NEARLYWED NEWS

New to the world of weddings, we bring you Caravents. An unforgettable accompaniment for your big day, the company offers a super-cool 1971 vintage ice cream van, serving all your favourite flavours. The team appreciate that every wedding is unique, so they take pride in creating bespoke packages to suit each and every couple. From an intimate post-ceremony celebration to a memorable wedding breakfast dessert – the choice is yours.

Caravents offers an extensive range of locally made artisan gelato, sorbets and vegan gelato for you to choose from, served in either a waffle cone or tub. There’s even a topping station filled with delicious sprinkles and sauces. Find out more at www.facebook.com/Caravents

FLORAL CREATIONS

Leading Lady Cakes has launched a new subscription box service, called The Sugar Bloom Box. In each monthly package you’ll find the materials and instruction to create a different sugar bloom. With recorded online training available to watch as many times as you wish, you’ll soon be able to make a whole sugar-bloom bouquet. You’ll even be invited to join the exclusive Sugar Bloom Box Facebook community. And don’t worry if you’ve missed a box as previous kits are available to order. The deliveries, which are sent out by the 10th of each month vary depending on the flower, but will typically include paste, cutters, veiners, colour and dust.

So, if you love the idea of creating your very own edible flowers to adorn your big-bake bake, check out https://thesugarbloombox.com to learn more.

TOTALLY IN TENTS

After successfully hosting its first two wedding fairs in a marquee, Tilgate Park Weddings is delighted to announced the purchase of a 24 by 12-metre clear span marquee, which will be available to its wedding couples as their dream reception venue.

The marquee will be fully-lined and complete with chandeliers, fairylights, heating and a carpeted hard floor. It will also feature a Zone Array speaker system, which Nearlywed NEWS provides fantastic sound on the dancefloor while ensuring guests sitting just a few metres away can still chat comfortably amongst themselves. For further information check out https://tilgateparkweddings.co.uk Catch up on the latest from around the county

DIARY DATE

Southend Barns in Chichester will be bringing back its annual Wedding Inspiration Fair on Sunday 23rd January, 2022. Packed full of ideas and inspiration, there’ll be a whole host of hand-picked suppliers offering high-end and distinctive services that have been tried and tested by many previous couples.

The plethora of stands will include florists, photographers, cake makers, make-up artists, stationers, musicians and stylists, to name but a few. There’ll also be the opportunity to take a look around the venue and see the new luxury shepherd’s hut, Mama Lou. What’s more, the team will be on hand to answer any questions and you can also chat to Roots Catering team about all things food and drink.

Running with allocated time slots between 10.30am and 3pm entry is free but pre-booking is essential. Find out more at https://southendbarns.co.uk

Visitors to Leonardslee Lakes and Gardens, near Horsham in West Sussex, can now enjoy a luxury overnight stay after visiting the woodland estate and experiencing the multicourse tasting menu at Restaurant Interlude.

Grade II listed Leonardslee House, built in the Italianate style in 1855, features ten newly created and charming en-suite bedrooms. Each bespoke bedroom features the fabric and wallpaper style of a quintessential British interior designer, creating an immersive experience. The owner of the estate, award-winning entrepreneur Penny Streeter OBE, has focused on British-based suppliers, many of whom print their fabrics and wallpapers in the UK, with a strong focus on sustainable and artisan composition. The designers have sourced antiques to reduce any environmental impact and have commissioned furniture suppliers who make their products in the UK. What’s more, the rooms feature superb views over the extensive lawns, down to the 240-acre historical woodlands and across to the South Downs.

The ten rooms are priced between £350 and £550 per night. To find out more about spending a special mini-moon here check out www.leonardsleegardens.co.uk

PLAN B

South Lodge, West Sussex, has announced its B Corp certification, as part of privately-owned hotel company Exclusive Collection. The group has been certified by B Lab, the not-for-profit organisation behind the movement, as having met rigorous social and environmental standards, which represent its commitment to goals outside of profit.

The certification addresses the business as a whole and each applicant is required to reach a benchmark score of over 80 while providing evidence of socially and environmentally responsible practices relating to energy suppliers, waste and water use, worker compensation, diversity and corporate transparency. Exclusive Collection is the first hotel group in the UK to achieve this certification and with recent media attention on the hospitality sector it’s a notable step.

To find out about hosting your big day at South Lodge, head over to www.exclusive.co.uk/south-lodge

www.whitneylloydphotography.com

FLAVOUR OF LOVE

Horsham-based wedding cake maker Carrie Raymond of Carrie’s Party Cakes is now offering tasting sessions and bookings are being accepted. For a small charge, you can try up to four flavours of cake to help you choose the ultimate big-day bake.

You’ll each receive the cake in the actual-size portion it will be served in on the day so you can get an idea of how it will look when cut. During the tasting you’ll have the opportunity to chat with Carrie about everything from décor, colours, flowers and venue, through to what’s important to you, allowing her to design the cake having taken everything into account. Carrie says, “While it’s tempting for couples to scour the internet looking for a cake they like, I often find that it doesn’t work with their venue once set up, or it has a completely different feel to the rest of the styling, looking disjointed. By discussing everything during the tasting session we can make sure that they have the flavours they love in the perfect cake for their day. The result? Photos to die for!” Find out more and book your own tasting session at www.carriespartycakes.co.uk