Nearlywed NEWS

Catch up on the latest from around the county

LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION

Echo Wedding Films has been creating quite a buzz with its fresh new take on wedding highlight videos and has recently refined its wedding film-making packages: Standard and Signature.

The standard package is perfect for those who’ve always wanted a special film to remember their big day, without breaking the bank. Echo creates each of its films to reflect the uniqueness of each couple, so no two are alike. The team will take the time to learn who you are and what matters most to you, enabling them to create the perfect film to tell your story. So, if you want to be left a laughing, crying mess, they’ve got you!

The Signature Package meanwhile, has swiftly become the most popular to date. Not only to do you get the stunning cinematic highlight film that everyone loves, you also receive a handful of other goodies, such as a full ceremony edit, full edit of the speeches and a short teaser for your socials. “This is the video you’re going to watch with your kids 30 years from now. You don’t want to compromise on the important memories,” says videographer Max Boast.

Discover more at www.echoweddingfilms.com

Spring Is In The Air

Mannings Heath Golf and Wine Estate has announced its wedding services for 2023. The venue, located near Horsham in West Sussex in an area of outstanding natural beauty, offers sublime views across the 500-acre Estate.

The venue has benefited from investment in new facilities by its owners, the Streeter family, of late. The 17th-century mansion house features original fireplaces, wooden beam ceilings and ornate chandeliers, and there are two function rooms licensed for wedding ceremonies. Goldings and the Latilla Campbell Suite have a capacity of 30 to 110 guests, as well as extensive outside terraces for drinks receptions for up to 200 loved ones.

This year’s packages see the venue offering a choice of set threecourse wedding breakfast options for 60 guests from £7,250 including VAT and service charges. This includes a half-bottle per person of award-winning Benguela Cove wine and a glass of Cuvée58 sparkling wine for the toast, both from the owner’s South African vineyards. There’s also a choice of round or long tables, with white table linen and limewash Chiavari chairs.

The Estate also offers the support of an experienced wedding

Wine And Dine

Renowned Sussex vineyard, Tinwood Estate, has recently opened a new onsite restaurant. Serving lunch every day and dinner on Friday and Saturday evenings, there are 50 covers in the restaurant and picnic baskets supplied for those days when nothing could be better than sitting among the vines with delicious food and sparkling wine.

The new restaurant is situated in the existing picturesque tasting room near Chichester, which boasts a vast south-facing terrace overlooking the vines. Serving modern British tapas using locally-sourced produce including fish, meat and vegetables, its menu will constantly change and evolve according to what’s in season, available and tasting best. Choose three or four small plates, which will of course match your wines, and you can enjoy your food while having a tutored wine tasting, at your own leisure, or from a private spot among the vines.

For the ultimate date experience, or a great chance to catch up with friends, find out more at www.tinwoodestate.com coordinator to help with planning and taking care of all on-the-day arrangements. Wedding events manager Jo Chellingworth shared some of her top planning tips with us: “Figure out your vision for the day. Whether you want it to be small and intimate or big and lavish, you should decide exactly what kind of vibe you want right from the start. That way, when it comes to actually planning elements such as invitations, catering and décor, you can focus on making sure those aspects match up with your vision,”

She goes on to say, “Start early! You’ll be surprised at how much time you need to plan your dream wedding, so the earlier you begin, the better. Make sure you have a budget in place before you start booking the venue and getting quotes from suppliers.

“Write everything down. Keep a notebook with your ideas and plans, so that you don’t forget anything important. Make a list of everything you need to do, and try to focus on one task at a time. Don’t get overwhelmed by the details: with the help of the wedding venue’s event team and suppliers, the details will take care of themselves!”

Find out more at Mannings Heath at www.manningsheath.com/weddings

Treetop Minimoon Escape

Cowdray Estate in Midhurst, West Sussex, has recently opened a four new tree houses, in collaboration with Tree House Retreats. Each one offers secluded accommodation in the heart of the 16,500-acre Estate, bringing Scandi-chic interiors to the surrounding woodland. The décor combines natural materials and antique furniture with contemporary artwork and locally-sourced designs. Floor-to-ceiling windows, wraparound balconies, and outdoor bathtubs complete the tree houses, and offer views over Cowdray’s worldrenowned polo fields, the historical Cowdray ruins and beyond to the South Downs.

