NEARLYWED NEWS

Aztec Hotel and Spa have announced a new Taste of Autumn package partnering with local candle brand, Libby Lavender Cotswolds. Available throughout October and November with prices starting from £90, each spa day package comes with a beautiful Gingered Wild Fig candle worth £30 to continue the warming, comforting feeling of bliss that comes from your visit.

The package invites you to enjoy three hours of relaxation in the beautiful pool, thermal experiences and new relaxation lounge. Also included is a delicious afternoon tea, which can be enjoyed in the autumn sunshine on the terrace overlooking the onsite lily pad pond. As a guest, you’ll also be treated to a 25-minute Temple Spa shoulder and scalp My Kinda Massage, using the In Good Spirits massage oil scented with ginger and bergamot to stimulate the body and soul, leaving you feeling restored and revived.

Find out more at www.aztechotelbristol.co.uk

DECADENT FESTIVE LUXURY

Is it too early to talk about Christmas? Never, in our opinion! If wedding planning has left you so worn out you don’t feel like hosting this year, or if you’re keen to celebrate your last Christmas before the big “I do” alone together,why not consider a decadent Christmas Day lunch prepared entirely by expert chefs in one of the UK’s most idyllic cities? The Elder in Bath is offering just that. Set inside a beautiful Georgian building on South Parade, which is bound to look all the more magical at Christmas, The Elder is the place to enjoy authentic, honest and timeless British cooking.

Christmas Day lunch at The Elder promises to be a spectacular festive feast featuring an eight-course menu celebrating not just the season, but the very best of Britain’s natural larder. At £140 per person guests will be treated to dishes such as artichoke velouté with Creedy Carver duck canapés; cured chalk stream trout with coastal herbs, pickled cucumbers and Celtic mustard; fallow deer Wellington with truffle mashed potato, maple glazed parsnips and deer gravy; or a perfectly Christmassy butter poached and roasted bronze turkey with goose fat roasties; and Christmas pudding with brandy butter and custard for dessert. All produce is sourced locally and sustainably.

Bookings are open now, so to make an enquiry get in touch at enquiries@theelder.co.uk. Find out more at http://theelder.co.uk

NEWS Nearlywed Catch up on the latest from around the region

NEW IN TOWN

Coppa Club’s newest location, The Bath Townhouse, opened in August. The latest addition to its growing portfolio, this will be the group’s 11th location and its second property in the South West of England. With two floors, each with its own personality, it will allow guests to use the space in different ways to suit their mood.

The striking Grade II listed property with a classy Georgian facade and original Art Deco features, sits on Old Bond Street in the heart of Bath’s bustling shopping district. The ground floor will host a vibrant main restaurant, bar and cafe space. While on the second floor, guests can experience Upstairs at The Townhouse, a sultry all-day lounge bar serving signature cocktails and food. At twilight, it becomes candle lit, the music is turned up and the atmosphere shifts from relaxed daytime to an intimate bar filled with laughter and chatter. It’s also the ideal size for private events, so it’s worth checking it out if you’re planning a classy hen or sten, or even a pre-wedding rehearsal dinner.

Discover more at www.coppaclub.co.uk/the-bath-townhouse

www.jayrowden.com

WE FINALLY DO

As part of a partnership with Operation Recuperation, Apex Hotels have gifted five NHS workers the wedding of their dreams as a thank you for their hard work and sacrifices during the pandemic.

The third NHS wedding took place at the luxury Apex City of Bath Hotel in August. Lara Jeanes and Sam Gilks were chosen from hundreds of applicants to have their dream day realised. After Sam proposed in 2019, the couple were looking forward to spending the year planning and saving for their big day in 2020. However, as Covid-19 hit, junior doctor Lara was deployed to an intensive care unit where she was treating the sickest patients. “I’ve never been in a situation like that before,” she says. “My job was to put people on ventilators to keep them alive and support their organs and my everyday shifts were 12 hours long, which meant I’d be wearing PPE for up to eight hours a day. That’s eight hours where I couldn’t eat, drink or go to the bathroom. It was exhausting.” To make matters worse for the couple, the pandemic meant their 13-month-old daughter Sienna couldn’t go to nursery and so Sam, who worked in food operations, had to quit his job to care for her. “Instead of saving for a wedding, we were suddenly reduced to one income,” he says.

Apex Hotels treated Lara and Sam to a complimentary wedding package, including a three-course wedding breakfast in one of the hotel’s stunning suites, with drinks, evening buffet and upgraded wedding-night accommodation in their luxury rooms. The couple also had full access to the hotel’s relaxing spa facilities so they could fully unwind before the big day. The ceremony itself took place at the historical Roman Baths, which is mere moments away from the hotel. Lara and Sam said their vows beside the torchlit steaming waters, which was exactly the outdoor wedding they dreamed of.

To complete the day, the pair were gifted other wedding essentials from some of Apex’s trusted suppliers. The whole event was beautifully captured by Jay Rowden Photography, flowers were provided by The Painted Flower, and Celebration Roadshow made sure the evening party was kept in full swing. Lara was made to look picture perfect thanks to make-up artist Lisa Caldognetto Bridal and hair stylist DM Hairdressing. Meanwhile, the botanical-themed wedding cake was especially designed and made for the occasion by The Gorge Bakehouse.

