NEWS Nearlywed All the latest from around the county SAFE AS HOUSES If you’re after an exclusive and bespoke wedding package in a venue packed with history, consider Colchester’s Wivenhoe House. This 18th century four-star hotel, once painted by Constable, is a magnificently restored country house with a wealth of history between its walls. Offering a trio of wedding offerings, designed to make the most of any size wedding, their Classic Brettingham Package starts at £78.95 per person and includes your wedding breakfast, welcome drink and Prosecco for toasts, evening buffet options and a night in one of the hotel’s bedrooms, including breakfast in your room the next morning. Alternatively, choose the Deluxe Rebow Package, starting from £96.95 per person. This includes a three-course wedding breakfast, half a bottle of wine per person, welcome drinks and Prosecco, and a luxury evening buffet selection. You’ll also get chair covers, bows and a sweet cart filled with treats, as well as a luxury bedroom with breakfast the next day. Or why not consider the Luxury Constable Package from £111.95 per person? Starting with a choice of welcome drinks and canapes, it includes a luxury wedding breakfast, half a bottle of wine per person and Prosecco for toasts. Add to that your evening buffet, chair covers and bows, sweet cart and accommodation – plus you can stay in the hotel the night before and get ready in a luxury room as part of the deal. www.wivenhoehouse.co.uk LUCK OF THE DRAW Give your guests some entertainment they get to take home with Rayleigh illustrator Kirstybowks Bespokes. Sketching in real-time during weddings and other special events, owner Kirsty strives to create unique keepsakes that will forever capture the magic of your special day. Choose her Intimate Wedding Package, £350, which includes live drawing for two and a half hours during drinks or your evening reception, plus an additional A4 illustration of you as newlyweds after the event. Alternatively, there’s her Wedding Bell Package, £450, again offering an illustration of the pair of you – but with four hours of live drawing for your guests to enjoy! “I love documenting the big emotions as well as the day’s quiet, intimate moments,” says Kirsty. “There’s nothing better than capturing some of the fun and spark of the day with my trademark style.” Visit www.instagram.com/kirstybowks_bespokes to find out how to book. WRAP IT UP Looking for ideas to add to your gift list? Look no further than Raynebased luxury homeware company Amara. They’ve recently introduced some private label collections and new brands to their site, beginning with Lisa Todd Designs’ hand printed Ubuntu range – a colourful celebration of two cultures expressed through abstract patterns on dinnerware, vases and table linens. There’s also former Gucci designer Gergei Erdei’s cushions, inspired by neoclassical shapes with a sculptural appearance; rugs, placemats, table runners and ottomans from quirky brand Podevache; unique ceiling lights, wall lamps and floor lamps from DelightFULL; and some seriously glam barware and kitchen musts from Nick Munro. The best news is you can even create your own gift list thanks to their partnership with The Wedding Shop, as a selection of products from Amara’s brands are available to add via The Wedding Shop website. Visit www.weddingshop.com to find out about registering your gift list or visit www.amara.com for more of their homeware. https://jamesthomasphotography.co.uk https://jamesthomasphotography.co.uk 9 LOCAL NEWS
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