An Essex Wedding news and ideas from around the county

All the latest wedding news for couples getting married in Essex, along with bridal fashion and beauty inspiration and honeymoon ideas.

Wedding News: Tips for keeping your 2024 New Year’s Resolutions

Tips for keeping your 2024 New Year’s Resolutions

As 2024 approaches, many of our thoughts will turn to self-improvement and how we make the New Year as successful, satisfying, and productive as possible. Whether it's improving our health, focusing on professional advancement, learning a new skill, or exploring something totally unique, we typically create our list of goals during this time of year. To help ensure that 2024 is the year that your resolutions are kept, Toastmasters International offers these 8 tips that will help you to achieve your goals. Be realistic. Having lofty goals is commendable, however, it's important to make sure they are realistic, or you may end up feeling frustrated that they are too difficult to achieve.

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Wedding News: Intimate Weddings are in for 2024: Venue expert offers tips

Intimate Weddings are in for 2024: Venue expert offers tips

Micro weddings are on the rise, with a 100% increase in searches for 'intimate wedding venues' recorded in the past 12 months alone worldwide. In the UK specifically, searches for 'micro wedding venues near me' have risen by 100% in the past two years, and searches for 'intimate wedding venues UK' by 50% in the past 12 months. Forced small gatherings as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic have clearly rubbed off as scaled-back nuptials have stuck around, offering couples the opportunity to be in the moment, create memories with their closest loved ones, and eliminate the feeling for couples that they may need to gain approval from or impress guests on their big day.

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Wedding News: Francine Lewis takes a staycation at Greenwoods

Francine Lewis takes a staycation at Greenwoods

Actress, model and tv presenter Francine Lewis enjoyed a fabulous mother and daughter staycation last week at Greenwoods Hotel & Spa in Stock Essex. Perfectly timed to catch the fabulous festive decorations that are always a show-stopper, Francine came with her daughter Brooke to indulge in the pool, jacuzzi and relax rooms in the award-winning spa as well as try one of the high tech facials in the Aesthetics Clinic that also offers a range of
anti-ageing injections, the Revolax filler and vitamin B injections.

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Wedding News: Blossoming love on a budget - top tips from YouFloria

Blossoming love on a budget - top tips from YouFloria

Wedding albums can be a garden of memories with the enchanting presence of flowers seen in every snapshot. Flowers can play an integral part of a wedding narrative, adding a tapestry of texture and colour into photos, bringing out personality and creating an overall feel to a wedding. From bouquets to table centres, pew ends and buttonholes, flowers are incorporated into every wedding memory... Creating your own wedding floral displays and bouquets can be an easy way to cut the cost, and the perfect way to make your wedding a little more personal - also, super fun and easy to do! You don't have to have a good track record of keeping house plants alive to be able to throw together a show-worthy, eye-catching floral masterpiece, no matter how big or small.

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Wedding News: 5 ways to make your bridesmaids feel special

5 ways to make your bridesmaids feel special

On average, it costs a bridesmaid around £408 to have the privilege to stand by their dearest friend as they tie the knot. In fact, from organising a memorable hen to booking accommodation and buying the right accessories for their dress, the expenses can slowly creep up. But even if the role comes with pressing responsibilities, the reality is that bridesmaids are more than delighted to support you during the preparations and celebrations. As the bride, it's only right to thank your bride tribe for all their dedication, as they are likely to have been through all your highs and lows.

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Wedding News: Down Hall receives ‘AA Recommended Spa’ rating

Down Hall receives ‘AA Recommended Spa’ rating

Luxury Down Hall Hotel, Spa & Estate has received an 'AA Recommended Spa' rating from the AA establishing it amongst the most noteworthy in the country. The AA ratings aim is to showcase those spas worth visiting that are a key part of the hotel experience. AA Inspectors assess quality elements, such as: reception, changing rooms, wet areas, gyms and treatment rooms along with high standards of guest service and cleanliness.

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Wedding News: The groom's guide to wedding planning

The groom's guide to wedding planning

Matthew Shaw is founder and creative director at sauveur. a renowned event planning and management company based in London. Here, Matthew shares his groom's guide to wedding planning...

More often than not, the bulk of wedding planning lands up being the work of the bride with the groom being delegated select tasks but, wedding planning should be the work of a team and there may also be two grooms involved in the planning. Today's grooms are often much more involved with all aspects of the planning, something we very much encourage!

