An Essex Wedding news and ideas from around the county

Braintree Village unveils Christmas activities for 2025

Christmas has well and truly arrived at Braintree Village, as it announces the return of its Giving Tree alongside several pop ups for the festive season. Plus, the outlet has announced exclusive offers at selected brands for ice-rink ticket holders. Braintree Village has collaborated with local charity, First Stop Centre, to give Christmas gifts to those in need within the local community. First Stop Centre aims to offer real and immediate help to members of the community who are struggling and want to improve the quality of their lives.

2026 wedding trends that are set to dominate your feed

As wedding-related searches such as 'dream wedding' and 'wedding décor inspo' are up 10,000% year-on-year according to Pinterest trends, it's clear that couples are turning their attention to the finer details of their nuptials. To guide couples through 2026 wedding planning, Jess Levick, Assistant Buyer at Suit Direct, and Lucy Hook, Floral Lead at Bloom & Wild, reveal the key wedding trends shaping celebrations next year, covering regency romance, natural colour palettes and hyper-personalised celebrations.

Crondon Park is excited to be hosting an open day Sunday 11th Jan

Crondon Park is excited to be hosting an open day on Sunday 11th January 2026. Recently announced as the number one wedding venue in the UK with the most reviews on Hitched (over 1,500!), the staff are looking forward to meeting and securing couples' special days by showing them what the venue has to offer. A premier wedding destination nestled in the heart of the picturesque Essex countryside. The barn itself exudes rustic sophistication, combining traditional features with contemporary comforts to provide an enchanting setting for any wedding.

Fee-fi-fo-fun!

Fee-fi-fo-fun! Get ready to go on a giant adventure as Jack and the Beanstalk comes to life at Braintree theatre The Institute on selected dates from 12th to 31st December. Packed with hilarious comedy, dazzling costumes, show-stopping songs and plenty of audience participation, it's the ultimate panto experience for all. Will Jack outwit the fearsome Giant? Will Dame Trott ever find a quiet moment? And just how many magic beans does it take to change their fortunes? There's only one way to find out—join us for a spectacular journey up the beanstalk and beyond!

What are Prenup and Postnup Agreements?

Nuptial agreements have seen a rise in popularity in the UK, with high profile divorces highlighting the risks of not having a prenup or postnup in place. In addition, people now tend to get married later in life when they have accumulated more wealth and therefore have more assets to protect. Claire Porter, partner within the family team at leading Cheshire-based law firm SAS Daniels, discusses nuptial agreements for pre and post-marriage...

DOWN HALL HOTEL, SPA & ESTATE JOINS FORCES WITH WELLNESS BRAND, BRAMLEY

Down Hall Hotel, the 110-acre country house hotel, spa and estate on the Essex/Hertfordshire border has expanded its wellness offering in partnership with British wellness brand Bramley. The collaboration brings the hotel's holistic ethos to life, with in-room amenities and exclusive spa treatments delivered solely using Bramley's sustainable, plant-based products. The estate's expansive grounds, including its kitchen garden, are home to many of the same plants, florals and botanicals that inspire Bramley's own formulations, grounding the experience in its natural surroundings.

Be inspired by Pantone's Colour of the Year 2026 for your nuptials

Pantone, the global colour authority and provider of professional colour language standards and digital solutions for the design community, today introduced PANTONE 11-4201 Cloud Dancer, a billowy white imbued with a feeling of serenity as the Pantone Colour of the Year selection for 2026. An ethereal white hue, PANTONE 11-4201 Cloud Dancer serves as a symbol of calming influence in a frenetic society rediscovering the value of measured consideration and quiet reflection. At first, you'd be forgiven for thinking 'well it's a white tone, and there is a lot of white at a wedding already - so what's new?'.

A styled shoot: Starlit opulence

Something old, something thrifted, something fabulous: vintage gowns and era-perfect hair to match for nearlyweds who rewrite the rules. That was the ethos behind this Art Deco inspired styled shoot that was shot at The Arlington Ballroom. Shoot organiser and hair and make-up artist, Anna, said, "I wanted to focus this shoot on vintage fashion and styling for a wedding to highlight how you can have a unique and classic day whilst being as sustainable as possible. Rather than purchasing a brand-new piece worn only once, more couples are choosing to thrift or seek vintage fashion, combining sustainability with personal expression. And here's the twist: who says it has to be white?"

Chiddingstone Castle Wedding Show 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 Chiddingstone Castle, Kent for inspiration on Sunday 1st February, 2026! 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.

Expert Reveals: The Biggest Wedding Trends for 2026

You've found the love of your life, and you're happily engaged. It's finally time for your main-character moment, your wedding, and we're here for it. Whether you're just getting started on planning or you've been swimming in tulle for months, one thing's clear: 2026 is the year of "I do, my way." According to Nick Bramer, Co-owner & Marketing Director at Country House Weddings, "2026 is shaping up to be the year of personality-driven weddings. Couples are blending tradition with innovation to create days that feel unapologetically 'them'." Below, Nick shares the biggest wedding trends set to define 2026.

easyJet launches new route from London Southend to Munich for summer 2026

easyJet, London Southend's largest airline, has announced the launch of a new route for summer 2026 to Munich, with seats now on sale. The new route will start on 17 September 2026 and operate twice weekly on Thursdays and Sundays throughout the Christmas period. The launch comes ahead of Munich's world-famous Oktoberfest, giving travellers the chance to experience Bavaria's iconic celebrations, traditional cuisine, and lively atmosphere.

