NEARLYWED NEWS

Looking for a tempting tipple with a local flavour to toast your nuptials. This delicious new cocktail created by 44 Foods features a tasty combo of Conker Dorset Dry Gin and Black Bee British Summer Honey - quite literally ‘The Bees Knees’!

Conker’s Dorset Dry Gin is a blend of ten botanicals, distilled in Bournemouth from British wheat spirit and New Forest spring water, while Black Bee’s British Summer Honey boasts floral flavours with a light golden colour, available from www.44foods.com Combine the two with a dash of lemon juice and enjoy.

Southampton-based Olivia George bridal boutique has exciting new plans in the pipeline. From the end of this year, the business will be focusing solely on plus-size bridal. Co-owner Carolyn Foster explains, “We already specialise in dresses up to size 28 and are now starting to phase out our smaller samples and will only stock dresses from size 14 up to 34. We’re really excited about this, we already help lots of curvy brides to find their dream dress and our focus now is all about making sure we have plenty of styles available for then to try on.” Visit www.olivia-george.co.uk NEWS Nearlywed All the latest from around the region

Twilight ‘I dos’

New Forest venue the Balmer Lawn Hotel has launched a romantic Twilight package for couples looking for a chilled, intimate celebration. Couples can tie knot in the evening and celebrate afterwards with up to 50 guests. The package is available from Monday to Thursday and as well as the ceremony it includes the drinks reception and canapés, hot fork buffet or barbecue and DJ until midnight. General manager Michael Clitheroe says, “We have seen an increase in couples looking for a more intimate wedding experience and what better way to say, ‘I do’ than at twilight in the stunning New Forest!” To find out more visit www.balmerlawnhotel.com.

EAT, DRINK AND BE MARRIED AT THE TANK MUSEUM

The Tank Museum in Bovington, Dorset has hosted its first ever wedding.

Rachel and Daniel Titley said ‘I do’ at the museum in front of a Second World War tank, earning themselves a place in the venue’s history book. Their son Adam played an important role and was able to pick his favourite tank for them to say their vows in front of.

“When we heard couples could get married at The Tank Museum, knowing how much Adam loves it there, made the choice simple for us.,” says Rachel. “The team was amazing and we couldn’t have asked for more! Being able to include our son in the decision-making process and allowing him to plan everything was hugely important. Adam absolutely loves The Tank Museum, it’s his favourite place. Now every time we come back to visit, we’ll have a shared special memory as a family as well.”

Weddings at The Tank Museum were launched in January this year and bookings are already being taken for 2022. Events Manager Rosanna Dean adds, “Having our in-house catering team means wedding guests can enjoy everything from afternoon tea to a sumptuous wedding breakfast.”

The venue can cater for weddings of all sizes with up to as many as 1,000 guests, what’s more all profits go to help support the museum charity and preserve history for generations to come. Visit www.tankmuseum.org.

Wedding receptions at The King’s Court Centre just got even better! Nestled in secluded, landscaped gardens in the heart of Chandler’s Ford, near Southampton, the imposing Victorian mansion is the perfect place for a bespoke reception. Available for exclusive use, the venue has launched three new wedding packages to help you celebrate in style. Working together with their catering partner the new packages are designed as a conversation-starter, allowing couples to mix and match to create their perfect celebration. To find out more visit www.kings-court.org.uk

Time for change

After 21 years based in Westbourne, Bournemouth, leading special occasion boutique Fab Frocks is going exclusively online from the beginning of September. Launched in 2000 the business has earned a wide reputation for its range of mother-of-the-bride and -groom dresses along with outfits for wedding guests, special events and more.

Owner Steve Taylor says, “We have been selling online now for nearly 15 years and have customers from all over the UK and beyond. While physical stores will always have an important part to play in the industry, the trend for online shopping continues to grow.

“Moving online allows us to focus on our range of products and continue to offer our multi-award winning service to our customers. We’ll have many of our existing designers and some new ones too, all at the same range of prices we had in-store.” Visit www.fabfrocks.co.uk to find out more. With travel restrictions easing, now is the time to start thinking about that dream honeymoon.

Great news for nearlyweds as it opens up so many beautiful destinations for the perfect honeymoon, but how do you keep track of the entry requirements for each destination? With so many different regulations across the globe it can be pretty confusing for couples trying to plan their post-wedding getaway. Although, according to personal travel consultant in Portsmouth and Southsea Nick Horne, it doesn’t have to be. He advises, “Just let your travel agent know the type of honeymoon you’re dreaming of. They will have the most current knowledge to navigate the requirements and get you the perfect experience. If you’re looking for advice online, only use information from accredited government websites as third parties may not reflect the latest information. The really great news is that operators and suppliers are fully gearing up for the 2022 season with much of 2023 already available to secure so honeymoons are well and truly back!” ❤ NICK’S TOP TIP

Looking for somewhere hot with low entry/return requirements and direct flights?

Try the beautiful Caribbean island of St Lucia, or Indian Ocean gem Mauritius.

For more information go to www.nicholashorne.notjusttravel.com

HEAD-TURNING DESIGNS

Make a statement on your big day with a bespoke bridal headpiece or fabulous fascinator for the mother-of-the-bride or -groom. Millinery designer Dawn Coveney has launched her own business Isidora Hebe specialising in unique headwear for all occasions, designed and handmade at her studio in the heart of the Dorset countryside. The website is up and running and she’s busy adding more unique headwear designs to it, so watch this space! Visit www.isidorahebe-milliner.com

TOASTMASTER

Over 45 years experience in the wedding industry being one of the UK’s top wedding toastmasters and also performs a beautiful wedding ceremony as a Professional Celebrant.

01264 335 405 | peter.yorktoastmaster@gmail.com WWW.PETERYORK-MC.CO.UK Creating unique headwear in her studio nestled in the Dorset Countryside, Isidora designs and creates stand out, stunning pieces for any occasion.

Each piece is handmade using quality materials, including a scattering of Swarovski crystals on selected pieces for that extra sparkle.

www.isidorahebe-milliner.com

isidora.hebe@outlook.com isidorahebe | Hebe_milliner | isidora.hebe

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Choosing the cake for your big day could not be easier. Once you’ve booked your consultation we can discuss your ideas and plan the design together, offering a personal and professional service. We use only the finest ingredients, freshly baked and handcrafted with passion and enthusiasm.