All the latest wedding news for couples getting married in Essex, along with bridal fashion and beauty inspiration and honeymoon ideas.
Brits would end a relationship if they're not engaged after five years
With a +360% increase in Brits searching for 'how to hint at an engagement' and a +215% increase for a 'dream wedding'* it seems many Brits are eagerly waiting for their partner to pop the big question – but how long do Brits wait? A new study by greetings card marketplace thortful.com, who polled 1,000 Brits who are either engaged or newly married, revealed just how long you might be waiting for a ring and the nation's true thoughts on everything to do with getting engaged.
The study showed that our partners are proposing 7 months too late as the preferred waiting time is just 2 years. And, on average, Brits would call time on a relationship if they're still not engaged after 5 years of being in a relationship.
Posted: 24 August 2022
Natural ways to relieve wedding day nerves
Wedding day jitters are normal — but not necessarily welcome! In this article Jo Webber, Herbal Education Lead at Pukka Herbs, shares four natural ways to keep them at bay. Weddings are one of the most significant life events you can go through, so its no surprise that wedding day jitters are so common. Even the most committed couple are bound to get butterflies when standing up in front of everyone they know to say their vows, and no matter how excited you are to tie the knot, nerves before or even during the ceremony are completely normal. That said, no one wants nervousness and anxiety to get in the way of enjoying their big day. But how can you relieve your wedding day jitters in a natural way? Here, I'll share four simple methods for curbing your nerves ahead of a wedding.
Posted: 21 August 2022
UK couples turning to ‘pet-nups’
With around 60% of UK households owning a pet, it's no surprise that who gets custody of any animals can be a key area of negotiation when relationships break down. Megan Bennie, a solicitor specialising in divorce and family law at Kent law firm Furley Page, said: "For many people a pet is not just an animal, it's a fully-fledged member of the family, so it's no wonder that pets can be a particularly emotive topic for clients when relationships end. Unfortunately, a pet's treatment by the law hasn't kept up with the way they are generally viewed by their owners."
Posted: 20 August 2022
When organising a wedding, it's easy to get caught up in how things look. From wedding décor to dresses, the focus is often on aesthetics. Understandably so, the photos from your day being one of the main ways you'll look back and remember those delicate details you spent what seems like forever planning. Fragrance, however, can be just as important in transporting you back to the joy you felt on the day you said I do. And in 2022, scent is taking centre stage as one of the biggest wedding trends of the summer. Here, Clare Logan from home, bath and body care brand ARRAN Sense of Scotland outlines everything you need to know about creating your own scent-sational wedding day. "This year, weddings are all about fragrance," begins Clare, who is just in the process of planning a wedding herself and being immersed in the world of perfumery on a daily basis, knows a thing or two about fragrance and weddings.
Posted: 19 August 2022
Vera Wang PARTY Prosecco DOC launches in the UK
Internationally renowned designer and style icon Vera Wang has just launched her premium Vera Wang PARTY Prosecco DOC wines here in the UK. The most stylish choice for weddings and every other kind of celebration, the top-quality sparkling white and rosé wines come in stunning matt silver bottles as striking as her fashion, fragrance, jewellery, home and accessories designs. "Prosecco isn't just for special occasions. Whether you are celebrating by yourself, or with friends, PARTY is about toasting every day, making the most of life's moments," says Vera Wang. The Vera Wang PARTY Prosecco DOC white wine is crafted from 100% Glera grapes and boasts aromas of apple and stone fruit, citrus notes and fresh acidity on the palate, with a soft and fruity finish. It's perfect for any occasion, brunch, party or wedding, paired as an aperitif with seafood, cheeses and salty snacks, or to serve with more substantial dishes including pasta, sushi, fried chicken and spicy Chinese takeaways!
Posted: 18 August 2022
wagamama announces opening of new restaurants in Essex
Looking for a pre- or post-wedding get-together with your loved ones? Head to one of three new wagamama Essex restaurants opening in August, September and October in Southend-On-Sea, Romford and Harlow respectively. The new openings follows wagamama's expansion plans across Essex joining Lakeside, Colchester, Chelmsford, Basildon, Braintree (which opened April this year). wagamama's growth across the county is because it knows the people of Essex love wagamama! The new wagamama in Southend-on-Sea will open on August 15 and is just a five minute walk from Southend Victoria train station right in the heart of the High street. Just ten minutes walk from the beach front, wagamama is placed just outside the Victoria shopping centre and will the perfect lunch spot after a busy day! The new wagamama is designed over two floors with iconic interiors and private booths. Sitting144 internal covers and an extra 18 outside it will be the perfect spot for a Japanese inspired cocktail in the sun.
