NEARLYWED NEWS

LASTING MEMORIES

By preserving your wedding flowers in a luxurious paperweight, The Flower Preservation Workshop offers a special way of creating everlasting mementoes of your day, and the team has recently launched a new jewellery product to its collection. The pretty beads can be added to an existing charm bracelet and have been a popular gift for mums and the bridal party. They’re also a fab option for couples to give to loved ones who weren’t able to attend the big day because of restricted guest numbers.

You can get your hands on these lovely little gifts at £44.95 each or three for £130. Why not add it to your paperweight order as a gift to yourself? A 3.5” single flower paperweight and a single bead is £210. For more information, visit www.flowerpreservationworkshop.co.uk Jewellery often holds such sentimental value that finding the perfect piece can be a struggle. Bathbased jewellery brand Abbott Lyon are thrilled to launch its Thoughtful Jewellery collection, which promises to offer necklaces holding special meaning to represent different chapters in our lives. Founded by young entrepreneur Jezz Skelton, the British-born brand has swiftly established itself as a leading name in affordable luxury with its polished signature style. Whether it’s a gift for a recently engaged friend, a thank you to a mum who’s been there throughout your wedding planning or for a thoughtful piece of big-day jewellery, there are necklaces designed to connect with everyone. Each piece is created in sterling silver and comes in a luxurious gift box. We’ve got our eye on the engraved Love necklace for an extra personal touch! Find out more at www.abbottlyon.com NEWS Nearlywed All the latest from around the regions

Forever home

After moving into its forever home in December 2020, Rookery Bridal had to stall celebrations when restrictions meant it couldn’t open. “Since we reopened our doors in April, it has been crazy – in a great way!” says owner Sarah Hackett. “It’s been amazing being back doing what we love. We hadn’t had any brides in our brand new boutique in Axbridge, so that made things even more exciting.”

Since opening its new premises at The Hayloft, the business has been inundated with great feedback on its new location. “Finally meeting brides again and helping those whose weddings are coming up quickly has been a privilege,” Sarah tells us. “We even managed to get a gown in less than a week for one bride.”

The new boutique is packed with exquisite gowns and some exciting new collections. To find out more and to book an appointment, head to https://rookerybridal.co.uk

We caught up with Meghan of The Wedding Emporium and The Big South West Wedding Fair to find out all about the amazing wedding fairs they have lined up – and to get her tips on how to make the most of the events!

What are you looking forward to most about running your events again? Providing the couples of Bristol, Somerset and the surrounding areas with quality wedding fairs has been our job for more than seven years. We can’t wait to get back into the swing of things: rallying up the best suppliers and creating enough wedding inspo to last a lifetime! The buzz at our events is always amazing, and we can’t wait to begin chatting all things wedding again.

What can couples expect from your fairs? We’re so proud of the phenomenally talented wedding businesses we invite to our shows to meet you. We create a fun and relaxed atmosphere, so all you need to do is bring yourself (and your fiancé or bridal party, of course!) and enjoy browsing, chatting, smiling and finding your perfect big-day suppliers.

What are your top tips for wedding fairs? ♥ Come with an idea of what suppliers you’re looking for, whether that’s a cake maker, photographer or perhaps your dream venue. ♥ Get chatting to the suppliers – they’re there to help you. These businesses are experts in their field so let them guide you and offer advice to create your dream wedding. ♥ Come prepared with ideas, such as a Pinterest board or scrapbook.

This will help you choose the right suppliers for you, as well as keeping you focused while walking around a room with so many incredible ideas.

What 2021 dates shall we add to the diary? The Bridgwater Wedding Fair | 5th September | The CanalSide The Frome Wedding Fair | 12th September | The Cheese & Grain The Yeovil Wedding Fair | 3rd October | Fleet Air Arm Museum The Taunton Wedding Fair | 17th October | The Holiday Inn The Big South West Wedding Fair | 23rd and 24th October | The Bath & West Showground

For more details and to keep up to date with any new shows that are added visit www.the-wedding-emporium.com and www.thebigsouthwestweddingfair.co.uk

Much ado about weddings

After launching its highly successful virtual tours, The Orangery at Goldney House has announced that the tours will become a permanent fixture. This is great news for those who don’t live in Bristol, but would love to consider this beautifully historic place for their wedding. The venue has also nailed the micro-wedding, with a handful taking place there under COVID restrictions, so future couples wanting a more personal affair will be able to host a smaller celebration there.

Besides hosting weddings, the venue is now in the midst of organising a number of incredible public events, kicking off with a performance of Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing on 3rd September, 2021, presented by Illyria Theatre and Goldney Gardens. This is a wonderfully romantic date-night option, and the perfect way to check out the vibe of this Bristol gem as a potential venue. Visit www.bristol.ac.uk/venues/ weddings and make sure you hit follow on the venue’s social media.

A VENUE WITH A DIFFERENCE

Wookey Hole is one of the quirkiest venues in the country, and it’s found right here in Somerset. For those newly engaged couples looking for a venue with a difference – one that will be truly memorable for their friends and family – Wookey Hole has got to be on the mustvisit list. Wedding parties here go underground to find beautiful rock formations, clear pools and soft candlelight, as vows are exchanged in caves carved out by the River Axe over millions of years. What’s more, the venue is launching an incredible new range of wedding packages to help couples plan the day of their dreams.

The exciting packages will be available from June 2021, and there will also be a bespoke option. Each package will include a cave ceremony, reception and food and drink as standard, while some of the higher tier packages will include attractions and entertainment to make the day extra-special. The venue is also expanding its collection of in-house props, including a sweet stand, doughnut wall, decorations and a photo booth. Get all the details at www.wookey.co.uk