An Essex Wedding news and ideas from around the county

Love in bloom at St Osyth Priory

Love in Bloom captures the contrast of enduring stone and delicate florals, wild romance blossoming in the shadows of ancient walls. St Osyth Priory was the perfect location. A place where past and present meet: a story of love told in soft light, floral whispers, and the quiet majesty of a place that has held countless love stories before. A beautiful editorial shoot!

Pre-wedding aesthetic treatment must-haves

Everyone wants to look their best on their wedding day, but what can you do before the makeup artist arrives to make sure you're glowing as you walk down the aisle? With the rise of the 'quiet luxury' trend and the 'old money' aesthetic, most nearlyweds want to look like themselves, just more elevated. Dr Barbara Kubicka, founder of Clinicbe® in London, shares the top five most requested treatments her brides and grooms are booking right now.

Guests say "I don’t" to wedding traditions

When it comes to cost, celebrating love doesn't come cheaply, as Brits say they spend an average of £219.65 per wedding. In fact, only a quarter (25%) say they spend less than £100. As a result, more than one in five (22%) admit they've had to decline an invite for financial reasons. Top of guests' wish lists? A wedding that puts people first. Almost half (49%) said making guests feel welcome and relaxed is the most important part of any wedding, far ahead of food (16%), music (17%) or even the schedule (18%).

Chelmsford mum taking on triathlon for niece with Brittle Bone Disease

A Chelmsford Mum of three is taking on a triathlon to help raise funds for her niece who has brittle bone disease. Winne D'Arcy, 8, who lives in Colchester, suffers from the genetic condition osteogenesis imperfecta, also known as brittle bone disease, and has endured 100s of fractures and had around 12 operations to either try to strengthen or fix her bones. She also has autism.

Presence over presents: Brits ditch wedding gifts

Karin Haglund, Head of Consumer Insights at Klarna said: "Destination weddings tap into Brits' love of travel and shared experiences, but our research shows that cost remains a concern when celebrating love abroad. For those who want more flexibility, Klarna offers interest-free payment options and budgeting tools in the app that help support smarter planning — whether that's by booking travel early to secure a better deal or keeping track of costs along the way."

Getting to know... Downham Hall

The Orangery at Downham Hall with its olive-green walls was the perfect backdrop to this fresh, elegant, styled shoot. Shoot organiser, Charmaine Taylor describes the day. "The inspiration behind this shoot started out with the idea of curating a modern, stylish and intimate wedding breakfast, with a colour palette of greens. I didn't want the green of the floral arrangements to come too much from foliage, so instead I focused on strong tonal flowers such as hydrangeas, viburnum and mollucella, along with adding in fresh moss in place of foliage."

The top wedding trends for Autumn and Winter 2025

As summer weddings start to take a step back, a new wave of seasonal trends are emerging. According to Pinterest Trends, searches for 'wedding inspiration' have surged by 10,000% over the past month, with terms like 'October wedding', and 'autumn wedding cake' dominating mood boards. Nicola Barker, Head of Buying at Suit Direct, shares her insights on the standout trends set to shape autumn and winter weddings this season. From elegant romantic draping and on-trend semi-naked cakes to rich, moody colour palettes, couples are embracing celebrations that feel warm, inviting, and romantic.

Beach breaks this September from London Southend 

easyJet has revealed its top five destinations still basking in sunshine and all offering a break for sunseekers, combining culture, and great value fares from London Southend. As schools return and temperatures in the UK begin to drop, now is the perfect time to take advantage of a late summer escape departing from the airport. From Mediterranean islands to Spanish Costas, these beach breaks offer the perfect chance to soak up sunshine before autumn sets in. Whether it's a quick dip in turquoise seas, lazy afternoons on the sand, or evenings by the water with fresh seafood, easyJet's network makes it easy to swap drizzle for dazzling shores.

Skincare preparation for your wedding day

Your wedding day is one of the most memorable moments of your life and naturally, you want your skin to look radiant and flawless. But achieving that bridal glow doesn't happen overnight. The secret lies in a well-thought-out skincare routine combined with professional guidance, starting months before the big day. Visiting a skincare expert saves you so much time and stops you wasting money on products that aren't suitable.

The legal implication of 'two weddings'

Wedding season is in full swing and it's a celebratory, joyous time filled with love and laughter. A wedding is the celebration of two people coming together in matrimony but what many forget is there are requirements to comply with to ensure the marriage is lawful within England and Wales. Here, Sophie Croft, an Associate at Stowe Family Law, highlights the considerations couples need to have... "It may not be the most romantic thing to think about when you're in the midst of wedding planning, but it's really important to remember that if you want the benefits of being a married couple, your marriage does need to be legally sound.

Saying cheers to Wetherspoons!

