An Essex Wedding news and ideas from around the county

Don't miss the South Farm wedding show in November - 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 South Farm in Hertfordshire for inspiration on Sunday 1st November, 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. South Farm wedding venue exudes romantic charm in every season, making it a truly enchanting place for your wedding day. Choose from their five licensed ceremony spots, each offering the perfect setting to say 'I do.' Whether you're planning an intimate gathering, a grand celebration, or something in between, their uniquely beautiful ceremony spaces, both indoors and outdoors, are sure to captivate you.

Don't miss the Fennes wedding show in November - 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 Fennes in Essex for inspiration on Sunday 22nd November, 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. Whether you choose a large celebration or a small and intimate wedding, Fennes offers the perfect space for your special day. You will have a dedicated team to guarantee your day exceeds your expectations including your own Wedding and Events Manager who will support you throughout the planning stages right up to the big day to ensure all goes to plan.

Halloween fun at Bill's

No tricks, just FREE treats... This October half term, Bill's is serving up something SPOOKTACULAR for your little monsters! Up to two kids eat free when one adult orders a main (breakfast, brunch, lunch or dinner). From breakfast bites to fang-tastic family feasts, there's something for every appetite, big or small! The offer is available Monday 26th–Friday 30th October. Plus, there's more spooky fun! Halloween Pancakes are here for everyone, with FREE pancakes for kids after 4pm on Halloween weekend. Fluffy buttermilk pancakes stacked with gooey, chocolatey & marshmallowy goodness. I can't wait to try.

Pre-Wedding Skin Prep with IMAGE Skincare

Your wedding day glow starts long before you walk down the aisle! As autumn and winter bring colder temperatures, central heating and drier air, your skin may need extra care and hydration. IMAGE Skincare offers professional skincare solutions designed to support healthy-looking, radiant skin. Unlike many high-street products, professional-grade formulations focus on targeted ingredients and visible results. Whether you're tackling dryness, dullness or uneven skin tone, a personalised skincare routine can help prepare your complexion for the big day. Discover IMAGE Skincare locally in Essex and start your bridal skin journey early for your most confident glow. Here's a selection of our must-haves!

The A/W 2026 wedding trends: softer tailoring, richer tones and seasonal florals

From chocolate and camel tailoring to dahlias and trailing amaranthus, autumn/winter weddings are embracing richer colours and softer styling. As the autumn/winter wedding season gets underway, couples are moving away from rigid, perfectly matched styling in favour of looks that feel more relaxed, personal and connected to the season. Jess Levick, Assistant Buyer at Suit Direct, shares the key tailoring and styling trends shaping A/W 2026 occasionwear, alongside Lucy Hook, Floral Lead at Bloom & Wild, who reveals the flowers, colours and textures set to be popular for bouquets and displays this season.

Accor Introduces Its First UK greet Hotel: greet Harlow London

Greet, Accor's great-value, feel-good economy brand, announces the opening of greet London Harlow, becoming the brand's first hotel in the UK. Converted from an existing hotel, the 119-room property brings the brand's focus on comfort, personality and great value to Harlow, Essex. Located in Harlow Sculpture Town, the hotel is approximately a 20-minute drive to London Stansted Airport and offers direct rail access to London Liverpool Street.

What to do now to get your finances ready for 2027 

Aileen Robertson, Tesco Bank's Head of Savings, has shared ways soon-to-be-wedded couples and newlyweds can build healthy savings habits and step into 2027 feeling more confident about their shared futures! Aileen Robertson, Head of Savings at Tesco Bank, comments: "The start of a new year often feels like the perfect opportunity for a fresh start, with people embracing resolutions and looking to turn over a new leaf. But creating new habits can take time as people settle back into their routines, and sometimes those good intentions never quite get off the ground. "If you're trying to stay on top of your finances in 2027, taking small steps now can make that journey much easier. It's important to remember that it's never too late, or too early, to start working towards your goals. Setting them is the first step, whether they're big or small, so think about what you want your money to do for you. From here you can start to work towards your goals, building good savings habits along the way, and see your money grow over time."

BRAINTREE VILLAGE’S ICE RINK RETURNS THIS CHRISTMAS

Braintree Village has announced that its ice rink is set to return for a fourth season next month as part of the Essex-based outlet village's Christmas celebrations, with tickets on sale now. Set to create an enchanting environment for guests to enjoy, the 775 square metre ice rink will be entirely undercover, making it suitable for all weathers. The ice rink will open to the public on Thursday 12th November, and run until Sunday 3rd January, offering more than seven weeks of skating over the entire festive season.

Bluewater's Signature Wedding Fair hosted by County Wedding Events

We live and breathe weddings at CWM towers, so we can't wait for our Signature Wedding Show at Bluewater on Sunday 18th October 2026! It's one of our Signature Wedding Shows of 2026's Spring wedding show season; and a must-visit for all those that got engaged over the summer months. 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.

County Wedding Events coming to Layer Marney Tower, Essex!

