An Essex Wedding news and ideas from around the county

BRAINTREE VILLAGE SALES UP 14.9% ON LAST YEAR

Data from owner Landsec, shows shopping sales at Braintree Village rose 14.9% year-on-year during April – June this year, as shoppers flocked to new openings such as Crocs and Belstaff. It comes as Landsec reports a strong quarter across its entire portfolio of prime retail destinations, with significant year-on-year increases in both sales and footfall, and follows a record year for Landsec across its retail destinations.

STAUB Unveils its NEW Sorbet Rose Colourway

Renowned cast iron specialist, STAUB has introduced a new Sorbet Rose colourway to its premium collection of cookware - a soft, elegant shade that reflects the enduring popularity of pink in the kitchen. As homeowners continue to embrace pink-toned cabinetry, small appliances and accessories, Sorbet Rose is a natural addition to STAUB's carefully curated colour range. Bringing a gentle touch of charm to both kitchen and table, Sorbet Rose is perfect for everything from alfresco summer suppers to Valentine's Day brunches. Inspired by the subtle hues of blush pink, this calming, nurturing colour complements a wide variety of palettes - pairing beautifully with natural woods, muted greys, crisp whites, and earthy greens. Its versatile appeal suits both contemporary minimalist kitchens and traditional farmhouse settings, making it a timeless choice for any home.

Hertfordshire Golf & Country Club 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 Hertfordshire Golf & Country Club, Hertfordshire for inspiration on Sunday 21st September 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. With its majestic tree-studded lawns and impressive indoor and outdoor settings, the Hertfordshire makes for a wonderful venue to plan your wedding. A grand Broxbournebury Mansion is not just one of the most picturesque locations, but also a witness of many stories of love. Once owned by a prominent Bosanquet family, the mansion was celebrated for its renowned rose garden, grown by the mistress of the house herself, who even established her own kind the rose named after the family.

Orsett Hall 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 Orsett Hall, Essex, for inspiration on Sunday 21st September, 2025! 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.

How I Planned My Wedding Without Losing My Mind (or My Fiancé)

With a whopping 84% admitting they felt overwhelmed in the run-up to the big day, and over a quarter calling it the most stressful time of their lives, it's no wonder many brides hit breaking point before they even walk down the aisle. But help is at hand! Jewellery brand Abbott Lyon spoke to real brides Jacky and Annabelle, who share the wedding day hacks that helped them stay cool, calm, and collected through meltdowns, menu dramas, and mother-in-law madness—proving that bridal bliss is possible, even when the pressure's on.

SOUL FUSED PERMANENT JEWELLERY

Soul Fused was founded by sisters-in-law turned business partners Sam and Natalie Marsh from Billericay, Essex who are on a mission to bring beautiful long-lasting jewellery to you this summer! Whether you're celebrating a special occasion or simply treating yourself, Soul Fused offers a refined and bespoke alternative to traditional jewellery. Perfect for marking special life moments including weddings, baby showers, anniversaries as well as birthdays, permanent jewellery is an exciting new trend that adds a touch of long-lasting sparkle!

Warning to Hen and Stag Parties: Avoid These Common Mistakes

Your wedding is one of the most important days of your life, that's why The Wedding Travel Company has partnered with a former BA flight attendant to give their top tips on travelling for your destination wedding this summer. "Destination weddings are continuing to grow in popularity, with more and more people looking to escape the UK for weddings abroad in areas such as Greece, Italy, Spain and Cyprus. Though planning your wedding can sometimes be demanding, you should be able to enjoy the lead up, feeling as stress-free as possible", explains Kim Deller, Concierge Executive at The Wedding Travel Company.

New luxury bedding collection from Lathams

Independent homeware retailer and interior design studio Lathams, based locally in Epping, is thrilled to announce the launch of a new premium collection of cushions and bed throws under their in-house label, "Lathams with Love." The 'LOVED' bedding collection showcases Lathams' signature leopard print in four colourways: Ash, Stone, Grass and Grass Reverse, adding an effortless, hotel style finish to your bedroom. Stunning!

HOW MUCH SHOULD YOU REALLY GIFT AT WEDDINGS IN 2025?

Wedding season is fast approaching – and while many Brits are busy outfit-hunting or booking hotels, there's one part of the big day that continues to cause confusion - how much money should you actually spend on the happy couple? It's a question thousands of guests are turning to the internet for. In fact, Google searches for 'how much money should you give for a wedding gift' have soared by a whopping 5,000% over the past month*, proving just how panicked Brits are about getting it right.

Protect your skin and your memories

Green People, the UK's experts in sensitive skin, are making it their mission to protect the UK's summer memories with their collection of dermatologically tested natural and organic sun care. Proud to offer natural and organic sun care solutions for all the family, Green People has also released a SPF finder tool, which aims to make it easier to find the perfect SPF to protect your skin from daily sun damage.

