An Essex Wedding news and ideas from around the county

Feeling beautiful on your big day

Sam Easter is a professional highly demanded make-up artist with over 20 years experience creating long lasting flawless make-up looks throughout Essex and surrounding counties. As you begin planning your special day, Sam, owner of Beautiful You would love to help you bring your bridal beauty vision to life. Sam recently spoke to An Essex Wedding Magazine and has give us all the details of the upcoming wedding fairs she will be exhibiting at in 2025, including two run by County Wedding Events!

Combating those November blues

November's here, and with summer well and truly gone, and the festive season just a little out of reach, the next few weeks can feel a little stationary. Before the Christmas chaos begins, November is the perfect time of year to treat yourself to a self-care retreat. Think cosy mornings in your cloud-like bed, luxury treatments, wellbeing classes and plenty of time just to yourself, soaking in the relaxing atmosphere of our purpose built wellness retreat.

Be inspired by The Lawn

The Lawn is nestled within three acres of perfectly striped lawns, wonderful seasonally planted flower beds, blossom trees and a stunning rose garden which, with its miniature privet hedges, makes the most perfect backdrop for an outdoor wedding in the stunning gazebo. This all sits within The Lawn Estate with its 120 acres of rolling parkland and ancient woods. The beautiful Georgian Manor House with 100ft of covered, colonnaded Terrace has an outside bar during the summer.

Seasonal style

As seasons change, it's important to be aware of how the weather affects the wedding. Editorial Assistant Millicent Garton takes you through some suggestions of how to embrace the chill and celebrate the sun. Much like seasons, it's only natural that weddings and their themes flow and evolve with changing year. From the cake and catering to the dress and décor, all elements of the big day can be influenced by the time of year, so it's only fitting that special attention should be given to those minor details.

Bringing party-ready hair to Essex!

Who doesn't love a bouncy blow? With the festive season right around the corner, hair care favourite Philip Kingsley has some fabulous products to perfect your party hair. Whether it's a sleek ponytail, a bouncy blow-dry or time-saving overnight curls, Philip Kingsley has the secret to flawless, healthy locks every time - and what's best the products are available at your local Boots store!

New Experience Gift Vouchers for Talbooth House & Spa

Just in time for the gifting season, PoB Hotels, the exclusive collection of independent luxury hotels across the British Isles, has unveiled a collection of new experience gift voucher offerings including: 'Seasoned to Perfection', 'Pampers Paradise' and 'Time for Tea'. Each gift voucher allows guests to treat their loved ones to an experience at any of the hotels across the PoB Hotels collection.

Simply timeless - the wedding style going nowhere!

Simply timeless - the wedding style that is going nowhere! Make up artist, Lynsey Fordham, put together this styled shoot at Apton Hall. The vision combined cool, crisp whites alongside mellow sage greens. The outcome is perfectly timeless a relaxed vibe. Shot by John Payton Photography, be inspired and get your mood boards at the ready for this beautiful and elegant editorial shoot.

Muddy Stilettos Best Places To Live 2025

Muddy Stilettos, the UK's No1 women's lifestyle website outside London, has announced the launch of its 2025 'Top 300 Best Places to Live' . Covering more regions that ever before and with London, Yorkshire and Cheshire added to the list, it draws upon its unparalleled local knowledge and insight into the 35 most sought-after counties in England, guiding potential buyers to the local hot spots and up-and-coming areas.

Gemini Styling rebrands

After months of planning and consideration, Gemini Styling has rebranded to Lisa Curtis Bridal Hair & Education. Not feeling that the name Gemini Styling aligned with her business any longer, and with the new addition offering Bridal Hair and education, owner Lisa Curtis decided it was time for a complete rebrand. With over 25 years of experience in the hairdressing industry, we can't wait to follow Lisa on her journey and see what else she has in store!

Make sure your wedding day is protected! 

When you're planning a wedding, getting insured is important to protect yourself against anything that could go awry just before, or on the big day. For those aiming to tie the knot this year, Alex Cross, Insurance Director at Tesco Bank shares his top tips on things to consider for your wedding day and make sure you're covered so things can run as smoothly as possible. Weddings can be a pricey affair, with the average cost of a UK wedding in 2024 coming in at around £20,755. Knowing the total cost of your wedding and how much you're spending on each element of your big day is crucial before choosing your insurance policy. Identifying any big-ticket expenses that you'll want covered should anything go wrong, such as venues, caterers, photographers, or dresses is also key. This can also help you decide if standard insurance policies will be enough or if you'll need something more specific or customised.

St Osyth Priory launches new package!

Step into timeless elegance at St Osyth Priory and get married with this brand new 2025 wedding package, perfect for those wanting a more relaxed celebration. The Darcy Wedding package is available till June 2025, for up to 60 guests and includes: venue fee and a one-night stay in Darcy West, one reception drink per person, two-course hot buffet, half a bottle of wine per person plus pulled pork baps for evening food. The package costs, £10,995 on Sunday to Friday, with Saturday dates incurring a £2000 supplement. For enquiries, email one of the team at: info@stosythpriory.co.uk or call: 01206 430160.

