An Essex Wedding news and ideas from around the county

9 tips on how to prepare for an outdoor wedding

Outdoor weddings became increasingly popular during Covid due to restrictions and the safety of guests. However, the outdoor wedding trend looks like it's here to stay with celebrities like Kourtney Kardashian and Travis Barker recently hosting a beautiful outdoor wedding on the Amalfi Coast. A British summer's day can be enchanting, being surrounded by nature, the brilliant blue skies above, and an aisle strewn with flowers, a perfect setting for a magically romantic wedding. Planning an outdoor wedding requires several considerations from locations, decor, and weather, the experts at Queensmith have listed their top tips on how to be prepared for an outdoor wedding:

How to choose the perfect shade of white or cream - Tips from Colour Me Beautiful

When searching for your wedding dress, you'd be forgiven for thinking it's an easy task just deciding between white and cream! However, although wedding dresses have traditionally been white or cream, these colours come in many different shades and you need to ensure that if you're going for white or cream, that you'll be choosing the most flattering shade for you. In order to help you, Cliff Bashforth, MD of style consultants Colour Me Beautiful, has shared his top tips with County Wedding Magazines.

Alternative hen or stag do at NAMCO Funscape Braintree or Romford

Looking for an alternative hen or stag – or just somewhere different to start the party off? Head to NAMCO Funscape Braintree or Romford and enjoy all your favourite arcade games and amusements, plus bowling and plenty of deals on drinks. Start the fun off with a couple of games of bowling and get those competitive juices flowing, then play the amusements, from classics to high tech video games. Plus, if you're feeling adventurous, Braintree has an eight wall Clip 'n Climb on site, with the Speed Wall ready to show who's the real champion.

Ryan Reynolds’s cocktail suggestions to combat the heatwave

Summer has officially arrived in the UK and during the upcoming heatwave, take Hollywood film star and co-owner of Aviation Gin, Ryan Reynolds' advice by serving up some Aviation Gin cocktails for al fresco celebrations. Aviation American Gin has been voted the world's highest rated gin (97 points, Wine Enthusiast) and has helped establish a new style of American gin - softer and smoother, with juniper in the background and citrus and floral notes in the front - resulting in more balanced cocktails.

Girl power: Incredible Dunmow skincare line-up

Want to support local when it comes to your skincare? Say hello to Farm Girl By Sarah Jane, owned by Dunmow aesthetician Sarah-Jane Malins. Farm Girl By Sarah Jane specialises in result-driven yet low invasive facials and massage from her Essex studio. One of the many treatments offered, The Famous Full Works, improves the appearance, tone and texture of the skin thanks to a combination of steam, dermaplaning, gentle digital needling and an algae mask, all finished with a mini shoulder massage.

Take a non-alcoholic walk on the wild side with Wild Eve Recipe no 1.

When planning your wedding day celebrations, accommodating your guests' needs is paramount when considering you food and drink offering. From veggies and vegans to the teetotallers - you should ensure you have something for everyone. Award winning Apothecary and herbalist, Amanda Saurin, is excited to announce the launch of her long anticipated organic botanical infusion drink, Wild Eve Recipe no 1. This innovative, small batch non-alcoholic drink is hand crafted from an exclusive selection of organic flowers, fruits, leaves, and seaweeds, hand foraged on the Isle of Harris, in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland. The carefully blended botanicals assist to reduce stress, alleviate anxiety, and invite calm through the innate properties of the plants.

A good night's sleep with Dreams - 8 top tips!

Being a bride or groom is arguably one of the most exciting and heart-warming days of a person's life, but as the big day draws closer, pre-wedding insomnia can cause difficulty in falling, and staying, asleep. As we know, our sleep is very important and no one wants tired eyes on such a big day. But what can we do to avoid the sleepless nights? According to Dreams Sleep Expert, Sammy Margo, consistency is key. So, maybe it's time to drop the outdated wedding 'preparation' superstitions. Sammy says: "We love rhythm and routine, so sticking to the same routine of bed sharing makes sense before your big day.

The Arg Band, now available for weddings

Want to wow guests with an amazing band and well-known Essex celeb to boot? Say hello to The Arg Band, now available for weddings and events throughout the county and beyond. Originally known for his appearance on popular reality show, TOWIE, TV personality James 'Arg' Argent spoke exclusively to us about the rise of his seven-piece band; aptly named The Arg Band. "Performing with the band is truly my happy place and where my passion lies," says Arg. "We all know I've had some tough times over the years, but throughout them singing with the band has kept me focused."

From one bride to another: essential wedding tips!

Greetings card marketplace thortful.com interviewed 15 newlyweds to share their essential wedding planning tips to help future couples-to-be. From what to plan for the big day itself to things to remember when getting ready, here are the top 15 pieces of advice from one bride to another. spokesperson at thortful says, "We wanted to make the tips as authentic and real as possible, so we asked newlyweds what they wish they could have told their pre-married self as they prepared for their big day. We hope these tips can truly help any bride who's worried about the planning and make the day extra perfect!"

The big day without the big price tag

With the average wedding in the UK now costing £32,273 it can be an expensive milestone in many people's lives. However, your big day doesn't have to come with a big price tag. With wedding season now upon us, and more people looking to tie the knot after prolonged pandemic engagements, it's more important than ever to plan your finances and work out where you can make savings in anticipation of the big day. With this in mind, Stacey Lowman, financial coach at Claro Money, shares her tips for budgeting for the occasion and saving on different aspects of the day.

