All the latest wedding news for couples getting married in Essex, along with bridal fashion and beauty inspiration and honeymoon ideas.
Start saving for your hen and stag do
According to a study by Hotels.com®, 2022 is the year to go bigger and bolder than ever when it comes to planning your hen/sten/stag do - we're all making up for lost time over the past two years! After 2020/21 nearlyweds had to reschedule a stag or hen party, this year revellers are using more holiday days and spending more money than ever to celebrate their friend's final months of unmarried life in style. The study found the average pre-wedding celebration now costs a whopping £242 compared to the more subtle cost of £150 in 2012. Nearly 47% of those surveyed believe that these pre-wedding celebrations have become more extravagant over the last decade, with 46% of travellers believing it's because people have been saving up and have larger budgets to spend on these special occasions over the pandemic.
Posted: 22 June 2022
Scotland to run out of kilts this summer as wedding bookings soar
Scotland could run out of kilts this summer with many suppliers already closing their books due to record demand. With two years of delayed weddings now able to go ahead, along with this year's planned ceremonies, the iconic ceremonial dress is in short supply meaning the unthinkable could happen; Scotland may actually run out of kilts! David Dalrymple of A1 Kilt Hire said, "We have never seen such a high level of demand for kilt hire. The pandemic has created a record number of wedding bookings for the summer; some people have been waiting since early 2020 to tie the knot, there's also those people who cancelled in 2021 plus couples who had always planned to get married in 2022 all trying to secure a kilt for their big day. Everyone needs one at the same time and although we've managed to accommodate all requests so far, others have already reached their capacity for the whole summer."
Posted: 20 June 2022
The songs millennials want played for their first dance
Over the past year, UK searches for 'first dance songs 2022' have increased by +1,300%, whilst searches for 'first dance ideas for non-dancers have increased by +300% showing that more couples are looking for inspiration. The first dance is likely to be one of the most memorable moments of your wedding, so naturally, newlyweds are determined to pick the most suitable song. A decision needs to be made whether to choose an old classic or maybe the new love song that's currently in the charts.
Posted: 19 June 2022
World Martini Day 18th June - shaken or stirred?
World Martini Day - which could also be James Bond day! - is on the 18th June. And whether you like it shaken like Mr Bond himself, or stirred for something different, wet or dry, however you like your favourite tipple celebrate with five Gin Martini cocktails from Aviation Gin, Cotswolds Dry Gin, Mermaid Gin, Pinkster Gin and Perthyn Low Alcohol Spirit. What's more, the following provides drinks-piration for wedding day cocktails you might want to try... here at County Wedding Magazines HQ we can't pick our fav! Bottoms up!
Posted: 18 June 2022
Author of new book Wedding Toasts 101 The Guide to the Perfect Wedding Speech, Pete Honsberger, walks the reader through the building blocks of making a great speech, anecdotes and advice from past weddings, and an easy-to-follow checklist to make sure you hit all your points. An essential read for the wedding couple and the bridal party, this humorous guide will take the fear out of public speaking - what's more you might even enjoy it!
Posted: 17 June 2022
Visit Essex puts Essex on gastro map
The county's tourism body, Visit Essex, is launching a campaign to firmly place Essex on the gastro map. Highlighting the county's boom in Essex wine and vineyards, ahead of English Wine Week (18-25 June), movers and shakers in the industry met at Great Bardfield Vineyard, near Braintree, on 16 June to mark the industry's recent successes. Vineyards in Essex have expanded at phenomenal rates in recent years, and the East Anglia region now provides at least 10% of English wine in Great Britain.However, the majority of wines are grown in Essex (at least 50 vineyards), an area famed for its dry sunny climes and a shared geology with the champagne region of Northern France, which is helping Essex vineyards produce award-winning wines.
Posted: 17 June 2022
5 ways to celebrate Father’s Day in Essex this year – and support local businesses
With Father's Day just around the corner, you're likely to be planning how best you can celebrate with your beloved dad. Fortunately, if you're based in Essex, you're in luck! The county is home to an abundance of wonderful businesses who are putting on fantastic Father's Day offerings this year, meaning you can treat your dad to a day he'll love whilst enjoying the people, products, places, and foods that Essex is so well known for.
Posted: 15 June 2022
Yes you can! New launch from Vin du Can
Newly launched Vin du Can, is a convenient single serve wine in a can perfect for al fresco drinking this summer at wedding celebrations. Whether it's on the day itself, or a pre- or post-wedding get-togethers, the range includes three varietals, Pale Rosé, French Sauvignon Blanc and Argentinian Malbec. All three are vegan friendly and packaged in aluminium cans which are fast to chill and 100% recyclable. The Vin du Can logo sits prominently at the front of the can and is surrounded by etched wine glasses and a number of these represent fun line drawings of people and animals.