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Wedding News: Giftlist predictions for 2024

Giftlist predictions for 2024

As 2023 is drawing to a close, wedding gift list company Prezola, has pulled together their best-selling wedding gifts of 2023, whilst looking at predictions for 2024. Despite being in a cost-of-living crisis, it appears people are getting MORE generous when it comes to weddings. In a recent survey*, 99% of guests confirmed they would give a wedding gift, with 93% saying they find having a list to choose from helpful. Experiences continue to be front of mind for the adventurous Prezola couple, but they are also combining this with big home upgrades, including coffee machines, pizza ovens and more. The likes of Airbnb, Mr & Mrs Smith and Lastminute.com are extremely popular, alongside honeymoon funds, with 59% of guests giving cash for honeymoons and 39% of them donating towards a honeymoon through a fund like Prezola.

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Wedding News: Christmas gifts for the bride to be

Christmas gifts for the bride to be

The Christmas countdown is on – and if this isn't the only big day on the horizon, it's the perfect excuse to pull out all the stops If you're got a friend, sister or loved one who's about to celebrate their last Christmas as a Miss, mark it in style with a thoughtful and stylish gift from Team Hen. Responsible for giving hen parties across the world a serious glow-up, Team Hen is the ultimate go-to destination for fabulous accessories that are modern hen party goals. Forget the tacky L-plates or garish flashing tiaras, Team Hen is doing things differently – and in style. From fun festive goodies to super-stylish accessories, Team Hen has got all of your nearly-wed Christmas gifting sorted this year. The bride is going to love you for it!

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Wedding News: Unwrap the magic of Willy Wonka with Haute Dolci

Unwrap the magic of Willy Wonka with Haute Dolci

This Christmas, Haute Dolci introduces their delicious Belgian milk chocolate Dolci Bar, that's not just a delectable sweet treat but also a golden opportunity! Inspired by the whimsical world of Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory and timed perfectly with the release of the much-anticipated WONKA film, Haute Dolci is excited to bring the enchantment of golden tickets to life...Recreating the magic of this Roald Dahl children's classic, each Dolci Bar comes with the exciting opportunity of discovering a Golden Ticket concealed inside and winning one of their fantastic prizes. Not every customer will discover one, but those who do will be in for a delightful surprise. Prizes range from free teasers of Dolci's finest creations to tickle your taste buds, a free drink to quench your thirst, a free dessert from their exquisite range, to charms which will give you from anything from 5% - 40% discount off purchases for an entire year, or the ultimate exclusive key, which will grant a year of free desserts.

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Wedding News: Fennes offers new decor packages

Fennes offers new decor packages

Fennes has announced the launch of its brand new décor packages! Say hello to fresh and fabulous new designs that will enhance your wedding theme. The venue has got everything covered - including centrepieces, table decorations, garlands and flower walls. Fennes can create bespoke packages for their couples' special requirements, ranging from menu cards, charger plates to acrylic stands. Fennes is an elegant Georgian Manor House situated in 100 acres of tranquil North Essex countryside. It is offered as your home for the day, with exclusive use of all facilities guaranteed.

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Wedding News: Expert reveals her ultimate tips on how to have a hen party on a budget

Expert reveals her ultimate tips on how to have a hen party on a budget

Getting married is an exciting time in your life, however, sometimes it can cost a small fortune. You might even be feeling the guilt of your loved ones having to fund their attendance to your events, during a cost of living crisis. Life insurance broker, Reassured polled 1,500 people to reveal the costs behind attending a hen party. To be exact, you'll be out of pocket by £979 for attending the hen party. From a boozy weekend staycation in a local city or jetting off to somewhere sunnier, the costs clearly build up more than you first imagined. However, some brides seem to have no regrets with over two-thirds (68%) being glad to have had a hen party, with 65% having high expectations and expecting their bridesmaid to organise the party for them as a surprise!

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Wedding News: Be inspired at Down Hall

Be inspired at Down Hall

Down Hall Hotel, Spa & Estate was the obvious choice for this styled shoot that blended fashion with luxury. Shoot organisers, hair stylist, Marina and make-up artist, Samantha wanted the look to be luxurious, yet whimsical, so focused on ivory and pink hues. The flowers were supplied and designed by C Taylors Floristry - a selection of shimmer peach pink roses, astilbe and floating stems of ammi majus to express a natural gathering of country garden flowers, still staying true to the warmth that many brides love for their wedding day. Samantha adds, "The hair and make-up for our model Emily, was to create and achieve the look of sheer elegance; a Hollywood waved ponytail with timeless make-up. A Paul Zeni Couture bridal dress, called Aphrodite was supplied by Martels Bridal Boutique, who are the only stockist of this fabulous designer in Essex."

