An Essex Wedding news and ideas from around the county

Modern day hen do ideas - time to celebrate

The hen do is the perfect opportunity to shower your bridesmaids with love before the big day. It's all about celebrating your friendship, laughing until your cheeks hurt and making the most of your time together. If you're looking for unique and fun ways to honour your girlies, here are some ideas from hen experts, bookaparty.com. Treat your bridal crew to a bottomless brunch where the prosecco and pancakes keep coming. Head to the city centre of your choice and enjoy a fun atmosphere, good music and tasty food to suit a range of tastes. Whether it's a full English breakfast, avocado toast, fluffy waffles or pizza, your taste buds will be in heaven, and unlimited drinks help you to kick off your day in style. Sip on free-flowing glasses of fizz, cocktails, beer, cider or soft drinks as you let your hair down and even enjoy some live entertainment from DJs to cabaret shows.

Live From The Lawn & Summer Series Returns to Down Hall Hotel & Spa

This summer, live music returns to the gardens of Down Hall Hotel & Spa in Essex, as the award-winning estate brings back its much-loved Live from the Lawn series, alongside the soulful sounds of its Sunday Jazz Brunch events. From laid-back Friday evenings with cocktails and acoustic sets, to relaxed Sunday brunches with smooth jazz and sparkling wine, Down Hall sets the scene for alfresco moments to savour.

2025 wedding wine trends unveiled by Laithwaites

Laithwaites, the UK's leading online wine merchant, has revealed the top five wedding wine trends of 2025. Created by experts from Laithwaites' wedding wine service, this list reflects the current vogue for unique, cost-conscious wedding celebrations that leave a lasting impression on guests. "Couples are coming to us looking to create experiences that focus on value, showcase their personalities and give their guests a great time. It's so often the food and drink that makes a great wedding stand out," says Greg Roberts, Wine Educator at Laithwaites. Wedding wine trends for 2025.

Getting to know... Hylands Estate  

Award-winning Grade II listed mansion, Hylands House, is set in 574 acres of landscaped parkland. Here, you'll find the beautifully restored ceremony and reception rooms, plus the Grand Pavilion and outdoor wedding ceremony garden a few steps away. Stunning parkland and never-ending views of the Essex skyline are all around you. The grounds and formal gardens within Hylands Estate offer adream setting for your wedding photos. Take a stroll into the Pleasure Gardens filled with seasonal flowers, including our famous wisteria in the later spring months, or visit our outdoor ceremony garden for some woodland inspired photos amongst the changing colours of the grounds.

The Eve Appeal: The UK’s Leading Gynae Cancer Charity’s Get Lippy Campaign

The Eve Appeal is on a mission is to save lives by focusing on preventing and improving the early diagnosis of the five gynaecological cancers. Throughout May, they are encouraging everyone to Get Lippy alongside some of the leadingnames and brands in beauty. The campaign raises awareness of the five gynae cancers: womb, ovarian, cervical, vulval andvaginal through a series of fundraising, education, and awareness initiatives to prevent these cancers before they start.

Brits are calling for an end to ‘rowdy’ stag and hen celebrations

Gone are the days when stag and hens revolved around a simple send-off - with costs spiralling out of control, Brits are calling for an end to 'rowdy' stag and hen celebrations. The study by the UK's most-trusted discount site, VoucherCodes.co.uk, reveals Brits are forking out £1,000 more than they'd like to celebrate their friends' and families' upcoming nuptials, with the average person willing to spend just £214. With many celebrations now lasting several days and requiring trips abroad, the average stag and hen now costs an eye-watering £1,208. It's therefore no surprise that a whopping 71% of people say costs have gotten out of control.

Down Hall wins LuxLife and SME 'Best Country House Hotel' awards 2025

One of England's most established hotels, Down Hall Hotel, Spa & Estate in Essex, has recently won LuxLife - Best Country House & Spa Hotel 2025, South East England. This accolade celebrates the hotel's unique blend of history, luxury and contemporary décor, making it the perfect destination for leisure breaks, business retreats, wellness focused escapes and picturesque weddings. In addition, the stunning property has also won SME Best Country House Hotel – England Award 2025 a true reflection of the team's commitment to providing the warmest hospitality in the heart of the countryside.

8 Tips To Avoid Wedding Guest Burnout This Wedding Season

As peak wedding season rolls in, it's not just brides and grooms who are feeling the pressure. New research reveals a growing trend of wedding burnout, and it's hitting guests just as hard. From back-to-back hen-dos and stag weekends to pricey gifts and cross-country travel, the cost and commitment of attending multiple weddings have left many guests feeling emotionally and financially drained. To help guests avoid burnout this wedding season, the experts at Queensmith have shared their 8 top tips to beat the 'wedding guest hangover', from setting a budget to knowing when to say no.

Essex Local Businesses Take Top Spot in 2025 Muddy Stilettos Awards

Now in their 12th year, the hotly contested 2025 Muddy Stilettos Regional Awards have been announced with 21 brilliant local indie businesses winning the coveted lifestyle crowns across Essex. Readers of the award-winning lifestyle website Muddy Stilettos have been nominating and voting in their hundreds of thousands for their favourite independent businesses across 21 different lifestyle categories – from Best Destination Pub to Yoga/Pilates Studio, Boutique Stay to Local Food/Drink producer – and shining a light on the most creative, unique indie businesses across the counties. Reaching over 11 million people nationally in eight weeks, with half a million votes and nominations cast nationwide, making it the most popular Muddy Stilettos Awards to date.