Posted: 16 August 2022
Chelsea Peers, has unveiled a stunning bridal edit
Modern loungewear brand, Chelsea Peers, has unveiled a stunning bridal edit designed with the bride tribe in mind! This elegant collection of women's sleepwear, loungewear and swimwear in silky satin and modal provides the perfect lounging look to take the crew from hen party to big day. From gorgeous satin PJs like the Sage Bee Print Button Up Short Pyjama Set (£38) to the lovely Gingham Scoop Back Swimsuit (£42) there's something for everyone to look and feel confident and wedding picture ready!
Posted: 15 August 2022
94% of dog owners getting married want to involve their pets
On the biggest day of their lives, 94% of dog owners planning a wedding for this year revealed they will give their dog a starring role in the celebrations. This shows a new trend for this year, increasing by more than a third (39%) since pre-Covid and reaching more than three times the level of 30 years ago (213% increase). The new research by charity Guide Dogs shows that the wedding roles dogs can expect to play over the next 12 months will vary. The most common roles were however found to be starring in the first dance (42%), walking a bride down the aisle (39%), being the Dog of Honour or Best Man (37%) or taking ringbearer responsibilities (30%).
Posted: 14 August 2022
The most Instagrammable wedding flowers
Trying to decide between roses and hydrangea for your wedding? Perhaps this latest research from gardening experts AllAboutGardening.com will help! The company analysed hashtag counts of over 100 different types of flowers, on Instagram to establish which flower is the most popular on the social media platform. Roses were revealed as the most Instagrammable flower. To date, there are 79.6million posts using the hashtag 'rose' or 'roses', contributing to its status as the most Instagrammable flower. Roses, when cut, can typically last up to one week but to keep the flower fresh requires additional care tips. The best way to keep roses fresh is to remove all the leaves from the stem, as allowing leaves to be submerged in water can lead to your roses harbouring bacteria and will speed up the process of your roses wilting. Similarly, roses should always be kept in a cool spot with vase water that is regularly changed.
Posted: 13 August 2022
Is a pre-nup on your wedding to-do list?
Whilst this wedding season, most nearlyweds-to-be will be considering invites, dresses, venues and flowers, an increasing number will have pre-nuptial agreements on their minds before they walk down the aisle. Market research from leading consumer legal services company, Slater and Gordon, shows that more than half (53%) of unmarried couples would only consider getting married, if a pre-nuptial agreement was put in place. The research is following the news that Britney Spears and her new husband, Sam Asghari, signed an "iron-clad" prenuptial agreement before their wedding, last month. It is understood that one of the conditions of the document is that if the couple were to separate, Sam wouldn't be entitled to any of the tens of millions that Britney earned prior to their marriage.
Posted: 10 August 2022
10 simple tips for a stress-free wedding
From trying to keep yourself and your spouse-to-be happy, to accommodating ample requests from friends and family, weddings can cause a lot of stress and anxiety during the planning period as well as on the big day itself. In the past year searches for 'wedding anxiety' have increased by +60% which highlights you're not the only one if you're feeling like this. To ensure couples have a wonderful and stress-free wedding experience, life insurance broker, Reassured has put together 10 helpful tips to reduce stress.
Posted: 7 August 2022
3 months for your father-in-law to like you!
A new survey, conducted by greetings card marketplace, thortful.com, has looked to reveal the time it takes father-in-laws to approve of their son/daughter's partner, revealing that the average amount of time is three months. The study quizzed 1,000 father-in-laws across the UK on how long it takes for them to approve of their son-in-law, as well as the attributes that are most important to them. It was found that a quarter of father-in-laws (25%) said they actually approved of their son/daughter partner from the first moment they met them, with just less than one in 10 (9%) taking 7 months or longer to approve.
