An Essex Wedding - Issue 109 March/April 2023

On the cover

This issue’s cover has been sponsored by St Osyth Priory (www.stosythpriory.co.uk/weddings) a stunning, historic wedding venue in Essex. It was captured by Day & Knight Photography (www.dayandknightphotography.co.uk) at the wedding of Cat and Andy.

FEATURES

49 PLANNING SOS!

Top tips for organising your big day

69 DRESSING THE BRIDAL PARTY

Ensure your wedding party looks the part and stop by one of these local suppliers for quality and style

80 SO SPA, SO GOOD

Gracie Leader enjoys a day of relaxation learning about Reiki

FASHION & BEAUTY

55 FASHION FOCUS

The latest bridal fashion news, buys and launches

56 FRILL SEEKERS

This season’s bridal dresses enjoy tiers of ruffled tulle, silky satin layers and subtle pleats

63 IN LOVE WITH LACE

This timeless fabric never goes out of fashion

66 HEAD OVER HEELS

Walk down the aisle in style this season with our hand-picked edit of the best bridal shoes and bags

74 BEAUTY BUZZ

Get the look with these must-haves for the bride-to-be

76 EAT YOUR WAY TO A STRESS-FREE WEDDING

Nutrition and Health Coach, Demelza Rayner, reveals seven simple steps to feeling relaxed and in control on your wedding day

78 FASHION AND BEAUTY Q&A

Our local professionals solve your problems

REAL WEDDINGS

31 AN ECO WEDDING

The sun shone for Olivia and Neel Raja, who kept all things sustainable and recyclable at their marquee wedding in Hazleigh

36 SOMETHING OLD, SOMETHING NEW

Maddie and Matt Wood tied the know in a vintage-themed day held at The Coach House at Markshall Estate

43 SIMPLY BEAUTIFUL

Chelsea and Mark tied the knot at The Warren Estate with elegant touches of blue throughout

HONEYMOONS

90 HONEYMOON NEWS

The newest openings and honeymoon destinations

94 SANTA NEEDS A SPA DAY!

The Runnymede on Thames set the scene for a much-needed pre-Christmas break

92 FLY AWAY WITH ME

We’ve rounded up some of our fav city escapes

96 A GRAND AFFAIR

Experience ultimate luxury combined with traditional Greek appeal at Rhodes-based Ixian Grand & All Suites

GROOMS

86 GROOMS’ NEWS

The latest best buys and product launches

87 SUITED AND BOOTED

Styling advice for the groom-to-be

88 IT’S ONLY NATURAL

With neutral colour palettes on the rise, we’ve rounded up some of our favourite products to ensure you look on-trend this season

ADVERTISING

Account Manager

Kirsty Brindley | 01376 538 490 kirsty.brindley@county.wedding

Nice to meet you!

Thisis my first issue of An Essex Wedding magazine and what a treat it has been! Living in Coggeshall, I never get over just how beautiful this part of the world is – and how many amazing venues we have surrounding us!

If 2023 is the year you get married, congratulations! Your big day is nearly here! If you still have your bridal party to get suited and booted, fear not, we have a great feature dedicated to dressing your nearest and dearest that’ll be by your sides on the day. We also have our planning SOS special, where our county’s industry experts reveal their top tips to ensure the smooth running of your day.

EDITORIAL

Editor Rachel Westall | 01376 535 611 rachel.westall@county.wedding

This issue’s real weddings were oh so special. From Matt and Maddie’s vintage style affair at The Coach House at Markshall Estate to Olivia and Neel’s eco, festival themed wedding at Hazeleigh – it looked so much fun!

I absolutely love reading about your days and am always on the lookout for newlyweds to feature. So, to submit your own nuptials to grace the pages of An Essex Wedding, get in touch via our website www.anessex.wedding/get-involved-real-wedding or just send me an email rachel.westall@county.wedding

Happy planning!

DESIGN 01376 535 616 artwork@county.wedding

ACCOUNTS 01376 535 616 accounts@county.wedding

MANAGING DIRECTOR

Sarah Ellis | 01376 535 602 sarah.ellis@county.wedding

Rachel Westall, Editor

@CountyWeddingMagazines

@CountyWeddings

@countyweddingmagazines

Visit us online at www.county.wedding and www.countyweddingevents.com

A four-night break in Tuscany

An Essex Wedding is solely owned, published and designed by KD Events & Publishing Ltd. Whilst every effort was made to ensure the information in this magazine was correct at the time of going to press, the publishers cannot accept legal responsibility for any errors or omissions, nor can they accept responsibility for advert content, or of the standing of advertisers or by the editorial contributions. The views expressed do not necessarily reflect those of the publisher. An Essex Wedding is published six times a year.

ISSN 1745-6541

I love the drama of this look!

Those smiles say it all. Congratulations, Olivia and Neel

Wedding planning tips from the dream team at Hedingham Castle

Honeymoon goals at Nobu Hotel, Marrakech

Boho vibes at Houchins

Indulge

IN A LUXURIOUS NIGHT AWAY

Our beautiful, iconic 400-year-old Hotel, sits beside the River Nene in the idyllic surroundings of the conservation village of Wansford, in Cambridgeshire. Throughout its history the Hotel has hosted an incredible array of famous and Royal guests including Mary Queen of Scots, Queen Victoria, Princess Diana and many others. Having completed an extensive restoration, the Hotel has once again regained its reputation as one of the region’s finest. It now cleverly displays all its historic glory with luxuriously appointed rooms featuring painstakingly restored medieval fireplaces combined with all of the modern technology and conveniences we all enjoy.

With two restaurants to choose from we know our ‘foodie’ guests will be fully satisfied! Fine dining can be enjoyed in our Michelin recognised, 3 rosette awarded ‘Prévost’ restaurant. This showcases a contemporary Tasting Menu by our Executive Head Chef, Lee Clarke and Head Chef Sam Nash, all paired with the eclectic wine choices from our Sommelier.

Relax and unwind in our Courtyard Bar and Lounge, smile at its unique playful décor, enjoy the music and the warm friendly atmosphere. Even outdoors, if the weather suits, in the historic courtyard setting warmed by our open firepit.

LET THE PLANNING COMMENCE

County Wedding Events is delighted to announce it’s hosting another fabulous wedding show at Braxted Park, Witham, on Sunday 14th May between 11am and 3pm.

A magnificent country house surrounded by a 500-acre wooded estate, Braxted Park is one of the most beautiful exclusive use wedding venues in Essex. It offers a choice of exquisite locations for both indoor and outdoor ceremonies, and boasts luxury accommodation for newlyweds and their guests. Visit this amazing event to view the incredible grounds of Braxted Park and meet a huge variety of wedding suppliers such as florists, photographers, musicians and more!

Visit www.braxtedparkweddings.co.uk and pre-register for the event online at: www.countyweddingevents.com

Nearlywed

NEWS

All the latest from around the county

SAY CHEESE!

Browning Bros. has introduced its brand-new selfie pod for weddings and events! As an additional hire, this top-of-the-range, British-made selfie pod can take GIFs, photos, Boomerangs and burst GIFs. Once set up, simply gather your friends, family or significant other, and enjoy making memories that will last a lifetime!⁠ The images can then be sent directly to each user via text or email and the client will receive full digital gallery following the event.

Born out of a vision between two brothers to break away from the ordinary, Browning Bros. is passionate about delivering original experiences, providing luxury glamping accommodation, alternative wild weddings, secret escapes, corporate events and much more.

For further information visit: www.browningbros.co.uk

NEW BRIDAL BOUTIQUE

Rivers Bridal, located on Billericay high street has officially opened its doors! Owner, Ria Carroll says, “I’ve always dreamt of expanding into bridal as our main focus has been prom. I’m passionate about proms but weddings are just so much more magical and to be a part of someone’s bridal journey is something very special. I want to make everyone’s dress shopping experience something to remember as I believe your wedding isn’t just about the day but the months and years leading up to it and the dress buying is a huge part of that journey.”

Rivers Bridal stocks designers: Evie Young, Rachel Allan, Madison James, Phoenix and Danielle Couture.

For further information, visit https://riversbridal.com

TIME TO CELEBRATE

Love is in the air as celebrant Steve Swain has been swept off his feet since starting his business just over a year ago. Steve started his celebrant business during Covid and just over a year ago conducted his first service. Since then, the phone hasn’t stopped ringing and he’s now preparing for his 200th ceremony.

Steve became a celebrant after people told him he was good at public speaking, especially when it came to toasts or talking about other people. He said: “Being a celebrant is a fantastic job, as I get to work with amazing people that need support with a wedding, funeral, naming ceremony or vow renewal. I studied with The Regency Academy for my Celebrant Diploma, at the end of which l was thrilled to have achieved a distinction. I also obtained a City & Guilds accredited programme certificate as a civil celebrant.

“Since I started, I’ve had some incredible feedback from clients who have talked about how professional and supportive I’ve been – and how I helped to make their day perfect. That means a lot and is very satisfying.”

For more information visit the website www.steveswain.co.uk or email hello@steveswain.co.uk

TWO AWARD-WINNING ESSEX BUSINESSES

Awards voted for by wedding couples mean so much more to wedding suppliers, offering a true reflection of their services. An Essex Wedding spoke to two recent award winners in each of their categories!

CATEGORY: WEDDING STATIONERY

Nicole Bright, The Little Paper Parcel

How do you feel to have won an award?

I feel extremely pleased and proud to have won the Hitched Wedding Awards for the second year in a row. As a small business gaining recognition for your work and knowing customers positive experiences and reviews have contributed to the win is an incredible feeling.

What have you got planned for the year ahead?

After being on maternity leave for the majority of 2022, I’m looking forward to getting back to working with amazing couples to help them create their dream wedding stationery. I plan on launching some new and exciting invitation formats, thank you card designs and working with more fantastic couples on bespoke designs throughout 2023.

A NIGHT IN THE VINES

Toppesfield Vineyard is an ideal location for a romantic get-away. This stunning Scandi-style luxury villa has giant picture windows which look out over the awardwinning vineyard. The contemporary design includes a nickel bar (like at The Ivy) for drinks and dinner as well as a roll top nickel bath, ideal for sipping champagne by candlelight. There’s a beautiful private garden with a BBQ, day bed and loungers as well as a jacuzzi which looks out over the vineyard. This romantic, luxury location is proving very popular for proposal weekends and minimoons/honeymoons. The price for one couple is £240 per night with a minimum of two nights stay. Availability can be checked via the Airbnb calendar on Toppesfield Vineyard’s website: www.toppesfieldvineyard.co.uk/luxury-accommodation

CATEGORY: WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Maryann, The Menagerie - Lifestyle Photography

How do you feel to have won a Hitched Wedding Award?

The award reinforces all the hard work I put in for the couples I photograph, so to receive some recognition that’s based on reviews from them on one of their most important days of their lives - that’s really something special and deserves a thank you to all the gorgeous couples I photograph.

What have you got planned for the year ahead?

The next year will bring a lot of changes with it, a change of location for me personally. I’m adding highlights videos to some of my packages, and I have a new assistant photographer starting to work alongside me soon. This year is already shaping up to be the busiest yet, but also the most diverse. I have weddings booked everywhere from a donkey sanctuary to a private beach. It’s certainly going to be unusual, and so much fun!

GOODNESS FROM THE INSIDE OUT

The key to feeling and looking your best on your wedding day is to combine healthy eating habits with good sleep hygiene and stress reduction techniques, but it’s often hard to know where to start. Despite our best efforts of trying to eat the ‘right’ foods, we can inadvertently miss out on many key vitamins and minerals that can have a positive impact on mood and energy. That’s why Demelza Rayner Nutrition is offering three lucky brides the chance to win a seven-day food diary analysis service, worth a total of £180 (£60 each). The winners will be sent a link to an app, where you can log your meals for seven days. Once Demelza has viewed the data, she’ll draw up a comprehensive report using the latest nutritional software that outlines whether you’re getting enough of the three major macronutrients – carbs, protein and fat – as well as a thorough rundown of vitamins and minerals. She will then arrange a mutually convenient time for a 30-minute phone call (or zoom) to run through the results to discuss any deficiencies that may come to light and provide personalised support in these areas.

Even if you think you’re eating healthily, dietary analysis can be incredibly illuminating. Find out more about Demelza Rayner Nutrition’s one-to-one personalised nutrition programmes, or request the regular newsletter featuring exclusive tips and recipes, by visiting www.demelzaraynernutrition.co.uk

To enter, simply tick the box marked ‘Nutrition’ on the giveaway form that you can find here: www.anessex.wedding/giveaways

PART OF THE FAMILY

Woofs & Weddings offer doggy wedding chaperone services! Rebecca or one of her team will be your pet’s ‘plus one’ for the day, ready to help care for your dog throughout your wedding celebrations. Making dreams of having your best pal by your side on the day a reality.

All packages include; a meet and greet beforehand, secure transport for your dog on the day, walks, one-to-one care throughout their time at your venue, assistance with photos and posing, support in planning the day for your dog, assistance with your dog walking down the aisle and sitting nicely during the ceremony, and lots more! All can be tailored to what you need and range from eight to 24-hour care.

Also, the company offers one to one training sessions to work on specific roles/ training you’d like your dog to have for the wedding. For example, how to walk down the aisle nicely and how to settle during the ceremony.

Freebies & OFFERS

Woofs & Weddings are offering An Essex Wedding magazine readers 10 per cent off any booking made before May 1st. Just mention An Essex Wedding when booking.

To book, please email: woofsandweddings@outlook.com or visit the website: www.woofsandweddings.co.uk

Great giveaways and discounts up for grabs

WIN A PAIR OF STEVE MADDEN BRIDAL SHOES

The hunt for the perfect bridal shoe ends here with the chance to win the ultimate pair for your special day from Steve Madden. The shimmering Bridal Collection is not only amazing for brides but bridesmaids too, ensuring a picture-perfect look on the big day. For everyone who loves to shine you can choose from rose gold, silver, nude and white with finishes that include satin, rhinestone, leather and clear materials. If the shoe fits… be your own Cinderella! Check out www.stevemadden.co.uk.

County Wedding Magazine readers have the chance to win a pair of bridal shoes to the value of £150 from www.stevemadden.co.uk

For your chance to win enter online via our website www.anessex.wedding

WEDDING SHOWS SPRING 2023

ALL EVENTS 11AM - 3PM

unless otherwise stated

At County Wedding Events each show is professionally and meticulously run to ensure a variety of suppliers are on hand to help you plan your big day and are hosted by some of the loveliest premier venues in your area.

All our shows offer you free entry and parking, a goody bag each containing gifts, and useful local information to plan your wedding. You will also have the opportunity to enter prize draw competitions and take advantage of exclusive offers and discounts on the day.

ESSEX

12PM-4PM

SAT 1 APR

HOUCHINS

WEDDING VENUE

Houchin’s Lane, Coggeshall, Colchester, CO6 1RT

SUN 14 MAY

BRAXTED PARK

Great Braxted, Witham, CM8 3EN

BERKS, BUCKS & OXON

SUN 2 APR

THE COMPLEAT ANGLER

Bisham Road, Marlow Bridge, Marlow, SL7 1RG

EAST ANGLIA

SUN 26 MAR

HAYCOCK MANOR

Wansford, Peterborough, PE8 6JA

LONDON

SUN 14 MAY

MORDEN HALL

Morden Hall Road, SM4 5JD

SUSSEX

12PM-4PM

SUN 16 APR

SELDEN BARNS

Selden Lane, Patching, Worthing, BN13 3UL

WEDDING SHOWS AUTUMN 2023

ALL EVENTS 11AM - 3PM unless otherwise stated

BERKS, BUCKS & OXON

SUN 10 SEP CHENIES MANOR HOUSE Chenies, Rickmansworth Bucks, WD3 6ER

ESSEX

SUN 10 SEP

MARKSHALL ESTATE Coggeshall, CO6 1TG

SUN 24 SEP

RACKLEY’S CHILTERN HILLS

Marlow Road, Cadmore End, Bucks, HP14 3PP

EAST ANGLIA

SUN 3 SEP

HAYCOCK MANOR

Wansford, Peterborough, PE8 6JA

EAST MIDLANDS

SUN 15 OCT

RUSHTON HALL

Desborough Road, Rushton, Kettering, NN14 1RR

SURREY

SUN 1 OCT

NUTFIELD PRIORY

Nutfield Road, Nutfield, Redbridge, RH1 4EL

12PM-4PM

SUN 22 OCT

BRAXTED PARK

Great Braxted, Witham, CM8 3EN

SUN 29 OCT

HOUCHINS

WEDDING VENUE

Houchin’s Lane, Coggeshall, Colchester, CO6 1RT

KENT

SUN 12 NOV

PENSHURST PLACE

Penshurst, TN11 8DG

WORK WITH US

As part of KD Events and Publishing Ltd, County Wedding Events (CWE) is ideally placed to offer you a wealth of experience organising events in the wedding industry. If you would like more information about either holding a wedding show at your venue or exhibiting at any of our shows, please contact us at info@countyweddingevents.com, call 01376 514000 or visit countyweddingevents.com.