Best Places to live in Essex revealed

Luxury lifestyle site Muddy Stilettos asked its readers to vote for the best local village, town or city to call home in 2024 using its Top 260 Places to Live guide. In a regional vote across 29 counties, Saffron Walden topped the poll of 10 potential candidates in Essex. From towns to villages, hamlets to commuter favourites, the 260 locations were independently researched and picked by the in-the-know Muddy Editorial team, and then over 27,500 readers went on to vote. The results revealed a passion for each location's sense of community, access to schools, restaurants, shops and culture, plus their feeling towards their overall immediate surroundings.

How to avoid pre-nups becoming a wedding alarm bell

As one of the most popular seasons for wedding proposals approaches, couples are being reminded to factor pre-nuptials into their plans well ahead of the big day. No longer associated with the rich and famous, people from all walks of life and finance levels are entering into nuptial agreements. And often it's not the couples themselves who initiate the idea to enter into a nuptial agreement, it can often be suggested by their parents. "It's becoming more common for couples to take out an agreement because their parents have helped them financially more than perhaps, they did 5 to 10 years ago," said Sally Ward, a Senior Associate solicitor in Family Law at leading law firm, Ellisons Solicitors.

New treatment launch at The Glass House Retreat

The Glass House Retreat is inviting guests to join them on Wednesday 9th October for the exciting launch of its new Germaine de Capuccini Dermatch treatment. With live demos, on hand experts and exclusive discounts, pop in and learn more about this revolutionary treatment. You can drop in from 10am on Wednesday 9th October and watch live demos at 11:30 & 3pm.

Show discount from Lavish Decorative Events

London-based, Lavish Decorative Events, will be on hand at the County Wedding Events' Signature Wedding Show at Mercedes-Benz World on Sunday 13th October to talk about all of your venue styling needs. What's more, the company is offer 20% discount for those who sign up to its services at the show. Decoration services including: Floral arrangements, Table settings, Lighting, Staging decorations, Centerpieces, Dessert tables, Love seat, Chair/table covers

Book your dream safari honeymoon at Bluewater this Sunday!

UBON Safari specializes in crafting unforgettable honeymoon experiences and luxury beach holidays across the breathtaking landscapes of Southern and Eastern Africa. Its tailor-made journeys take you to some of the continent's most romantic and awe-inspiring destinations, offering a perfect blend of adventure, culture, and relaxation. Start your honeymoon with a once-in-a-lifetime wedding blessing in the Serengeti, where the Maasai tribe will honour your union amidst the stunning backdrop of Africa's endless plains. As the sun sets, painting the sky in hues of gold and crimson, you'll create memories that will last foreve

Donations instead of wedding gifts - support VOW for Girls

From unconventional venues to unique attire choices, modern couples are redefining what it means to celebrate love. But what if one of these unique touches could mean helping change the lives of millions of girls around the world? This is where VOW for Girls steps in. Founded by Princess Mabel van Orange of the Netherlands, a serial entrepreneur for social change and founder of VOW for Girls, this unique charity aims to tackle the urgent issue of child marriage through a creative and powerful funding method. Instead of the usual wedding day traditions, VOW for Girls invites couples to use their special day as a force for good. By saying 'I do,' couples can empower millions of young girls to say 'I do' to a brighter future.

Wedding and mini-moon destination The Relais Cooden Beach

For those who love being by the water, The Relais Cooden Beach is the perfect wedding venue. Located on a picturesque part of the South Coast between Eastbourne and Hastings, this property offers a stunning beachfront backdrop, with panoramic views of both Beachy Head and the English Channel. The hotel offers a unique setting on the British coast and one that is open year-round, combining both elegance and a destination wedding vibe. The experienced team at The Relais Cooden Beach will ensure every detail is perfect and they work closely with couples to create bespoke wedding packages from traditional through to more relaxed celebrations, with each one tailored to suit individual needs, requirements, and vision. Licensed for civil weddings and with a variety of ceremony rooms, one standout option is the Balinese pagoda located in the gardens with stunning sea views.

Woodland weddings at Braxted Park

Woodlands is a truly enchanting addition to Braxted Park's historic grounds, offering an extraordinary new outdoor space for ceremonies. If you have always dreamed of a wedding that feels luxuriously secluded, serene, and captivating, Woodlands may just be your match made in heaven. Imagine making your way through a beautiful wildflower meadow to a stunning clearing where your loved ones await.

Winter wedding colour trends set to dominate 2024 & 2025

The date has been set, the invitations are out. Have you planned a winter wedding for this season and are still looking for inspiration for your decorations? Trend expert Ella Citron-Thompkins from Diamonds Factory tells us which five colour schemes are ideal...Ice Princess: silver, white, blue, grey: For those who prefer classic elegance, the "Ice Princess" colour scheme is perfect. The cool colour palette of silver, white, blue and grey creates an elegant, frosty look and adds a touch of fairytale magic to your winter wedding. Crystal clear accents such as ice crystals, sparkling fairy lights and shimmering decorations fit perfectly and create a magical, almost arctic atmosphere.