Posted: 5 August 2022
The UK's most popular wedding venues
Here in the UK we're truly blessed with ample gorgeous wedding venues offering couples tying the knot in this country such variety; from historic castle to beach-side hotels, Victorian manor houses to tree houses and woodland weddings - the options really are endless. The wedding financial experts at money.co.uk analysed TripAdvisor to reveal the venues with the most mentions of 'weddings' in their reviews and then used Instagram data to discover which ones have been shared the most on the platform and ranked them from highest to lowest to reveal the most popular in the UK.
Posted: 4 August 2022
How low can you go when it comes to alcohol for summer weddings
With a bumper wedding season ahead in the UK this summer, make sure you cater for all your guests' needs and be sure to offer delicious no and low alcohol options at drinks wedding celebrations. With a range of great wine, cocktail or gin alternatives to stock up on this summer for the designated drivers and sober curious, there's something for all taste buds leaving guests happy, refreshed and clear-headed the next day - hallelujah to that!
Posted: 3 August 2022
An alcohol free stag/hen do - 6 tips from the experts
Research by Hen Weekends & Stag Weekends found that over the past few years, the search terms 'alcohol free' and 'non alcoholic' have become increasingly popular, with the former having an increase of 1,941 monthly searches between January 2016 and January 2022. As well as this, the company looked at their own data from 2021 to find that almost half (36.7%) of their booked stag and hen weekends include at least one non-alcoholic activity. With a boost in non-alcoholic alternatives hitting the beverage scene covering everything from 0% beer to clean gin, there's ample choice to still have a celebration and still feel like and adult!
Posted: 1 August 2022
Tips on keeping your wedding dress safe pre- and post-wedding
While everyone has their own budget for the big day, nobody can deny weddings are an expensive business, with a total average bill hovering around £20,000-£30,000. The dress is likely to account for over £1,000 of this – and could cost much more if it's a designer number.
When asked, 86% of brides-to-be who haven't yet purchased their dress didn't know that it might be protected under their home insurance policy! comparethemarket.com has shared some helpful things to consider ahead of bringing home the special dress.
Posted: 31 July 2022
The most exciting stag and hen party ideas in Essex for an adrenaline junkie.
Picture this: your best friend is getting married in the next few months and you've been left with the gruelling task of planning their stag-do or hen party. Of course, you're hoping to organise one of the most memorable experiences of their lives before they tie the knot... However, if they hate the idea of a traditional celebration and love adrenaline-fuelled activities instead, then you may have somewhat of a challenge on your hands - read on to be inspired.
Posted: 29 July 2022
Duncan James from Blue and Claire Richards from Steps will sing at your wedding!
To celebrate the nation's love of cheese, as we head into wedding season, Mini Cheddars has brought together two pop icons - Duncan James from Blue and Claire Richards from Steps - in musical matrimony to form the ultimate wedding supergroup - Simply Wed. And one lucky couple will win an exclusive performance from 'Simply Wed' at their wedding this September. To mark the launch of the wedding supergroup, Mini Cheddars commissioned research revealing the ultimate wedding playlist with Dancing Queen by ABBA taking the top spot – 46 years after it was first released. A poll of 2,000 wedding guests saw Don't Stop Me Now by Queen and Neil Diamond's Sweet Caroline complete the top three. The 'big day' playlist also included Happy by Pharrell Williams, Toploader's Dancing in the Moonlight, as well as Mr Brightside by The Killers. Also featured in the top 40 were Single Ladies by Beyonce, 5,6,7,8 by Steps and One Love by Blue.
Posted: 29 July 2022
Celebrate weddings in style with tasty wines from Bordeaux
Wedding season is back and this year it is expected to be bigger than ever. Whether it's a traditional nuptials or a celebration party for a lockdown marriage, choosing the right drinks for the big day is essential. With everything from dry whites and crisp rosés to sparkling wines and modern, fruit-forward reds, Bordeaux delivers unparalleled wedding wine inspiration. Delight guests with a delicious sweet wine cocktail before moving on to something a little unexpected – perhaps a dry white from Entre-deux-Mers or an unoaked red wine from Saint-Emilion? Celene Opale Crémant de Bordeaux is an original choice for toasting the new union and a fresh and fruity rosé is perfect for dancing the night away.
Posted: 29 July 2022
Wedding flowers 2022 - which are the most popular?