Signature

WEDDING SHOWS

• Free entry • First 100 couples receive a free wedding journal keepsake

• Goody bag for each couple • Up to 200 stands • Bridal fashion shows

• Huge number of wedding specialists including venues

• Competitions

• Entertainment

MERCEDES-BENZ WORLD

Brooklands Drive, Weybridge, KT13 0SL

SUNDAY 16 APRIL 2023 | 11AM - 3.30PM

ASCOT RACECOURSE

High Street, Berkshire, SL5 7JX

SUNDAY 1 OCTOBER 2023 | 11AM - 3.30PM

WEMBLEY STADIUM

London, HA9 0WS

SUNDAY 8 OCTOBER 2023 | 11AM - 4PM

Pre-register and attend the show to have a chance to win a fabulous spa break worth £250 courtesy of

• Demonstration areas

• Refreshments

• And more...

Pre-register at www.countyweddingevents.com/registration

Here at County Wedding Magazines and Events HQ we’re looking forward to kickstarting our Spring 2023 wedding show season – perfect for all those couples that got engaged over the festive period.

From must-visit local fairs in some of the region’s best wedding venues to our larger Signature Wedding Shows, we can’t wait to welcome nearlyweds to our events and help plan their wedding day.

Each event will boast a huge range of specialists who will be on hand to talk through your planning ideas and requirements; venues, bridal boutiques, photographers, florists, cake makers and more, there’s everything you could need to plan your wedding under one roof.

On the day refreshments will be available to purchase from each of the venue’s on-site restaurants, bars and cafés.

Couples will need to pre-register in advance for an allocated arrival time, although on the day visitors are always welcome, and attending our shows are free!

For more information, visit County Wedding Events’ website.

We look forward to seeing you at one of our events.

X Sarah

Sarah Ellis, Managing Director County Wedding Events

A date for your diary...

Psst! Our pre-registered Signature Wedding Show visitors will have the chance to win a £250 gift voucher courtesy of Spabreaks.com

Houchins is an intimate and romantic wedding venue with the choice of accommodation. Exclusively yours for the day, Houchins is set in beautiful grounds just outside Coggeshall, easily accessible to Essex, Hertfordshire and London. Call our award-winning team to arrange a viewing or chat through your plans on how we can make your perfect wedding day.

Photos courtesy of Big Fish Photography, Dominika Meichowska, Emma Gosling, Farlie Photography, Julia & You Photography, Kristian Lissimore Photography & Pure Image Photography.

Glorious gardens

Venues with outside spaces that have the wow factor!

BRAXTED PARK 01621 770855 | https://braxtedparkweddings.co.uk

At the heart of a vast walled estate, you’ll find Braxted Park’s magnificent country house and its stunning gardens. The intimate gardens that connect Braxted House to the grand Wedding Pavilion provide an idyllic setting for any wedding vision. Within the historic Walled Garden guests can enjoy a series of themed ‘rooms’ that include a romantic English Garden, a Knott Garden and an Italian Garden. The year-round interest each provides creates beautiful and varied backdrops for wedding photographs.

Celebrate in style

Combing elegance and romance throughout its interior, you’ll be spoilt for choice when it comes to saying, ‘I do’. The Orangery exudes romance, with Roman-inspired murals and arched windows that look out over the

grounds. Alternatively, during the warmer months, tie the knot outdoors at the heart of the Walled Garden as your guests soak up the sun. Braxted Park even has its own church, so you could have a religious ceremony just a few minutes away from the house should you wish to. Each option is capable of seating up to 170 guests.

When it comes to receptions, The Pavilion is perfectly equipped for parties both large and small. This versatile space offers plenty of room for up to 350 guests and comes with neutral décor so you can truly make it your own. The in-house catering team are on hand to create some spectacular menus for your special day, while come evening, a state-ofthe-art sound and lighting system and huge dancefloor ensures you can enjoy yourselves long into the night.

We love... The Garden Cottage really stands out and offers couples the perfect place to retire to after a day of celebrating, while loved ones can enjoy a relaxing night’s stay just a few steps from The Pavilion, too.

THE LAWN CONFERENCE & BANQUETING CENTRE

01702 203 669 | www.thelawn.co.uk

The Lawn is nestled within three acres of perfectly striped lawns, wonderful seasonally planted flower beds, blossom trees and a stunning rose garden which, with its miniature privet hedges, makes the most perfect backdrop for an outdoor wedding in the stunning gazebo. This all sits within The Lawn Estate with its 120 acres of rolling parkland and ancient woods. The beautiful Georgian Manor House with 100ft of covered, colonnaded Terrace has an outside bar during the summer.

Celebrate in style

Ceremony capacity in the Grand Hall is up to 100 guests seated (more

with additional guests standing) or up to 130 for outside weddings in the wedding gazebo.

Everything effectively revolves around the Grand Hall which acts as the hub with the bar, dancefloor, Blue Drawing Room and Orangery (dining room) all spoking from it, creating the most fabulous entertaining and party space. The capacity for the Grand Hall and its linked rooms is 150 and for the Orangery, 130 seated.

We love...

The newlywed’s room leads to a full-length balcony which, combined with the classic Georgian architecture, forms a perfect space for wedding photography. https://jasminejadephotography.co.uk

HATFIELD PLACE

01245 381 523 | www.hatfieldplace.co.uk

Hatfield Place is a historic Georgian country house sitting within its own grounds of approximately 15 acres. The house can be reached by a treelined driveway that leads to a large, gravelled sweep to the front.

The house offers a true country house feel, with a welcoming reception hall, beautiful Ballroom leading out to the terrace and an elegant Drawing Room. In addition to the house, there’s a beautiful Orangery within the Walled Garden which has been carefully landscaped to create the perfect balance of the English country garden but with a modern-day twist. Some 14 luxurious bedroom suites are also available with each room being individually styled and furnished to a very high standard.

Celebrate in style

Ceremonies can take place in the Ballroom with subtle grey tones and rich

silk draping offers a stylish and modern feel. This stunning room overlooks the grounds and seats 60 guests.

The Terrace overlooking the grounds is a beautiful location for an outdoor wedding. This location seats 150 guests.

The Walled Garden Gazebo, is also such a pretty setting for an outdoor wedding. Located within the garden itself and surround by the picturesque views of the garden. Finally, the Ceremony Hall, is a beautiful oak beamed hall and seats up to 150 guests.

For your reception, the Ballroom can seat up to 60 guests. In addition to this exquisite house, there’s the beautiful Orangery and Walled Garden. The Orangery can seat from 60 up to 200 guests and provides a contemporary light filled space overlooking the picturesque view of the Walled Garden.

We love...

The magnificent oval staircase which is complemented by the intricate hand painted murals is simply stunning and great for pictures.

Set in three acres of beautifully manicured gardens, The Lawn is a truly enchanting, award-winning Manor House wedding venue with a stunning Orangery, galleried Grand Hall and delightful gazebo. Perfect for any size wedding, for any season.

The Lawn Wedding Fair

Sunday 26th March 2023, 11am - 3pm. Free entry and ample free parking. Refreshments available to purchase on the day. Register now! www.mainweddingsandevents.co.uk

To find out why we remain one of the most sought a er and best reviewed venues in Essex, contact us to arrange a viewing or visit www.thelawn.co.uk and let us put together a tailored online quotation based on your precise requirements.

Hall Road, Rochford, Essex SS4 1PL 01702 203669 | www.thelawn.co.uk

A luxurious mansion, beautifully manicured grounds with deer roaming the landscape – offering the perfect balance of exquisite elegance and grandeur, with a relaxed and welcoming feel - our versatile reception rooms overlooking our gardens, offer endless scope and flexibility whatever your dream day demands. At the end of the celebrations your guest can retire to the luxurious en-suite guest rooms and as newly weds you will be chauffeur driven down to our lavish thatched honeymoon cottage.

Parklands, Quendon Hall Quendon Essex CB11 3XN

01799 543800

enquiries@quendonhall.co.uk

www.quendonhall.co.uk

HOUCHINS WEDDING VENUE

01376

561 448 | www.houchins.co.uk

The formally landscaped wedding garden has been cleverly planted to show interest all year. So, no matter what time of year a wedding takes place there’s always some formal structure and colour in the garden. Beyond the garden is the woodland area for woodland weddings fronted by the recently renovated pond and fountain providing an elegant arrival.

The Main Barn known as the Grain Store incorporates a large, open fireplace and mezzanine gallery to make full use of the 35-foot-high ceilings. The Grain Store is centrally located between the bar and dance barn helping your evening flow.

Celebrate in style

The marquee is available from April to October and is set in the wedding garden and seats up to 150 guests.

Adjoining the Grain Store, the Foundry is a perfect space for out of

season weddings with a central fireplace and overlooking the formal wedding garden.

Set beyond the formal wedding garden is the woodland area which has a meandering pathway mown through it to a ceremony area with seating for up to 150 guests.

Finally, set within the house is the oak panelled drawing room for smaller more intimate weddings for up to 25 guests.

Receptions take place on the west facing terrace overlooking the wedding garden with capacity for up to 150 guests. Out of season receptions take place inside the Chitting Shed around the bar area for up to 150 guests.

We love... The reception drinks area incorporates the bar and enormous west facing terrace overlooking the wedding gardens. Enjoy garden games and mingling with your guests before celebrating the wedding breakfast.

DOWN HALL HOTEL, ESTATE & SPA

01279 731 441 | www.downhall.co.uk

Established as one of England’s most established country house hotels, Down Hall is situated within 110 acres of picturesque woods, parks, and landscaped gardens, complete with a stunning wedding gazebo that’s perfect for outdoor ceremonies. The fountain also makes for the most beautiful backdrop to your wedding photos. A long driveway through the beautiful grounds leads to the stunning Italianate mansion – with ornate stone masonry and detailed architecture – a stunning backdrop to any wedding with a truly historic setting. Dating back to as far as 1021, this grandiose stately home radiates a gorgeous country mansion charm –perfect for the big day.

Celebrate in style

The Oxford / Belcamp suites can welcome 160 people. It’s an exclusiveuse space specially designed for weddings and boasts a lovely ornate fireplace with a contemporary twist. Secondly, the gazebo can host 200 guests where you’ll be surrounded by beautiful, landscaped gardens.

For your reception, as well as the aforementioned Oxford / Belcamp suites, there’s also the Bridgeman suite catering for 180. This suite, with its iconic chandeliers, is the largest space. The room is decorated in a contemporary style, with an abundance of natural daylight and views across the landscaped gardens.

We love...

New to Down Hall is the Glasscock Suite which is an ideal space for any groom to relax with his groomsmen. Equipped with a 65-inch smart screen, PlayStation 4 and a pool table, there are plenty of activities designed to relax and entertain your party.

'A Venue for all seasons'

Beautiful Grounds LargeSpaceParty 17th Century Manor House

Make it your own...

Greenwoods Hotel and Spa don't believe packages, we believe in our couples building their own bespoke days that reflect their unique personalities. With no minimum numbers we are able to accommodate days suited to a range of budgets.

Weddings and Garden Gazebo

Greenwoods Hotel and Spa has a stunning garden gazebo which is fully licensed for an outdoor ceremony in the warmer months. Hold your dream ceremony followed by a lavish reception for up to 200 guests in our state of the art Garden Suite. For more intimate weddings we have our 17th Century Manor House which is sure to impress your guests!

GOING Local

Wed in and around Romford, Brentwood & Billericay

MULBERRY HOUSE

01277 365 398 | https://mulberry-house.com

What to expect

This stunning Georgian country house offers a wealth of beautiful space to accommodate your dream wedding. On the first floor of the house is the exquisite, newly-renovated honeymoon suite which is available for you to enjoy on the night of your wedding.

The beautiful grounds stretch to 22 acres and include the Mulberry tree from which the house gets its present name. There’s a Wellingtonia Fir planted to commemorate the Battle of Waterloo as well as many other mature trees including Lime, Ash, Elm, Yew and Chestnut. Within the grounds, there are many photo opportunities for couples, which includes a wishing well, Chippendale bridge and long grass meadows. The back paddock is home to the venue’s herd of alpacas, who all enjoy being involved on the day.

Time to celebrate

The Lakeview Gazebo provides a truly picturesque setting for a dreamy outdoor wedding, available between April to September on days when the weather is fine. If the British weather decides not to play along, Mulberry House offers complete flexibility and can arrange for your celebrations to be moved inside under the vaulted ceiling of the Cedar

Suite. Both spaces seat 130 guests.

For your reception, the air-conditioned Mulberry Suite boasts a stunning vaulted ceiling and statement chandelier. Seating up to 120 for your wedding breakfast, it’s perfect for a contemporary whilst traditional wedding breakfast and evening reception. Located on the ground floor of the main house, it also has its own private bar and cloakroom.

The décor has been kept neutral, with wooden floors and exposed oak beams ready to be dressed as you wish!

Hidden behind the beautiful Georgian house lies the newly refurbished all season’s marquee, seating up to 130 guests for a sit-down meal or 200 informally for an evening reception. It also has its own built-in bar and private decking area with lower outside terrace for use on warmer days or simply for some fresh air. The ivory draped, starlit ceiling with crystal chandeliers creates a magical feel for those special night-time occasions. The Marquee can be accessed via the main house, making it ideal for winter weddings, or from our woodland gardens during those sunny summer days.

We love...

On the first floor are the changing suites for the wedding parties for the morning of your wedding. Bridal changing facilities are available from 8am and a new ‘Lads Lounge’ is available for the guys to get suited up from midday.

ORSETT HALL HOTEL, RESTAURANT & SPA

01375 891 402 | www.orsetthall.co.uk

What to expect

Orsett Hall’s Main Building is beautifully designed and rebuilt to replicate the original building which was built initially around 1750 and then rebuilt in the early 20th century, but unfortunately burned down in a fire in 2008.

The hotel features individually designed and stylishly decorated guest bedrooms, superb dining in the Garden Brasserie, elegant function rooms, a gorgeous chapel and boutique spa.

Time to celebrate

Orsett Hall has an on-site chapel, licensed to conduct religious and nonreligious wedding ceremonies, as well as civil partnerships. Its stunning interior resembles something out of a fairytale and must be seen in person to be fully appreciated. Designed in soothing pastel tones and framed by elegant white beams covered in white flowers, the chapel offers traditional seating and a large balcony where additional guests can be seated and music can be played.

The gazebo offers couples the opportunity to get married outdoors within the gardens of Orsett Hall. Perfect for weddings in the summer months, it offers couples an intimate setting al fresco. All function rooms are also licensed for wedding ceremonies.

The Gold Room with its exquisite chandeliers, period fireplace and large window areas, is a bright and welcoming setting for a wedding. It can cater for up to 100 guests seated, and up to 200 for an evening reception.

Whitmore is decorated in warm rich tones and can comfortably accommodate up to 140 seated guests, or 250 for a standing reception. It includes a large bar and is the perfect venue for a special occasion. The Grahame Thomas Pavilion is the largest suite; it contains its own private bar and can seat up to 520 people for a banquet or wedding. The Pavilion is fully air-conditioned and even boasts its own koi carp pond and bridge, where outside seating is also provided.

We love...

The twinkling chandelier catches everyone’s eye as it stretches from the lower ground level of the hotel corridor to the second floor.

https://shiannemercerphotography.com

LANGTONS HOUSE

01708 433 155 | www.langtons-house.co.uk

What to expect

Langtons House is a beautiful Georgian Grade II listed building with many traditional features including damask wallpapers, wood panelling and jaw dropping crystal chandeliers.