Posted: 15 June 2022
UK wedding guests to spend £15.6 billion in 2022
Spending by wedding guests has risen again this year as they enjoy a return to restriction-free ceremonies across the UK in 2022. New research from American Express reveals that British wedding goers will spend £883 on average to attend each wedding this year equating to £15.6 billion across the population, with guests spending more on accommodation, travel, outfits and hair, beauty & grooming compared to 2021. Of those who have or are planning to spend more on weddings this year, a third (33%) say this is because they want to celebrate with friends and family who they haven't seen as much due to the pandemic, while 27% say they are happier to spend more now that restrictions have been removed.
Posted: 13 June 2022
Top ways to save money and have that dream wedding
With wedding season now in full swing, brides and grooms to be will all agree that with so much to plan for, from clothes and shoes to flowers and photography, costs can soon escalate. But saying 'I do' doesn't mean you have to break the bank, Anita Naik, Consumer Editor at VoucherCodes.co.uk shares this brilliant money saving tip to help make your dream big day a little more cost effective... and it's all in the timing!
Posted: 11 June 2022
7 things to consider when planning a same-sex wedding
June is Pride month! Unbelievably, same-sex weddings are fairly new in the UK, having only become legal in 2014, so for LGBTQ+ couples planning their big day, it's about doing what feels right for you as a couple. Lisa Forde, wedding expert and founder of stationery favourites Tree of Hearts, said: "A wedding is all about celebrating your special love for one another so if anything that is deemed a 'wedding tradition' that doesn't make sense to you or feels outdated then you can simply ignore it.
Posted: 9 June 2022
Musicircus! Colchester hosts music festival
As the first large public event since the city status announcement, Colchester is set to host a unique symphony of music performances in a dramatic live event on Sunday 12th June, 1-3pm in the city centre. Hundreds of musicians from across the county will come together to be a part of Musicircus, a free event that will immerse Colchester in sound. The event will provide the perfect opportunity to grab your loved ones and enjoy a pre-wedding celebration - hen and stag do anyone?
Posted: 8 June 2022
A sweet hen/stag and sten do idea - The London Dessert Festival
The UK's tastiest event is launching this summer and it's the perfect alternative for pre-wedding celebrations! Hen/stag or sten parties are great, but they can be a little too focused around alcohol and, although modern couples are pushing the boundaries when it comes to the big 'dos', they can still be incredibly expensive and not that much fun! Gather your BFF squad and head to the London Dessert Festival to make sure you have a day full of laughs and delicious food - what's not to love?
Posted: 6 June 2022
Colchester welcomes e.m.skin clinic & beauty - a new name in beauty
One of Colchester's most well-known high street businesses, Amy Gordon Skin Clinic & Beauty Boutique, came under new ownership on 1st June. Emily Farrell, who has been the front of house manager and a senior beauty specialist at the multi award-winning advanced skin clinic and beauty salon on North Hill in Colchester, has taken over the business from founder Amy Gordon, who gave the company her name. Launching as e.m.skin clinic & beauty, the new brand will be offering luxury beauty treatments and a vast range of medically graded skin treatments for the people of Colchester.
Posted: 6 June 2022
Loving all things wedding? Check out this new novel
If while planning your wedding day you have fallen in love with the wonderful world of weddings, then this new release from Katy Birchall, The Wedding Season will certainly keep you in the wedding bubble. The perfect accompaniment when taking a break from the wed min, this will have you laughing out loud! Freya Scott is getting married. Her wedding to Matthew, her long-term boyfriend, is the first of eight in her calendar this year, and as someone who prides herself on being meticulously organised, Freya is intent on making it the perfect day to remember....
Posted: 6 June 2022
Top hen and stag do destinations revealed for 2022
Following research, findings by the UK's leading savings site VoucherCodes.co.uk reveal that, when it comes to stag, hen and sten parties, there are several cities that go hand in hand with these pre-wedding celebrations. Many of those painting the town white this year are set to make their mark in London (21%), with Manchester (11%) and Liverpool (9%) following closely behind. Those travelling further afield, are set to hit the streets of Dublin (5%) and Ibiza (4%). Despite such glam locations making it to the list of most popular destinations, a third of disgruntled guests say costs have now gotten out of hand. Almost one in three (32%) say the cost of a UK party is almost the same as going abroad, while 24% feel an expectation from the happy couple to go overseas.
Posted: 4 June 2022
How much to spend on wedding day gifting?
The average cost of being a wedding guest is £541.90 which includes a new outfit, somewhere to stay, drinks and, of course, a gift. To help cut down some of this cost, the personal finance experts at Ocean Finance have run the numbers to reveal how much is appropriate to spend on a wedding present, depending on where you sit in the wedding party and whether you have an invite to the whole day or just the evening!
