An Essex Wedding news and ideas from around the county

The Wedding Lodge at That Amazing Place

New for 2023, you're now able to book The Wedding Lodge for the night before your wedding. Arrive with your wedding party the night before the wedding and relax with a meal (perhaps a takeaway, or something prepared for you by one of the venue's caterers) and maybe a bottle or two of prosecco! You can then get ready in the house the following morning, with hair and make-up being able to arrive early to ensure enough time to get ready, before moving over to the wedding cottage in the main venue prior to the ceremony.

The 'anti-wedding' wedding trends making their mark in 2023

'Anti-wedding' is the hottest new wedding trend this summer, from ditching tradition with bridal pant suits, short wedding dresses and mismatched bridesmaid dresses - get ready to see these trends everywhere this wedding season. Wedding supply experts at Aura Print have scoped out TikTok to serve up the top 10 anti-wedding wedding trends to look out for this summer. More people are ditching traditional for unconventional, allowing for their special day to be even more unique to the couple.

Hedingham Castle sets up for summer

Working with local suppliers Evelyn Rose Floristry and Andy Griffin Photography, Hedingham Castle is delighted to unveil its stunning outdoor ceremony space on the lawns of the Georgian House, overlooking the lake. New for 2023, couples can now say their vows in this incredible peaceful setting, with seating for up to 150 guests. Further to the UK's new outdoor wedding laws brought in during the pandemic and made permanent in 2022, couples can now get married outside at licensed venues without the need for a permanent structure.

How to throw a Barbie-themed hen party this summer

With the launch of the new Barbie movie, searches for "barbie party" on Pinterest have seen a 121% increase in the last six months as people look for inspiration on how to throw their own, pink-themed parties. As the wedding season is in full swing, thortful.com has teamed up with Pippa Masson, party planning expert at Hen Party Company Fizzbox, to compile top tips on how to throw a Barbie-themed hen party this summer. From Barbie themed cocktails to choosing the perfect venue, this is how to have the ultimate bachelorette Barbie herself would even love.

Fun and luxe wedding gifts

Attending a wedding this summer? Looking for the ultimate addition to your wedding day gift list? Look no further, Who Icons, seamlessly combines refined luxury with a touch of casual elegance, creating the ultimate personalised wedding gift. Who Icons understands that love stories are unique, and so should be the gifts that commemorate them. Its exquisite collection of handcrafted treasures is meticulously designed to captivate the hearts of discerning couples. From The Royals to the Beckhams, Anna Wintour to Karl Largerfield, the debut collection featuring the world's most influential fashion icons - and here at County Wedding Magazines HQ we're finding it hard to pick our favourite, we'll just have to collect them all.

Take a break from the wed-min - 30 things which bring happiness

Although joyous occasions, planning a wedding can be stressful with money worries and family politics all thrown into the mix. If you feel like this is your situation right now, grab yourself a brew and a biscuit and read this heartfelt study by Samsung: a definitive list of 30 things which bring us pure moments of happiness! An optimistic 94 percent of those surveyed, agree that joy is all around us, we just have to choose to see it.

Cocktail hour at Houchins!

Houchins is an elegant wedding venue with stylish grade 2* listed farmhouse accommodation. Located in north Essex it has a rich history dating back to the 17th century. To add to its appeal, it has now added a stylish Terrace Bar - ideal for reception drinks and pre-paid cocktails in the garden. Perfect for sipping during a wedding of a summer's evening.

Braxted Park open day in July - book now!

Braxted Park offers a unique blend of serenity and sophistication that come together in one magnificent venue. Set amongst the picturesque Essex countryside, Braxted Park is a carefully curated space that offers the perfect setting where forever memories are created and everything you could wish for is here in this one breathtaking location. And on Sunday 16th July you'll be able to experience this exquisite location for yourselves. Between 11 am and 3 pm, the team will be opening the gates of the 500-acre estate and inviting you to experience the magic of Braxted Park.

How to choose the perfect wedding ring

Often overlooked, there's a big difference between platinum, gold and white gold rings, even though they look very similar. Despite gold rings being the traditional choice platinum wedding bands have over 6.1k searches and platinum wedding rings 3.3k in the UK each month. Whilst gold wedding bands have only 1k searches and gold wedding rings 5.4k, this suggests that in 2023 the most popular choice may be a platinum band. But with more 15k searches for 'Wedding Bands' in the UK every month - the decision may not be as simple as what's on trend. Here, jewellery expert Sach Kukadia at 7879 recommends how to choose the perfect wedding ring a purchase far more more important than your regular jewellery! Find out the difference between platinum vs golds, delving into everything, including their pros and cons, through to how well they'll fare in the long run...

Accurist X Sarah Alexander Gift Sets

Accurist has collaborated with British jewellery designer Sarah Alexander to create these beautiful watch and jewellery gift sets, which make brilliant bridal or bridesmaid gifts. Accurist watches have been seen on the wrists of royalty and rockstars, as well as continuing to be a premium watch brand that is accessible for everyone. So, why not feel like a rockstar on your big day!?