Time to celebrate

Ceremonies can take place in the East Room, West Room, Orangery or Langtons Grand Hall. Receptions take place onsite in Langtons Grand

Hall. The walls are finished with wood-panelling and William Morris style wallpaper. The finishing touches are the smart dark green curtains and green and gold banqueting chairs. The Hall overlooks the lake and gardens. It welcomes a maximum of 70 seated and 100 standing. There’s a fully equipped kitchen for caterers, a built-in bar and a servery area for all reception needs.

We love...

The landscaped gardens include a swan lake, ornamental bridge, orangery, greenhouse and bath house making a perfect backdrop for those breathtaking wedding photographs.

THE MAGIC MUSHROOM RESTAURANT

01268 289 963 | www.magicmushroomrestaurant.co.uk

What to expect

The Magic Mushroom Restaurant is set on Barleylands Road on the edge of Barleylands in Billericay. The front of the restaurant has pretty floral borders.

The wedding function rooms have been designed with a contemporary and modern look with charming wooden beams providing a bright and airy space perfect for your special day. The décor is neutral to allow you to decorate with your own colour theme. The Private Dining Room has its own entrance with a modern, mirrored bar.

Time to celebrate

There are two choices for your ceremony and reception: the Private Dining Room, a modern, bright, and charming room; or the Back Restaurant. By hiring the Back Restaurant, you also have the Private Dining Room which has its own entrance, bar and toilets. The two rooms are joined by bi-folding doors. The Back Restaurant is a beamed, bright and airy room with one side being glass windows to allow in lots of light and can accommodate between 36 to 100 guests for your reception.

We love...

This fine dining restaurant with its team of highly talented chefs can put together a bespoke, exquisite menu for your wedding breakfast and reception using only the best fresh ingredients.

GREENWOODS HOTEL & SPA

01277 829 990 | www.greenwoodshotel.com

What to expect

Situated in the rural village of Stock in Essex, the 17th century manor house is set in over 10 acres of landscaped gardens. Renovated and totally refurbished within the last 10 years, the façade and stunning dome-style entrance, together with a sweeping stone staircase has real wow factor.

Time to celebrate

The Manor House is steeped in history and real care has been taken to ensure original features of the Library and Boardroom suites including original fireplaces, decorative wood panelling and impressive chandeliers. These rooms hold up to 20 guests for a ceremony and

wedding breakfast.

Proud to offer a truly bespoke experience, the venue’s talented chefs offer a variety of wedding breakfast and evening celebration menus and can cater for all dietary needs.

The Garden Suite is the result of a million-dollar renovation and refurbishment programme of the venue and this contemporary space with its floor to ceiling windows, incorporating the original brick of the garden wall, the high spec facilities include presentation screens, partitions to suit all party sizes and a fabulous bar! It has the capacity to host up to 200 guests.

We love...

There’s an individual suite at the top of the venue, a real luxurious hideaway with sofa, king-sized bed and free-standing bath.

TCP ECO also provides a range of clean, green, off-grid power packs, as used by Olivia and Neel at their wedding.

For further information please visit www.tcp-eco.co.uk or contact ndaines@tcp-group.co.uk to discuss your requirements.

Headquartered in the historic town of Maldon in Essex for over 30 years, TCP ECO is well recognised for manufacturing the world’s first low-energy LED, hydrogen fuel cell powered lighting towers.

The portable lighting towers boast ZERO emission and ZERO noise pollution when in use, so they are a perfect temporary lighting solution for weddings and events.

YOUR COMPLETE WEDDING ENTERTAINMENT

Amp & Decks have been entertaining since 2002 and are now one of the most trusted entertainment providers. We offer professional wedding entertainment services specialising in wedding DJs. We pride ourselves to deliver a party you and your guests will remember for all the right reasons for years to come.

TCP Group // Quayside Industrial Park, Bates Road Maldon, Essex. CM9 5FA // www.tcp-eco.co.uk //

An eco wedding

The sun shone for Olivia and Neel Raja, who kept all things sustainable and recyclable at their marquee wedding in Hazeleigh Images courtesy of Harriet Hall Photography

Olivia and Neel met at university in London, through mutual friends as well as both playing sports for the medical school. Olivia reveals, “After one particular ‘sportsnite’, we shared a McDonalds on the way home and ever since then we’ve been inseparable, sharing everything we do. What first attracted me to Neel was his very social personality and easy ability to make me laugh…he’s also very handsome which may have helped!” Neel adds, “It was looks that first attracted me to Olivia, but getting to know her, her sense of humour and how kind she is, were what made me want to marry her.”

Neel proposed on the couple’s fifth dating anniversary, it was a complete surprise. Olivia explains, “We were working hard during Covid (myself in A&E and Neel in ITU) so decided to take a week off in late November to explore some of the local hikes in our area. During our hikes Neel had been using his camera to take photos and videos, telling me that he was going to make a video at the end of the week. Little did I know, he was just practising each time to be able to record the proposal without me noticing! On the day of the proposal, I was cooked breakfast in bed and Neel then went off to pick me up a large bouquet of flowers from the local florist – the first flowers he’d ever got me, (I’d previously told him I wouldn’t marry him unless he’d bought me flowers!). On his walk to get them, Neel rang my dad to get the ‘okay’ to propose that day – no issue.

“Me none the wiser, Neel set up the camera to take a selfie at the highest point overlooking the wonderful countryside, like we’d done on previous hikes, only when I turned round to smile for the camera, he’d dropped down on one knee to ask if I would marry him – obviously I said yes! He’d picked out a beautiful ring from a local jeweller which was the icing on the cake.”

On 20th August 2022, the couple said their wows at All Saint’s Church, Purleigh followed by a reception at a private field they hired in Hazeleigh. Here, the newlywed’s share some of their favourite moments from the day...

The local church is the parish church where my parents live and has wonderful views over Maldon.

I wore my mother’s wedding dress but redesigned by Noble and Wright Arteliers. This meant a lot to me as I could redesign the dress to exactly how I wanted. Plus, my mum’s wedding dress was made from material picked out by her and her friend and then sewn together by my nan, so it was lovely to see my nan’s reaction when I walked down the aisle.

We had an organist on the day and the church bells rang !

The church is next door to our favourite pub, the Purleigh Bell – where the groomsmen got ready, our guests gathered before the service and we had our first drink as a married couple.

Sunflowers were a big part of the wedding because it was a nod my grandfather’s favourite flower, who unfortunately passed away during covid two years before the wedding but was a big part of my life and really approved of Neel as my boyfriend.

All the flowers for the bouquets and buttonholes were grown on my mum’s Purleigh allotment with the help of her allotment friends too.

The centrepieces were dried flowers recycled from a friend’s wedding earlier that year – making sure to have a bit of orange or yellow in each centrepiece.

We started the reception with local Maldon oysters – shucked by the groom and groomsmen who had learnt how to do it on the stag do! We paired the oysters with local sparkling wine from New Hall vineyards.

We had a very informal hog and lamb roast and allowed the guests to sit where they wanted.

The favours were limoncello in small glass bottles (they reminded me of Alice in Wonderland, and all were recycled after the day!).

Each birthday I always request a caterpillar cake, so we decided to have Mr and Mrs caterpillar cakes for our wedding, and also cupcakes so everyone would be able to have some.

To tie in Neel’s Indian heritage, as well as our love of Indian food, we also had Indian savoury snacks from Sambal Express, Barkingside.

My mum is very creative and reused our old bed sheets and old fabric to make bunting to decorate the marquee. The bunting is now termed ‘the family bunting’ and is used for other special occasions.

All the energy for the reception was powered using emission free energy, thanks to TCP Eco. Friends and family were pleased with the idea of an eco-friendly wedding and using the hydrogen power really set it apart!

For our guests to stay overnight, we used Victoria Lily Events who set up cute bell tents.

The entertainment was provided by Neel (on bass and vocals), his oldest friend Dan (guitar) and Neel’s dad Nim (on drums) – they formed ‘Neel’s Wedding Band’ for the evening and did a set for everyone to enjoy before we all hit the dancefloor.

For the reception I wore a secondhand wedding dress - I didn’t want to get too much mess on my Church wedding dress as I’m keen to have it remade if I ever have a daughter who gets married!

I’ve always wanted to ride in a campervan and my mum saw the ‘Little Yellow Bus’ at another wedding. Luckily, they were free on our date!

For the first dance we’d chosen Maroon 5s Sunday Morning. Unfortunately the PA system had a bit of a mishap and it meant we couldn’t hear any vocals. Jacob – Olivia’s best friend, is an amazing singer – and after some persuasion, he kindly stepped in. Everyone was soon on the dancefloor singing at the top of their lungs.

OLIVIA’S TOP TIP!

“Avoid being on your phone during the day – everyone who you want to share your wedding with will be there and if not, there will be plenty of people and an official photographer who will document the day for you.”

OLIVIA AND NEEL’S CONTACTS

Photographer, www.harriethall.co.uk | Ceremony venue, www.achurchnearyou.com/church/6544

Marquee, www.chelmermarquees.co.uk | Bell tents, https://victorialilyevents.co.uk | Dress alterations, www.nobleandwright.co.uk

Suits, www.suityourself.co.uk | Make-up, www.facebook.com/taylor.k.mua | Hog roast, www.facebook.com/agsmithbutchers

Indian food, https://sambalexpress.co.uk | Catering – oysters, www.maldonoyster.com | Cupcakes, Boos.bespokecakes | Catering chillers, www.chillersrentals.co.uk | Glassware hire, www.popfizzclink.uk | Flowers, www.fairwindsflowers.co.uk | Rings, www.lanesjewellers.com

Campervan, https://littleyellowbus.co.uk | Local beers, www.mightyoakbrewing.co.uk | Local wines, www.newhallwines.com Toilet hire facilities, www.luxurytoiletsforhire.co.uk | Emission Free Lighting & Power, www.tcp-eco.co.uk

SOMETHING OLD,

something new

Maddie and Matt Wood tied the knot in a vintagethemed day held at The Coach House at Markshall Estate Images courtesy of Le Beau Photography

Maddie

and Matt met online through a dating app in 2017. It took six weeks for the pair to meet in person but the connection was instant, as if they’d known each other for years. As things progressed, they bought their first house together and got engaged in 2021 in Scotland. Maddie remembers, “It was our first holiday since the pandemic started in 2020 and we were so excited to get away, even though it was only for a few days. On the day of the proposal, we went for a hike up to the top of a viewing point above Loch Lomond. It was a beautiful summers day and we were in a quiet space, just the two of us. Magical.”

On 22nd October 2022, Madeleine married Matthew Wood at The Coach House at Markshall in an autumnal, vintage-inspired affair. Here, Maddie tells us more about their day...

SETTING THE SCENE

“When we started thinking about wedding venues, we knew we wanted somewhere with history and charm.” Maddie recalls, “We’d spoken about the idea of having a vintage-inspired wedding day as we’re both interested in the war-time era. As a history teacher at Honywood School in Coggeshall, Matt knew the Markshall Estate very well and had been on many a school trip to the area. It was also important for us to have the opportunity to use outdoor space as part of our day because we wanted family and friends who are clinically vulnerable to feel comfortable.

“It was a beautiful September day when we first visited the Coach House. We met one of the wedding co-ordinators, Natasha, and felt that she took time to understand our vision for the day. One of the amazing qualities of the Coach House is that in many ways, it’s a blank canvas for your individual wedding preferences. We were able to envisage what our day could look like and it was great to have the flexibility to decorate such a beautiful space in the way we desired. Sadly, Matt’s Nan, Peggy, had died a few weeks before we got engaged. On the day we went to look at the Coach House there was a war-time aircraft flying over the estate which instantly made us think about Peggy, who loved planes and often reflected with us about her time as an evacuee during the war.” It was certainly meant to be.

Maddie and Matt chose plum purple as the main colour for their colour scheme while adding other natural, autumnal colours to complete the look. The couple explain, “It was important for us to incorporate family into our day and we decided to have our tables names inspired by former surnames of our ancestors. I had researched both family trees extensively over the years, so we were able to use old photos of our family members alongside some of our ancestor’s valuable items such as an old typewriter, a pearl necklace and an old teapot. On our tables, we had apothecary bottles that we’d thrifted from charity shops and vintage emporiums for months in the lead up to the wedding day. Our florist, Kelly (Miss Fleur), sourced some beautiful, individual flower stems that we were able to add to the bottles to bring the tables to life. She also created something for the table where we’d sign the registers. She made a beautiful draping flower arrangement which we later transferred to our top table.”

LOOKING THE PART

Maddie wore a vintage-pink silk dress with a white lace overlay. The gown was designed by Millie May Bridal and purchased from J’adore Bridalwear in Coggeshall. Maddie didn’t have an exact design or colour in mind prior to going to the boutique but knew that she’d like her dress to be vintage style, if possible. Maddie styled the dress with a floor length veil which contained tiny crystals throughout and opted

for Hollywood waves to complete the vintage look. One side of Maddie’s hair was pinned back by simple clips that Maddie had borrowed from her sister (and bridesmaid) Natasha, who had worn them on her wedding day 11 years earlier.

Matt wore a blue tweed suit from Tailored Image UK in Chelmsford and had a hand-made plum coloured tie from Swagger and Swoon. To stand out from the groomsmen, Matt had a custom-made, doublebreasted waistcoat. He accessorised with a silver pocket watch to complement the vintage look, which he had engraved with the wedding date. The groomsmen wore identical suits to Matt’s, also hired from Tailored Image.

It was important to Maddie that the bridesmaids felt comfortable in their dresses, so the girls to choose their own style dress. The dresses were purchased from Wed2B in Chelmsford and were chosen in the plum purple colour.

TIME TO CELEBRATE

To get the party started, the newlyweds booked Tropic through Tailored Entertainment after reading rave reviews about their performances at previous weddings. Their style was soul, funk and Motown with a modern twist and they performed some classic songs. While the band were taking a break, music played through a playlist that Maddie had created prior to the wedding day.

Maddie had secretly planned for Matt to do a performance of his signature karaoke song, Gangsta’s Paradise by Coolio. This came as a

surprise to Matt who despite some initial reluctance became the star of the show performing in front of all of the guests!

Maddie adds, “We hired an open photobooth from KMS Hire, who supplied the retro booth and props which was ideal for our vintage inspired wedding day. Karen and her team were really accommodating and flexible and did a great job.”

MEMORABLE MOMENTS

There were so many lovely parts to our day but having Maddie’s nephew and niece as page boy and flower girl made it extra special for the Woods. Maddie remembers fondly, “My five-year-old nephew Edward made lots of new friends and when he was given a special mention and a toast during the groom’s wedding speech, he stood on his chair for a round of applause from our guests! The speeches at our wedding were so special and thoughtful. There were points where there wasn’t a dry eye in the room and other times where the room was filled with laughter. All of our suppliers were amazing and we were so happy with them, but we have to give a special mention to our photographer, Jamie (Le Beau Photography) who stayed with us all day capturing special memories and moments. We loved Jamie’s style of photography and felt that it fit perfectly with the whimsical autumnal day we had planned. Jamie was packing his camera equipment away ready to leave but when he heard Matt rapping to Gangsta’s Paradise he quickly got them out again and started snapping away!” A picture tells a thousand words, and this one certainly speaks (or raps) volumes!

MATT AND MADDIE’S CONTACTS

Venue, www.markshall.org.uk/weddings | Photographer, www.lebeauphotography.co.uk | Dress, www.jadorebridalwear.co.uk

Hair stylist, www.bridesbyrose.co.uk | Make-up artist, www.instagram.com/createdby_megan | Suits, www.tailoredimageuk.co.uk

Cake, www.lucascakes.co.uk | Flowers, www.missfleurfloraldesign.co.uk | Stationery, www.chapterinvites.co.uk

Catering, www.coggeshallcateringcompany.co.uk | Wedding rings, www.lancejames.co.uk | Band: www.tropic-band.com Drinks, www.peterwattswines.co.uk | Bridal nails, www.nailsbyfrenchie.co.uk | Photobooth, www.kmshire.com

KMS Hire

dressing and bespoke styling as well as individual prop hire.

M ile Bar Hire E ex

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BRIDGE END GARDEN

Bridge End Garden was created around 1840 by Francis Gibson, a local Quaker businessman, the gardens are Grade II* Listed.In the stunning settings of the apple trees with the gentle patter of the fountain, makes the Walled Garden a delightful venue for your wedding reception, your guests can wander around the rose garden, have fun in the hedge maze and soak up the afternoon sun.

