An Essex Wedding news and ideas from around the county

Bizarre wedding traditions: The Eurovision edition

Wedding traditions are dramatically different around the world. From the type of cake served to the attire of the bride, you'll be amazed at what happens on wedding days around the continent. To celebrate Eurovision 2023 taking place in the vibrant city of Liverpool, engagement and wedding ring experts at Steven Stone have rounded up some of the most bizarre traditions from participating countries – including the Big 5.

The do's and don'ts of having pets at weddings

Are you considering including your dog in your wedding festivities? While it can be a lovely way to honour your furry best friend, there are some important considerations to remember to ensure that everything goes smoothly. Dog Behaviourist at Pooch & Mutt Dr Emma Scales-Theobald, PhD, shares the do's and don'ts of including your dog in your wedding, from making sure your dog is properly trained and socialised to creating a comfortable and safe space for them during the event. These tips will help ensure your dog is happy, healthy, and well-behaved throughout the celebration...

Down Hall Hotel, Spa & Estate Awarded 2 AA Rosettes

Essex based property, Down Hall Hotel, Spa & Estate is pleased to have been awarded 2 AA Rosettes for its fine dining restaurant, Garden Room. Restaurants who are awarded 2 AA Rosettes aim for and achieve higher standards and better consistency. A greater precision is apparent in the cooking, and there is obvious attention to the selection of quality ingredients. What an achievement!

Introducing Story Locker’s wedding podcast

With the ever growing popularity of podcasting, welcome to the next big thing which makes podcasting accessible. Story Locker, a one of a kind in the UK podcast recording service that lets participants create a personal podcast based on their life story or to celebrate other special moments in life. The couple can choose to either record their podcast before their wedding day and recall the journey of their love story – from when they first met & the engagement (how it all happened!) to setting the date, the planning and build up to the big day or record their podcast after their wedding day to include memories of the big day too!

TGI Friday - every day of the week

Fancy sitting down to some tasty and filling food; be it for a romantic pre- wedding date or for gathering your nearest and dearest for your hen or stag? An Essex Wedding paid a visit to TGI Fridays in Braintree to sample some of their 12 brand new dishes now available across the UK ... Claire Muffett-Reece gives us the lowdown!

Why Champagne is the number one choice for weddings and celebrations

Champagne naturally goes hand in hand at weddings and there is no shortage of creative ways to share the pinnacle of sparkling wine. The Champagne Bureau UK*, has included useful tips below on how to best serve Champagne at a wedding and help select the right style for the occasion. Using the correct glassware: whilst trends come and go and flutes have commonly been thought of as the crème de la crème - a tall, rounded, tulip-shaped glass is the perfect choice and expertly shows off your Champagne's aromas and bubbles.

#ThisBarbie is getting married! New cards from Thortful

thortful has launched a Barbie card range to send to your bestie on her big day! The internet has been coloured pink with over 107,000 views on Tiktok for #ThisBarbie following the release of a new Barbie trailer. Greetings card marketplace, thortful, has created Barbie cards to send to your nearest and dearest, including 'This Barbie has passed her driving test', and 'This Barbie is getting married'

The Sun Inn, Dedham 20th anniversary

The Sun Inn in the beautiful village of Dedham on the Essex/Suffolk border has been the destination pub, restaurant and place to stay since 2003 and a stop off for travellers and locals since before artist John Constable immortalised the village and surrounding countryside in the 18th and 19th Century. This July, the inn celebrates its 20th anniversary under the ownership and management of Baker Hospitality which also owns Church Street Tavern in Colchester and The White Hart Inn which opened on Mersea Island last June.

Avoid a pet custody dispute - get a petnup

Ella Welsby, a senior associate at law firm DMH Stallard and specialist divorce lawyer, explains below how a petnup can help avoid a costly custody battle. Ella Welsby, a senior associate at law firm DMH Stallard and specialist divorce lawyer, said: "We are a nation of animal lovers, but consideration of how pet ownership would be dealt with in the event of a relationship breakdown often comes too late. Given the continued trend for couples to embark on pet ownership as a first foray into family life, it is important to appreciate how to best protect respective interests.

Get the Sofia Richie look!

Sofia Richie's wedding look is everywhere right now, but if like us you can't afford one let alone three Chanel wedding dresses, the below products from the got2b Glued range will help you achieve her beautiful slicked back bun in just four simple steps. And what's best, the ranges are available on your local high street - Boots, Superdrug and Wilko to name a few!