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Wedding News: How to plan a wedding speech

How to plan a wedding speech

Matthew Shaw, a leading wedding and events planner and founder of sauveur. - a superb events and creative studio - reveals his top tips to help you plan your big-day speech. Speeches can sprawl quite easily when you're trying to cover so much and this makes them difficult to follow. When you first start planning your speech it's definitely helpful to throw lots of ideas around but then try to focus on an overall theme or approach. This could be a personality trait, great jokes, or a more heartfelt approach, but it will help you, and the guests, if there is a clear angle to follow. In turn, this will help your guests follow along and you will be gifted with a better response from the room.

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Wedding News: Fever-Tree's new cocktail mixers: the ultimate hosting hack

Fever-Tree's new cocktail mixers: the ultimate hosting hack

With Christmas and New Year being the key season for popping the question, there's double the amount of celebrations at this time of year! Get ready to elevate your festive hosting with Fever-Tree's innovative cocktail mixers, new for winter 2023. In a year where approximately 100,000 proposals will happen from Christmas to New Year, and 64% of consumers enjoy cocktails at home, busy hosts can now have it all serving Mojitos, Margaritas, and Espresso Martinis. The line-up: Fever-Tree Classic Mojito Mixer: Fresh Mexican Limes meet Moroccan Mint for a zesty, refreshing twist. Just add rum and ice, stir, and craft a Mojito masterpiece.

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Wedding News: Southend - meet the real Carrie Bradshaw!

Southend - meet the real Carrie Bradshaw!

Entertainers proudly announce the very first UK tour of Candace Bushnell's acclaimed one woman show True Tales of Sex, Success and SEX AND THE CITY. The international best-selling novelist – author and creator of TV's iconic Sex and the City – takes us on a whirlwind tour of New York City, sharing her remarkable philosophy through stories of fashion, literature. . . and, of course, sex.

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Wedding News: Feeling peachy with Pantone's Colour of the Year 2024 announcement

Feeling peachy with Pantone's Colour of the Year 2024 announcement

It's here, Pantone's Colour of the Year announcement for 2024 is... Peach Fuzz! We take a look at what this means for weddings! "A cozy peach hue softly nestled between pink and orange, PANTONE 13-1023 Peach Fuzz brings belonging, inspires recalibration, and an opportunity for nurturing, conjuring up an air of calm, offering us a space to be, feel, and heal and to flourish from whether spending time with others or taking the time me to enjoy a moment by ourselves," says Leatrice Eiseman, executive director, Pantone Color Institute. "Drawing comfort from PANTONE 13-1023 Peach Fuzz, we can find peace from within, impacting our wellbeing. An idea as much as a feeling, PANTONE 13-1023 Peach Fuzz awakens our senses to the comforting presence of tactility and cocooned warmth."

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Wedding News: Why are prenups no longer the reserve of the wealthy?

Why are prenups no longer the reserve of the wealthy?

Wenup, a collaborative online provider of relationship agreements, conducted a comprehensive analysis of its first 120 customers. This data offers valuable insights into the changing landscape of prenuptial agreements, capturing shifting trends among couples from diverse backgrounds and providing a glimpse into the evolving dynamics of modern relationships. Recent celebrity divorces, involving well-known personalities such as Britney Spears, Sophie Turner, and Joe Jonas have cast a spotlight on prenuptial agreements. Despite their often sensationalised portrayal in the media, prenups are no longer the exclusive domain of the rich and famous.

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Wedding News: Be inspired by Barnfields

Be inspired by Barnfields

Shoot coordinators Marina Moore and Victoria Taylor took inspiration from the classic poem The Owl and the Pussycat' for this whimsical woodland bridal shoot. Every detail from the picnic platter, the copper and wood signage, bamboo furniture, and the luxury Pampas archway was carefully thought out. Marina adds, "Our magical aisle was delicately lit, showing potential couples the possibilities in this new outdoor venue, Barnfields. The colour palate was rustic, and natural with hints of gold, black, and copper, mirrored in the groom's suit and our bride's alternative gold dress. The cake and stationery picked up hints of the theme with feather detail, which just looked so pretty." It's safe to say, the show-stopping image of this shoot was the rowing boat filled with flowers by Charmaine.

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Wedding News: Overwhelmed planning a wedding? A leading wedding planner shares top tips

Overwhelmed planning a wedding? A leading wedding planner shares top tips

Matthew Shaw, a leading wedding and events planner and founder of sauveur. - a superb events and creative studio - is here to reveal his Top Tips to help you plan and feel calm, confident and importantly, excited for the big day. ASK FOR HELP: I would always advise considering if you would like to engage a planner at the beginning of the process. They are true experts in their field and will help organise, inspire, and de-stress the process for you. There are planners available for varying wedding budgets so do reach out and request more information.

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Serenity Brides

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HEN the PEN Caricaturist

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Rock Your Curves

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Houchins Spring Wedding Show

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