For more information please email bookings@saffronwalden.gov.uk

We love what we do, we love meeting our brides, we love being part of your journey…

Your experience will be enjoyable, relaxed and most of all unforgettable!

SIMPLY

Chelsea and Mark tied the knot at The Warren Estate with elegant touches of blue throughout

Images courtesy of Pure Image Photography

From an early age, Chelsea and Mark had known each other; their mum’s worked together and were good friends. The mum’s changed jobs and time passed but fate brought the families back together. In 2015, Mark’s mum, Michelle, was getting married to Daniel (her now husband). Chelsea retells of the time they went wedding dress shopping, “We were chatting about how Mark had just moved back to hers following a breakup, both mums were suddenly getting excited of what colour hats they would wear ‘when’ me and Mark got married! All this, bearing in mind we hadn’t seen each other in a couple of years!” Soon enough Chelsea ‘matched’ with Mark on Tinder and messaged

saying, ‘Fancy seeing you on here’. It’s safe to say the rest is history, love blossomed and on Chelsea’s birthday in 2017, the day they got the keys to their new house, Mark got down on one knee. Chelsea explains, “I was in floods of tears. I just wanted to get married there and then!” The excited pair had to wait a little while though as they welcomed their daughter Dolcie into the world and then again due to the Covid-19 restrictions. However, it’s safe to say the day was worth the wait.

Chelsea Ella French and Mark French finally said their vows on 18th September 2022 at The Warren Estate.

Here, Chelsea tells us more about their day...

I am addicted to the colour blue. Even all my jewellery has sapphires!

I had a mood board to style our day. The theme was ‘Simply Beautiful’.

I’ll never forget my first consultation with Silvia at Delicate Daisy explaining my vision to her was incredible. She instantly went to select flowers together perfectly.

My brother luckily is very creative, and I like to think I am too. We made a lot, the signs, tableplan, crates and more! We also made mine and my daughters veil which was lovely.

I wanted my bouquet to be artificial so I can keep it forever. It was exactly what I had envisioned.

The cake was simple and the flavour was Cherry Bakewell (Mark’s favourite) and white and milk chocolate chip (my favourite).

Everything had blue hydrangeas, blue huckleberries, cream roses and eucalyptus. I believe everything just looked amazing. I feel like a little kid at Christmas when I think of the wedding décor.

We searched everywhere for the right colour blue I wanted Mark to wear. Stuart from Essex Waistcoats had made a few waistcoats for my brother so I thought I’d go down to his warehouse. I walked in and straight away I saw the colour! The weight lifted off my shoulders.

After the ceremony we had ‘Dan the piano man’ to play during the reception drinks.

My dress was from ‘Essence of Australia’ I fell in love with it as soon as I saw it although there were touches that I wanted to add!

My parents surprised us with the releasing of doves which was incredible, I cried when I first saw them, we literally had no idea, it was always my dream to do it on our wedding day.

From 8 o’clock in the morning, my brother ran around like a headless chicken making sure everything was perfect and I couldn’t thank him enough.

Make sure you both have a bit of time together to take it all in and compose yourselves.

The day was just amazing, such a surreal feeling. Everyone’s there to celebrate you both. All the people you love and enjoy being with in one place at the same time. When does that ever happen?

I’d love to relive as much of the day as possible! It was only the next day I asked Mark if we could renew our vows on our first wedding anniversary, but he wasn’t keen! I’m hoping I can get him to agree on a party at least.

Try and allocate bridesmaids jobs; for example, to keep hold of your bag, make sure you eat something, take you away for make-up touch-ups or your final mirror check before evening guests arrive.

CHELSEA’S TOP TIPS!

• Don’t sweat the small stuff!

The Warren

staff went above and beyond to make sure our day was everything we wanted it to be.

• Make sure you have clearly communicated with photographer on what pictures you want and even where and how.

• Don’t worry about anyone else as long as you’re both happy.

• Finally, just invite who you want there, it’s your day!

CHELSEA AND MARK’S LITTLE WHITE BOOK Venue, www.warrengolfclub.co.uk | Photography, www.pureimagephotography.co.uk | Suits, www.essexwaistcoats.co.uk

Flower arch, http://bellissimaflowers.co.uk | Flowers, https://delicatedaisy.co.uk | Alterations, www.facebook.com/IvanasAlterations Hair, www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063910423099 | |LED letters, www.kmshire.com | Flower girl outfit, www.instagram.com/thefairygodmotherfd | Dove release, https://truedoveways.com | Pianist, www.facebook.com/ThePianoManEssex

Estate

One of the largest wedding shows to be held in the South of England.

Alis�n White Wedding Fl�wers

Based in Leaden Roding near Great Dunmow, we specialise in bespoke floral arrangements for your wedding day, fresh and silk flowers available. For a free no obligation quote, call Alison on 07988 824332 or email alison@alisonwhiteweddingflowers.co.uk

ALISONWHITEWEDDINGFLOWERS.CO.UK

Alison White Wedding Flowers a_whitewedding

ALSO AT MARTELS WEDDING VILLAGE, HIGH EASTER ROAD, BARNSTON, ESSEX  CM6 1NA

A FUN, PROFESSIONAL YET RELAXED INDEPENDENT CELEBRANT BASED IN ESSEX

A celebrant led ceremony gives you the flexibility to bring your dreams to life anywhere and at any time. Themed or styled wedding, a symbolic ceremony, religious or no religion - whatever it may be - we can discuss what you envision for your ceremony.

I offer a no obligation meeting so you can establish if my personality and vibrancy makes us a match.

Call: 07850 683348 hello@karenirvingceremonies.com www.karenirvingceremonies.com karen_irving_ceremonies

Gemma Giorgio Photography

Top tips for organising your big day

MEET STEFFI FROM HEDINGHAM CASTLE

When do I search for my venue?

After fixing your budget and deciding on guest numbers and date, choosing your venue is one of the first items to tackle on your ‘To Do’ list as so many other elements rely on it, including booking the majority of your suppliers (photographer, caterer, entertainment etc.) as well as creating your invites and booking the registrar. So, whether you’re planning your wedding in six months or two years, get your venue booked as a priority to give plenty of time for everything else.

What questions should I be asking my venue before booking?

You’ll have many questions to ask all the venues you view but it can be easy to forget them once you’re there and distracted by looking round. Go armed with a notebook and prepared questions to stay on track. There are crucial questions you’ll need to know before you even book a viewing with a venue, to ascertain whether it’s a viable option for you, such as minimum and maximum guest numbers, is the venue exclusive hire (will you be the only couple getting married there on the day) and is there onsite accommodation. Once you’re there, you can ask more in-depth questions such as is the catering in-house or can you choose your own, is there outside ceremony space, is there flexibility with the décor and what’s the parking provision for guests. At Hedingham Castle, we provide couples with a pack of essential information including all of this as well as recommended suppliers and a pricing guide.

Do remember...

Pinterest is an invaluable tool when you’re choosing your décor, as it allows you to find out what inspires you, even if you don’t initially know yourself what that might be. From there, you can choose your colour scheme, dress style, entertainment inspiration and much more, and it can really help you hone in on what you want for your big day.

Consider your timings for the day. You want plenty of time in the morning to get ready in leisure, no one wants to be rushing about and

getting stressed on their wedding day. We say that 3pm is a perfect ceremony time as it allows a lovely flow into a 3.30-4pm drinks reception, which usually lasts one to two hours, leading nicely into an early evening wedding breakfast and the festivities ahead. Weddings can be long days for guests especially if you have young or elderly guests so is something to bear in mind if you’re thinking of an early ceremony.

Top Tip

Get yourself organised from the start; it will make the planning process so much more enjoyable and help minimise stress as much as possible. Whichever tools work best for you - a lovely notebook or wedding planner if you’re a pen and paper person, or an online To Do list such as Trello which you can share with your partner and key members of your wedding party can be very useful. Find which suits your planning style and it won’t be a chore.

Here at An Essex Wedding, we understand how overwhelming organising your nuptials can be. To lighten the load, we’ve spoken to our local industry experts to offer their tips and advice!

MEET EMMA FROM THE FLOWER COLLECTIVE When do I book

As soon as possible! A good florist is hard to find, so if you do find one that you like, who you get on with, and who understands your vision, then booking in advance is paramount. Remember, full payment upfront is unusual, so check the individual florists t&c’s - most offer 25 per cent non-refundable holding fee for your wedding date.

What questions should I be asking my florist before booking? Lots! Find out what is important to you as a couple. Do you have any specific colours and theme’s in mind? What flowers are in season on your Wedding Date? Talk to your florist, ensure they are open to your ideas and have transparent communication with you. Do they have packages available that fit your criteria?

How do I make my venue decor and flowers personal to me? Memories. It’s as simple as that! Flowers can be emotive, especially for a flower enthusiast like myself. I have the fondest of memories being surrounded by hydrangeas with my grandparents and have many growing in my garden.

Scent is also so important. It can take you back to a time and place within seconds. Think about how your flowers will smell and make you feel on your big day.

Is there a particular flower or bouquet that your future husband has treated you to before that stands out? Is sustainability and local flowers important to you?

Take a look through your florist’s previous work, pinpoint what you’re looking for, and search Pinterest for ideas.

Colours, styles and trends to consider

As with everything, flowers also go through phases. It’s important though to stay true to your vision and not be swayed with trends. Having said that, my favourite trend now is ‘Ode to Nature’, whereby meadow themed, whimsical grasses and movement are at the forefront of floristry.

MEET CHELSEA FROM HATTON JEWELLERY LTD

This special piece of jewellery symbolises your eternal love and isn’t something that should be bought without research. The most traditional form of wedding ring is a simple gold band, however more modern wedding rings are known to include engravings or precious stones.

One of the most important decisions to make throughout this process, is to decide which material you’d like to make your ring out of. Traditionally white or yellow gold have been the preferred choice, but over the recent years platinum and titanium are becoming more and more popular for wedding rings. With numerous choices of metals with different properties and styles, some maybe more suitable than others.

For instance, platinum is a popular choice of metal as it’s hardness and colour will never fade or change, but it has a higher price point because it’s a rarer metal.

It’s important to take into consideration the metal used within the engagement ring as both rings will be worn together, we would recommend using the same metal but it’s entirely up to you. If you’re looking to match your engagement ring to a wedding band, we can compare what style wedding band would suit best.

Heavier rings are usually more durable. Many customers choose to have a wedding ring that matches their engagement ring, and in order for the rings to look like they were designed to fit together, you could opt for a wedding ring that contains diamonds or precious stones to match the original engagement ring.

Court shaped – this is the traditional wedding ring shape, it’s slightly rounded on both the outside and inside creating a comfortable fit around the finger.

Organic shapes and textures will give your bridal flowers a quirky appearance.

The British Flower Movement is also high on bride’s priority lists at the moment with more acknowledgment in supporting local farmers. Many of my brides are also looking at growing their own flowers to be included on the day. Some opting to grow flowers which will be used in their bouquets. It’s a special way to encourage growing.

Top Tip

Neither the lowest nor the most expensive florist is the best. Look around, get quotes, have a one-to-one meeting and ensure you have a good rapport with someone who is going to play a vital role in your day. The wow factor flowers will always get people talking. They’ll be remembered for all the right reasons. Archways, aisle flowers and overhead event floristry for marquees. Big installations make quite the impact. But mostly importantly, remember to have fun and enjoy all the organising. It should be a happy and hassle-free experience.

Visit: www.instagram.com/p/CmZu1PJo4E3/?hl=en

D shaped – D shaped wedding rings are straight across the top and bottom of the ring, and are curved on the inside, creating a cross section when sections cross.

Shaped - As engagement rings can come with large diamonds or precious stones, a shaped wedding ring with a curve on top might be more suitable to fit around the engagement ring comfortably. If you want to create something more personal you could always create bespoke rings, if you can’t pop into store why not call Hatton Jewellery on 01702 472535 or email sales-hattonjewellery@outlook.com to discuss your ideas.

Making People smile with cake

Colchester-based Seasonal Florist with a passion for supporting British Flower Farmers. Creative styling using beautiful freshly cut local flowers; often homegrown

Positive & uplifting florist offering multiple packages to suit all budgets, whilst encouraging our Bride & Grooms to immerse themselves in British Flowers. Fun & creative events florist who uses freshly cut & locally grown flowers; Bouquets, Buttonholes, Flower Crowns and Decor are uniquely created to suit your Wedding Day vision.

MULTIPLE PACKAGE OFFERS AVAILABLE

STRESS-FREE QUOTES

Bespoke Floristry tailored to your Wedding Day requests Essex & Suffolk based florist No obligation quotes & 1:1 meetings offered

CONTACT EMMA 07736 638548 theflowercollectiveessex@outlook.com @the_flower_collective

Images courtesy of Danni Curtis Photography

We specialise in styling events and hiring decor for contemporary and elegant celebrations across Essex and surrounding areas. Our focus is creating beautiful venue styling with lots of attention to detail and can o er styling services to suit your budget.

MEET JEN FROM JEN’S TRAVEL BOUTIQUE

 Decide on a budget and start researching destinations. Try and book long haul around nine to 12 months in advance with short haul bookings, around six to nine months although be aware that the ‘honeymoon suite’ or more superior rooms may already be booked.

 Consider a destination that neither of you have been to. A new adventure together makes it even more special and memorable. I’d usually suggest starting off with a few days relaxing and unwinding from the excitement of the big day. Then maybe include some activities or try exploring or a twin or multi-centre holiday if you want to experience different locations. Remember jet lag and exhaustion from the big day may take its toll! Always round off with at least a couple of days to reset before heading back to the real world.

 Traditionally, the honeymoon immediately follows the wedding

however there has been a marked increase in minimoons and familymoons. This can be due to budget or simply that the chosen destination is not at its optimum season to experience in all its glory. Minimoons can fill that gap of wanting to round off the wedding celebrations with a break and familymoons include your children for that trip of a lifetime!

 The Indian Ocean has always been a hugely popular destination, home of the Maldives, Mauritius and the Seychelles. However, less commercialised Greek Islands are fast becoming a popular choice to switch off and unwind.

Jen’s Top Tip: Use a travel agent to alleviate the stress! Make the experience unforgettable like swimming with dolphins or upgrading your flights!

MEET KAREN FROM KAREN IRVING CEREMONIES

Who should consider a Celebrant and why?

If you don’t want a church wedding, then all couples should at least consider a Celebrant. A good Celebrant will get to know you and draw out little snippets of information through conversations during meetings and their wedding questionnaire and go on to create a bespoke ceremony that’s representative of you as a couple. We tell your love story without restrictions and in a way a registrar cannot. If you want to include a symbolic element for example a hand-tying ceremony, a religious verse, a friend to sing a sea shanty or your children to be included in your ceremony in a child friendly way all of this is possible. That’s setting aside the fact that you’re not required to hold your ceremony in a licenced venue.

A Celebrant led wedding is allowing you the freedom to hold your wedding in surroundings of your choosing. I work alongside fabulous venues both licensed and unlicensed and they all want couples to have the most memorable wedding day.

I personally don’t book more than one ceremony in a day as it’s important to me that my couples feel special and I don’t have to go

rushing off to another wedding, so if in the rare instance there’s a delay I can just roll with it.

At the moment, Celebrant led ceremonies aren’t legal in England or Wales and a couple are still required to attend a registry office to carry out the legal paperwork, usually in a small room with minimal guests and at a fraction of the usual registrar costs. But momentum is building and there’s an active campaign to change legislation to allow Celebrants to legally marry a couple.

Don’t get me wrong I’m not anti-registrars; Celebrants and Registrars can work together within a ceremony successfully, but I believe there’s a place for the creativeness and personal approach of a Celebrant and it’s important couples are aware they have a choice.

When do I book?

Ideally as early as possible to allow time for your Celebrant to get to know you both and create your perfect ceremony, however, I’ve created and delivered a ceremony with eight days’ notice. Celebrants are also a good source of information if you’re looking for a particular type of venue or supplier as they come into contact with lots of different types and styles.

What should you consider before choosing the person to conduct your wedding?

Do we feel comfortable with our choice of person, were they relatable?

Were they knowledgeable and able to make valuable suggestions?

Did they understand our vision for our wedding?

Did we feel listened to?

What questions should a couple ask?

What sets you apart from other Celebrants?

