An Essex Wedding news and ideas from around the county

Say I Do with Chelsea Peers

Chelsea Peers have made the morning of the wedding even more stylish than before. You and your bridal party can now get ready in soft satin and lace trimmed nightwear, bringing together the joys of wedding morning excitement and the wow factor for your photo album. Why not have your bridesmaids in matching pyjamas? The bridal collection caters to the whole wedding party and would make those getting ready photos all that more special.

Coltsfoot Country Retreat Wedding Fair hosted by County Wedding Events

If you're newlyweds-to-be embarking on your wedding planning journey, pop along to the County Wedding Events wedding show at Coltsfoot Country Retreat, Hertfordshire, for inspiration on Sunday 6th April 2025 - 11pm - 3pm! 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. Coltsfoot is a beautiful venue set in the hamlet of Bulls Green in Hertfordshire, situated in close proximity to Welwyn, Welwyn Garden City, Knebworth and Stevenage. We are surrounded by acres of beautiful and blissfully quiet Hertfordshire countryside.

Braintree Village to hold exclusive three-day shopping event

Braintree Village is set to hold an exclusive three -day shopping event for Spring, allowing the outlet's PLUS+ rewards club members to unlock extra special savings. The PLUS+ Discounts Weekend will be hosted at the Essex shopping outlet, from Friday 28th March to Sunday 30th March, with incredible savings on top of already discounted outlet prices across more than 30 brands.

Three cheers for mum!

Mother's Day is fast approaching, and with this comes the worry of buying the right present. Mum does so much, how can we possibly repay her? For many mothers, they'll be sat there thinking they don't want the fuss, maybe just a cup of tea and a lay in. However, it's important we show them that they're worth the extra day of love and affection. The mother of the bride is a special role, and I'm sure one all mums look forward to. The extra support we get from our mums on our wedding day is three-fold, so let's unpack them and remind ourselves why we should be treating them on the 30th of Mach 2025.

New package for Simply Rustic!

Simply Rustic has launched a brand new package for 2026. This addition will consist of: a luxury floral arch; luxury floral centrepieces, table plan, welcome sign, post box, top table/ceremony table decoration and more... Owner, Teresa, will be offering a special price for the first three couples to book this package for wedding dates in 2026 or 2027. To secure, simply pay a £50 deposit.

The Most popular Wedding Gifts and Their Impact Post-Wedding

You've received your invitation, you've picked out your outfit, now you just need to select your gift! A simple task that can bring reality crashing in "what on earth can I get them?" Here's Not on the Highstreets most popular wedding gifts, along with expert insights from their exclusive interview with multi-award-winning relationship coach Gemma Nice on how these gifts can strengthen relationships and keep the connection alive long after the wedding day.

Braintree Village to host Big Kid Circus

Following its successful debut last Spring, Braintree Village will be hosting Big Kid Circus this Easter holiday, offering guests a thrilling experience for the whole family to enjoy. The big top will be adjacent to the top of the North Car Park and is set to open to the public from Wednesday 16th April until Monday 21st April, offering guests the perfect activity come rain or shine this April.

The Ultimate Mother’s Day Gift Guide!

It's time to get our purses out and to spoil mum. Rituals is a luxurious brand that offers gorgeous gifts for affordable prices, which is one of the many reasons why they are a great place to start for Mother's Day. Rituals recognises that maternal love manifests in various forms and can come from unexpected sources, such as a caring neighbour or a trusted babysitter. Rituals' goal is to honour and celebrate all forms of love.

Pop + Bark Dog Experience Returns for 2025

The paws are back in town... yes that's right, the UK's most talked about dog event is returning to Down Hall Hotel, Spa & Estate on Bank Holiday Monday, 5th May for the ultimate spring celebration and unleashed fun in the sun! Teaming up with leading canine events company, Pop + Bark, this is the largest outdoor breed-specific dog celebration of its kind, and the perfect place for puppy play to get those tails wagging.

Bressingham Hall Wedding Fair hosted by County Wedding Events

If you're newlyweds-to-be embarking on your wedding planning journey, pop along to the County Wedding Events wedding show at Bressingham Hall & High Barn, Diss, Norfolk for inspiration on Sunday 23rd March 2025 - 11pm - 3pm! 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.

