NEARLYWED NEWS

Artificial and paper flowers are becoming increasingly popular at weddings, with Chelmsford-based Elisabeth Bluck’s company, Paper Greenhouse, going from strength-to-strength.

“My business began when brides asked for flowers on the wedding cakes I also create,” she explains. “They were either out of season or not suitable to be in contact with food, so I learnt how to make flowers from wafer paper. I then saw giant flowers on Pinterest and loved the impact and wow factor they had, so decided to try making some myself. My peonies are made from high-quality Italian crepe paper and come in sizes roughly 45cm and 60cm in diameter. My roses, meanwhile, are made from isolon, a lightweight foam with a silky texture. Every petal is cut and shaped by hand – which gives each flower a unique appearance – and different length stems are available, which can be bent to make arrangements with varying heights.”

Visit www.papergreenhouse.co.uk to find out more.

TALK TO THE ANIMALS

Looking for a unique way to celebrate your final days as a singleton? Why not enjoy a day like no other with a Hen Party Animal Experience at Colchester Zoo?

The day begins in Penguini’s Restaurant, where you’ll tuck into a delicious breakfast to set you up for the day. On the experience you will explore love in the animal kingdom from penguins and sea lions, as well as getting the chance to meet either the lemurs or the giraffes. A buffet lunch will also be provided in the exclusive private dining room, while throughout the day, an experienced host will be on hand to ensure that your hen party is nothing less than perfect.

Costing £79.95 per person, with a minimum of eight participants, find out more about this once-in-a-lifetime package at www.colchesterzoo.org.

Psst! Watch out for the September/October issue of An Essex Wedding where you could win a Colchester Zoo Perfect Moments Animal Experience for two!

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FARM IT OUT

Looking for a wedding venue that none of your friends will have said their vows in? Step forward Colchester’s Battleswick Farm, available now for receptions – and ceremonies from October 2022.

“At Battleswick you can forget everything you know about traditional venues,” say owners Mandy Mahil and Aaron Wymark. “Here you are shown all the spaces, all the options and asked how you visualise your day. You can even pay for your wedding via direct debit – if you can pay monthly for a sofa then why can’t you for your wedding?”

The venue is still in its early days, with only 18 months since Mandy and Aaron purchased the 500-year-old barn and saved it from almost total collapse. A year into their five year project, the final vision is a barn that can seat up to 120 people; a catering kitchen for external caterers; an orangery; a café; a bridal salon, and, to top it off, a spa with indoor/ outdoor hot tub overlooking the fields, with treatment rooms to bring your own hair stylist and make-up artist. “There will also be 14 bedrooms for accommodation, as well as glamping space,” says Mandy. “Every couple will automatically get the day before, the day of the wedding and the following day until the afternoon for exclusive use, which allows suppliers to organise and collect at a sensible time.

“You may want to have a boho wedding with a tipi marquee on the 3.5 acre field, or you may want to have a barn ceremony with the courtyard for drinks – or you can have it all! Our plan is to have everything completed by 2026, and we already have weddings booked through to 2025.”

Battleswick Farm will be having their second wedding fun fair on Sunday 4 September 2022. Visit www.battleswickfarm.co.uk to find out more.

Looking for an alternative hen or stag – or just somewhere different to start the party off? Head to NAMCO Funscape Braintree or Romford and enjoy all your favourite arcade games and amusements, plus bowling and plenty of deals on drinks.

Start the fun off with a couple of games of bowling and get those competitive juices flowing, then play the amusements, from classics to high tech video games. Plus, if you’re feeling adventurous, Braintree has an eight wall Clip ’n Climb on site, with the Speed Wall ready to show who’s the real champion.

The bars at NAMCO Funscape are fully stocked with beers, wine and spirits, with a member of the bar team always available on hand to make some delicious cocktails. Visit www.namcofunscape.com to find out more.

WIN!

An Essex Wedding has teamed up with NAMCO Funscape to offer three winners a £40 voucher to be redeemed at Romford, and three winners a £40 voucher to be redeemed at Braintree. Terms and conditions apply; for your chance to win enter via https://www.anessex.wedding/giveaways.

DOING IT FOR DUNMOW

Say hello to these two Dunmow-based businesses 

Want to wow guests with an amazing band and well-known Essex celeb to boot? Say hello to The Arg Band, now available for weddings and events throughout the county and beyond.

Originally known for his appearance on popular reality show, TOWIE, TV personality James ‘Arg’ Argent spoke exclusively to us about the rise of his seven-piece band; aptly named The Arg Band.

“Performing with the band is truly my happy place and where my passion lies,” says Arg. “We all know I’ve had some tough times over the years, but throughout them singing with the band has kept me focused. You cannot beat seeing the smile of a happy couple on their special day – plus you will often find me at the end of the evening dancing the night away with both them and their guests!”

The Arg Band – who perform at any event, from private parties and corporate occasions to supporting many charities – have predominantly become known as one of the UK’s best wedding bands, bringing a personable touch to each event. Their wide-range of songs allows the band to cater for any theme or style for your celebration, from Motown, soul and reggae, to RnB and well-known dance floor anthems.

Want to book Arg and his band for your wedding day? Check out the line-up showcasing their talents on Instagram and TikTok, then email arg.theband@gmail.com for bookings and enquiries.

GIRL POWER

Want to support local when it comes to your skincare? Say hello to Farm Girl By Sarah Jane, owned by Dunmow aesthetician Sarah-Jane Malins.

Farm Girl By Sarah Jane specialises in result-driven yet low invasive facials and massage from SarahJane’s Essex studio. One of the many treatments offered, The Famous Full Works, improves the appearance, tone and texture of the skin thanks to a combination of steam, dermaplaning, gentle digital needling and an algae mask, all finished with a mini shoulder massage.

You can even benefit from taking home her own skincare line: try the Retinol Niacinamide Serum, £48, which helps to promote skin renewal while enhancing collagen production, keeping your skin looking incredible in the run-up to your big day.

Visit https://farmgirlbysarahjane.co.uk to find out more. HORSING AROUND

‘Eco glitter make-up in a horse box’ isn’t something we ever thought we’d write, but we’re so pleased we are after discovering Dunmow-based Lucy’s Glitter Box over on the ’gram.

Owned by Lucy Keeble, this is a wedding horse box trailer like no other, converted into a photo booth and glitter make-up station, and having just launched a couple of months ago. “This is a totally unique photo booth experience, with sequin walls, disco balls, checkered floor and pink ceiling,” says Lucy. “There are a range of fun props to choose from, and guests have four photos taken on a screen before a professional printer develops the photos instantly. For weddings there are unlimited visits to the booth, plus it prints two copies per visit – one for guests to keep and the other to stick into a guest book with a lovely message! The glitter make-up station is at the entrance of the horse box, with two make-up artist chairs, a vanity mirror, and lots of biodegradable glitter to enjoy.”

Lucy’s Glitter Box has three packages to choose from, starting with £400 for the Horse Box Glitz Package (glitter hair and make-up); £600 for the Horse Box Picz Package (the fully equipped horse box photo booth); and £750 for the Glitz and Picz Package, which combines the two plus additional extras. You can even hire a sequin backdrop wall at a reduced rate, if the venue is unable to accommodate the horse box itself. Contact www.lucysglitterbox.com for info and how to book.