What’s your ethos and why should we chose you as our supplier?

What happens if you’re unwell or unable to perform our Ceremony?

Do you have any experience in the type of ceremony we require?

What’s included in your fee?

of Kenneth Winston, Ella Rosa, Gallery, Richard Designs, Emma Bridals and the only stockist of Paul Zeni Couture in Essex.

Editor loves

Fall head over heels in love with the latest pieces from London-based jewellers Augustine Jewels featuring exquisite, carefully created and ethically sourced diamonds and gemstones.

To shop, visit www.augustinejewels.com

FASHION

Fashion editor Claire Ridley

WATCH OUT

Get to the wedding on time wearing this stylish, timeless yellow-gold watch, £240, Herbelin at www.watchpilot.com

Hero buys

This pretty matching brief, £60, are from the new sustainable lingerie

THE BEE’S KNEES

Eco-conscious jewellery brand Wild Fawn has collaborated with the Bee Friendly Trust and planet-friendly beauty brand Burt’s Bees to produce this limited-edition sterling silver charm necklace, £96, featuring a honeybee inside a traditional skep beehive. It’s the perfect thank-you gift for bridesmaids and 10% of sales will be donated to the Bee Friendly Trust.

To shop, visit www.wildfawnjewellery.com

focus

THE ULTIMATE EDIT

The new 2023 Bridesmaid Collection from Little Mistress has launched revealing long, flowing maxi dresses (as seen above) and shorter tea-length styles in blush, mint green and navy as well as vibrant yellow and orange. Prices start from £68 to £115.

To shop, visit www.little-mistress.com

Petal power

This pink 3D floral strapless skater dress, £89.99, is from the new QUIZ occasion wear collection that’s perfect for bridesmaids and guests at weddings this summer. The romantic colour palette adorns the soft and elegant silhouettes, from fashionable floor-sweeping satin gowns to floral minis. The styles are guaranteed to turn heads!

To shop, visit www.quizclothing.co.uk

Frill seekers

This season’s bridal dresses enjoy tiers of ruffled tulle, silky satin layers and subtle pleats

www.pronovias.com

Sunday 8 th October 2023 11am to 4pm

One of the largest wedding shows to be held in the South of England. A huge number of wedding specialists on hand to inspire and advise on how to bring your wedding dreams to life.

PLUS! Special offers on the day • The chance to win a luxury honeymoon

• Bridal fashion shows

• Entertainment • Refreshements • and more...

For your FREE tickets and the chance to win a £250 voucher courtesy of SpaBreaks.com pre-register at:

www.countyweddingevents.com/registration

In love with lace

This timeless fabric never goes out of fashion

Style no CWG956 by Oleg Cassini at www.davidsbridal.com

Philophile by www.hermionedepaula.com

Augusta dress by www.alanhannah.co.uk

Sephora skirt with Autumn top (left) and Marianna gown (right) by www.annageorgina.co.za

Egia dress by www.airebarcelona.com/en-gb

Teria by www.lunanovias.com

Josette bridal dress with pearl flower veil and Amelia flowergirl dress by www.monsoon.co.uk/wedding-occasion/the-bride

Delaina by www.azazie.com

Lacey dress by www.temperleylondon.com

Cairo dress by www.truebride.co.uk

Mia by www.josephinescott.co.uk

Sandals with over-sized bow, £310, https://charlottemills.com

Pale pink clutch bag, £99, www.hobbs.com

Ivory satin sandals with crystal and pearl ankle strap, £195, www.dunelondon.com

Head

Ivory clutch bag, £79, www.rainbowclub.co.uk

OVER HEELS

Walk down the aisle in style this season with fashion editor Claire’s hand-picked edit of the best bridal shoes and bags

Ivory sandals with a pearl heel, £695, https://freyarose.com

Silver strappy sandals, £435, www.rosamundmuir.com

White feather bag, to hire from £40, Potens Femina at www.dcey.co.uk

Sandals with over-sized bows, from a selection, www.jimmychoo.com

Ivory occasion bag, £95, www.dunelondon.com

White leather handbag, £295, www.russellandbromley.co.uk

Jewelled sandals, £55, www.next.co.uk

Pearl-encrusted clutch bag, £165, https://charlottemills.com

Blush suede shoes with a glitter heel, £159, Sole Bliss

‘Bride’ pouch, £19.99, Katie Loxton

3

BRIDAL RELOVED MALDON

We

Bridal Reloved Maldon is part of the UK’s largest chain of wedding dress boutiques selling new, ex-sample and immaculate preowned designer wedding dresses.

King George’s Place, High Street, Maldon, CM9 5BZ 01621 927007, maldon@bridalreloved.co.uk www.bridalreloved.co.uk

Andrew Miles Photography

Dressed

TO IMPRESS

Ensure your wedding party looks the part and stop by one of these local suppliers for quality and style

LET’S TALK BRIDESMAIDS

Amber from Dress Code Nine says...

One of the biggest trends with bridesmaids at the minute is that they all wear different dresses. This is to ensure everyone is comfortable on the day. However, it’s also common that some couples choose to have their wedding parties in different shades of the same colour such as; light blue, crystal blue, cornflower, and periwinkle to create a contrast. Whilst most brides and grooms choose to go down the more traditional route of having all the bridal party in the same colour dresses and then the groomsman match their ties with their dress colours, it’s becoming increasingly popular for everyone to look a bit different. For example, wrap dresses can be styled in over 20 different ways to give each bridesmaid the chance to look slightly different from the other but to also feel comfortable on the day. Although by doing this there will be a slight contrast between each bridesmaid the photos always come out looking amazing and it ensures everyone is happy because they love what they’re wearing.

Time to accessorise! Regarding accessories, bridesmaids may have subtle aspects to their dresses such as a belt that has been sewn on to give a little bit of glitter, or a hair piece so that they have a little something

in their hair style they’ve chosen for the day. Another accessory that bridesmaids may have is a bouquet of flowers that’s slightly different to the brides. They’ll hold these when they walk down the aisle as well as in the wedding photos.

Choosing the correct colours. When the bride picks the colour or colours for her bridesmaid’s dresses it usually depends on what time of year they’re getting married. For instance, if it’s a summer wedding the brighter colours like pinks, oranges, yellows and the lighter greens are more likely to be picked over the darker colours such as navy. This is because they want the colours to match the weather they’re hoping they get in the day. This is the same if they get married during the winter months. They’re more likely to look at the darker colours such as navy, red and darker greens purely because of the time of year and that Christmas is during that season.

TOP TIP! One top tip we always give is to get in as early as possible. We say this because with order times it’s always best to get the dresses a few months in advance. This also allows time for the dresses to be tried on and if there are any changes that needed to be made whether they be drastic or slight these can be done with time to spare before the big day. https://dresscodenine.co.uk

LET’S TALK FLOWERGIRL DRESSES

Jasmine from Ivy Blu says...

Over the years we’ve seen some different trends with our flowergirl dresses, from full length to high-low styles. We always say it’s important for your little ones to be comfortable on the day and be able to move around with ease. Taking this into consideration is very important when making your selection.

Add a bit of colour! Traditionally, flowergirls have always been plain white, but this has changed to a softer ivory colour to match the bride’s gown. We’ve also seen an increase in coloured sashes or bows to tie in with the older bridesmaids. Keeping up with the modern colours our two most popular have been sage green and blush pink. Don’t forget to accessorise! To make your flowergirl feel like a true princess don’t forget a bit of sparkle. This could be from a small tiara or a pair of sparkly shoes.

TOP TIP! Always have your flowergirl appointment separate to your bridesmaids. Your little one is sure to be the centre of attention and choosing her the correct gown can sometimes be harder than you think, but don’t be afraid to ask your consultant for help.

www.ivyblu.co.uk

LET’S TALK MOTHER OF THE BRIDE & GROOM

Victoria from Victoria Charles Headpieces says...

We find our mother of the brides often opt for a wide brim ‘hatinator’ style headpiece with sleek and modern lines. This season, we anticipate lots of muted silver and golds, pastel pinks, blues and ever-popular navy.

Our mother of the grooms lean more to the less conventional. Often block colours or contrasting tones, veering away from the colour palettes of the mother of the bride. This season, we expect hot rose and vibrant orange teamed with pale nude accessories. Often determined by the wedding location, mother of the grooms will opt for either our subtle feather halos or a full feather statement piece.

An incredible number of ladies walk through our door stating, ‘hats don’t suit me’. We guarantee there’s a hat to suit everyone, and you’ll leave having found the perfect design for you. We design a wide variety of styles to suit all face shapes, each can be created in your chosen colour and choice of trim.

TOP TIP! There are no rules! Choose whatever makes YOU feel special. www.victoriacharlesheadpieces.com

Rachel from Christine’s Occasion Wear says...

Pale blue, silver and white are popular colours this year. Navy is still very dominant to. The Bardot neckline is one of the most popular trends for 2023.

It may not come as a surprise to learn that the hat is still very much the favoured accessory.

TOP TIP! Start looking for your outfit when you feel you’re ready, don’t be pressured. Comfort is key.

https://christinesoccasionwear.co.uk

THE perfect COUNTRY VENUE FOR YOUR wedding DAY

ESSEX’S MOST EXCITING COUNTRY BOUTIQUE WEDDING VENUE

if you’re looking for something unique at Old Brook Barn dreams really do come true.

Old Brook Barn is a magnificent 17th century barn. Exclusively yours to enjoy with the stunning natural brook, decking area, willow trees and meadow fields, you could not wish for a better setting on your special day. We are a privately owned venue who pride ourselves on making your day as memorable as possible.

Please contact us to make a viewing appointment, we would be delighted to show your around.

07747 116 100 info@oldbrookbarn.co.uk www.oldbrookbarn.co.uk oldbrookbarn @oldbrookbarn

LET’S TALK FLORAL ACCESSORIES

Cheryl from Cheryl’s Flowers says... Dressing the bridal party with additional flowers is just as important as the bride carrying her bouquet. The groom’s buttonhole complements the brides by using the same florals to adorn his left lapel. The mothers of the bride and groom have also been a strong add-on when I chat to brides as couples want them to feel included. This can be used in the form of a buttonhhole or a corsage which can adorn the right lapel or can be tied onto the wrist/ handbag with ribbon.

Flowergirls and pageboys are also popular with the use of flower crowns, wands, floral hoops and again buttonholes. All these complement the florals used throughout the wedding tying everything together on the day! www.cherylsflowers.co.uk

LET’S TALK THE GROOMSMEN

Abi from The Grooms Room at Abigails Collection says...

What trends are big? Tweed is continuing with its popularity and we’ve seen an increase in tuxedos (hire and bespoke) too.

What colours? Grooms are becoming more adventurous with their styling and we’re making bespoke suits in pink, green and bold checks! In terms of more traditional suits, we’re seeing a lot of tweed still.

How to accessorise? Green neckwear is on the rise including sage and grey greens.

TOP TIP! Don’t leave it too late to arrange your menswear. If you’re after a bespoke suit, factor in approximately four months; and for hire a similar timeframe from a retailer. Secondly, always decide your bridal and bridesmaids colour scheme first.

www.abigailscollection.co.uk

www.instagram.com/thegroomsroomessex

BOOST YOUR SKIN FROM WITHIN

Raising the bar, St.Tropez’s new Self Tan Luxe Body Serum infused with a unique collagen-enhancing complex, responds to consumer demand for a hydrating, longer-lasting natural glow with skincare benefits. It works to firm, smooth, soothe, reduce redness and even skin tone while instantly hydrating skin in the most easy-to-use format yet. What’s more, it’s infused with the iconic St.Tropez Luxe scent, a fine fragrance with Tritech Olfactory Fragrance Technology, which equals no biscuity smell.

Having learned of its zero transfer attribute I asked Michaella Bolder, St.Tropez tanning and skincare expert, whether she’d recommend this particular product to brides, and if so when would be the best time to apply. She told me, “Yes, it’s a beautiful tan for brides. However, I’d always recommend to apply tan the day before. This way, you can be prepped and make sure you apply evenly without any worries or concerns on the morning of your wedding. It is zero transfer but as the tan starts to take, you want to make sure you’re super-confident, as it comes through over four to eight hours. So, always apply the day, evening or 24 hours before your big day. It leaves you with a beautiful rich, medium glow and with the skin being so hydrated it just beams.”

£35, available at Boots, Superdrug, Look Fantastic, ASOS, Amazon and all leading online retailers.

DAWN ‘TIL DUSK

Left with a hole in my life when my previous primer ran out I was bereft. Until Milk’s Pore Eclipse Mattifying Primer landed on my desk that is. This lightweight water cream makeup primer with skincare benefits claims to blur pores and control shine for a long-lasting soft matte finish, and I can confirm it does just that. It feels fantastic to apply and leaves skin feeling satin smooth. After a long day visiting London recently my foundation looked as good when I arrived home as it did when I left. What’s more, it’s 90 per cent natural, clean, vegan, cruelty-free, noncomedogenic, paraben-free, and silicone-free. I’ve found a new favourite! £31, www.cultbeauty.co.uk

GOLDEN GODDESS

Leading Irish make-up giant BPerfect Cosmetics is a celebrity and influencer-loved brand with a difference. Expanding into stores across the UK later this year, BPerfect has partnered with Love Island 2022 winner, Ekin Su Cülcüloğlu to launch a range of innovative new products.

Ekin Su wore BPerfect in the Love Island villa and has now shared her secret weapons in recreating her iconic golden goddess look. Launching with four luxurious products – the Fearless Face & Eye Palette (£29.95), the Radiant Glow Luxurious Skin Enhancer (£16.95), the Luxury Half Lash Set (£16.95) and the Mini Empress Base & Body Brush (£9.95), they’re set to become make-up bag staples. Check out www.bperfectcosmetics.com

BUZZBeauty

Beauty editor Kelly Andrews brings you the latest must-haves for the bride-to-be

GET THE LOOK

World-class make-up artist Robert Welsh is one of social media’s stand-out creators, posting impressive make-up tutorials and refreshingly honest reviews, which have earned him a loyal following of millions. Now, you can create your own versions of Robert’s signature looks with his new Curated By edit from Ciaté London. The kit includes the Chocolate Trend Palette, Dewy Stix Highlight, Velvet Cloud Lip Shadow in Heavenly, Extraordinary Translucent Powder and Wonderwand Mascara.

The five-piece edit, £35, is available exclusively at www.ciatelondon.com. Follow along with Robert’s tutorial to get the look at https://www.instagram.com/p/CoFlTx6jjDb

OH-SO NATURAL

Founded in 1996, Ringana is a pioneering Austrian skincare company creating products so fresh it’s recommended they’re used within 10 weeks of opening. As well as using fantastic vegan formulations, the products also feature some of 2023’s most sought after active ingredients. I love the Tinted Moisturiser from the brand’s FRESH range, containing squalane. This olive-oil based ingredient is becoming increasingly popular because it helps to reconstitute our hydrolipidic film and is easily absorbed without leaving an oily residue behind. It works to strengthen the skin’s barrier and maintain hydration too. As a result, this gorgeous moisturiser creates a radiant, perfectly even complexion. Plus, the product covers the skin in a delicate tint, thanks to mineral pigments that adapt beautifully to its tone erasing small defects, redness and pigmentation spots. £40.80 (€46,90), www.ringana.com

ENCOUNTER THE ELEMENTS

This year sees perfume house Issey Miyake present two new fragrances: L’Eau d’Issey Pivonie (£68, 50ml) and L’Eau d’Issey pour Homme Vétiver (£59, 50ml). The two launches celebrate nature in all its beauty, starting with water, of course, but also ushering in lush, vibrant florals and the intensity of vetiver.

L’Eau d’Issey Pivoine is 87 per cent made up of ingredients of natural origin, while this proportion for L’Eau d’Issey pour Home Vétiver is even higher at 93 per cent. These ingredients are exclusively sourced in a manner that respects the principles of fair trade and are responsibly harvested.

The perfect duo for the perfect duo! Available exclusively at The Perfume Shop from 26th March, 2023.

IN NEED OF A BOOST?

Green mandarin essential oil is packed with antioxidants and is known for its rejuvenating and brightening properties. It leaves dull skin looking luminous and radiant, perfect for reviving your complexion and bringing a gorgeous glow to it. That’s why the clever folk at Decléor have harnessed its power to create its Green Mandarin Glowing Collection.

