An Essex Wedding news and ideas from around the county

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.

UK wedding catering trends 2023

Restaurant Associates reveals new data shows a definitive shift in style and substance at UK weddings post-Covid. Now that the dust has settled, and government mandated guest list limits are all but a thing of the past, the UK wedding scene has seen a definitive shift. New data from Restaurant Associates shows a preference to an informal style, plant-forward menus and reception only guests - so what does a 'normal' wedding look like, post-covid?

Hedingham Castle launches The Royal Chamber

Hedingham Castle, one of the oldest and best-preserved Norman keeps in Britain, is excited to announce the opening of its new attraction, The Royal Chamber. Visitors can now step back in time and experience the luxurious lifestyle of the medieval English royalty at the castle, with all the conveniences of 21st century living. The Royal Chamber is ideal for couples seeking a romantic and unique getaway or for history buffs looking to immerse themselves in the castle's rich heritage.

Wedding favours that make a difference

Parkinson's UK has launched a new collection of wedding and celebration favours and place cards, meaning couples can rest assured with their ethical wedding choices. From old favourites to stunning new designs, there's something for everyone, and even better, with every purchase they're helping someone living with Parkinson's and their family, friends and carers. Parkinson's is the fastest-growing neurological condition in the world, and currently there is no cure. It affects around 145,000 people in the UK and every hour two more people are diagnosed with more than 40 symptoms, from tremor and pain to anxiety.

How to announce your wedding and involve your WIPs (Wedding Important People)

There are various levels of Wedding Important People (WIPs), which Rachel from The Wedding Party (TWP) says should govern how you tell them. "Significant WIPs, such as parents or guardians, should be face-to-face wherever possible. Getting families together to announce can kill two birds with one stone, but if your families have not met yet this can produce more nerves. If there are likely to be any reservations, then perhaps speak to your WIPs separately to allow for this. In the same breath, if parents are separated (yours or your partners), arrange to visit them separately but on the same day if possible. Finally, remember that using the video software available to you can ensure that you do this face-to-face no matter the circumstances.

Down Hall Hotel, Spa & Estate wins Large Hotel of the Year

Essex Based property, Down Hall Hotel, Spa & Estate, has won 'Large Hotel of the Year' at this year's East of England Tourism Awards, which champions the very best tourism and hospitality businesses in the region, recognising quality, innovation, and best practice. Held at Milsoms Kesgrave Hall in Ipswich, Suffolk on Thursday 16th March, the awards highlight the incredible work being done in the East of England, and celebrate the people, places, and partnerships that enable the tourism sector to grow and thrive.

How to manage financial anxiety when planning a wedding

Anita Naik, Savings Expert at VoucherCodes.co.uk, provides her top tips on how to manage financial anxiety when planning a wedding: "Understanding and managing your finances is never an easy task at the best of the times, however, throwing in a big goal, such as saving for a wedding, can lead to feelings of stress and anxiety. Wedding planning should be fun, not daunting, therefore this Stress Awareness Month, I've pulled together my top tips to help reduce financial anxiety and make the process as enjoyable as possible.

The 5 most booked spas in Essex

Lifehouse Spa and Hotel has been revealed as Essex's most booked spa. The findings have been revealed by Europe's leading spa experience and booking agency Spabreaks.com which totalled 39.6% of all bookings made in Essex this year. The second most booked spa was Stoke by Nayland Hotel with 21.3% of the bookings. Closely behind in third and fourth place was Five Lakes Resort and Bannatyne Kingsford Park. And with 5.5% of the bookings made in Essex last year was Bannatyne Chafford Hundred.

Markshall Estate cancels weddings from October onwards

Beautiful wedding venue, Markshall Estate, near Coggeshall, will no longer hold weddings from October 1st, according to an official announcement made on Tuesday morning. The statement on the Markshall Estate Facebook page reads, "We are very sorry that Markshall has had to make the difficult decision to cease holding weddings from 1st October 2023. As a charity we have to respond to the cultural and economic changes that are happening around us and operate in a way that ensures our long-term future. We understand that this will be very disappointing and upsetting for those affected. We will provide help and support in their search for finding an alternative location or other solution in any way we can. Markshall Visitor Centre, Orchard Kitchen and the Arboretum will remain open. We have recently announced the opening of a new adventure play area and school holiday events called Percy's Adventures which delivers educational activities and content in an innovative, entertaining way."

The number one cause of wedding planning stress and how to reduce it!

What causes stress in wedding planning is something that is individual to each couple, but where does it mainly come from? Friends? Family? Finances? "A staggering 92% of our couples planning a wedding are feeling the pressure financially and it is causing overwhelm", says Rachel Allen, the CEO of The Wedding Party (TWP)." This was the reason that Rachel formulated The Overwhelm Button® to help couples to get good support. Rachel continues, "Being stressed over finances can take several different forms, the main three being as follows...

Sustainable wedding table ideas from LIGA

Known for their love of nature's wonder material - cork, LIGA's sustainable tableware collections are a stylish and unique wedding dining-setting choice. With their extensive collection of placemats, coasters, trays and candle holders, all made from eco-frendly and recycled materials, LIGA create clean and contemporary pieces, bringing a naturally beautiful element to the tablescape. Each with a unique grain and pattern, the organic cork selected by LIGA is lightweight and soft to touch, a wonderful raw material which is naturally water resistant and easy to clean. Sourced from the Montado Forests in Portugal, LIGA's cork is hand harvested using age-old skills without damaging the trees or the delicate eco-systems which thrive in the forests. Once cork has been made into a LIGA product it continues to absorb CO2, so a living and breathing piece of homeware.

Winning Best Presented Dish!

Executive Chef Robert Pearce from Down Hall Hotel, Spa & Estate in Essex mentored 13-year-old student, Alisha Baines, to this year's final of Springboard's Future Chef, where she won Best Presented Dish. The finals were held on 13th March at Westminster Kingsway College in London and saw 12 young chefs aged between 12 to 16 battle it out for the top spot.

Team Hen's new Jelly Bag has landed

Meet the jelly bag that every bride tribe wants their hen party favours to arrive in 2023. Landing in three gram-worthy hues (off-white for the bride, dusky pink for the bridesmaids and maid-of-honour and pink for the hens). These reusable beauties are perfect for filling with Team Hen's latest array of coveted hen party favours and gifts whilst flaunting a cool, retro vibe. Plus, each comes tied with a matching ribbon, professionally printed in a luxe puffed design to create a slightly raised font effect. Not only are they the gift that keeps on giving (post-hen recipients can use them from beach to bar) but at £3.99 they're a steal!

County Wedding Events coming to Haycock Manor in Wansford, Cambridgeshire!

If you're newlyweds-to-be embarking on your wedding planning journey, pop along to the County Wedding Events wedding show at Haycock Manor, in Wansford, Cambridgeshire, for inspiration on Saturday 26th March 2023! Sister company to County Wedding Magazines, the event brings couples that are desperate for face-to-face wedding planning in touch with local professionals who are on hand to help plan the wedding day. From photographers to cake makers, musicians to florists you're sure to tick a lot off of your to-do list by attending one of our County Wedding Events.

Hada Labo Tokyo's new suncare collection

Hada Labo Tokyo, the cult beauty brand from Japan, has launched two suncare products which combine the very latest skin science and innovations from the East with strength European sunscreen standards and regulation. And both are available right here in Essex! High street store, Superdrug, is stocking the new Hada Labo Tokyo Water-Resistant Moisturising Sunscreen: Face Cream SPF 50 and sun lotion.