All the latest wedding news for couples getting married in Essex, along with bridal fashion and beauty inspiration and honeymoon ideas.
Wedding plans stressing you both out? Take five and remember why you're getting married in the first place by heading for a date night at Danbury restaurant, The Griffin. Having recently undergone a renovation to bring seasonal fine dining to the village, the eaterie now boasts a spectacular Champagne and oyster bar, alongside a menu centred around exquisite fish and seafood dishes. Created by Executive Chef Mik Nelder, the cuisine showcases a host of delicious flavours and textures, with menu highlights including grilled lobster with garlic butter, thermidor and mayonnaise; and whole roasted poussin with a bourguignon sauce. Editor Claire Muffett-Reece was invited along to sample the menu and find out more...
Posted: 10 May 2022
Tying the knot over Jubilee weekend in June?
When planning your wedding day, when booking it on any date between the 2nd to 5th of June, I bet you didn't realise that the whole world would be having a celebration with you! But here at County Wedding Magazines HQ we think you should embrace the Queen's Platinum Jubilee and make it part of your wedding celebrations. From afternoon tea to quirky union jack favours, there's a whole host of fun and royal touches you can add to proceedings. To help you along, Cadbury has some great limited-edition products that have just hit the shelves to celebrate the Platinum Jubilee and keep your hungry wedding guests happy, kids and adults alike!
Posted: 9 May 2022
Must-have hen do accessories from TeamHen
Here at County Wedding Magazines HQ we adore the products from TeamHen - super-cool and on trend, the chic range is the perfect way to accompany your hen party bridal look! The brand's latest offering, the Luxury Tulle Bow Veil, is no exception. Featuring a beautiful, creamy white sating bow, it's bee paired with a soft white tulle veil measuring 80cm. Conveniently attached to a clip, you can just pop it in and away you go!
Posted: 6 May 2022
Innovative new way for sharing big-day memories
WeSnapthat is a free event photo sharing app, which is private and secure and means you won't miss out on all of the pictures friends and family are taking on your wedding day. Founder, Tarandip Rehall, says, 'After attending several weddings, I noticed that professional wedding photographers took over the event and guests felt a little left out. I could see that guests were taking loads of photos and videos, and I was wondering were all those beautiful moments that were captured ever be seen by the bride and groom or other guests. Hence WeSnapThat was created to help remove the hassle of chasing and missing out of photos and videos, plus the app get attendees to be more engaged with your event and make it more joyful as they feel part of your special day.'
Posted: 5 May 2022
Expert tips for elevating your drinks offering
From cocktail stations to party favours, David Cooper from glassware company Forever Crystal shares his top tips on how to get creative with your drinks on the big day. Here are four inspiration ideas for your wedding drinks and toast with something special when you say, 'I do'! Signature cocktails: While you might want to give your guests an open bar, hiring bar staff and footing the bill can end up being an expensive gesture. One way to sidestep this added cost while still providing some free refreshment is to make your own batch of signature cocktails. Choose two mixed drinks or cocktails that you know your guests love and stock up on plenty of ingredients before the big day. For a spring or summer wedding, mixed drinks like Pimm's and lemonade or gin and elderflower tonic are great options, especially as you can provide bowls of fruit and mint leaves to use as a garnish.
Posted: 5 May 2022
Getting married in 2022? Experts reveal the top five wedding cake trends
With full-scale weddings back up and running, having a show-stopping cake is more important than ever. If you're walking down the aisle this year and in the process of finalising your menu, you must ensure that you are up to date with the latest trends so you can choose the perfect wedding cake.
From delicate florals to bright colours and sculptured designs, experts from AYRE Events share the most popular up and coming trends to keep in mind.
Posted: 4 May 2022
Vumbura Plains: The perfect honeymoon destination for adventure seekers
Wilderness Safaris Vumbura Plains, set in the heart of the Okavango Delta World Heritage Site in Botswana, has reopened after an extensive refurbishment of both the camp's exteriors and interiors.
The refreshed look and feel showcases its sense of place and culture, enhanced by an outstanding menu and courteous hospitality. Vumbura offers holiday-makers a sublime African wilderness journey, prepare to experience arguably the best wildlife encounters in the Delta on your honeymoon.
"With its iconic Delta landscapes and phenomenally diverse habitats, Vumbura is truly a must-visit safari choice, one that unreservedly celebrates the best of Botswana's natural and cultural heritage."
Posted: 4 May 2022
Wedding Wine Guide Q&A with Sarah Knowles part one!
Sarah Knowles MW joined The Wine Society in March 2014 and passed her Masters of Wine qualification in 2015. She is responsible for Champagne, North America and Italy, as well as overseeing the portfolio of sparkling wines and spirits; so, there really is no better person to be advising you and answering all of your wedding questions? Red or white for a meat course? Wine or Champagne for your wedding toast? Read our three part guide over the next three weeks (check back here every Friday) to have these questions answered!