TRIED & TESTED

Having keenly followed celebs’ ravings about Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Bum Bum Cream on social media, excitement levels at CWM HQ were high when a tub arrived in the office. Editor Olivia Gibson stepped up to try it, here’s what she had to say:

“This cream smells unbelievable and absorbs quickly, leaving behind beautifully hydrated skin, and after the first use I noticed a smooth and refreshed feeling. Fast-forward a few weeks and my skin now appears firmer and tighter too.

This award-winning product is free from parabens, soy, artificial colours, phthalates, sulphates and mineral oils – it’s suitable for vegans and is crueltyfree too. With skin-loving ingredients including guaraná, cupuaçu butter, coconut oil, açaí oil, Brazil nut and more – this cream is the ultimate body skincare product.” Find it at www.lookfantastic.com, £20

SHINE BRIGHT

I’ve fallen in particular for the Green Mandarin Aromaplastie Glow Booster Mask, which is designed to boost radiance and revitalise the complexion. A potent treatment that brightens and energises dull and tired-looking skin, offers the ideal pre-wedding boost. £37, www.facethefuture.co.uk

LUSCIOUS LASHES

LEGIT Lashes is Huda

Kattan’s debut mascara that’s been more than four years in the making. It features not one, but two full-size mascaras in one product. An innovative combo, it’s the ultimate multitasker helping to achieve the three pillars of luscious lashes – volume, length, and curl – in seconds. Each wand works effortlessly to give you the lashes you’re after, with both ends loaded with Huda’s signature extra black, Black-2 Liquid pigment. £24, https://hudabeauty.com

eSalon’s Silk Shine (£17) is a nourishing argan oil treatment that increases shine, strengthens hair and protects colour. Just a few small pumps (or one if you have short hair like me) gives hair an instantly radiant shine, while hydrating dry-to-the-touch ends and safeguarding against colour fade. It’s done wonders for the condition of my hair and a little does indeed go a long way.

eSalon is reinventing the way we colour our hair by creating a fully-customised professional-grade home hair colour that’s made to order and shipped directly to the door. Find out more at www.esalon.co.uk

Eat Your Way to A STRESS-FREE WEDDING

Nutrition and Health Coach, Demelza Rayner, reveals seven simple steps to feeling relaxed and in control on your wedding day

It’s only natural to feel nervous – if not downright terrified – on your wedding day. After-all, you’ve spent at least a year on planning every little detail to ensure the big day goes without a hitch. Furthermore, if you’re not someone who enjoys being the centre of attention then there’s the added pressure of knowing all eyes will be on you.

yourself a lovely, warm bath with Epsom salts – these contain magnesium and are widely recommended for relaxation and improved sleep quality. After your bath, get ready for bed and either pop on some gentle music or a soothing sleep story. Wear a heated eye mask infused with lavender while listening and you’ll drift off in no time!

I’m here to reassure you that these worries are perfectly normal and, by following my seven simple steps, you can sail through the day feeling calm, in control and able to enjoy every stage of the proceedings. Let’s get started! 1

GET YOUR BEAUTY SLEEP

Getting enough sleep the night before the wedding is key – you’ll wake up refreshed, alert and ready for whatever the day brings. However, it’s never easy to drop-off when your mind is racing, so there are several strategies you can employ to swich your body into a more relaxed state. First of all, run

What you eat before bedtime is important too. Several foods contain a substance called tryptophan, which has an important role in the production of melatonin – a hormone involved in your sleep-wake cycle. Foods rich in tryptophan include chicken, turkey, salmon, eggs, nuts and seeds. 2

QUENCH YOUR THIRST

Leave a glass of water on your bedside table before you go to sleep and drink this on waking. Being well hydrated boosts your energy levels and brain function, and will help to prevent headaches (a fairly common complaint given the pressures of

the big day!) By all means reach for a much-needed mug of tea or coffee afterwards but resist the temptation to drink cup after cup – the caffeine will exacerbate any anxiety or stress, which is the last thing you need when you’re about to walk down the aisle. Ditto for alcohol – enjoy a chilled glass of bubbly while you’re getting ready but it’s going to be a long day so keep sipping that water too!

3MORNING MEDITATION

Mindfulness and meditation are fantastic for relieving stress, improving sleep, enhancing mental health and increasing concentration. If you’ve never considered exploring their benefits, then it’s well worth downloading the Calm app, which offers a free seven-day trial. It contains a variety of easy-to-follow programmes, ranging from ‘7 days of Calm’ to ‘Anxiety Release’ and ‘Mindfulness for Beginners’. Each stage is just five or 10 minutes long, so the time commitment is minimal. I’d suggest starting one of the

programmes a week before the big day and then listening to the last stage on the morning of the wedding – ideally soon after waking so that you can navigate the demands of the day feeling peaceful and in control.

BOOST YOUR BREAKFAST

As tempting as it may be to skip breakfast altogether – don’t – you’ll need plenty of energy for the day ahead! Forget cereals, toast and croissants –you need something sustaining that will keep you full until the wedding breakfast. This means something with protein. Eggs are a fantastic choice – think omelette or scrambled eggs and smoked salmon; however, I’m well aware that cooking may not be your first thought on your wedding day, and you might not have someone to hand who can whip you up a hot breakfast! My advice would be to create overnight oats or a simple bowl of yogurt the night before that’s ready to go when you need it. For overnight oats, mix together 50g rolled porridge oats with 150ml milk (plantbased or dairy), a teaspoon of chia seeds, a chopped ripe pear and half a teaspoon of cinnamon. Then leave in the fridge overnight. Alternatively, mix Greek yogurt, a handful of blueberries, a teaspoon of flaxseeds and some chopped mixed nuts. Again, leave in the fridge the night before so you can grab it in the morning.

5SNACK HAPPY

Depending on what time you have your breakfast, it may be many hours before your next meal so it’s important to have some tasty, nourishing snacks on hand to maintain your energy levels. My suggestions would include apple slices and nut butter, hummus with carrot, pepper and cucumber sticks, mozzarella balls with tomatoes and olives, mixed nuts, dark chocolate and almonds, cheese and crackers.

Stock up your fridge and your cupboards a couple of days before the wedding, so you have plenty of choices on hand while you get ready.

TAKE TIME OUT

If you start to feel anxious or unduly stressed at any point of your wedding day, simply spend a few moments controlling your breathing. Box breathing, for example, is simply breathing in for the count of four, holding for the count of four, breathing out for the count of four and holding for the count of four. This process can be repeated several times. Alternatively, try the 3-4-7 method: breathing in for the count of three, holding for

the count of four and then breathing out for the count of seven. Both techniques aim to move the body out of the ‘fight or flight’ mode and into a more relaxed state. YouTube is fantastic for finding free video tutorials of these breathing techniques and it is definitely worth practicing in the week leading up to the wedding so you can call on these techniques effectively on your big day.

EAT SLOWLY AND MINDFULLY

It’s all too easy to wolf down your wedding breakfast at breakneck speed, but by taking time to really enjoy the scent, flavour and sensation of the dish, you’ll be sending messages to your body that you are safe, relaxed and calm. In addition, chewing your food slowly, carefully and methodically gives your stomach time to prepare for its arrival and means your body doesn’t have to work too hard to break it down into essential nutrients that can help to support your body and mind. Finally, speedy eating can cause reflux, heartburn and all kinds of uncomfortable digestive issues that you definitely don’t want on your big day!

I hope you’ve found the tips above helpful. By prioritising sleep, eating the right foods at the right time and keeping some simple stressbusting techniques in reserve, you’ll be one step closer to having the wedding day of your dreams! If you’d like to find out more about reducing stress, managing sleep, maintaining a healthy weight and boosting your energy levels, simply visit my website and sign up for my free newsletter.

Q&A Fashion & beauty

Stellar tips from local experts

STATEMENT SLEEVES

I like to cover up my arms so want a wedding dress with sleeves. I’m getting married in summer and I’m nervous I’ll be so hot. Do you have any suggestions?

Opt for a dress made in a lightweight fabric such as a porous tulle or a lace which is less likely to make you hot than say, a gown with a fitted full satin sleeve. If you’re after some coverage of the arm that’ll help boost your confidence but don’t really want a full sleeve, go for a Bardot style that flatters the arms but doesn’t extend the whole length, that too will of course be cooler than fully sleeved.

Abi Neill | www.abigailscollection.co.uk

NATURAL BEAUTY

I’m not used to wearing too much makeup, how can I stand out on the day but still look like me?

There’s definitely a belief that you have to wear heavy make-up on your wedding day, but personally, I don’t believe that to be true.

My advice to any brides who aren’t used to wearing much make-up, is to pick a feature you want to highlight and go for a look that will enhance that feature. For example, if you like your eyes, choose a look which will bring out those features, and keep the rest of the look more toned down. To avoid looking washed out in your photos, you may need to wear a little more make-up in some areas than you’re used to – for example blusher and under eye concealer.

Getting into a consistent skincare routine in the run up to the wedding will also be helpful. The better shape your skin is in, the less makeup will be needed to get that flawless, glowing look! A good skincare routine doesn’t have to be complicated, for some skin types just making sure your skin is properly cleansed and hydrated everyday will be enough. Different make-up artists have different styles, so if you’re considering a natural look it’s worth booking an artist that specialises in that style.

Vicky Jiggens | https://vickyjiggens.com

SELF-CARE Soothing

Our Social Media Editor, Gracie Leader, immersed herself in the world of Reiki to find out if the form of meditation can help you remain calm in the lead up to your big day

It’sno understatement to say that planning your big day can cause your stress levels to shoot all the way up. Not only are you spending a great deal of time (and money) to ensure every little detail is perfect; it also represents a giant life change you are about to experience with your partner.

That’s why, in the lead up to your nuptials, practicing self-care is more important than ever. Whilst self-care can look different for everyone (exercising, eating healthily or reading) one form of mindfulness you may not have thought of before is reiki.

Reiki is best known as a form of Complementary Therapy that focuses on energy healing. It works with the energy fields around the body and involves the transfer of universal energy, to be channelled from the practitioner’s palms to your body.

The thought process behind Reiki is that every living thing and their surrounding atmosphere contains energy, and so this can be channelled in a way to rebalance energy.

For a person, this is within the body and mind to support both your physical and emotional wellbeing. The physical in terms of aches and pains, the emotional in terms of feelings of anxiety and stress.

There is scepticism that surrounds the practice of Reiki. But there is a reason the NHS supports and recommends it as a hospital service and even if you are not a fan of spirituality, there is evidence to suggest Reiki may be useful to help manage mental health conditions, particularly anxiety, stress and depression.

Of course, I couldn’t possibly recommend Reiki without indulging in the self-care practice myself. So, in February, after a hectic and busy start to the year I met with Reiki Master, Georgina Hemsley. Georgina has been practicing Reiki for over 11 years. A qualified therapist, Georgina owned her own salon for 3 years specialising in massage, Reiki and facial treatments and a focus on organic and natural skincare.

“Reiki supports our emotional and mental well-being in many different ways, and can be different for each person, each time, Georgina explained to me. “This is dependent on what a person may be experiencing at the time of receiving reiki or if they have come for a reiki session for a specific reason, for example, to help them, in advance, navigate the sometimes overwhelming process of getting married. We suggest a treatment per month in the run up to your big day so we can support you from the beginning and you can enjoy the entire process right up to when you say I do.”

After getting myself comfortable on the treatment bed, Georgina explained how my body might (or might not) react to the treatment. She told me that some people feel very hot, others feel extremely cold, and some describe seeing bright colours or flashes of light. Georgina warned me it can be an emotional process and to allow any or all feelings to bubble up.

Georgina began the session with some guided mediation including breathwork and manifestation. She asked me to clearly consider my intentions for the rest of 2023 and place them at the front of my mind.

Your intention are vital when practicing reiki. Georgina encouraged me to ask myself “what are my stresses? Is anything troubling me? What would I like to receive?” I learnt, the more direct you can be about your self-healing practice, the more the universe will hear you.

I then received a temple massage to release tension and promote relaxation. This absolutely eased me into the right mindset for the rest of the treatment and allowed me to drift into a world of calm.

For the rest of the hour Georgina got to work – doing what she does best – using a combination of crystals, sound baths, and gentle touches to my pressure points.

At the end of the session Georgina informed me she had spent time rebalancing my chakras – noting my throat chakra was particularly unbalanced. She explained I might feel a difference in the way I communicate in the next few days - wanting to stay quiet or be more vocal.

“During a treatment, I disassociate myself from the physical being of the client. I am an extension of their energy. A vessel if you will,” Georgina explains. “It is not unusual to pick up on their feelings or any pains they may be experiencing during the session. I allow myself to be intuitively guided to move my focus to the parts of the body that need work. I clear this energy and set an intention to balance and instil a sense of calm.”

Whilst everyone sees different results from reiki, I came away from my first treatment feeling relaxed, renewed and with a sense I was better prepared to tackle anything come my way.

I recommend going in with an open mind and allow yourself to fully immerse in the treatment. Although it can’t be guaranteed the treatment will work for everyone, giving yourself an hour to switch off and allow someone else take your worries into their hands, can never be a bad idea.

As Georgina explained to me, she can’t recommend reiki enough for brides-to-be planning their big day. “We all know whilst our wedding is a magical day, the build-up can be very stressful. Reiki healing can help guide you throughout the planning and preparation, reiki will work with you to give you exactly what you need, so you can be very specific on your intention and what you want to gain from the reiki healing,” Georgina explains. “This could be to receive more support from your friends and family, to conquer any last-minute hurdles that arise, to ease your nerves, or to support your energy to feel calm and relaxed throughout.”

Caring for yourself and practicing mindfulness doesn’t always have to be seeking out these treatments however. Not everyone has the time, or indeed money, to meet a reiki master regularly.

Instead, it is important to find what works for you and build it in to your daily routine. Taking elements of Reiki into your self-care routine in the run up to the big day will help you to feel more relaxed and calmer. Self-care for you could reading, journaling or completing your skincare routine.

As Georgina is also the founder of Hemsley Organics she knows the importance of a good skin care routine. “Our Organic skincare can give you a well-deserved serotonin boost and provides an opportunity for mindfulness. Having a morning or evening routine can make you feel happier, as it’s all about the ritual and putting time and energy into making yourself feel good,” she explains. “Implementing a ritual can deepen that sense of well-being and prompt you to take just a little time out for yourself each morning and evening.”

Georgina and her husband Joe created the Anahata Collection to combine Skincare and Reiki. Feel good products that work to balance the plant-based extractions from the manufacturing process. Allowing them to be in their purest state of energy, as nature intended, supercharging them with their natural energies to enhance the efficacy of their benefits and provide a more spiritual skincare experience. For more information or to book a private reiki session with Georgina go to www.hemsleyorganics.com

BAN THE BLOAT

Professional nutritionists Wedding Wellness explain how to avoid untimely bloating on your wedding day

Oneof the most common digestive complaints is bloating, an uncomfortable, sometimes heavy sensation that can follow after eating a meal that for some, also results in feeling tired, unable to concentrate and having a physically noticeable bloated tummy. Not symptoms you want to endure on any day, let alone on one as special as your wedding.

There are many possible causes of bloating, some of which come with additional digestive complaints such as pain, constipation and flatulence – usually an indication of poor gut health. These symptoms are usually referred to as IBS by doctors, but may also be the result of intolerances, allergies or other gut disease. There are however some simple, everyday things you can consider to help reduce that after-meal bloat. County Wedding Magazines’ beauty and wellness editor, Kelly Andrews, chatted to Minal Sudra and Elizabeth Andrews from Wedding Wellness to find out more.

CHEW PROPERLY

Most of us chow down through conversation, mid emails or in front of the telly without giving much thought to chewing our food. But, there are enzymes in the mouth that kick start digestion and if you haven’t allowed enough time for them to work in the mouth, it can make life more difficult for the rest of the gut to properly break down food, leading to irritation and bloating. Aim to chew each bite 20 to 30

times to allow the gut to digest with ease.

EAT AWAY FROM DISTRACTIONS

Focussing on food in front of you not only helps you to taste it better, your brain also has the chance to engage with what you see and smell before the first bite. Without the distraction of something else, potentially stressful, such as work emails, social media, or the latest crime drama on TV, your body is in a state of calm referred to as “rest and digest,” which is optimal at meal times. An otherwise engaged body won’t produce enough stomach acid to properly break down food, which may result in bloating and irritation. Take a proper lunch break, sit at the dining table without the TV on and put your phone away to allow your gut to concentrate on doing its thing.

