An Essex Wedding news and ideas from around the county

Fraser Hart launches lab-grown diamond collection

Fraser Hart, one of the UK's leading purveyors of fine jewellery, is redefining affordable luxury with the launch of its Born Lab Grown Diamonds collection in 10 new stores nationwide, including Colchester! Optically, physically and chemically identical to an earth-grown diamond, here cutting-edge technology is used to create timeless diamonds in a laboratory setting. Blending craftsmanship with innovation, Born Lab Grown Diamonds are breath-taking in their clarity, delivering the same sparkling wow-factor as traditionally mined gems, but with a more accessible price tag.

The secrets to a happy relationship

Researchers surveyed 2,000 British couples who have been together for ten years or longer, and it revealed a host of secrets to a happy, long-term relationship, according to those who have achieved it - including having no secrets (43 percent), a similar sense of humour (41 percent), never going to sleep on an argument (31 percent) and regular sex (32 percent.) Over a quarter (26 percent) of the long-term couples polled, said a 50/50 division of household labour was essential to keeping things amicable. Being able to laugh at each other (42 percent), not trying to change each other (36 percent) and having an open phone policy (10 percent) all featured in the list. Almost half (44 percent) of the British couples surveyed, claim they are very happy in their relationship, while a further 29 percent said they were generally happy.

The top autumn and winter wedding trends for 2023

An expert has forecast the wedding trends we can expect to see in the remainder of 2023. Wedding-goers in autumn and winter can expect to see a large emphasis on sustainability, DIY and an ode to all things vintage, according to Rachael Kiss from Alliance Online. She commented: "Wedding trends change seasonally, so it's crucial wedding hosts stay ahead of the curve. Efficient spending, sustainability and a vintage feel are key focuses this season, and rightly so. Wedding hosts no longer have to feel obliged to over-indulge in their big day and can instead, save money."

Jackson's Southend-On-Sea Debut

Following its block-busting preview night at The London Palladium earlier this year, Symphonic Jackson brings the iconic hits of Michael and his brothers, enhanced by a live orchestra, to Cliffs Pavilion Southend-On-Sea, on Saturday 1st June 2024. For one night only, West end stars, Haydon Eshun, Cleopatra Madonna Higgins and David Julien are reunited to celebrate the legendary music of Michael Jackson! Together with the National Philharmonic Concert Orchestra, their incredible vocal talents will bring the music of Michael and Jackson 5 to life like never before.

Frost Point Production is exhibiting at County Wedding Events

Cotswold-based Frost Point Production is exhibiting at County Wedding Events' Signature Wedding Show at Mercedes-Benz World on 29th October 2023. Sam says "With a strong background in sound recording, I decided to further my passion to videography. I have gained a great level of experience in the field and am excited to share my passion for storytelling through video with the world. "Starting the business has allowed me to combine my love of videography and my desire to run my own business". "I am an extremely motivated, personable, hardworking individual, with a sharp eye for detail. With a genuine love for the industry, I am thrilled to be able to work closely with clients to bring their visions to life."

Sentimental wedding bands with Atelier VM

Fine Italian jewellery maker Atelier VM has just launched its beautiful new Impronta wedding bands, whereby brides and grooms can customise their special ring with their loved one's fingerprint. Each 18K ring is a unique piece made using the lost wax casting technique, of multiple finger prints layered, to create a beautifully personalised ring that makes a marriage of everlasting love extra special.

Award-winning company working with County Wedding Events

Meon Face an award-winning medical aesthetics beauty clinic which specialises in skin, face and body, is exhibiting at County Wedding Events' Signature Wedding Show at Mercedes-Benz World on 29th October, 2023. "We offer 10+ years of experience, the latest technologies and techniques performed by our experienced and dedicated team. Come meet us at the show! Receive some amazing on-the-day discounts on our skincare products and treatments or book yourself in for a free consultation!"

Barbour coastal fragrances

New for 2023, leading heritage and lifestyle brand, Barbour introduces a collection of fresh coastal fragrances. The new range features two statement scents inspired by the untouched beauty of the British coastline and celebrates a slower pace of life. Each flask shaped bottle is overlayed with Barbour's signature wax finish, the coastal design is playfully inspired by contrasting coastal hues and stylistically wrapped with a touch of tartan detail. Do pop by Barbour Braintree Outlet or stop into your local Fenwicks or John Lewis, Chelmsford!

The therapeutic power of music on Mental Health Awareness Day

The issue of mental health has never been more important, three in five people in the UK suffer from some form of anxiety, but almost half of those people keep it a secret as they worry about being judged by others. And around one in six of the British population also suffers from moderate to severe depressive symptoms. Those shocking statistics show that the issue is still not spoken about enough, which means that sufferers feel excluded. But music can make a big difference! Making or playing music has been proven to deliver many mental health benefits.

Jewellery designer exhibiting with County Wedding Events

Hampshire-based jewellery designer and creator Sarah Ralph, of Sarah Ralph Designs, is showcasing her work at County Wedding Events' Signature Wedding Show at Mercedes-Benz World on Sunday 29th September 2023. Sarah says, "I've been designing and handmaking jewellery from solid recycled sterling silver for the past 10 years. I absolutely love working with silver as it's such a great material to work with and it has such a lustre all of its own. "I love crafting jewellery that makes you smile and that you truly enjoy wearing, from either small piece for that understated look or statement one-off pieces that have that wow factor. All of my jewellery is crafted from solid recycled sterling silver. Being as environmentally friendly as possible is very important to me and it is a strong ethos within my work. I'm based in Winchester, Hampshire where all of my designs are crafted."