Legal experts warn couples not to change wedding plans amid wedding law reforms

Proposed changes to 19th Century weddings laws could be about to change everything for couples, but one legal expert has urged wedding planners to hang fire before making any changes to their big day. Legal experts from The University of Law say: "While there have been various updates to wedding laws in recent years, such as legalising same-sex marriage and changing the legal age requirement for marriage, nothing has changed the laws that govern marriage to this extent since the 1800s. "The main thing couples need to know now, is that nothing is going to change in the immediate future. The reforms still need public consultation, then the usual Parliamentary processes before implementation, all of which could take many years.

Wedding expert reveals why Thurrock leads civil ceremony boom in 2025

With stars like Charli XCX choosing registry office 'I dos' this summer, more couples than ever are ditching tradition for modern, flexible celebrations. The quiet wedding trend has shown that modern weddings can be both meaningful and pared back, while the high cost of living across the UK has meant there's already a propensity for more affordable celebrations – and this is likely to rise. According to Bridebook's UK Wedding Report, just 14% of couples were married at a place of worship in 2025. For some, it's about affordability. For others, it's a move towards ceremonies that make more sense in an increasingly secular society.

Gifting season with mesoestetic’s limited edition kits

This festive season, give (or get!) the gift of radiant skin with mesoestetic's limited edition routine kits three luxurious skincare routines designed to help your skin glow, lift and smooth beautifully. Each kit features mesoestetic's best-selling, professional-grade formulas, now curated for your at-home routine and elegantly packaged. Whether you're treating someone special or indulging in self-care, these exclusive sets make skincare feel truly special.

NYE ESCAPE AT DOWN HALL HOTEL, SPA & ESTATE

Ring in 2026 in the grand surrounds of Down Hall Hotel, Spa & Estate, where 110 acres of Essex countryside set the scene for a magical night. The hotel's glittering black tie New Year's Eve gala includes a sparkling drinks reception, five-course dinner and live music plus DJ. Guests will kick off the festivities with Champagne and canapés before sitting down to a seasonal five course menu from Executive Chef Robert Pearce. Highlights include smoked duck with pickled cherries, fillet of beef with truffle mash, and a winter berry baked Alaska.

7 Ways Marriage Celebrations Will Change By 2035

Planning a wedding used to follow a predictable script – white dress, church ceremony, big reception with 150+ guests. But it seems those days are numbered. According to this expert, the next decade promises to completely reshape how couples say "I do," driven by technology advances, environmental concerns, and evolving social attitudes. Wedding expert Nick Bramer from Country House Weddings, a family-run business specialising in exclusive-use venues across the UK, has witnessed these changes first-hand at their castle and country estate locations. "We're seeing couples make bold choices that would have seemed impossible just five years ago," says Bramer. "The traditional wedding playbook is being rewritten entirely."

Jorja Healthcare celebrates Essex clinic opening 

October saw the launch of Jorja Healthcare Essex, on Eastwood Road North, Essex. Jorja Healthcare was born from one father's fight to save his daughter. When Robin Emerson's little girl, Jorja, was diagnosed with a rare chromosome abnormality, she endured up to 30 seizures a day. Traditional medicine offered few solutions. Refusing to accept defeat, Robin turned to alternative treatments and witnessed a transformation in his daughter's health that defied expectations. Out of that journey came a mission: to build a healthcare model that listens, innovates, and refuses to give up on patients.

No ring? No proposal! New study reveals the top reasons for a proposal turn down

A new survey of 2000 UK adults has revealed timing is everything when it comes to a proposal, but so is taste. In an era where perfect proposals are deemed as Instagram-worthy backdrops and a professional photographer, this study reveals that the fundamentals are what couples are really wanting. A new study, commissioned by professional jewellers, F. Hinds, shows nearly 3 in 10 (29%) would be turned off by a public proposal, whilst another 29% would say no if it happens on someone else's special day, such as a birthday or even another person's wedding day. The engagement ring itself still plays a pivotal role. In fact, nearly 1 in 5 (20%) say the ring, or lack of one, can make or break the moment, proving that in an era of bigger is better, the perfect ring is still the ultimate "yes" factor.

New Ashmira Sonic Energy Holistic Body Treatment at Bannatyne Spa Kingsford Park

The Bannatyne Spa in Kingsford Park, Colchester is expanding its range of wellness experiences with the launch of the Ashmira Sonic Energy Holistic Body Treatment, a luxurious new therapy that harmonises body, mind, and spirit through the power of sound and touch. The new treatment combines sound healing with a Chinese clay massage to deliver complete energetic balance and deep relaxation. The body is enveloped in non-setting pink clay blended with Yin essential oils, before being soothed by the gentle vibrations of warm sound bowls.

Legal officiants vs legal venues

The wedding industry in the UK is worth £14.7billion, and the average cost of a wedding is over £20,000. With not only the cost, but the time and effort put into your wedding and making it one of the most special days of your life, you want to make sure that the event does actually legally marry you and your partner! Joanna Newton, a partner at Stowe Family Law, advises on the changes, and what couples need to consider.... In England and Wales, for your marriage to be legally binding, your ceremony venue needs to be a registered location. For more and more people, this is their local registry office, as they are choosing to have their wedding in venues that, whilst special to the couple, are unlicensed. In many cases, this means couples are having two weddings – one for the legal bit and one for the fun!