5 ways to plan a sentimental bridesmaid proposal

Planning your wedding is such a personalised experience, and getting to do it your own way is part of what makes it so special. With this in mind, have you thought about how you'll ask your bridesmaids to be part of your wedding party? Add a sentimental touch to this moment with these tips from Kirsty Prankherd, Managing Director of Write From The Heart. Getting everything planned for your wedding is such a personal process, and asking your bridesmaid to be in your wedding party is one of those special moments you'll remember long after the event. So naturally, you'll want to add some individual touches to this proposal to make it an even more special moment between you and your friends.

Noble Macmillan is celebrating this year's wedding season

Luxury leather goods brand Noble Macmillan is celebrating this year's wedding season with a stunning collection of exceptional quality, personalised leather gifts. This thoughtfully curated edit includes a variety of exquisite items from their ever popular classic travel games and bound photo albums, to their brand new glassware range, specifically their stunning hand-blown decanters - all would make wonderful additions to any wedding list.

PoB Hotels’ Breaks with Four-Legged Friends

From muddy dog walks through the countryside to blustering beach runs, who doesn't love exploring the great outdoors with their dog in tow? Guests of PoB Hotels can choose from a selection of fantastic stays for four-legged friends, from beautiful beachside retreats to city breaks in the hustle and bustle. What's best, PoB Hotels has named Talbooth House & Spa as 'Best for a pampered pooch'!

Free cocktail with bookings at Braintree bar

Number 92 is an ambient bar in Braintree town centre, which has a total seating capacity of 50 people. It was launched in September 2020 and offers seated table service. It has established itself as a premium venue in the district. Number 92 is available to rent in its entirety (40-person maximum capacity) or alternatively you can reserve the basement (16-person maximum capacity) for your sole use – what a great location for a hen do!

The venue is offering An Essex Wedding magazine readers a free grape cocktail on arrival for hen parties of over 10 participants.

Gosfield Hall welcomes camera crew for TOWIE celebration

Gosfield Hall in Essex recently hosted the baby shower of the year for The Only Way Is Essex star, Amy Childs, with cast members coming together to celebrate alongside Amy's partner Billy, Amy's daughter Poppy, and their family. Filming took place in The Grand Salon, which has high hand-painted ceiling and double-height sash windows, making it a bright and airy space, ideal for the delicious treat table laid on in celebration.

How to throw a Hen Do on a budget

A typical spend for a Hen Do weekend can cost over £250 per person, taking a big chunk out of the wedding budget. Not only is this a massive cost for the bride, but it could also lead to members of the bridal party worrying about how they can afford such lavish expenses, which may result in them bailing out on the plans. Making arrangements in advance and planning activities ahead of time means both the bride and the party enjoy the celebrations without any falling outs. Sticking to local destinations or opting for activities like bottomless pottery painting over brunch are some of the simple solutions to saving money but still allow everyone to revel in the fun.

Launch of Medik8 at Greenwoods Hotel & Spa

Over 75 guests attended a fun and informative launch of leading British skin care brand Medik8 at Greenwoods Hotel & Spa, Stock on Thursday 13th April. One of the UK's leading cosmeceutical brands fans with a large celebrity fan base including Rosie Huntington-Whiteley and Hailey Bieber and will feature as part of a new launch of treatments including Medki8 popular anti-ageing facials in the award-winning Spa that's recently undergone a major refurbishment.

County Wedding Magazine reader shares 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 December 2022, CWM ran a competition, 'Win a relaxing spa day for two!' and the winners were nearlyweds Laura and Antoni. The lucky pair enjoyed a day at The Spa at Ardencote, a luxury four-star wedding venue in Warwickshire, including a 55-minute Elemis treatment, light lunch and full access to the award-winning spa facilities worth £130!

Wedding flowers for a lifetime

If you fell in love with your wedding flowers, or perhaps your chosen blooms on the big day had a sentimental meaning, the experts from Gardening Express have named the best flowers to grow in your garden so you can have memories forever of your wedding day. Dahlias come in a variety of colours and sizes, they have a long vase life, which means they will look fresh and beautiful. Dahlias are also associated with love and commitment, making them a meaningful choice.

Celebrate the Coronation at Down Hall Hotel, Spa & Estate

Celebrate the Coronation of King Charles III with a royal-inspired staycation at Down Hall Hotel, Spa & Estate. Set amidst the beautiful Essex countryside only 45 minutes from London, the historic country house hotel will be hosting a quintessentially British afternoon tea experience on the front terrace and lawns, as well as offering 20% off* room rates from the 4th – 8th May.