Posted: 3 June 2022
Holiday Inn Basildon unveils open lobby refurbishment
The Holiday Inn Basildon has unveiled a £350,000 refurbishment to transform its public spaces and showcase a brand new Open Lobby concept on the ground floor. The stylish Open Lobby, designed to provide guests with one multi-faceted public space to eat, meet, relax, socialise and work as they choose, will revolutionise the way guests live and interact in the hotel. The traditionally separate zones of a reception, lobby, bar, lounge, restaurant and business centre have been merged into one cohesive 'Open Lobby' space where guests can operate in a more instinctive, flexible and homely way.
Posted: 2 June 2022
Gift etiquette: top tips from Denby
As many couples can finally get married after two years of disruptions, wedding planning is once again underway. If you and your partner are unsure about how to make a registry or ask for contributions to the honeymoon fund, Carole Robinson — Head of Retail at Denby — has shared some top tips and gift etiquette to help your day run smoothly. When it comes to wedding planning, some tasks can be more enjoyable than others: while you may not get too excited about picking out the colour of your napkins, making a gift registry with your partner is more fun! However, as with most big celebrations, there's always an element of etiquette and expectation that surrounds wedding gifts. Read on for our top tips on making the ideal wedding list for you and your partner.
Posted: 1 June 2022
Colchester cottages for wedding guest accommodation
Friends and family coming from afar and need somewhere to stay for your big day? Rye Farm Self Catering, based just four miles from Colchester, offer comfortable self-contained cottages ideal for a relaxing break. With prices starting from just £58 per night, your wedding guests have the choice between a selection of modern and welcoming apartments housed in lovingly converted 17th century farm buildings. The Pondview apartment looks out over the property's moat and tranquil duck pond, while the patio area at the back is perfect for catching some afternoon sun.
Posted: 31 May 2022
New stationery for big-day planning
Whether you're planning your own nuptials or are celebrating a newly engaged couple, London-based stationery and lifestyle brand Martha Brooks has lots of new ideas to help. The beautiful, personalised pieces will inspire and delight its recipients. Founded by Martha Keith, the successful business has grown from humble beginnings in 2013 to the inspirational, feel-good lifestyle brand that it is today. Here at County Wedding Magazine HQ we're stationery lovers (stationery addicts more like) so we can't help swooning over the latest offerings from this stylish brand.
Posted: 30 May 2022
The biggest trends set to dominate weddings in 2022
A new study by financial comparison company money.co.uk has revealed the biggest trends set to dominate weddings in 2022 and beyond. Three trends are all tied in first place for the biggest trend of the year, with searches for pets at weddings, multi-coloured weddings and in-season wedding flowers all seeing a 200% year-on-year increase. With so many people adding a four-legged companion to their family over the past couple of years, it's no surprise that so many brides and grooms would want them to play a special part such as a ring bearer or just being a VIP guest. However, it's not just our beloved pets making an appearance, with some couples looking to hire slightly more interesting animals for their guests to marvel at, such as llamas. These friendly and gentle animals will certainly add a touch of uniqueness to the big day.
Posted: 28 May 2022
New wedding range from Timothy Taylor's
With 2022 set to be a big year for weddings, with many delayed due to the pandemic, personalised details have been named as a big trend by Etsy, who reported a 107% increase in searches for custom wedding favours[1]. This is clear from what people are searching for on social as well, with the hashtag #weddingfavours featuring in over 450,000 Instagram posts. People are looking for ways to make their big day extra special, whether that's finding gifts for those who've helped with the planning, exploring unique ways to decorate tables, or looking for presents for brides and grooms. Timothy Taylor's personalised range can be appreciated by all lovers of great-tasting, Yorkshire ale.
Posted: 27 May 2022
A personal touch: 5 tips for customising your wedding drinks
Amidst all the planning and organisation in the months beforehand, it's easy to forget that your wedding day should just be about eating, drinking, and dancing with the people you love most in the world. If you want to bring a unique touch to your celebrations among all the trends and traditional menus, Ben Turnbull — Director and Head Wine Buyer at House of Malt — shares his top tips on personalising the drinks offering on your special day.
Posted: 25 May 2022
Find your wedding entertainment with An Essex Wedding
Choosing music for your ceremony or reception can seem overwhelming, but luckily the team at An Essex Wedding are here to help. Step forward harp and cello couple Mav Duo, based in Hornchurch but available to provide wedding entertainment throughout the county and beyond. Harpist Oscar Quesada Gonzalez and cellist Alejandra Vargas Munoz met while studying music in Columbia. "We fell in love and have been playing together for more than seven years," says Alejandra. "Weddings are our passion, and as such we've been touring back and forth across America and Europe, telling stories with our music while enjoying every step in the process."
Posted: 24 May 2022
To help you find inspiration for your big day, take a look at what's caught the eye of our editors.
There are literally hundreds of ideas, products and services from wedding suppliers across the UK along with links to their web sites as pointed out by our ever resourceful team.
Take a look at what our Editors Love!