UK's 15 most Instagrammed venues to get hitched

As UK searches for "wedding venues" skyrocketed by 110%* over the past months, the wedding experts at Aura Print scoured social media for the most popular autumn/winter wedding venues nationwide, and tallied Instagram hashtag numbers to reveal which venue stands out as the most memorable for weddings this season. Top 15 most Instagrammed wedding venues for autumn/winter 2023 to be inspired by...

Save money on wedding party gifts

With more and more couples choosing to thank their bridesmaids and groomsman with presents, Anita Naik, savings expert at the UK's most trusted savings site VoucherCodes.co.uk, has some great tips on how to save money on your wedding party gifts, without sparing the sentiment: Spend within your budget: Set a budget and stick to it. Often people can go down a rabbit hole when browsing for gifts, looking at items that are way over budget. It's important to set yourself a strict budget and spend an amount that you're comfortable with.

Surrey's Simply Laura Calligraphy exhibiting at Mercedes-Benz World's Signature Wedding Show

Surrey's Simply Laura Calligraphy is exhibiting at County Wedding Events' Signature Wedding Show at Mercedes-Benz World on Sunday 29th October 2023. Laura says," If you're recently engaged and planning a wedding, firstly congratulations! When it comes to stationery designs, the possibilities are endless, from save the dates to place cards and on the day signage, Simply Laura Calligraphy helps bring your special day to life through print. Come and Meet me at Mercedes-Benz World Signature Wedding Fair on Sunday 29th October 2023!"

Celebrate Bonfire Night at Down Hall

This year, why not celebrate Bonfire Night (Sunday 5th November) at luxury Essex property, Down Hall Hotel, Spa & Estate, with its annual fireworks celebration. Grab your family and friends, pop on your hats and scarfs and get toastie with hot toddies and hearty jacket potatoes, as you witness one of the best displays in the East of England. What a treat!

The most Instagrammed venues!

As UK searches for 'wedding venues' skyrocketed by 110 per cent over the past few months, the wedding experts at Aura Print scoured social media for the most popular autumn/winter wedding venues nationwide, and tallied Instagram hashtag numbers to reveal which venue stands out as the most memorable for weddings this autumn/winter. Not surprisingly, Gosfield Hall came in at 13! Congratulations!

County Wedding Magazines launch new websites!

Here at County Wedding Magazines HQ the office is abuzz with excitement at the launch of our new websites – I'm sure you can hear the *collective oohs and ahhs* from where you are! So yes, it's here, after months of hard work, sweat and tears (maybe less tears but more cheers!), our shiny, new, glorious websites are ready to be viewed by our much-loved readers – we really hope you like them as much as we do! Wedding planning at your fingertips - What's new, we hear you ask? Well, everything! The County names are as important as ever, it's our ethos after all, but we have a lush new font and modern colour scheme that really makes our County Wedding Magazine titles jump off the page.

The best of English sparkling wine, with Amelia Singer this National Champagne Week (1-7th October)

There's the New World of wine, and then the New New World: English Sparkling Wine is on the rise. This National Champagne Week, wine expert, Amelia Singer selects her favourite bubbles from our own green pastures... Which country comes to mind if you think of "wine"? For most, I imagine France, Italy, or perhaps even the USA these days, probably dominates. We all know, however, that the world is a-changing and so should our concept of wine and where it comes from. English wines are on the rise, and it's my opinion, along with a fair few of the worlds top wine experts, that they are the new frontier of wine making – even beating out top champagne houses in sparkling wine competitions.

Personalised wedding gifts from Pen Heaven

Find beautifully crafted, meaningful, and personalised wedding gifts to cherish forever with Pen Heaven. A master of exquisite stationary design, Pen Heaven was founded in 2008 and offer a comprehensive range of luxury writing instruments, leather journals and gifts. Specialists in classic brands such as Parker, Cross and Lamy, Pen Heaven also boast some more unusual and hard-to-find items such as the Japanese hand painted Platinum range, Italian calligraphy sets and the design focused Worther brand. Offering an in-house, by-hand engraving and embossing service, Pen Heaven are the ultimate destination for meaningful gifts with a personal touch perfect for big-day gifting.

Trialing the Medik8 Platinum Facial at Greenwoods’ Spa

I was lucky enough to enjoy the Medik8 Platinum Facial at the beautiful Greenwoods' Spa. Medik8 is a dedicated professional-led skin care brand. Not only was the beauty therapist professional in the application of products, she also had excellent advice and knew the products inside out! My facial lasted 60 minutes and was tailored to me and my specific skin care needs.

County Wedding Magazines' readers share their prize win story!

Here at County Wedding Magazines HQ, we love nothing more than to hear from the winners of our competitions. In the crazy world of wedding planning, it's exciting for us to be able to offer our lovely readers some exciting giveaways and competitions which will hopefully give you a much-needed pick-me-up during on the countdown to your wedding day. In March 2023, CWM ran a competition, 'Win a minimoon in Northern Ireland!' and the winners were nearlyweds Jennifer and her partner.