Hotpod Yoga Takes on Mental Health Week

Mental health awareness week (12th – 18th May) is upon us and it's time we get serious about our feelings. With the constant rise in social media consumption and the cruelty of the media, it's vita we understand how we can support our mental health. Hotpod Yoga in Birmingham are facing the week head on and, in collaboration with CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably), are helping locals support the worthy cause.

This new cleaning trend is ruining your engagement ring!

The newest trend to clean engagement rings with a coffee steamer, whilst entertaining to watch, is a sure-fire way to ruin your precious ring! We have to be very careful about our jewels and must not forget that it is four simple prongs that hold in our sparkling beauties. To educate us as to why this hack should get the sack is Neil Dutta, managing director of the engagement ring specialists, Angelic Diamonds

B Calm Introduces a Personalised Body and Face Care Set

Born from Becky's personal journey of healing, B Calm offers beautifully designed, organic products to support modern women in finding daily balance and calm. In May 2025 they will proudly unveils their latest innovation – the Personalised Body + Face Care Set. Designed to empower individuals to create a unique self-care ritual, this customisable trio features a hydrating mist, nourishing carrier oil, and pure essential oil blend to support radiant skin and holistic well-being.

Leez Priory celebrates 30 years of weddings with a search for its first couples

Leez Priory goes in search of couples who married at its Essex venue in May
1995 to celebrate 30 years since the first wedding was held. Part of the Country House
Weddings Group, the wedding venue will be hosting a 30th anniversary party for staff and its
suppliers and hopes to have its first couples in attendance to mark the occasion. The
company will also announce the winner of its Win A Wedding competition, running
throughout May.

New Study Reveals the Best Places in England to Get Married

With wedding season fast approaching, the wedding experts at F.Hinds have analysed hundreds of the best wedding venues that England has to offer, to uncover where nearly-weds should be adding to their shortlist this summer. The study considered several factors such as popularity, reviews and weather predictions and awarded bonus points for how "Instagrammable" the aesthetic is. The systematic scoring system has revealed the "best of the best" English wedding venues for couples planning a wedding in 2025.

Outdoor cinema returns to Braintree Village

Braintree Village is set to welcome back it's open-air cinema for the late May Bank Holiday weekend.The Outdoor Cinema at the Essex shopping outlet will screen 10 movies over four days with the line-up including family favourites, blockbuster hits and much-loved classics. Launching on the evening of Friday 23rd May, the Braintree Village Outdoor Cinema will be open all weekend until the night of Monday 26th May.

To pre-nup or not to pre-nup?

What is a pre-nuptial agreement and why does it sound so intimidating? Anna Cross, Legal Director in Ellisons' Family Law Team unpacks the rise in the pre-nuptial agreement and why this should be explored by newly engaged couples. Pre-nuptial agreements offer couples transparency and peace of mind, helping them enter marriage with a clear understanding of their financial rights and responsibilities.

Wedding expert reveals the top 2025 trends

With weddings becoming more personalised than ever, many couples are rethinking the traditional elements of their big day. In 2025, couples are all about individuality and creating an experience that truly reflects them. For those looking for inspiration on what's 'in' and what's 'out' for weddings this year; Jeremy Hinds, Wedding and Engagement Ring expert at F.Hinds, shares his top tips for planning a celebration that feels both modern and timeless.

DAINTY LONDON UNVEILS AÉRÅ

Dainty London, the award-winning jewellery brand, based in Chelmsford, proudly announces the launch of AÉRÅ, a groundbreaking new fine jewellery collection that marries sustainable luxury with conscious shopping. Founded by former Children's Heart Transplant Nurse Specialist Jade, Dainty London has rapidly become one of Britain's most innovative sustainable jewellery brands. The company has received multiple accolades, including "Online Retail Strategy of the Year" at the UK Jewellery Awards 2024.

Youth Chairman at Billericay Rugby club takes on the London Marathon

Paul Bolton, a dedicated runner and passionate advocate for grassroots rugby, is set to take on the challenge of the 2025 London Marathon to raise funds for Wooden Spoon, the children's charity of rugby. Paul, who works as a Marketing Manager for Ford Motor Company, first laced up his running shoes in 2018 when he attended his local Parkrun. Despite not always enjoying running, he quickly became hooked on the supportive atmosphere, the opportunity for self-improvement, and the camaraderie of fellow runners. During the Covid lockdowns, running became an even more significant part of his life, helping to improve both his mental and physical health.

Celebrate National Tea Day with the Nation’s Best Tasting Tea!

Birchall Tea is a family-owned tea company with a heritage dating back to 1872. Known for its exceptional quality and flavour, Birchall Tea sources the finest ingredients to create a wide range of blends enjoyed by tea enthusiasts worldwide. Committed to sustainability and ethical practices, Birchall Tea continually seeks ways to support environmental and social causes. To celebrate National Tea Day 2025, Birchall is giving customers 10% off any online purchase, but hurry as it's available for today only!