Floral bouquets and decorations are still very much the focus of many couple's wedding plans. From pedestal displays to moongates and arches the choices are endless when it comes to displaying blooms on your big day. Based on UK Google Search Volume, wedding insurance specialists Protectivity's research has revealed the the most popular wedding flowers for 2022. What's more, if you don't know your cosmos from your hydrangeas, the team has provided advice on choosing your wedding flowers.
Posted: 27 July 2022
The most popular UK wedding locations
The UK is full of gorgeous locations that are perfect for weddings. From the rolling countryside to the history-rich cities, no picturesque location is out of reach for soon to be newly-weds. But, of all the places to tie the knot, where is the most popular? New data analysed by Surrey resort and wedding venue, Foxhills, has revealed the most popular wedding locations, showing the favourite places in the UK for all types of marriage ceremonies. By analysing data on the total number of weddings in a year and scoring them by how many times they occurred in various types of marriages, the most popular wedding locations in the entire nation have been discovered.
Posted: 25 July 2022
Most popular celebrity weddings of all time
New research by DC Jewellery has revealed the world's most popular celebrity weddings of all time, from Royal weddings to A-listers, when there's a famous couple tying the knot we can't help but want to know all the finer details: what did they where? Who was on the guest list? What cake did they have? The research proves that the world's fascination with British royalty is real. Meghan Markle and Prince Harry had the most popular celebrity wedding of all time (beating Kate and Wills), with a total of 301,600 Google searches since 2018 and 2,579,200 total Google searches in the last year alone. Kate and Prince William had the 6th most popular celebrity wedding of all time, with 1,050,600 searches in the last year, closely followed in 8th place by Kate's sister Pippa's wedding to James Matthews.
Posted: 23 July 2022
Couples are planning deluxe weddings
In the past couple of years, tying the knot has been challenging. Getting married is an important decision, and recent events had only contributed to rousing doubts and dilemmas around this life-changing milestone. Many couples resorted to intimating weddings that abided by government regulations. From Zoom ceremonies to short guest lists, brides and grooms have embraced the micro-wedding trend. But, as we cruise confidently back towards normality, large celebrations seem likely to make a welcomed return. This sparks one obvious question: how is the rise of big, jaunty ceremonies altering the plans of soon-to-be-married couples? Here, the team at Langley Castle, has taken a look at how we can expect to celebrate weddings in 2022, detailing both trends and tips you may want to consider for your own big special event.
Posted: 21 July 2022
Leigh-On-Sea jewellery business announced as finalist
Leigh-On-Sea-based Hayley Sturniolo, owner and designer of Inscripture, has been recognised as one of the best in the business after being named as a finalist in the Great British Entrepreneur Awards. Inscripture is one of the shortlisted business leaders from across the nation to have been selected out of over 5,300 entrants - the most the awards has ever had. Hayley Sturniolo said: "It is such an honour to be selected as a finalist from such an incredible number of entrants. I couldn't be more thankful for the recognition of our hard work. This has been a very exciting period for Inscripture; we have come so far in the last year, and are exploring our next exciting opportunities."
Posted: 20 July 2022
What your wedding favours say about you
The wholesale experts at WholesaleSweets.co.uk have looked at the sweet treats a couple chooses and what it says about them. Wedding favours are usually a small, fun and sweet way of saying thank you to guests for attending a wedding. Traditionally wedding favours were sugared coated almonds but over the years people have put their own spin on wedding favours and now give out things like sweets, jars of honey or jam and even mini shots. Kathryn Hague from Wholesale Sweets said: "Wedding favours have been around for years and it's really interesting to see what people choose for them these days.
Posted: 19 July 2022
Unlike a national magazine, An Essex Wedding is packed with regional features, venues in your area, inspirational real weddings and regular features on bridal fashion, beauty trends,
photography,
cars,
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flowers,
cakes,
music,
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catering,
hair & beauty, etc.
So when you decide to look for local suppliers, wedding retailers and service providers for your special day, our magazines can really help you plan your wedding.
We also have regular exciting wedding competitions and free giveaways, expert question & answer pages and lots more. Quite simply, all the information you will ever need to get married in your area.
We have 19 wedding titles covering counties and regions throughout most of England and Wales. An Essex Wedding is available to download for free as a high quality eMagazine. Regional wedding magazines covering other areas are available here.