Find out more about tying the knot at Apex City of Bath Hotel www.apexhotels.co.uk/destinations/bath/apex-city-of-bath-hotel Getting your nearest and dearest together for a hen party can be challenging and pairing that with a cost-of-living crisis might mean you’re looking to celebrate a little closer to home. So, hen party decoration supplier Ginger Ray has done a little digging to find you the top 19 UK cities to host your pre-wedding girls trip and it may delight you to know that you don’t have far to travel for the very best!

Based on an overall ranking of cities providing the most options for a memorable stay, according to Trip Advisor data, considering everything from bottomless brunches and spa treatments to availability of the hugely popular Whispering Angel wine, our beloved Bath came out top.

The underdog to many (if not to us) Bath proved itself the best hen party city in the UK thanks in no small part to its restaurants, one in four of which provide a brunch menu and more than a quarter being group friendly. Not to mention Bath’s huge variety of vegan (44%) and gluten-free (45%) options. Whether it be organic goodness at quaint restaurant OAK or some tasty Nepalese cuisine in one of Bath’s longest serving restaurants Yak Yeti Yak, Bath is certainly the place to be when catering for your bride tribe’s dietary needs. What’s more, the city has an impressive 553 group activities to choose from when you feel like having some fun away from boozy bars, ranging from escape rooms to Paint by Wine workshops.

Jess Martin, decoration expert at Ginger Ray says, “It’s surprising to see how the different cities ranked, with some unexpected ones such as London and Manchester towards the bottom of the list. While the bride is the main focus of your hen party, so many people are involved in making it special so it’s really important to factor this into your planning, whether it’s dietary needs or accessibility. The index is also a great way to scope out which city suits your group’s vibe, whether it be outdoor activities or bars and restaurants. Making sure the place you visit is the best for those preferences will ensure there’s no disappointment among the group.”

FIVE MINUTES WITH... Lynne Panes from Rustic Rentals

Hi Lynne. Tell us a bit about yourself! I’ve always had a passion for interior design and love using different colour palettes, textures, materials and repurposing items in a creative way. I get the same thrill and passion working with our couples to create the wedding of their dreams now as I did from my career of many years working as a chartered quantity surveyor.

My inspiration for Rustic Rentals came about after planning our daughter’s wedding in 2014. I got well and truly bitten by the wedding planning, décor and styling bug. This is where my love for decorating barns started as she tied the knot in a listed Cotswold barn, where the design called for authentic vintage items. Unable to find a company offering such a hire service locally, I started visiting brocantes and flea markets curating our own collection.

What can you offer couples for their wedding day? I love to help couples create beautiful, timeless, elegant, aspirational and unique weddings. I offer styling, décor hire and on-the-day set up and encourage our nearlyweds to bring both their individuality and personality to their big days. I love to repurpose items, adding modern accessories. I’m a bit of a chameleon in that I adore so many styles from rustic to timeless chic, boho to modern minimalist and even industrial. Everything is always paired with beautiful florals, elegant candles and fabrics.

Tell us about your sustainability ethos. I’m passionate about the environment – reducing our impact on our beautiful planet. I spent the latter 10 years of my construction career working with the likes of Tesco and Waitrose to help them become more sustainale through the design and construction process.

Hiring décor reduces the amount of new items being made, bought and ultimately ending up in landfill. It also removes additional packaging and plastic used. Then, by reusing, repurposing and upcycling items we also contribute to improving our sustainability. We re-use all of our props and packaging.

What’s your favourite prop from your range? It has to be our vintage Indian cart made from an old door from India. Closely followed by Betty, our baker’s bike and my French vintage wheelbarrows. They all have a history that only they know – some items come with initials and I’d love to know their back story! Leading locally-based jewellery brand Abbott Lyon is launching its new advent calendar for Christmas 2022. A countdown like no other, this will elevate any wardrobe with personalised jewellery and features a stunning collection of Abbott Lyon’s best sellers. Each one is personal to the recipient with initial jewellery and birthstones of your choice. Finished with your or your loved one’s name on the front, it’s the perfect gift this festive season. You also have the option to purchase with either gold or silver jewellery contents.

Over the course of 12 days, open a new door to find a luxury surprise. With a value of £500, it will be on sale for just £249 and with only a limited number available, there’s sure to be a huge demand. Check out www.abbottlyon.com for more.

www.caitlinandjones.co.uk www.capturedbykatrina.co.uk

www.jenniferjanephotography.co.uk

A memorable fi rst dance

10% OFF ANY BOOKINGS * *For full day management or complete wedding planning. Offer ends 1st Nov, 2022

We love helping you prepare for your fi rst dance. Most couples want this part of their day to be as stylish and as true to them as the rest of their wedding plans. We are very experienced at working with you both to make your fi rst dance right for you.

Classes and private lessons available

For all enquires and booking information contact Michele on mobile: 07711 197288 E-mail: michele@dancefactorybristol.com

We have always had a passion for weddings and planning weddings. The look on the couples faces when they have the wedding of their dreams is priceless and helping them to reach their vision is very rewarding for us. We enjoy getting to know you and fi nding out your likes and dislikes so we can help you to have the special day you deserve. We can help you with full planning or managing the day only. We offer a free, no obligation initial consultation so we can get to know each other and see what we can plan together.