An Essex Wedding news and ideas from around the county

Golden hour - Tan edit!

BPerfect Cosmetics has launched their new Golden Hour Travel Sets, the ultimate summer sets with a collection of travel essentials! Arrive at destination bronzed before stepping on the plane with the Golden Hour - Tan Edit! A summer set with a collection of must-have travel essentials for a sunkissed glow! Featuring the award-winning Instant Bronze Boost Gel Drops, Mini Empress Base & Body Brush, plus two new products: The new Body Talk Liquid Lustre Travel Mini and new One Hour Express Passion Fruit Tanning Mousse! All packaged in an exclusive silver holographic travel bag!

Battleswick Farm - Be inspired!

This styled shoot was inspired by American filmmaker, Wes Anderson, whose films are known for their eccentricity, unique visual and narrative styles, Battleswick Farm was the perfect backdrop! Jodie from Ella Bella Events created a styled shoot at the picturesque Battleswick Farm. She says, "Caroline at Caroline Versallion Bridal sent me these beautifully unique dresses which were, in her words, Wes Anderson inspired and that was the start of the shoot.

Elope in style - expert advice

Couples are rewriting the script on what it means to say "I do". Over the past 12 months, searches for 'elopement weddings UK' are up +83%, 'elopement wedding packages UK' increased by +85%, and 'intimate weddings UK' have grown by +89%¹. This has highlighted a clear demand amongst couples for intimate weddings. To find out what has motivated this trend, wedding decoration experts at Ginger Ray have conducted a survey of those engaged and in the midst of planning an elopement to see what their special day will look like. Why are elopements becoming more popular? Topping the list of factors driving couples towards intimate weddings is the quest to manage expenses. More than a third (32%) of respondents highlighted financial constraints as the primary factor influencing their decision to opt for a smaller celebration.

Say yes to saving for the big day - Top tips from Rathbones

Top tips from Kindar Brown, Senior Financial Planner at Rathbones Group Plc on budgeting together for the important day. A wedding is the beginning of a new chapter and likely one of the most important days of your life. While the day itself should be full of joy and stress free, a lot of our time and money goes into pre-wedding planning, to make sure this is the case. The cost of living crisis and sticky inflation are impacting prices across the board and wedding suppliers are no exception. For those gearing up for their wedding day, Kindar shares her top tips for anyone putting a budget together for that important day.

Greenwoods Hotel & Spa host celebrity afternoon tea

Multi award winning Greenwoods Hotel and Spa in Stock Essex hosted some important guests for afternoon tea this month: celebrity vegan pastry chef and author Danielle Maupertuis with her guest Karin Ridgers of Veggie Vision TV channel and autism activist, broadcaster and fundraiser Dr Anna Kennedy OBE who visited with her friend Steven Smith, celebrity make up artist and writer.

Most popular TikTok wedding car revealed

Gone are the days of a horse-drawn carriage or a Rolls Royce pulling up to the wedding chapel, now it's all about modern cars! Couples across the UK are planning their dream weddings, with a twist. Searches for 'modern wedding cars' have surged by 60% in the last month according to Google Trends, signalling a shift from traditional vintage choices to sleek, contemporary vehicles that add a touch of modern elegance to the special day. ATS Euromaster, the tyre, MOT and vehicle services provider, has analysed TikTok hashtags and trends to reveal the changing popularity of wedding cars, both vintage and modern. Additionally, ATS has estimated rental costs for three-hour periods to help couples choose the perfect car for their special day.

Surprise guests with a champagne tower!

Surprise guests with a champagne tower! Beautiful wedding venue, Houchins, now offers a champagne tower which is proving very popular - and is a great photo opportunity! Why not add this to your package to kick off the reception drinks or to welcome evening guests. Or whenever the happy couple would like. Houchins will construct the champagne tower in the perfect position with 55 glasses for £150 (champagne not included - but it can be added to a drinks package or they can pay corkage - however they would like to do it). The couple can then of course pour the champagne and get the bubbles flowing!

National Art Pass - perfect wedding gift for culture lovers

A National Art Pass is a great way to enjoy time at hundreds of museums, galleries and historic places across the UK, and the Double Membership makes the perfect wedding gift for any culture lovers! Annual membership is only £88.50* and lets the happy couple enjoy free entry to hundreds of cultural destinations, plus 50% off major exhibitions, and special shop and café discounts. What's more, two cards will be issued for the happy couple!

Say 'I do' to shared planning - wedding expert shares tips for involving family and friends

Amy Greenshields, wedding expert at Card Factory has shared 7 tips to help you let your loved ones contribute.

Asking for help can be hard but getting friends and family involved in wedding planning can not only lighten the load but will also make them feel included and valued. Wedding planning contains many different elements, from table designs and seating charts to your floral bouquet, everything must be accounted for. A bride normally has the most influence over everything wedding-related, leading to as state of overwhelming stress. Why not share out the responsibilities – even the little ones can have a job!

The big screen is coming to Braintree Village

Pass the popcorn – the big screen is coming to Braintree Village! From the 20th - 29th August, join the crowds for a summer spectacular of movie madness, at Braintree Village's very own summer Open Air Cinema! Based next to the North entrance, we've got a packed schedule of films, including some of this year's biggest hits like Barbie and Wonka, childhood favourites like Harry Potter and The Greatest Showman, and film classics, including Dirty Dancing, Top Gun and Grease, plus many more!