Jewellery expert debunks the most common engagement myths

When it comes to engagements, traditions run deep – but not all of them hold up today. From outdated rules about who should propose to the history behind getting down on one knee, there are plenty of myths which may not reflect how couples approach engagements today. Lorna Haddon, Head of Diamonds and Jewellery at Beaverbrooks, said: "Getting engaged can be one of the most exciting life experiences for those in love – but it can sometimes be a nervous experience for those doing the proposing, with so many traditions to remember.

Dress Code Nine is moving!

Dress Code Nine is relocating back to its original location of Kelvedon, in Woodhouse Lane. The team are busy packing up stock from the Braintree premises, so if you're after a bargain do pop in - as there is a big sale on! Currently they are all on target to be moved out by end of august! With a Kelvedon opening date of September 3rd.

The 2025 Hen Party Trends - According to TikTok

Whether you're jetting off to Mykonos, booking out a villa in Spain, or hosting a garden party at home, 2025's hen dos are all about creating unforgettable moments — and capturing them in style. With TikTok leading the charge in how Gen Z and Millennials plan pre-wedding celebration and searches for 'hen party' up +118%, jewellery brand Abbott Lyon scrolled through the feeds, trends and reels to bring you the ultimate hen party playbook. From must-have themes to viral activities, this is your go-to guide for planning a hen party that you'll never forget.

Monster mayhem at Braintree Village

Monster mayhem at Braintree Village Something I certainly would have picked for my own hen do, The Monster at Braintree Village offers a fun-filled get-together for an alternative hen/stag or sten do! Situated in Braintree Village's North Car Park (well, on the bit of grass that runs alongside it, have you seen the ice rink there at Christmas?) you can't comprehend the sheer size of it until you're full-throttle throwing yourself through The Monster's mouth! It's huge! Possibly taking the first go with a bit too much enthusiasm, I was trying to race my soon-to-be 16-year-old-son through the maze of inflatable steps, characters, barriers and balls! I need to up the kms on my morning run, as this bad boy certainly takes the wind out of you - realising I was no Lara Croft!

Colchester's new approach to relationship success

A new concept has been created to encourage couples to review and mend their relationships, making it a part of everyday life. The Renewal Method is a programme that helps couples reconnect, reflect, and realign their relationships at regular intervals, ensuring they maintain a strong connection and avoid the risk of drifting apart. This unique idea is the brainchild of Jacqueline Cook, a Holistic Life Coach who wants to help couples rediscover their unity and closeness despite the demands of everyday life.

Nearly half of newlyweds will experience post-wedding blues this year

As we quickly approach the start of wedding season, many brides and grooms will be amping up for the best day of their lives. While the happiness of wedding days is well explored, the lull that comes afterwards is barely spoken about and not a feeling newlyweds are warned of, leading to potential feelings of isolation. Exclusive data from engagement and wedding ring experts at Queensmith has revealed that 40% of recently married couples experience some form of post-wedding blues. An experience of sadness, letdown, or emptiness that is often the first thing to hit couples after their honeymoon - a hangover from the heady highs of wedding planning.

Unique wedding trends 2025: Film photography surges 50%

Three in five couples plan to incorporate unique elements into their wedding, and with the world of choice at the end of our fingertips, inspiration is flying in from all angles. But which of the net's most loved delights have seen the most significant interest surges since last summer? To find out, the team at Aura Print scoured social media platforms to discover what's been hot, and gathered Pinterest and Google Trends data to reveal their most adored trends that have shot up since last summer.

Joma has your bridal party gifts covered

For a little something to show your bridal party how much you appreciate them being there for you on your big day, Joma Jewellery has the perfect little sentiments with their 'a littles' range. Choose from charming bracelets with delicate bands featuring clustered gemstones, pearls and personalised charms – all presented in beautiful packaging stamped with gold sentimental messages that say it all. It's no wonder Joma Jewellery sell one a little bracelet every 30 seconds.

Happily ever after - making plans for the future

As nearlyweds, you may not be thinking about what happens beyond the end of your natural lives together - that's not the exciting bit - Katharine Bundell, a barrister at 4PB shares advice in this article that could make your loved ones' lives a lot easier if anything happens to you. Death and taxes remain fairly inevitable. On 16th May 2025 the Law Commission published its recommendations on wills and proposed a new statute. This is the first significant reconsideration since the Wills Act 1837 which is still effective today. Life was quite different in 1837. Queen Victoria ascended the throne aged 18 years old. Any property owned by a women on marriage was transferred automatically to her husband. It would be 40 years before Thomas Edison lit up the first electric lightbulb.

easyJet launches new winter route

Looking for a snowy honeymoon destination? easyJet, London Southend's largest airline, has today announced a new winter route to Rovaniemi, with flights starting on 1 December 2025. Operating twice a week on Mondays and Fridays throughout the Christmas period, the new seasonal service will provide customers from across the region with more choice to visit the home of Santa Claus this winter.