Posted: 3 May 2022
Upcoming showcases for renowned band
The Blue Lion Band are live music experts, wedding enthusiasts, and party starters. They offer high energy live music for weddings, festivals, private functions, and corporate events. Their band size is fully customisable from 3 to 14 musicians, making them the perfect fit for any event budget or style. Blue Lion's talented musicians have performed with renowned artists including Ellie Goulding, Kanye West, Mark Knopfler, Tom Jones, George Michael, Gotye, and Alicia Keys. They work to make every event unforgettable, creating and delivering high-energy, fun performances to keep the dance floor jumping. This talented crew will create a set list to suit your musical preferences, from elegant classical music or string pop covers for the ceremony, to jazz during cocktail hour, and dance music to get the crowd going during the reception. If you're planning a destination wedding, Blue Lion Band travels around the world! They are available to perform at events throughout the United Kingdom and for travel to France, Italy, Spain, Germany, and more.
Posted: 3 May 2022
Essex's newest pick 'n' mix haven for kids and adults alike
Organising your own wedding favours just got a whole lot easier, thanks to Haribo opening their latest store at Braintree Village. Now visitors to the shopping centre can experience the sweet giant's eclectic mix of popular treats, all the while deciding what their friends and family would most like to unwrap – and eat! – while listening to those wedding speeches. "We have so many treats in store for shoppers, with our pick your own selection featuring more than 30 varieties of sweets," says store manager Sam Rogers. "From Tangfastics to Starmix, MAOAM Bloxx to Goldbears, and Jelly Babies to Fruity Frogs, we have it all."
Posted: 3 May 2022
The most iconic cars used by celebrities on their wedding day
As a wedding present, David Beckham gifted his 22-year-old son a £380k vintage Jaguar. In light of this, classic car insurance broker Heritage has looked back on the top five most iconic celebrity wedding cars in recent history.
Mark Wilkinson, Managing Director at Heritage comments: "Classic cars offer a timeless appeal, and they are a great choice because they offer some fun, flair and nostalgia to the day's celebrations, allowing the happy couple to fuse flamboyance and tradition"
Posted: 29 April 2022
11 of the biggest wedding trends of 2022 - according to a professional wedding planner
2022 is surely going to be the year of the weddings - after many had to postpone their earlier dates due to Covid. And with weddings, comes wedding trends. Illy Goodall, founder of Illy Elizabeth Weddings, is here to tell you all about them.
With 2022 being the biggest wedding season on record, an estimated 2.5 million weddings are set to take place this year, according to The Wedding Report, here's all you need to know on 2022's wedding trends, according to Illy.
Posted: 27 April 2022
Essex wedding couple share their winning story
When South Woodham Ferrers midwife Natalie Chapman and her paramedic fiancé Mark Bomford entered a competition for NHS workers to win an incredible Essex wedding, worth more than £26,000, they never dreamt they'd win – until they were surprised outside the hospital they work at, surrounded by friends and family! The competition was organised by Thorpe-le-Soken-based florist and venue stylist Rosie Obeney of Rose Decor Styling – www.rosedecorstyling.co.uk – who wanted to give something back to NHS staff working throughout the pandemic. "I have a big list of amazing people I love to work with in the industry, so I put the feelers out and the response was incredible," she says. "I was inundated with amazing businesses offering up their services to one lucky couple."
Posted: 26 April 2022
How to have a wedding that's unique to you
Planning your wedding can seem overwhelming, especially with so many traditions out there that you might feel you need to to include in your big day. But if a traditional approach isn't your kind of thing, adding elements unique to you can make the day feel all the more special.
The occasion is dedicated to you and your partner, so it's the perfect opportunity to infuse your interests as a couple into your celebration. Thinking of which personal touches to include may be tough, so here we're going to discuss some ideas that will assist you in making your special day all about you.
Posted: 25 April 2022
Expert advice on how to clean your engagement ring at home
Wearing your ring every day will take its toll - a build-up of things like oil, debris and cosmetic residue can create a thin layer on your ring making it look dull.
The good news is that there is no reason you can't keep your diamond as vibrant and twinkly as the day you received it- it just takes a little sprucing up every so often.
Jewellery experts at Queensmith have shared their straightforward tips for when you need to clean your ring safely at home.
Posted: 23 April 2022
Searching for your big-day stationery? Check out this Essex supplier
Harlow-based ATW Creations specialises in bespoke stationery suites for your wedding day. After getting married herself, owner and designer Amy Wallace knows all too well the experiences of couples tying the knot. Amy says, "Your wedding invitations are a sneak peek into your special day, much like a trailer for your very own movie. It sets the tone, and the theme of your wedding, so they need to be extraordinary and unique. Bring to life the sparkle of your dream wedding before your guests even open their special envelopes. ATW Creations design bespoke wedding stationery and offer tailored packages to suit all budgets and needs. "
Posted: 22 April 2022
Written in the Stars: the perfect wedding for your star sign
When it comes to organising your wedding you can be pulled in so many different directions, it's easy to lose sight of how you envisioned your big day. It's common to become overwhelmed and doubt what style of nuptial suits you.