START WITH SOMETHING BITTER

Ever wondered why a bitter green salad usually accompanies steak, or mint sauce is served with lamb? Bitter foots such as rocket, kale, chicory, lemon and watercress help kick start the digestive process by encouraging stomach acid production. This is especially important for meals that include fats and red meat, which compared to other foods, take longer to break down. Include raw and bitter foods with a lemon or vinegary dressing to start your meal and help your gut prepare for optimal digestion.

AVOID DRINKING WITH MEALS

It’s important for the stomach to be very acidic when digesting food, but drinking lots of liquid between mouthfuls can lower the concentration of acid, reducing the rate at which the gut digests. It’s recommended to drink 20 to 30 minutes before or after a meal to aid efficient digestion and prevent bloating. If you do like to drink with your food, stick to smaller sips rather than large gulps.

LOOK OUT FOR PATTERNS

If you tend to feel bloated after most meals, take note of what might be causing it. Some common culprits can be gluten or wheat, dairy, sugar, or fat-heavy foods such as red meat and fried foods. Compare how you feel when you don’t eat these items to get an idea of triggers or possible intolerances. Speak to a health professional for tailored advice and support on how to improve your symptoms with functional testing available for further insight.

CONTACT OUR EXPERTS

Wedding Wellness offers bespoke services for brides, grooms and couples, to help you reach your health and wellness goals in the lead up to your big day. Always consult a professional if you have any specific skin concerns or medical conditions for personalised support. Check out www.wedding-wellness.co.uk

HOT TOPIC

Our local experts solve your wedding dilemmas

LUXE FLORALS

We’re having a 1920s-inspired wedding and would love to incorporate the era into our decor. What flowers will create a luxurious atmosphere?

That’s easy, luxury, scented, garden roses with velvety petals. Flowering

jasmine for the dreamy smell and the softness. A real mix of textures in a elegant, romantic bouquet finished with silk ribbon.

Sian Hardingham | Hollington’s Floral Design www.instagram.com/hollingtons_floral_design

CAPTURE THE MOMENT

I have an upcoming engagement shoot and I’m terrified. Where should it be, what do I wear, what should I do!?

The first thing I’d say is that it’s okay to be nervous about the shoot. Being in front of the camera isn’t normal for anyone and your engagement shoot is about learning to get comfortable, getting to know your photographer and how they work plus learning what you like and don’t like so when it comes to your wedding day, you’re going to have confidence that you’ll have images that you love. As photographers, we want you to enjoy yourselves as much as possible and if you’re having fun, then so are we.

When it comes to your engagement shoot, you have complete freedom in terms of location. We always recommend picking somewhere that’s sentimental to you both or a place that represents your relationship, this could be a nice woodland walk, the local beach or even an arcade. We have a backup list of recommended locations for our couples if you’re still struggling to choose.

In terms of what to wear, I’d try to avoid having too many bright and lairy patterns. Go for something a bit more neutral so the focus is more on you as a couple rather than what you’re wearing. That being said, it’s your engagement shoot if you want to be loud and proud, go for it!

Jordan Bright | Capture House Weddings www.capturehouseweddings.co.uk

FUR BABIES WELCOME!

I’d love to bring my fur baby, a golden cockapoo, to our wedding but I just don’t know how to broach the subject with the venues. Is this a common ask? Don’t be nervous, this is becoming a standard question at viewings lately, as more and more couples want their dogs to be involved in their weddings. At That Amazing Place we love dogs and are totally dog friendly. They can even stay overnight, so you won’t have the worry of who will look after them whilst all your family and friends are celebrating with you.

Angie Roberts

That Amazing Place

www.thatamazingplace.co.uk

CENTRE OF ATTENTION

I want showstopping centrepieces! What can I do that hasn’t been seen before? For the real wow factor when you walk in the room, go big on florals and mass foliage for a wild and natural look. Hiring silk flower centrepieces can be more cost effective than fresh allowing you to go bigger for a smaller price. Choosing a good supplier that uses good quality silk flowers is a must, and your guests need never know that they’re not real! Ensure your display is on a transparent vase or a stand that doesn’t block the view when your guests are seated. Geometric stands are perfect as you can see right through them when sat at the table and they give a lovely height for that all important gorgeous silk flower display! Little details are also important – choose some candles at the base or hanging candles for that extra romantic touch. Mix and match! If you have over 10 tables, consider pairing with matching low centrepieces to give a mix of heights and interest in the room. And finally, don’t forget to consider your top table. Choose a luxury arrangement that complements your centrepieces, this could be an arrangement at the centre of your table, or a full-length floral runner for that added pizzazz!

Emma Fews | Elf Occasions

www.elfoccasions.co.uk

FESTIVAL QUEEN

I’m having a festival themed wedding and want something to entertain the guests in the afternoon/evening. Do you have any suggestions?

At a festival everyone likes to let their hair down and feel in the party spirit, so how about a glitter bar! Kids and adults will love it. Lucy’s Glitter Box has a biodegradable glitter bar, getting everyone in the festival spirit and then a photo booth to capture the special moments, creating a wonderful memento for your guests and a fabulous guestbook for you!

Lucy’s Glitter Box is in a converted sequinned horse box, how more festival can it get?

Lucy Keeble

Lucy‘sGlitter Box

www.instagram.com/lucysglitterbox_/

Following the success of its first ever perfume, Bentley has launched a new luxurious scent called Bentley For Men Azure.

This powerfully expressive fragrance is a fresh twist on a modern creation that’s perfect for smart and style-conscious men. With notes of fruity pineapple, violet leaves, sage and cashmere wood, this fragrance is a contemporary burst of freshness.

Visit www.bentley-fragrances.com for more information.

Grooms’

To celebrate 60 years of the James Bond film franchise, N.Peal London has reimagined some of the spy’s most memorable looks in the brand’s signature style.

The 60th Anniversary Cashmere Collection features some of Bond’s iconic outfits from across eight of the spy’s most popular films. The collection includes overcoats, suits, jackets, sweaters and accessories inspired by Dr. No, Goldfinger, You Only Live Twice, The Man with the Golden Gun, The Spy Who Loved Me, Moonraker, Skyfall, Spectre and No Time to Die

Discover more at www.npeal.com

Award-winning men’s haircare brand, Salt Grooming offers styling products created using natural ingredients that are organic, sustainably sourced, paraben-free, and made in Britain.

NEWS

Grooms editor Melissa Cullen reveals the latest best buys and product launches

Brioni have been tailoring experts since 1945, marrying effortless Roman elegance with the finest Italian craftsmanship. To expand its offerings, the company has released its third men’s fragrance.

Eau de Parfum Éclat is a refined, joyful scent bursting with sustainable materials. Housed in a sleek, eco-responsible glass bottle, this new creation has notes of grapefruit, radiant roses and sandalwood and would make the perfect gift for the groom-to-be.

Check out www.brioni.com for more information.

Previously frustrated by the lack of choice compared to the women’s range of haircare products, founder Piers Le Moignan has embarked on a mission to develop a styling range using the very best ingredients.

Salt Grooming has launched the new Master Collection Limited Edition Gift Set, which is perfect for grooms-to-be. Presented in a luxury matte stamped box, it includes hair clay, a lightweight spray and thickening shampoo and conditioner.

Founder Piers says: “Our thickening shampoo and conditioner are our most clinically advanced formulas yet. They’re packed full of seven powerful and proven active ingredients in generous doses, directly addressing a broad range of men’s haircare concerns.”

Head over to www.saltgrooming.com for more information.

The Henley Collection at Rotary Watches has several new iterations. The collection has swiftly become a beloved staple at Rotary Watches and is a popular choice in the brand’s portfolio. Known amongst fans as a versatile collection of day watches that incorporate contemporary designs into classic pieces, the new versions have much to offer and would make a great gift.

Powerfully built in stainless steel and sapphire glass, each timepiece contains a Miyota quartz-powered chronograph movement and date function. The striking intricacies of the timepieces are further complemented by each watch’s dial and bezel colour to suit different tastes. In addition to these colourful details, each watch in the new range features classic odes to sport watches and a stop/start function.

For more information, visit www.rotarywatches.com

SuitedAND BOOTED

Styling advice for the groom-to-be

Choosing a wedding dress is only part of the story when it comes to your big-day styling. To achieve a coordinated look, it’s important to think about what the groom-to-be and groomsmen will be wearing too. What you choose will ultimately come down to the style of wedding that you’re planning, the location and, of course, the time of year. To help you create the perfect look, the experts at Suit Direct (www.suitdirect.co.uk) have shared their styling advice.

HOW SHOULD A SUIT FIT?

Whichever style you go for can make or break your look. An ill-fitting suit, sagging shoulders, or a bunched-up jacket instantly cheapens your look – so how can you tell if a suit fits correctly?

Shoulders – a perfect fit will see your suit jacket lie flat on your shoulders and not be too bunched up or hanging off at the edges. A good benchmark is being able to relax your shoulders easily and comfortably.

Jacket – a suit jacket should close without strain and not cause creases, bunching, or sag forward when buttoned up. Equally, it should drape smartly when open and not droop down at the sides. You should be able to slide your thumb between the button of the jacket and your stomach without it feeling too tight or loose. In terms of length, the bottom of the jacket should end where your thumb knuckle is, and you should leave the bottom button undone to allow more freedom of movement.

Arms – the sleeves of a suit should be snug but not tight and show around 1cm of the shirt’s cuff – perfect if you want to show off cufflinks.

Trousers – the trousers of your suit should fit comfortably around the waist without falling away from your hips. They should just graze the top of your shoes or even leave a small gap. Trousers that are too long will bunch up and spill over your shoe – so make sure you know your leg measurements.

HOW TO MEASURE A SUIT

Measuring for a suit can take a little bit of effort, but it’s worthwhile to ensure you look sleek and sophisticated on the day. Size up if you’re looking for a skinny-fit jacket and trousers, and don’t rely on old measurements – you’d be surprised how quickly they can change.

Measure and note down the most prominent part of your chest, the narrowest part of your

waist and from the top seam of your inside leg to the trouser hem. Then, slip on a jacket and measure from your shoulder to your shirt’s cuff. Men with larger waistlines should take this measurement where they would naturally wear their trousers – this will ensure a plus-sized gentleman can still get a comfortable fit.

HOW TO MIX AND MATCH SUITS?

When it comes to mixing and matching, the main thing to note is the colour of each suiting element; create a combination that works in harmony, complements each piece and doesn’t clash too much. Pair a coloured jacket with dark trousers or chinos for the perfect smart-casual look, or pair a classic tailored men’s suit jacket with a mismatched pair of coloured trousers. Whether you’re after a formal look or a creative combo – the options are endless. The suit has evolved, and it’s now acceptable to wear tailoring your way.

NATURAL It’s only

With neutral colour palettes on the rise, we’ve rounded up some of our favourite products to ensure you look on-trend this season

JA637 Stand Out Summer Blazer, £110, www.joebrowns.co.uk

Antique Gold Brimstone Silk Single Breasted 6 Button Waistcoat, £360, www.favourbrook.com

SM559 Summer Print Shirt, £38, www.joebrowns.co.uk

Square-Toe Moccasin Loafers, £95, www.dunelondon.com

Oxford Blue Dried Flower Buttonhole, £16, www.maryelizabethflowers.co.uk

Tommy Hilfiger Men’s Weston Chronograph Leather Strap Watch 1710501, £179, https://uk.tommy.com

Stone Evering Linen Double Breasted 8 Button Shawl Lapel Piped Waistcoat, £208, www.favourbrook.com

Reiss Saturn Woven Tie, £58, www.next.co.uk

Organic Bray Herringbone Windsor Trousers, £260, www.favourbrook.com

Stone Linen Suit Jacket, www.jaeger.co.uk

HONEYMOONNews

Travel editor Melissa Cullen reveals new openings and honeymoon essentials

FRANCE

Located in the heart of Burgundy, France, one of the world’s most prestigious wine regions, is the new hotel COMO Le Montrachet.

Built on the former historic Hotel Le Montrachet, the new COMO property will be revamped and re-imagined by esteemed designer Paola Navone. The five-star building will be arranged across four heritage buildings, each of which will house sophisticated, sanctuary-like suites and rooms. Set to open in spring 2023, couples will adore the Shambhala Retreat, the first of its kind in France, exquisite dining options and wine experiences in one of France’s most beautiful settings.

To find out more, visit www.comohotels.com/new-como-properties

SAINT LUCIA

Couples looking for a picturesque honeymoon will love the new Total Romance Package at Jade Mountain, Saint Lucia, which includes everything from all-inclusive dining to a bottle of champagne on arrival. There are a wide variety of activities to choose from, including a tour of the nearby volcano, sulphur springs and mineral baths, a scuba diving course, a half-day sailing on a skippered resort yacht, and a relaxing Swedish massage.

Find out more at www.jademountain.com

SPAIN

Glamorous gastronomy awaits at Ibiza Gran Hotel, which was awarded Best Gastronomic Hotel of 2022, and is a must-visit for couples who love food. Its Michelin-starred flagship restaurant delivers seasonal, locally-inspired cuisine with a celebrated Mediterranean flare.

The property recently launched two new restaurants driven by a two-star Michelin chef, as well as a vibrant new late-night venue from the team behind the world-famous Park Chinois in Mayfair.

For more information, visit www.ibizagranhotel.com

MALDIVES

InterContinental Maldives Maamunagau Resort, an exclusive private island resort on the southernmost tip of Raa Atoll, has launched an Island Romance Package. Perfect for a luxurious getaway or honeymoon, couples can indulge in lazy mornings by the pool, rejuvenating wellness treatments and intimate dining experiences.

The luxury package includes a stay in a beautifully-appointed villa or residence of the guest’s choice, a bottle of champagne, a three-course dinner at The Lighthouse, a 60-minute couples treatment at the overwater AVI Spa, and Club InterContinental benefits.

Visit www.ihg.com for more information.

SINGAPORE

Mondrian, part of Ennismore, a hospitality group with a global collective of 14 brands, will open a new property in Singapore in March 2023. The brand’s southeast Asian debut will inject its signature blend of art, glamour and culinary flair into the vibrant neighbourhood of Duxton Hill.

Rising above the historic and colourful Chinatown shophouses with sweeping views of the glittering city skyline, Mondrian Singapore Duxton is a stone’s throw from the Central Business District and will house 302 guestrooms and suites, a cinematic rooftop pool and restaurants and bars.

For more information, head over to the website www.sbe.com/hotels

SOUTH AFRICA

Part of the Misty Mountain Reserve in South Africa, the new glass Ocean Dome is nestled within the indigenous Tsitsikamma Forest, 230m above the sea. Surrounded by nature, this stargazing accommodation offers captivating views of the Indian Ocean. Whether lazing on the air bed with a book or soaking up the bubbles in a tub, the dome promises the ultimate relaxation experience.

There are several activities available and day trips to Misty can be organised for couples wanting to explore the local area. Visit www.mistymountainreserve.co.za for more information.

TURKEY

The Mediterranean’s new chic boutique resort, Yazz Collective, is opening for its first full season in 2023. Set within a private bay in Fethiye, Turkey, the resort boasts an unrivalled location and is only accessible by sea.

This serene retreat turns the volume up at the weekends as resident DJs take centre stage to host sundown session and after dinner parties.

Comprised of a beach restaurant, with menus boasting seasonal ingredients and local produce, a bustling bar and 16 luxury guest houses peppered amongst verdant gardens, the resort has been designed to sit in harmony with the surrounding nature.

Discover more at www.yazzcollective.com

GREECE

Parga Beach Resort in Greece has unveiled 23 new luxury suites for 2023. Set directly on blue-flag Valtos Beach, the resort has chosen to expand after experiencing a 30 per cent increase in bookings year on year post-pandemic.

Featuring a harmonious minimal design with private balconies, terraces and some with private plunge pools, the suites offer a true sense of seclusion. Suited to couples and families alike, travellers of all ages are invited to explore the new facilities. Check out www.pargabeachresort.gr for more information.

with me Fly away

We’ve rounded up some of our favourite city escapes

RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA

ROME, ITALY

With a vibrant street life, cobbled streets and awe-inspiring art, Rome is undoubtedly one of the world’s most romantic cities. Love has always been a part of the story of Rome, with the largest temple in the Roman Forum being dedicated to Venus and Roma: the goddess of love and the goddess that personified the city.