If you're newlyweds-to-be embarking on your wedding planning journey, pop along to the County Wedding Events fair at Layer Marney Tower, Essex on Sunday 18th October, 2026! A must-visit event for engaged couples, the show puts you 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.

Ware Priory 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 Ware Priory, for inspiration on Sunday 25th October 2026! Ware Priory offer a historic, yet contemporary setting for a wedding and understand that finding the right wedding venue can be one of the most challenging parts of planning your special day. At Ware Priory they tailor your wedding so that it is as individual as you are, their team help you plan every finishing touch. Whether you are wanting a civil ceremony, a wedding reception or perhaps both, then the Ware Priory team are here to make sure you have the perfect day.

Bradbourne House 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 Bradbourne House, Kent, for inspiration on Sunday 1st November, 2026! Sister company to County Wedding Magazines, 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.

County Wedding Events comes to Penshurst Place, Kent!

If you're newlyweds-to-be embarking on your wedding planning journey, pop along to the County Wedding Events wedding show at the Penshurst Place, Kent, for inspiration on Sunday 8th November 2026! Sister company to County Wedding Magazines, the event brings couples face-to-face wedding 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.

Yankee Candle® launches limited-edition The Traitors collection

Fans of the BBC's hit reality show The Traitors can bring a little intrigue into their homes this autumn with a limited-edition candle collection from Yankee Candle. Inspired by the BAFTA-winning series, the new collection features two Signature Large Jar Candles: Faithful and Traitor. Each fragrance represents a different side of the game, inviting fans to choose their allegiance while settling in for the latest round of suspicion, secrets and unexpected reveals. Faithful is designed to evoke comfort and calm, blending cashmere vanilla and rose with a warm amber base. Its soft, powdery fragrance is ideal for cosy evenings spent analysing clues and debating who can be trusted.

Pre-wedding calmness with Drowsy

As the nights draw in and the air turns crisp, it's time to embrace life's soft, soothing comforts. For brides-to-be in Essex, wedding planning can be an exciting whirlwind of dress fittings, venue visits and final finishing touches, making moments of calm more important than ever. Drowsy brings you the ultimate cosy season ritual, designed to calm your mind, cocoon your senses and transform your evenings into little luxuries. From indulgent silk sleep masks to relaxing pillow sprays and soothing beauty essentials, these dreamy treats are perfect for creating a restful bedtime routine, helping you unwind, recharge and feel your best as the countdown to your special day begins.

Traitors, Bake Off and Strictly: the TV-inspired hen dos you can actually book

With The Traitors, Strictly Come Dancing and The Great British Bake Off all back on our screens, hen and stag parties can take inspiration from some of the nation's favourite TV shows. Chillisauce is offering groups the chance to recreate the drama, dancing and baking challenges for themselves, with experiences designed to bring a little competitive spirit to pre-wedding celebrations. Whether you fancy uncovering a secret traitor, putting your baking skills to the test or learning a new dance routine, there are options to suit a range of groups and locations across the UK. Discover three TV-inspired hen and stag party ideas, from murder mystery experiences in 26 locations to baking challenges and themed dance classes....

ALDI launches new wick-ed £4.99 confetti Halloween candles

Aldi is getting into the Halloween spirit with its new Hotel Collection Halloween Confetti Candles, priced at just £4.99 each. The 180g candles feature colourful confetti patterns and come in three designs: Ghost, Pumpkin and Black Cat. Each candle offers an approximate burn time of 34 hours, making them an affordable way to add an autumnal touch to the home. Shoppers can choose from three seasonal fragrances, each with its own distinctive blend of notes.

Down Hall Launches New Wave Of Wellness Retreats

As travellers increasingly embrace wellness experiences - with 22% of adults keen to try a sound bath while away* - the multi-award-winning property, Down Hall Hotel, Spa & Estate, offers a series of restorative retreats set amidst 110 acres of tranquil countryside. This Autumn, mindful movement takes centre stage with Reformer Pilates retreats designed to strengthen and rebalance the body, alongside guided journalling and manifestation workshops to encourage reflection and immersive sound baths, offering another opportunity to reset.

Looking ahead to wedding trends for hens and stags in 2027

Hen Dos Stay Home While Stags Head Abroad, Chillisauce Data Reveals: Hen parties are increasingly choosing UK destinations, while stag groups are becoming more likely to head overseas, according to booking data from Chillisauce, which suggests the divide could widen further in 2027. The company's figures show that the proportion of hen bookings taking place in the UK rose from 69% in 2024 to 76% in 2026. Over the same period, the share of stag dos abroad increased from 59% to 68%. Robyn Davis, Head of Stag and Hen at Chillisauce, says affordability and accessibility are helping to shape hen party plans.

Countdown to the County Wedding Events Signature Wedding Show at Mercedes-Benz World, Surrey

We live and breathe weddings at County Wedding Magazines and Events, so we can't wait for our Signature Wedding Show at Mercedes-Benz World, Surrey on Sunday 11th October, 2026! It's one of our biggest wedding shows of the spring wedding show season. 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.