Ginger Ray - An Introvert's Guide to surviving a hen party

So, you've got a hen party on the horizon, but the thought of navigating through a sea of social interactions is making you break into a cold sweat. Fear not introverts, we've got your back! Follow these top tips to make sure that you don't bring down the mood at the hen party and instead boost the atmosphere of the event. Hen parties are a chance to celebrate the lucky soon-to-be bride so make it a night she'll never forget! Jess Martin, Hen Party expert at Ginger Ray has shared 6 strategies to ensure that you not only survive, but actually enjoy the festivities:

Something blue this summer

Available from your local Tesco, The Mar de Frades Albariño has a fresh and intense nose, with notes of wildflowers, eucalyptus, mint, and tropical fruit. An excellent wine for British summer this complex, full-bodied and joyful Albariño is vibrant and refreshing on the palate and has a fresh, harmonious acidity and aromatic intensity with a hint of lingering minerals, saltiness, and subtle balsamic notes.

Sten dos are on the rise

Stag and hen experts, Adventure Connections, say it is the 'Sten do' that takes traditional trends down! A mash-up of the separate parties, the Sten do provides a popular new way for the future bride and groom to be united before the big day. Rumoured to have been recreated by Harry and Megan, Sten dos prove to be the hottest way to party. Founder of Adventure Connections, Justin Sayers mentions that "things are changing when it comes to pre-wedding parties", so why not give it a try? Sten dos offer a cost-effective and inclusive solution to those separate gatherings, perfect for those with a large number of guests. Those shared memories are sure to be irreplaceable. Reduce your stress and make it a rave to remember!

Dive into the world of muted colour palettes

Rebecca Brennan-Brown, founder of GetWed, a team of wedding experts based in London, helping couples achieve dreamy, fun, and unpretentious weddings, dives into the world of muted colour palettes and shares her top tips and advice for channeling this aesthetic...In a world of Instagram algorithms and Pinterest boards that feed you new inspiration every five minutes, it can be tricky to choose a colour palette for your wedding, let alone stick to one. Do you go for classic, whimsical whites and greens? Or perhaps something bolder and more fun? Or maybe you've always envisioned a summery pastel palette. The options are endless.

Personalisation is IN for 2024

Crafty Brewing and Lola and Luna's collaboration reveals how personalisation is being brought to the forefront of 2024 weddings. The concept of personalisation is holding a key part in redefining 'tradition' and incorporating new captivating trends in every aspect of your magical event. Aimee, a wedding expert from a wedding planning and styling company says that "Over the past few years, weddings have increasingly started steering away from the same old conventions, and opting for bespoke options more frequently." From table plans set on where the couple first met, to embroidered napkins there are so many opportunities to add a personal touch on your big day.

Scentscape your wedding day with Yankee Candle

Scentscaping your wedding day is a trend that's going nowhere! Finding the right fragrance to shape the atmosphere of your wedding is an exciting part of the wedding planning journey you can do together - beats the wedmin too! Yankee Candle, and sister brand WoodWick, boast a wide collection of candles in all shapes, colours and sizes that would work perfectly for your nuptials, reception and big-day gifting. Imagine walking into you ceremony with the scent of pink cherry and vanilla surrounding you, or at your winter reception Pumpkin Cinnamon Swirl from Yankee's new collection will certainly set the tone of the proceedings and reflect the time of year. Once you've found your favourite candle, it's also something you can purchase time and again to evoke memories of the special event, alternatively gifting loved ones who supported you on your wedding day with a candle to the big-day fragrance will be a gift where guests can reminisce too!

Paperchase unveils wedding and hen party products collection

The beloved brand Paperchase has recently launched an exclusive collection of wedding and hen party products. The new range features a wide selection of unique and sophisticated wedding staples and novelty hen products for great value prices, from stationery to decorative accessories. It is perfect for those tying the knot this year or planning a spectacular hen do. Looking for luxurious wedding invitations? but want to keep costs down? Well, the Ginger Ray Wedding Invitations with Envelopes (10pack with envelopes) with a classic cream finish they combine style with affordability for those looking to advertise their big day with a stunning opening number.

Give us some sunshine!

East Anglia is known for having a dry and mild climate - even though you wouldn't believe it right now! When the sun does shine in Essex it's glorious. So do make sure you're adequately protecting your face with a high SPF! Revox B77 has a factor 50 to save the day - plus it's available at your local The Fragrance Shop.

Planning for the night ahead – wedding nightwear from Chelsea Peers

West London based designer brand Chelsea Peers has an glamorous array of wedding nightwear for any bride on their special day, to complement the bride's style and luxurious taste. When wedding planning, you mainly focus on the particulars of the actual ceremony and the events of the day, however what about your first night as husband and wife? With Chelsea Peers, the elegant draping allows the bride to maintain an effortless silhouette while adding just a touch of splendour. For a spectacular wedding night, consider the chic and comfortable Satin Fringe Trim Long Pyjama Set – Ivory, that features a swishy flared shape that has plenty of movement, combined with smooth, lustrous satin.

Scentsational summer fragrances

Designer scents are back with a bang this summer - and to try them all, look no further than The Fragrance Shop on your local high street. There's stores in Chelmsford, Brentwood and Colchester to name a few so do switch up your fragrance wardrobe with a new bottle or two. Mark summer '24 one to remember with a signature scent!