Summer is still upon us, and with that comes warm, lighter evenings spent in a beer garden with your friends and family, and for many Brits, a trip to the local Wetherspoons is the perfect place to be. The research team at Chicks Gold examined the locations of every Wetherspoon in the UK and compared them against the area's population. Figures for the number of Wetherspoons per 100,000 residents were then obtained to create the final ranking.

Get the ultimate glow with Rituals

Inspired by Rituals' bestselling collection, The Ritual of Sakura, you can think of The Ritual of Yozakura like her younger sister, with an addictively rich, floral and amber fragrance. Ingredients include: Black Rice & Yoshino Cherry. Extracted from the leaves of the beautiful Yoshino Cherry tree, this ingredient helps to nourish and protect the skin, leaving it feeling refreshed and revitalized. Combined with black rice, this antioxidant-rich body care product will help improve skin texture and leave it scented with a fruity and floral fragrance.

Barn at Alswick Wedding Fair hosted by County Wedding Events

If you're newlyweds-to-be embarking on your wedding planning journey, pop along to the County Wedding Events wedding show at The Barn at Alswick, Hertfordshire, for inspiration on Sunday 5th October 2025 - 11pm - 3pm! Sister company to County Wedding Magazines, the event brings couples 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. Forming part of the historic Alswick Hall Estate, the Barn at Alswick has been lovingly restored to a stunning contemporary event space for exclusive hire. Adorned with rustic wooden beams, the light-flooded space is perfect for your wedding vision to come to life.

Why August 23rd Could Be the Most Romantic Day of the Decade

Celebration vacations are on the rise, as more people swap parties for passport stamps to mark life's biggest milestones. From weddings and retirements to birthdays and new jobs, searches for 'anniversary holidays' are soaring at 585k monthly, 'birthday trip ideas for couples' have doubled year-over-year, and 'celebration vacations' is up 57% in the last month alone. A new survey of 1,000 UK travellers, commissioned by Citalia, found that over half (56%) believe celebrating a major milestone abroad turns their trip into a once-in-a-lifetime story, whilst 47% say travel makes milestone moments truly unforgettable.

NEW STREET FOOD FESTIVAL SET TO LAUNCH AT BRAINTREE VILLAGE

Braintree Village has announced a brand-new free event, launching next month. The outlet's first-ever Street Food Festival will take place on Saturday 6th and Sunday 7th September, with the two-day event promising a weekend of flavour-packed dishes, artisanal produce and music performances. Local traders will include ROK Kitchen, who started out at Chelmsford market 10 years ago and have gone on to win multiple awards for their Korean street food.

Festive Stays at Down Hall Hotel, Spa & Estate

Skip the stresses and let the team take care of everything while enjoying the enchanting surrounds of the 110 acre estate and feast on exquisite food and fizz for a magical celebration to remember . With options spanning Christmas, Twixmas and New Year's, which cater for all ages, Down Hall Hotel is the perfect destination for families, friends and couples alike.

Expert shares how to preserve your wedding bouquet

From weddings and anniversaries to special birthdays and proms, there are some occasions where flowers just mean more and are hard to let go of. Whether you want to decorate your home, create a framed keepsake, or make your own potpourri, drying your flowers is the perfect way to hold on to beautiful memories. The flower experts at Bloom & Wild have shared three easy and effective ways to dry your bouquet at home with no special tools or floristry training required.

Renowned matcha brand PerfectTed launches wedding initiative

If there's one thing every wedding needs, it's energy and lots of it. From early-morning prep to late-night dancing, it's a full- day marathon of emotions, celebrations and unforgettable moments. That's why PerfectTed – Europe's #1 matcha brand – has launched PerfectWed, a new nationwide sampling initiative offering free matcha drinks to selected UK couples tying the knot. As part of the campaign, PerfectTed will send selected couples a curated selection of matcha drinks, including the brand's Healthy Energy cans and matcha lattes for wedding guests to enjoy. The couples will also have the chance to have their wedding speeches professionally filmed and featured in the brand's upcoming Speech Series

Knowledge is power with Laura Mercier

Before you venture in to your local Laura Mercier counter, use the quick and easy virtual foundation shade finder on the company's website to find the shade and product best for you. I could spend hours trying different lip shades and even eye shadows - as if I need any more excuse to be on my phone! I particularly love the Petal Soft Lipstick Crayon.

Post-Big Day Renovation with BHS

The confetti has settled, the thank-you notes are being written, and the whirlwind of wedding planning is finally over. Now that the excitement of your big day has passed, it's the perfect time to turn your attention to another beautiful chapter: making your shared home truly bespoke to you. Whether you've been living together for years or are just settling into a new rhythm, this post-wedding period is ideal for refreshing your space and infusing it with your combined style as a married couple. And when it comes to affordable yet high-quality lighting and home accessories, BHS is here to help you create the perfect sanctuary.