Quality Over Quantity: The Surge of Micro Weddings

The modern couple are ditching large lavish weddings and choosing a more intimate affair. A micro wedding is a wedding that has less than 50 guests and focuses more on the meaningfulness of the day rather than the spectacle. Diamonds Factory Ireland with expert wedding planner Akilah Atiba-Davies from With Akilah & Co, unpacks the surge of this trend and why more couples are leaning towards smaller events.

Hedingham Castle unveils enchanting Twilight Weddings

Hedingham Castle, a distinguished 900-year-old Norman Keep nestled on the Essex-Suffolk border, has announced its latest offering: Twilight Weddings. This new package caters to couples seeking a relaxed and romantic evening ceremony, capturing the magic of dusk in a historic setting. The new Twilight Weddings format has been carefully designed for those who desire a less formal, more fluid celebration that seamlessly transitions from ceremony to drinks and dancing.

ESSEX’S FIRST COACH STORE OPENS AT BRAINTREE VILLAGE

Global fashion house Coach has joined Braintree Village. The 2,260 sq ft store is located opposite the South Entrance and is the first standalone Coach store in the region. Coach is a global fashion house founded in New York in 1941. Inspired by the vision of Creative Director Stuart Vevers and the inclusive and courageous spirit of our hometown, making beautiful things, crafted to last—for you to be yourself in.

How to avoid overspending on your wedding budget

It is a special time for you and your partner, planning the perfect event to celebrate your love with friends and family. However, it can often become stressful as people try to fit such a big event into their budgets. With the average wedding for 2025 coming to a total of £20,822, getting everything from drinks to décor can be a chore. Lake District Country Hotels, providers of wedding venues in the Lake District, pair with James Beckett, financial coach and founder of MoneyStocker.com, to help you budget your way to your big day.

Spring is here - it's time for SPF!

Whether you're in the garden or walking in one of Essex's beautiful parks, it's so important to look after your skin. Even though it's still not warm enough to leave your jacket at home, it's still oh so important to wear an SPF - and I wear SPF50 - even in winter. Here's some products available on your local high street which will help perk up your skin!

THE MUDDY AWARDS LAUNCHES

Now in their 12th year, The Muddy Stilettos Awards are back! The most coveted awards for independent small businesses across 35 counties, they're chosen by customers and Muddy readers. Muddy Stilettos is the UK's no.1 luxury lifestyle website outside London, reaching 4.4 million readers across 35 counties to make the most of where they live with local and brilliant things to do.

County Wedding Events coming to Old Essex Barn, Essex!

If you're newlyweds-to-be embarking on your wedding planning journey, pop along to the County Wedding Events wedding show at Old Essex Barn Essex, for inspiration on Sunday 9th March, 2025! Sister company to County Wedding Magazines, the event brings couples in touch with local professionals for face-to-face wedding planning. 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. Old Essex Barn is a simply stunning renovated barn from the 15th century, located on the outskirts of the quiet village of Kelvedon. The barn oozes character with beautiful historic oak timbers and vaulted ceilings, it truly is a special place to say 'I do'.

The hidden language of roses, revealed by expert

Chris Waugh, Florist at Bloom & Wild discusses the symbolism of roses and the bridal trends we can expect to see: "Roses are set to remain a popular choice for weddings in 2025, remaining as one of the most traditional parts of a bridal bouquet. While floriography, known as the language of flowers, was popular during the Victorian Era, the hidden language of roses is still more apparent than ever. Whether you want your guests to be enticed by a feeling of love and passion by incorporating dark red roses into your big day, or if you'd prefer a more delicate approach to love and gratitude by using pink roses, it's important to pick each colour wisely to ensure you're getting the most appropriate messaging across to your guests."

New winter routes from London Southend Airport

easyJet has just announced three brand new winter routes from London Southend Airport to Barcelona, Lanzarote and Salzburg, with seats from just £29.99. Flights to Barcelona will operate on Thursdays and Sundays from 26 October, while flights to Lanzarote will depart on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 27 October. The new Salzburg service will operate twice weekly on Saturdays from December.

New showroom for Affinity Fine Jewellers

Affinity Fine Jewellers has recently moved to a new, exclusive showroom setting, choosing to move away from the High Street in order to offer their customers a more exclusive and relaxed setting. The new showroom, near Southend On Sea, is by appointment only and allows you to browse the many ring samples we have to offer and discuss potential bespoke designs in a stress free, relaxed environment.