Set in the heart of Rome’s historical centre, Rhinoceros Roma was established by Alda Fendi in 2018 and designed by world-renowned French architect, Jean Nouvel. The boutique features a modern and industrial vibe with new-meets-old design details throughout.

Home to 25 rooms, from studio apartments to penthouse suites, Rhinoceros Roma provides a haven for couples wanting to explore what this romantic city has to offer.

Discover more at www.rhinocerosroma.com

The Radisson Hotel Group has had a stellar year of openings and is planning to add new additions to its already impressive collection of properties. One of which is Mansard Riyadh in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, which was named because of its distinct Mansard rooflines. Designed as a homage to the signature Parisian Haussmann style of the mid-1800s, the property is made up of 191 luxurious rooms, serviced apartments and duplex villas catering to short and long-term stays. The hotel is adding an outpost of New York’s Michelin-starred Carbone restaurant in 2023, which is a must-visit for couples staying at the property.

For more information, visit www.radissonhotels.com

MARRAKESH, MOROCCO

Nobu Hotel Marrakech is the Nobu brand’s first hotel in Africa. First opening its doors in January 2023, the property is just steps away from the city’s cultural epicentre, where rich heritage meets contemporary flair. The luxury lifestyle destination is complete with 71 spacious suites, a stunning rooftop lounge and restaurant, a 2,000 sq. ft luxurious spa and fitness centre, indoor and outdoor swimming pools and a restaurant. Find out more at www.marrakech.nobuhotels.com

BRUSSELS, BELGIUM

Couples looking for a cosy experience in the heart of Brussels, Belgium, will love Craves. The perfect spot to discover the rich Medieval architecture, art, culture and sensational foodie scenes, Craves opened in July 2022 and was designed by renowned London-based Saar Zafrir Design.

The 59-room boutique hotel and restaurant will transport guests to the early 1900s Burlesque-era with its decadent interiors intended to arouse the senses. Craves evokes a dark and opulent aesthetic with comfortable rooms, lavish velvet furnishings and antique accessories reminiscent of Art Deco interiors.

Perfectly located within walking distance to the Grand Place landmark in Brussels, guests can discover the cultural hotspot while staying in one of the city’s chicest boltholes.

Visit www.craves-hotel.com for more information.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA

For generations, the Department of Education building in Sydney’s Sandstone Precinct has stood empty, but in March 2023, it reopened as Capella Sydney. This heritage-listed icon marks the first property under the Capella Hotels and Resorts group to open in Australia.

Spanning eight levels, the 192 guestrooms and suites are anchored by three ground-level food and beverage outlets, with spaces throughout with commissioned and collected artworks – all within footsteps of the harbour foreshore, the famed Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge.

Centred around the 20-metre heated indoor swimming pool, facilities exclusive to in-house guests include a high-tech fitness centre featuring Technogym equipment, a yoga platform, well-appointed changing rooms complete with a sauna, and a spa showcasing immersive treatment rooms for couples.

To find out more, visit www.capellahotels.com

PARIS, FRANCE

Located on the corner of Rue des Archives and Rue de la Verrerie, in the heart of Paris, Hôtel Le Grand Mazarin is the first urban hotel in the Maisons Pariente Collection. Joyful and flamboyant, Hôtel Le Grand Mazarin is a showcase of elegance with a mixture of styles and eras with a touch of humour.

The five-star hotel boasts 61 uniquely-decorated rooms and suites, a spectacular restaurant, a bar and a swimming pool.

Head over to www.legrandmazarin.com for more information.

BERLIN, GERMANY

Couples looking for a romantic escape in the heart of the city of Berlin, Germany, will be delighted by the Provocateur Hotel. Located in the upscale Charlottenburg neighbourhood and designed by renowned London-based Saar Zafrir Design, the 58 room boutique hotel, bar and restaurant transports its guests to the early 1900s Burlesque-era with its decadent interiors.

The Provocateur Hotel embodies old-school glamour with opulent, intricate interiors, red and blue colours, soft velvet furnishings and antiqued accessories, including a elevator dating back to 1912.

Couples staying at the hotel can sample a delicious Chinese-French menu and a four-course tasting menu at the hotel’s Golden Phoenix Restaurant, helmed by chef Duc Ngo.

Perfectly located just a short stroll distance from Berlin’s famed historic institutions, the hotel is within easy reach of local art galleries and tourist attractions.

Discover more at www.provocateur-hotel.com

ATHENS, GREECE

Dave Red Athens is a boutique hotel located in the heart of Athens, Greece, and is the first international outpost from the Brown Hotels’ affordable urban collection.

The property opened its doors in July 2022 and breathes a fresh, young energy into the recently transformed Omonia Square. Set just a stone’s throw away from its sister property, Brown Acropol, the 87-room boutique hotel features the brand’s distinguishable, punchy décor, with an industrial-style interior and fiery red branding.

Home to a bar, restaurant and a soon-to-launch underground nightclub, Dave Red Athens is perfect for exploring what the city has to offer. The property’s spacious rooftop offers undisrupted far-reaching views of the ancient city, a pool table, a Jacuzzi hot tub, a massage room and complimentary sparkling wine on tap.

Check out www.brownhotels.com/athens/davered for more information.

A SPA DAY Santa needs

Located on the banks of the picture-perfect River Thames in Surrey, just 10 minutes from Windsor, The

on Thames is a modern fourstar hotel with an award-winning spa offering.

Now, I’ve been lucky enough to stay at The Runnymede once before, although the warm summer’s day certainly wasn’t comparable to the wintry, grey November day I found myself in when visiting a second time. I wondered; did it alter my view having been before? Could I honestly find enough about it to tell all my lovely readers about an authentic experience – well, read on, because you’ll hear why it was second time’s a charm for me!

As previously mentioned, the ominous grey skies of this winter’s day (and the M25 car park), hadn’t set me up for the most relaxed of mindsets to start my night away at The Runnymede. Arriving at the hotel, I was a tad deflated to say the least. However, no sooner had I trudged my way through the hotel’s revolving front doors was I warmed to the bones with a cosy ambience exuding from the lounge and lobby area. A true winter-warmer, there was a huge log fire keeping everyone toasty, Christmas trees and decorations glistening in abundance, low lighting complementing the hum of people relaxing and chatting away – I was instantly enthralled.

The modern aesthetic of the hotel has been sympathetically considered so that style never surpasses comfort. The large sofas and seating areas are all strategically placed to provide snug yet social spaces to catch up with loved ones or enjoy as a romantic twosome. Attentive waiters attend to your needs immediately; it wasn’t long before I was relaxing on a plush sofa next to the log fire, looking out at the river – still picturesque even in the winter – with a cocktail in hand. My morning was forgotten, a distant memory, although I think the cocktail helped with that too!

Our spacious River View suite was more than enough for two people on a much-needed night away. Armchairs and a table perfectly poised to watch the river run by, an enormous bed offered a perfect night’s sleep, and the bathroom was a suite in itself: two sinks and mirrors, walk-in shower and bath – it was like your very own beauty parlour! I could have easily whiled away an hour or two in our suite, but I swiftly changed into my robe, grabbed my book and headed down to the spa.

The spa is accessible from the main hotel, with its own entrance and reception area it feels like a luxurious members-only retreat. Whether you want to get the endorphins going in the fitness centre – which boasts river views – or while away the time in the swimming pool or Jacuzzi it’s got something for everyone. There are also adult-only times for the facilities which is perfect for minimooners.

After reading a few chapters in my book while enjoying a fruit

tea in the spa’s lounge area, I was greeted by a therapist to take me for my complimentary treatment an ESPA Back, Neck & Shoulder Massage.

Now, I’m a bit of a tough nut to crack, not just because I’m knotted up like a coil, but I also find it hard to practice mindfulness and enjoy the experience. I’m also out of my comfort-zone sat there in only a towel – I even hide in the bathroom at home! My therapist Claire was amazing, putting me at ease, she was incredibly knowledgeable and happy to answer any questions I had; it speaks volumes that I was able to nearly doze off! I also felt the knots in my back disperse for the first time, I knew I’d had a thoroughly wonderful and beneficial massage. The Runnymede is perfect for a spot of pre- or post-wedding pampering, treatments include manicures, pedicures, facials, waxing and a variety of massages as well as half-day and full-day spa experiences.

When staying in hotels, I’m always keen to book into the restaurants rather than venture out. Both dinner and breakfast were served in Leftbank, the hotel’s renowned buffet restaurant with floor-to-ceiling windows with views of the river. At night, the dark winter evening was interspersed with intimate lighting, and the hotel’s festive décor really came in to its own with an extra splattering of fairylights and shimmering tones. The food was insatiable, for even the most discerning of critic who may shy away from the word ‘buffet’ but this is not an average offering!

With all kinds of culinary delights from delicious antipasti boards and salads to a variety of meat and fish options there’s something for everyone for starters, mains and desserts. As it was a Sunday we delved in to a hearty roast dinner (which was also on offer) and, not that I really had room for dessert but they certainly went down a treat – I tried three of the delicacies on offer! The open kitchen, wood-fired oven and rotisserie also provide a visual extravaganza too, cooking right before your eyes. Breakfast the next day didn’t disappoint either. Due to the light flooding in, the Leftbank feels bright and airy in the mornings, energising you for the day ahead. Again, there was possibly too much choice of fare from continental to hot cooked options, sweet and savoury, healthy fruits and muesli. There was not one fault in the dining experience on offer here.

After a final coffee, gazing at the river, we were thinking about our day ahead in Windsor complete with a visit to the castle to see the Christmas decorations! Alas, it was time to say goodbye. I couldn’t quite believe the whirlwind 24-hours I had here and that was all down to the wonderful experience The Runnymede had given me. From the surroundings to the staff, the wellbeing ethos to the mouth-watering food, I was looked after, rejuvenated and ready for the world again. Thank you!

Runnymede

The Runnymede on Thames set the scene for a much-needed pre-Christmas break for Danielle Harvey…

WIN A FOUR-NIGHT BREAK IN TUSCANY

The ultimate honeymoon destination, the romance of Tuscany awaits

Located in the Tuscan region, both Grand Universe Lucca and Renaissance Tuscany II Ciocco are characterised by their elegance and luxury service. Alongside their stunning views, whether that be the terracotta tiles of Lucca’s city center or the rolling hills of Lucca’s wine region there’s history in abundance. As the birthplace of olive oil and famous classical composer, Giacomo Puccini, explore the region’s winding ancient walls, or stroll through the city’s many piazzas sampling the local produce and cuisine. Spend two nights at Grand Universe exploring the city’s romantic, candle-lit streets, later retiring to the hotel’s Champagne Rooftop for a complimentary glass of fizz and dinner in the hotel’s Legacy Restaurant. Once the city has been explored, continue your adventure into the mountains and vineyards of Tuscany for a stay at Renaissance Tuscany II Ciocco, where a spa treatment for two awaits, alongside dinner at the hotel’s La Salette restaurant.

THE PRIZE

 Two nights at Grand Universe Lucca (breakfast for two persons for each night)

 Two nights at Renaissance Tuscany II Ciocco (breakfast for two persons for each night)

 One dinner for two at each hotel

 A drink for two at Grand Universe Lucca’s Champagne Rooftop bar

 A luxury spa treatment for two at Renaissance Tuscany II Ciocco

For your chance to win, answer this following question and enter online at www.anessex.wedding

Q: In which part of Tuscany are the hotels located, the North or South?

AFFAIR A grand

Louise Prance experienced the ultimate luxury combined with traditional Greek appeal at Rhodes-based Ixian Grand & All Suites

Approaching Rhodes by air, you’d be forgiven for missing a bird’s-eye view of the Ixian Grand & All Suites thanks to the beauty of Greece’s largest island, but for the eagle-eyed travellers you can spot the hotel due to its inimitable layout and luxurious beachfront private pool suites nestled luxuriously on the beach of Ixia Bay, just metres away from the sea.

Ixian Grand & All Suites is only 7km away from Rhodes town and the Medieval City of Rhodes, as well as being a mere 10-minute drive from Filerimos, one of the three ancient cities of Rhodes.

Overlooking the Ixia Bay and Aegean Sea, this hotel has the beauty of being adult-only, so is the ideal destination for a honeymoon offering total relaxation.

LUXE APPEAL

With 124 deluxe guestrooms with garden or sea view, the garden complex offers accommodation in 122 spacious and comfortable guestrooms, while the suites area is comprised of five buildings with 102 rooms and suites.

While all rooms offer a level of luxury only befitting a resort of this calibre, the aforementioned beachfront private pool suites are without doubt the way to go if you’re looking for a once-ina-lifetime experience, and I can attest you will wake up every morning to pinch-me-moments looking out over your private infinity pool to the crystal clear Aegean sea that stretches as far as

the eye can see. Looking for further wow factor? Enjoy a romantic soak in the bath and appreciate the floor-to-ceiling windows while watching the sun set over the ocean.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

Talking romance, no honeymoon is complete without a romantic meal or five, and the Ixian Grand & All Suites has romantic eateries down to a fine art. Vis-à-Vis, the hotel’s main buffet restaurant, focuses mostly on the Mediterranean diet and the Greek cuisine, but also international food.

Milonges, is an open-air restaurant offers traditional Greek cuisine and is located by the main swimming pool, serving lunch and dinner, while Muza Htista offers Japanese and Peruvian cultures. My personal favourite was the Alazonia Suites Restaurant – while only available to those staying in suites, this stylish restaurant serves breakfast and dinner, with outdoor or indoor seating options.

Evenings were spent embracing the laidback Greek culture and indulging in a tipple or three at Truman’s Lobby Bar, which has a stunning terrace with views to the gardens, pools and the sea.

AND RELAX…

If you’re able to drag yourself away from the room, the pools and the idyllic scenery, then it’s almost a perquisite to try out the hotel’s spa, and Ixian Grand & All Suites offers one of the most tranquil I’ve had the pleasure of attending.

Offering massages, facials and beauty therapies, the spa also has an indoor pool and a Turkish bath, as well as a complimentary gym with a fitness instructor offering various daily classes – if you’re so inclined. I opted for a more relaxing pastime instead, and indulged in a full body

massage. An hour of total bliss, I emerged feeling even more relaxed, if that’s at all possible.

SIGHT SEEING

While it may be unimaginable why you’d want to leave the hotel’s complex, it would be remiss to visit a Greek island and not explore the locality and embrace the culture. We opted for a day trip to the Medieval Rhodes Old Town.

With walls four kilometres long, the Old Town is a UNESCO World Heritage site and dates back more than 2000 years. With a breathtaking history, the site features Medieval buildings, mosques, traditional fountains, oriental motifs, Byzantine and Gothic churches, shops, a market and restaurants aplenty.

We whiled away hours mooching inbetween the castle walls, picking up classic Greek souvenirs before sampling traditional Greek food – and of course wine. What could be better than enjoying a sun-drenched glass of white while looking at white-washed buildings before heading back for sundowners at the hotel?

No honeymoon would be complete without getting out on the water, and activities abound in Rhodes. From SUP fun, to romantic boat rides, to kayak tours. Tick the aqua box and your romantic Greek getaway would be really complete.

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Over 40 years of unforgettable wedding days

www.channelsestate.co.uk

Situated just north of Chelmsford, the beautifully restored 17th century, thatched Essex Barn is the idyllic venue for your special day.

Outside wedding garden, hotel facilities, including bridal preparation areas, stunning grounds for beautiful photos, experience and quality cuisine, Channels Estate really does tick all the boxes!

With a stunning outside ceremony garden, you can tie the knot under the beautiful thatched cart house. With antique pews, its known as the “Church without a Roof”. Of course if the weather isn’t being fair, then you have the option of marrying in the Essex Barn.

The catering at Channels is all in-house, and the experienced team pride themselves on being flexible and accommodating to individual requirements. Every wedding day is unique to the couples preferences.

Channels Estate also holds a 30+ luxury hotel, it boasts some of the finest accommodation in Essex, with a dedicated Bridal house the night before, with hot tub, and preparation areas. Then the glorious Oak Suite for the first night of your married lives.

To request for a brochure, with prices and menus. Contact sales@channelsestate.co.uk or 01245 440005 (ext 2)

Image by Andy Griffin Photography