The quirky new accommodation sleeps two adults each and contains a spacious open plan living room and kitchen, a double bedroom with a king-size bed, and a bathroom with walk-in shower. Built using sustainably-sourced timber from the Estate, the tree houses were developed using a fabric first approach, maximising enery efficiency and reducing carbon emissions. The modern art that adorns the walls has been sourced in conjunction with Migrate Art, who collaborate with the world’s most significant contemporary artists to raise money for displaced and homeless communities across the globe.

What’s more, guests will have access to their own personal electric vehicle to transport them between their cars and the woodland location, and bicycles to explore Cowdray and all its offerings. These include classic country pursuits, such as polo, golf and clay pigeon shooting, alongside wellness retreats, art classes, foraging walks through the grounds and stargazing.

The tree houses are available to book online at www.treehouseretreats.com/book. Rates start at £388 per night, with a minimum three-night stay.

Ask The Experts

The team at RRS Music Management and Events in Worthing are welcoming a new agent, Matt Wells. Matt is an established function/wedding singer who impressively performed at 50 gigs last year everywhere from pubs to weddings and corporate events. He’s been with RRS a little while already as a guitar tutor, as well as a live act, and he’s now set to make a fantastic addition to the company as its newest booking agent.

Matt says, “I’m a live artist myself, and have been around the block a few times. I’ve been playing for more than 25 years, with experience of the pub circuit on the south coast, as well as playing in function bands all over the South of England. With this in mind, I’ve spent a fair bit of time looking for gigs for myself, and now look forward to doing the same for our roster.”

RRS owner, Rose-Ann Raymond-Silvester says, “We as a company have had the privilege of being part of a lot of people’s special days and we look forward to seeing many more beautiful couples get married, as we help to make the memories that count.”

Discover more about how RRS can help you plan your wedding entertainment at https://rrsagency.uk

Your Sussex Wedding chats to... LAURA HEDGER FROM ONE MOMENT IN TIME BRIDAL BOUTIQUE

Being a curvy lady herself, Laura found shopping for wedding dresses to be a stressful experience. It’s often the case that boutiques only carry one or two sample sizes in each dress, so it can be difficult to get a good feel for your final big-day look if what's in store isn't close to your own usual size. So, she decided to change all of that and opened her own boutique, One Moment In Time, stocking each sample gown in sizes 8 to 30, so there really is something for everyone. “I feel passionate about making sure every bride feels amazing, no matter what their size,” Laura says. We chatted to her recently about everything from shopping sustainably to dealing with lack of body confidence. Click play or scan the QR code to see the full interview. Also, find out more about One Moment in Time at

Based in the heart of West Sussex, Caritas Cake Design offers a bespoke design service for your wedding cake, to make it unmistakably perfect for your big day.

Our focus is quality, and attention to detail. Your cake will be delivered on the day, fresh and delicious, to beautifully compliment your style.

WWW.CARITASCAKEDESIGN.CO.UK

07793 678187 | carrie@caritascakedesign.co.uk | @caritascakedesign

0794 119 1194

Well that's where we come in, take the stress from yourselves and your guests and let us chaperone your fur babies to your wedding. Whether that's meeting your guests as they arrive, walking your rings down the aisle or photo snaps, we would love to help you. Get

WORTH £440

WIN! A ROMANTIC ONENIGHT STAY FOR TWO

One of the UK’s oldest coaching inns, The Spread Eagle Hotel dates back to 1430 and is set in the pretty market town of Midhurst in the heart of the South Downs National Park. Packed with charm, character, roaring fires and delicious food, it retains its heritage while providing every modern comfort.

Here, you’re invited to relax in the 15th-century lounge bar or conservatory, enjoy a memorable meal in the historical restaurant with its huge inglenook fireplace, and enjoy a deeply comfortable night’s sleep in one of the Hotel’s individually decorated bedrooms and suites, some of which boast a four-poster bed. What’s more, the spa adds a distinctly contemporary touch with excellent facilities including an indoor heated swimming pool, six treatment rooms and heavenly relaxation room, The Nest.

We’re partnered with The Spread Eagle Hotel to offer you the chance to win a romantic one-night stay for two worth £440. The prize includes overnight accommodation for two people in a room with four-poster bed, a delicious three-course dinner in the Hotel’s restaurant, a full English breakfast, and full use of the spa facilities. Enter online at www.your-sussex.wedding/giveaways by 31st May.