Colchester’s Battleswick Farm, available now

Looking for a wedding venue that none of your friends will have said their vows in? Step forward Colchester's Battleswick Farm, available now for receptions – and ceremonies from October 2022. "At Battleswick you can forget everything you know about traditional venues," say owners Mandy Mahil and Aaron Wymark. "Here you are shown all the spaces, all the options and asked how you visualise your day. You can even pay for your wedding via direct debit – if you can pay monthly for a sofa then why can't you for your wedding?"

New launch: new UK-wide virtual wedding planning service

Newly launched Wed-Start is led by industry veteran Isabel Smith, who has over 10 years' experience in planning luxury weddings all over the world. She has brought together the UK's very best wedding planning experts to offer a Wed-Start to all couples planning their dream wedding. Isabel says, "As industry experts, we know that a lot of couples feel overwhelmed in the early stages of wedding planning. There's so much fantastic advice out there, but there is also a lot of pressure. From family politics, to friends' opinions, to conflicting online guidance, it can all feel like too much...

Mermaid Gin expands its delicious range

The Isle of Wight Distillery has launched Mermaid Zest Gin, a limited-edition, smooth and refreshing grapefruit and gentle juniper London Dry Gin. Mermaid Zest Gin is the fourth addition to the sustainable range which includes Mermaid Gin, Mermaid Pink Gin and Mermaid Salt Vodka. Mermaid Zest Gin is produced in Seaview at the Isle of Wight Distillery, the first and only distillery on the island. Mermaid spirits are shaped by the distillery's stunning surroundings and the unique character of the Isle of Wight, all whilst minimising waste using ethically sourced and often locally sourced ingredients to hand-craft a range of smooth yet complex spirits with a hint of sea air, and the new gin is produced in harmony with the Island's coastal elements, using foraged rock samphire and rosemary.

Thinking about a crash-diet for the wedding? Don't do it!

With wedding season upon us, a new plan, devised by nutrition and fitness experts at PowerWave, the portable home-gym training device, has been launched to help brides (and grooms) get ready for their special day. Created by PowerWave founder "Coach" Jay Laville, its free healthy weight loss guide covers everything from macros to mindset, calories to caffeine and from sugar to sleep. It is also packed full of healthy recipe ideas and inspirational advice from the PowerWave team.

Hen Party Animal Experience at Colchester Zoo

Looking for a unique way to celebrate your final days as a singleton? Why not enjoy a day like no other with a Hen Party Animal Experience at Colchester Zoo? The day begins in Penguini's Restaurant, where you'll tuck into a delicious breakfast to set you up for the day. On the experience you will explore love in the animal kingdom from penguins and sea lions, as well as getting the chance to meet either the lemurs or the giraffes. A buffet lunch will also be provided in the exclusive private dining room, while throughout the day, an experienced host will be on hand to ensure that your hen party is nothing less than perfect.

Loved-up Brits turn to puzzles to pop the question

A new craze sweeping the UK is seeing hundreds of people send their partners a puzzle to crack that unlocks a code to a video or text message comprising the four magical words: "Will you marry me?"! However, if you're already engaged fear not, as you can use this same innovative idea for wedding day messages, or asking your loved ones to be your bridesmaid and groomsmen etc. The craze of 'puzzle proposals' was sparked by the launch of a website in July 2020, after a locked down London-based couple, Bobbie Jackson and Will Hall, found themselves with a fair bit of time on their hands. They proceeded to spend the first months of lockdown in their kitchen creating puzzles to surprise family and friends with.

Chelmsford-based company going from strength-to-strength

Artificial and paper flowers are becoming increasingly popular at weddings, with Chelmsford-based Elisabeth Bluck's company, Paper Greenhouse, going from strength-to-strength. "My business began when brides asked for flowers on the wedding cakes I also create," she explains. "They were either out of season or not suitable to be in contact with food, so I learnt how to make flowers from wafer paper. I then saw giant flowers on Pinterest and loved the impact and wow factor they had, so decided to try making some myself. My peonies are made from high-quality Italian crepe paper and come in sizes roughly 45cm and 60cm in diameter. My roses, meanwhile, are made from isolon, a lightweight foam with a silky texture. Every petal is cut and shaped by hand – which gives each flower a unique appearance – and different length stems are available, which can be bent to make arrangements with varying heights."

New wedding favour collection from Macmillan Cancer Support

Macmillan's new collection of wedding favours are beautifully crafted and are a great way to thank guests, honour absent friends and raise money for the growing number of people living with cancer in the UK. new range this year includes something to suit every taste, including a variety of cultural and religious favours and rainbow pin badges. 100% of the profits of every wedding favour purchase from Macmillan's shop will help the charity to continue doing whatever it takes to support the millions of people living with cancer across the UK.

Bespoke wedding gifting for celebrity-loving couples

Wedding season is here and to mark the occasion Cameo, the celebrity engagement platform, has analysed data from the site over the past 12 months, finding star James Buckley as the most booked when it comes to helping a couple pop the big question, nail a cheeky hen/stag party video, or to help deliver the perfect message for a wedding gift. Buckley, known best for his performance as Jay Cartwright in the hit comedy series The Inbetweeners has been involved in hundreds of wedding-related Cameo messages, making him the most booked celeb on the platform across all three occasions (engagements, stag / hen parties, wedding gifts).

What to do if your wedding day doesn’t go as planned

Many couples plan their wedding down to even the most minute of details, but ethical jewellery experts at Ingle & Rhode understand that unfortunately no one's big day goes exactly as planned. You may forget something at home, some guests may be late or the day just might not be going how you envisioned it. That's why the team at Ingle & Rhode are giving their advice on what to do if your wedding day doesn't go exactly how you thought it would as well as providing tips on planning ahead with things like photography and weather - we do live n the UK after all!