024
County Wedding Events coming to Vaulty Manor, Essex!
If you're newlyweds-to-be embarking on your wedding planning journey, pop along to the County Wedding Events wedding show at Vaulty Manor, Essex, for inspiration on Sunday 24th March 2024! Sister company to County Wedding Magazines, the event brings couples that are desperate for face-to-face wedding planning in touch with local professionals who are on hand to help plan the wedding day. From photographers to cake makers, musicians to florists you're sure to tick a lot off of your to-do list by attending one of our County Wedding Events. Vaulty Manor is a beautiful country wedding venue, a wedding there is a very special day and it could be yours. You will have exclusive-use of a beautiful light oak Essex barn with the oldest part dating back to the early 1600s. From there, you can move on to their amazing Baronial Hall for your wedding breakfast. Outside, there are acres of picturesque grounds to enjoy and a terrace area where you could enjoy an evening barbeque or hog roast.
Posted by Danielle Harvey on 19 March 2024
These daily habits are ruining your wedding ring
If you've been the lucky recipient of a diamond ring or a piece of jewellery, Nilesh Rakholia, jewellery expert and founder of Abelini, has shared exactly how to care for your precious diamonds to ensure they last a lifetime... Nilesh says: "While it can be tempting to wear precious items such as an engagement ring all the time, daily habits such as cooking and cleaning can damage your jewellery. To avoid this, we always recommend removing jewellery before showering or washing up because the soap can cause a film to form, which can leave rings and bracelets looking dull.
Posted by Danielle Harvey on 18 March 2024
Wedding traditions which are falling out of favour with younger generations
Researchers surveyed Gen Z couples and found many traditional wedding and proposal traditions which are falling out of favour with younger generations. But it's good news for the father-of-the-bride, as 54 percent said expecting parents to cough up for the big day was no longer necessary. Other things which are likely to fall out of favour are asking the bride's father for permission to propose (43 percent), sleeping apart the night before the wedding (38 percent) and the bride taking their partner's name (35 percent).
Of the 2,000 18- to 27-year-olds, surveyed by Churchill, as many as 86 percent believe the traditional stereotype of men proposing to women is old hat – and women should be able to pop the question too.
A third (29 percent) think that being given away is no longer necessary, while 27 percent say that tossing the bouquet is out of style. Being carried over the threshold (26 percent), promising to obey in the vows (25 percent) and wearing a veil (19 percent) are also falling out of favour.
Posted by Danielle Harvey on 15 March 2024
A third of Brits decline wedding invites due to cost Klarna finds
The wedding season is just around the corner! What is normally a cause for joy can often become a financial strain for guests. Travel, outfits, gifts – the costs can quickly soar to unexpected heights. This is also confirmed by a recent survey by Klarna*, the flexible choice for smart, secure payments: One third (36.4%) of those surveyed said they had declined wedding invitations in the past due to associated costs. Moreover, 30.2% of respondents said they have not attended a Stag or Hen party due to the expenses involved.
Posted by Danielle Harvey on 15 March 2024
9 in 10 newlyweds say budgeting is the biggest wedding stress
New research of newlyweds has revealed that 9 in 10 newlyweds find budgeting to be the biggest wedding stress. Queensmith's research surveyed 1,000 recently married couples throughout the UK, exploring the most and least enjoyable aspects, as well as the most stressful moments, leading up to their weddings and during the day itself. Weddings take a lot of time to plan in order to make them fabulous, but they also cost a pretty hefty sum of money too. Looking at the most stressful aspects of wedding, a whopping 93% of respondents said budgeting was the most stressful part of planning a wedding.
Posted by Danielle Harvey on 13 March 2024
County Wedding Events coming to Swynford Manor, Cambridgeshire!
If you're newlyweds-to-be embarking on your wedding planning journey, pop along to the County Wedding Events wedding show at Swynford Manor, Cambridgeshire, for inspiration on Sunday 17th March 2024! Sister company to County Wedding Magazines, the event brings couples that are desperate for face-to-face wedding planning in touch with local professionals who are on hand to help plan the wedding day. From photographers to cake makers, musicians to florists you're sure to tick a lot off of your to-do list by attending one of our County Wedding Events.
Posted by Danielle Harvey on 12 March 2024
Hen party dos and don'ts according to brides
Planning a hen party can be a stressful task, and with more and more brides opting for weekends over one last night of single life, there's even more pressure to get it right. To help you create the perfect celebration, Amy Greenshields, party planning expert at cardfactory spoke to 10 recent brides and bride-to-bes, unveiling their hen party dos and don'ts. Using this insight, Amy shares her top tips for 'kissing the miss goodbye' in style.
Posted by Danielle Harvey on 11 March 2024
Music and entertainment ticked off the list at Ascot Racecourse's wedding fair
Insanity Strings is exhibiting at County Wedding Events' Signature Wedding Show at Ascot Racecourse on Sunday 7th April 2024. An international music agency that provides exceptional string musicians for a diverse range of events and occasions, the company is your premier destination for top-tier string musicians to elevate any occasion - whether you're planning a wedding, corporate event, a recording session or an intimate gathering. Its diverse musicians, with a wide spectrum of talents, have graced some of the world's most iconic stages, from grand concert halls to intimate and majestic wedding venues around the world; ensuring their performances resonate with audiences across genres and cultures.
Posted by Danielle Harvey on 8 March 2024
Get the reception started with Nightlights DJ & Event Services
As a DJ and event services provider, Nightlights understand that events and celebrations are not just ordinary occasions. They are moments that deserve to be remembered and cherished for a lifetime. That is why they incorporate high-quality music, lighting, and entertainment to create a memorable atmosphere for their clients. With years of experience and dedication to customer satisfaction, Nightlights DJ & Event Services is committed to taking your event to the next level. Whether it is a wedding, corporate event, birthday, or any occasion that needs a touch of excellence, trust Nightlights DJ & Event Services to provide a one-of-a-kind experience."
Posted by Danielle Harvey on 8 March 2024
Effortless Events provide high-quality, stylish photo booths for weddings and events
Effortless Events, a luxury photo booth hire company supplying Vintage Photo Booth, Selfie Photo Booth and Retro Magic Mirror to Buckinghamshire, Berkshire, Hertfordshire, Surrey and London, is exhibiting at County Wedding Events' Signature Wedding Show at Ascot Racecourse. Owner, Stephanie says, "Our unique selection of high-quality Photo Booths are made by trusted UK and US based suppliers. We use high spec Canon DSLR cameras and high speed printers, to provide instant sharp prints for you and your guests. "We understand the challenges and effort that come with planning an event and coordinating with multiple suppliers. This is why we believe that transparent pricing and a simple online photo booth booking process are an absolute must. Above all else, we are here to "let the good times and the camera roll..."
Posted by Danielle Harvey on 8 March 2024
We have a great line up of experts to give you first hand advice and discussions about bridal fashion, hair, makeup, to name but a few!
Take a look at our Celebrity Interviews!