How to nail your bridesmaid gifts

Finding that perfect thank you gift for your bridesmaids can be a mind boggling task. How can you truly thank them for supporting you on your big day? New research* from gifting experts at Getting Personal shows that apart from our parents, friends are the hardest people to shop for with one in seven (15%) admitting they struggle. To help brides give envy-inducing thank you gifts gifting expert at Getting Personal, Tara Butler, shares eight tips for figuring out what they really want... without having to ask.

The perfect wedding gift that couples will love

Wedding season is upon us and picking out the perfect wedding gift that is personal, but also has character and a luxe feel to celebrate the couple's big day can be a daunting task. However look no further, whether it's to say thanks to your bridesmaids, or to celebrate the happy couple, Yvonne Ellen, a home and interiors designer who specialises in hand-painted home gifts, has picked out some of her top gift ideas to suit all types of couples including gifts for loved ones and the bridal party.

10 things wedding guests really care

Whether it's an open bar, live band or fireworks, choosing the best elements to add to your wedding day could really make or break your big day, new research reveals. Wedding experts Queensmith analysed thousands of comments from Reddit to reveal the things that really matter to guests when attending a wedding. Unsurprisingly, an open bar is a consistent success with guests at a wedding, however, it seems seating charts and a late-night snack are just as important.

Your wedding playlist, according to DJ experts

Now that we have entered peak wedding season, (May-October), DJing experts from CD Pool have provided the ultimate wedding playlists for your reception that is guaranteed to keep the dance floor hopping with happy guests. CD Pool analysed Spotify API data, exploring 2117 playlists with the keyword "wedding" to compile four playlists that reflect the atmosphere at different stages of the wedding reception. The suggested No. 1 song to include in your wedding playlist is I Wanna Dance With Somebody by Whitney Houston, a guaranteed floorfiller that appeared in over 320 playlists on Spotify, making it the most popular wedding-related track.

Top wedding travel tips for big-day guests

Anita Naik, Savings Expert at VoucherCodes.co.uk provides her top tips on how to manage journey costs, when travelling to attend a wedding. "Wedding ceremonies are well known for placing financial strain upon guests, ranging from the cost associated with your gift, to a new outfit, and even – your transport. Whether the ceremony is being held in the UK, or further afield, consumers will likely have to travel to attend a loved one's big day. I've pulled together my top tips to help you cut costs and ensure you can enjoy your family and friend's nuptials without worrying about your finances.

Roslin Beach in top 10 most Instagrammable beach wedding venues

Wedding invitation company, Aura Print, analysed 70 of the most sought-after beach wedding destinations and discovered the UK's most Instagrammable coastal wedding venues. The Roslin Beach Hotel, Southend, was listed number 9 in the list with a total of 3,942 hash tags! Topping the list was the stunning spot of Tunnels Beaches in Ilfracombe, Devon boasting over 13k hashtags on Instagram. Oh I do like to be beside the seaside!

Pinterest’s wedding trends we love this summer

Wedding supply experts at Aura Print have served up the top 10 summer wedding trends we need to know about, as loved by Pinterest. From disco balls, to Barbie-core, upcycling to anti-bridal - get ready to see these wedding trends everywhere! You can never have too much sparkle at your wedding, and we love the playful, retro feel to it. The trend started to pick up steam in 2020, when glitter balls and 80s playlists became a great DIY option to add some retro-meets-modern fabulousness to the big day. The trend is going nowhere this summer, with over 32k Pinterest pins and a 7400% global increase in searches since January. So get your groove on and be ready to dance the night away!

Save Your Spending as a Wedding Guest!

Weddings are one of the most joyous occasions to attend, however the cost of simply being a guest can add up quickly. Here are NetVoucherCodes' top tips to save money when attending a wedding.

Eternal Spring in Sugarlandia

Don Papa rum has announced its new limited edition 'Eternal Spring in Sugarlandia' canister. Unveiled as part of the brand's World Worth Preserving initiative, the new release follows last year's Secrets of Sugarlandia canister success, which raised £50,000 to support the important conservation work of key organisations on the island including the Talarak Foundation and the Philippine Reef and Rainforest Conservation Foundation.Don Papa Rum is the first premium single island rum from the Philippines, now ranked the third largest rum market in the world next to India and USA. Distilled and aged in American oak barrels on the island of Negros Occidental (known locally as Sugarlandia), the pure, original Negros sugar cane is the foundation for Don Papa Rum's long, rich-textured finish and flavours of vanilla, honey, and candied fruits.

Here’s how to include your dog in your big day

Wedding days are often filled with celebrations with the ones you love the most, so it's understandable that for many people it simply wouldn't feel right to celebrate their special day without their faithful furry companion. "From a 'dog of honour' to a ring bearer, the possibilities of including your pet at your wedding are endless," explains PDSA Vet Nurse Nina Downing. "While bringing your dog along to your wedding can be rewarding, it can also add some complexity so there's lots to think about to make it work." Nina has pulled together her top tips and some things to consider before saying yes to involving your pet on your big day!