So, instead put it in the hands of fate. Get the stars to light the way and offer some useful suggestions. Are you unsure if you would thrive in an extravagant event or would favour a simpler, intimate ceremony? Well your zodiac placement may be able to offer some guidance. We explore the perfect weddings ideas for each star sign.
Posted: 21 April 2022
Honeywell Biscuit Co's new wedding range
Honeywell Biscuit Co has launched a new range of seasonal and bespoke wedding biscuits - perfect as favours, place settings and gifts for the bridal party! Nestled in the heart of the Northamptonshire countryside, the bakery is home to more than 2,000 cookie cutters and a team of biscuit artists creating beautifully decorated biscuits for weddings up and down the country. When it comes to flavours and favour designs the team have taken on everything from the traditional to the weird and the wonderful. Various biscuit flavours are available from popular vanilla to gingerbread and all are suitable for vegetarians, vegan biscuits can be organised too.
Posted: 21 April 2022
Prepare for wedding season gifting with Viners
There will be a whopping 350,000 weddings in 2022 due to two years of cancelled and postponed plans. With guests likely to be attending more than one event this year, as well as the happy couple themselves tying the knot and needing a gift list - where do you begin with choosing multiple presents?
Viners is a highly distinguished, trusted and much-loved cutlery brand with over over a century of cutlery manufacturing experience. Here's their gift guide for some much-need wedding gifting inspiration.
Posted: 19 April 2022
Ten jewellery superstitions to know before your big day
Certain jewellery worn on your wedding day can bring bad luck to brides and grooms, according to experts. Ethical jewellery experts Ingle & Rhode have gathered some of the most unusual superstitions surrounding accessories that you might not know about. From necklaces to bracelets, lots of jewellery has hidden meanings that are considered lucky or unlucky, depending on what it is and when it is worn. Some jewellery, like rosary beads, are considered good luck, whereas wearing pearls on your wedding day suggests that you will have tears in your marriage.
Posted: 19 April 2022
Nicola Peltz’s wedding gown inspires brides-to-be
Analysis of Google search data reveals that online searches for 'square neck wedding dress' exploded 1,556% on the 9th of April, just hours after Nicola Peltz and Brooklyn Beckham married at her family's estate in Palm Beach, Florida. A new finding by fabric experts Dalston Mill Fabrics reveals that online interest for 'square neck wedding dress' skyrocketed sixteen times the average volume in the first few hours after the couple tied the knot, an unprecedented spike in the public searching to mirror the bride's elegant custom-made Valentino gown.
Posted: 11 April 2022
Brits think Beckham wedding is OTT
Brits are on the fence about Brooklyn Beckham's £3 million wedding this weekend, with over half suggesting under £10,000 is adequate for a wedding allowance. As Nicola's father Nelson Peltz foots the bill, over four times the amount David and Victoria spent on theirs in 1999, we surveyed 1,000 Brits to ask how much they think is a reasonable amount to spend on a wedding day. The research, from event experts Gazeboshop found 23% of Brits cap their wedding budget at £5,000, while the majority of those planning weddings are happy to stretch to £10,000 for their celebration.
Posted: 10 April 2022
Elephant Gin's beautiful personalised gifts that give back
Fresh from winning Taste Master at The Spirits Business' Gin Masters Awards 2021, having been awarded the world's best gin by a panel of independent judges who described the gin as simply "stunning". 2022 sees the lauded brand offer their gin in stylish gifting options with a personalised dedication and miniature bottles which are great as wedding favours. Elephant Gin offers a gift that both tastes great and is one of a kind, 15% of the profit from each bottle also gives back to foundations that work to protect African elephants (they've raised nearly £1m to date)
Posted: 7 April 2022
County Wedding Events comes to Markshall Estate in Coggeshall, Essex!
If you're newlyweds-to-be embarking on your wedding planning journey, pop along to the County Wedding Events wedding show at Markshall Estate, Coggeshall, Essex, for inspiration on 10th April 2022!
It's one of our first wedding shows of 2022 and a must-visit for all those that got engaged over the festive season. 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.
Posted: 6 April 2022
Essex's Le Keux Vintage Salon owner busier than ever this Spring
Branch Manager Miss Irregular Grace, a.k.a Anna, heads up a team of expert vintage stylists from a fabulous '50s venue in Leigh-on-Sea, Essex. What's more, Anna has had a busy couple of months and is looking forward to the launch of her new academy day in May. She says, "Firstly, I had the pleasure recently of meeting Angel from TV's Escape to the Chateau and styled her hair ready for the Southend date of their book tour. "I have also recently been featured on the Gadget Show, the episode aired Wednesday 23rd March on Channel 5. I visited our Birmingham branch owned by Lynsey Le Keux, which is where filming took place and we product tested hairdryers, with a fun element of styling a quiff on various Elvis impersonators."
Posted: 5 April 2022
To help you find inspiration for your big day, take a look at what's caught the eye of our editors.
There are literally hundreds of ideas, products and services from wedding suppliers across the UK along with links to their web sites as pointed out by our ever resourceful team.
Take a look at what our Editors Love!