NEARLYWED NEWS

Luxurious hotel Billesley Manor Hotel & Spa has opened its doors following a £5.6 million refurbishment. Situated in the heart of rural Warwickshire, guests can expect to find newly refurbished bedrooms complete with rich, warm designs, upgraded guest spaces with a contemporary twist, a stunning restaurant and bar featuring original 16th-century oak panelling, a newly renovated spa and wedding spaces.

This 125-year-old property boasts charming grounds, a 11th-century church and an ornate topiary garden steeped in history. A variety of conference spaces have also been refreshed, and an ambient library adorned with a ceiling of floating books provides a light-filled area for relaxation, said to be where William Shakespeare wrote his famous comedy As You Like It.

Check out www.billesleymanor.com for more information.

NEWS Nearlywed All the latest from around the West Midlands

NOW, THAT’S ENTERTAINMENT

Green Claws Entertainment in Warwickshire provides high-quality wedding entertainment, lighting décor and themed dancefloors. Owner Damian Edge and his wife have launched a new range of products that are perfect for weddings, such as coin pushers, retro arcade machines, free to use teddy grabbers and dance off machines. There are also giant deck chairs available and a range of outdoor garden games.

The company offers a variety of products and packages, so to find out more, get in touch via their website, www.greenclaws.co.uk

NEW VENUE ALERT!

The Victorian orangery at Pitchford Hall in Shropshire has recently opened its doors. The orangery is a light-filled Georgian gem with glass walls topped by a stone shingled roof all set within private lawns contained by mellow brick garden walls. With a capacity for 60 guests and flexible outside space, couples looking for a traditional English country wedding will love this romantic venue. There is plenty of room for a marquee for additional friends and family in the garden too.

The house itself is a beautiful Tudor timber-framed country building and is one of the nation’s most stunning Elizabethan houses. The orangery is a short walk from the main house and is right beside Pitchford’s most enchanting building, a tiny timbered tree house perched in the branches of an ancient lime tree. Queen Victoria was delighted with it when she visited as a child in 1832.

“Couples searching for a romantic location for their wedding are having a hard time,” says Rowena Nason, who restored the orangery at Pitchford Hall. “Luckily, we have finished the transformation of our orangery, and brides can book it as a new, truly romantic, and historic venue.”

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

Severn Hospice are now offering pin badges as wedding favours. Rhiannon Geran and her fiancé Thomas Rowberry are getting married next July. Tom’s grandad, George, played a huge part in his life growing up, and they are dedicating a table at their wedding to him and have bought Severn Hospice favours for their guests as they want to thank the charity for caring for him. "Tom and I met on a dating website four years ago, and I thought his profile was very sweet," says Rhiannon. "The proposal was such a surprise. We always go for walks, so I didn’t think anything of it when we went out with his dog, Missy, around Oakengates stomping in the cold winter. We were sitting on our favourite bench, and he turned and said I’ve got something to ask you. When I realised it wasn’t a joke, I couldn’t speak for 10 minutes. We’re having a communal wedding at Wrekin Forest School, in the woods on the campsite with sunflowers and daisies as the theme. When grandad George got ill, Severn Hospice made such a difference at a horrible time. The staff were amazing, faultless. Tom told me that the best thing about Severn Hospice was that he could hold onto the memory of George being comfortable enough so Tom could make him laugh before he passed away. We don’t want wedding presents, so we picked the hospice to support as it's important to Tom and his family. Getting our favours from the hospice is all about giving back and having grandad George there at the wedding, and that’s what we both wanted."

Karen Swindells from Severn Hospice said: “We were so happy when Rhiannon contacted us to order 150 pin badges for her wedding guests – she was our first customer for our new favour range, and her story touched us. Our new favours range of pin badges and lottery tickets can be part of any special celebration and a simple way to support us and to care for others.”

To find out more visit www.severnhospice.org.uk/favours. You can also read the full story on our website.

THE PRINCESS OF FASHION

Magic + Monroe is a new luxury brand offering handmade children’s clothing, accessories and dressup pieces. Based in Warwickshire, the team specialise in embellished tutu skirts that are perfect for flowergirls and look adorable in those all-important photographs. The owner Tamsin Rennie trained in embroidery and fashion with a background in children’s fashion design, and after becoming inspired by her daughter she launched Magic + Monroe.

“Whatever your vision, we can help you make magic!” says Tamsin. “If you need a beautiful children’s outfit for a special occasion, a custom tutu for a wedding or birthday, then our bespoke service could be right for you. Whether it’s a particular design, colour palette or a special fabric in your imagination, our talented design and seamstress team can help you bring it to life.”

Visit www.magicandmonroe.co.uk for more information.

HIDDEN WONDER

The Fuzzy Duck, a boutique hotel in Warwickshire, has re-opened. The award-winning quintessential English pub is ideal for small weddings and is licensed to host civil ceremonies, so the service, wedding breakfast and evening reception can all take place under one roof.

Renowned for its delicious locally sourced menu and awardwinning restaurant, the property serves seasonal cuisine that’s perfect for any wedding. There are also five luxury bedrooms to choose from, so you and your close family can continue the celebrations into the next day.

For more information, visit www.fuzzyduckarmscote.com

THE GREAT OUTDOORS

The Trentham Estate, one of Staffordshire’s hidden beauty spots, has announced it will open up for garden weddings to help meet demand. The wedding and events coordinator, Hannah Cope, tells us: “The UK weddings industry has always been incredibly strong, but the pandemic has left people at a loss, not only about where to get married but how. There has always been a huge demand for weddings at Trentham, owing not only to its incredible surroundings but to the abundance of memories it creates year after year, from first dates to romantic proposals. Opening up the Trentham Estate for garden weddings and outdoor civil ceremonies seemed like an obvious thing to do. Not only will it allow hundreds of couples to get married sooner, but it also gives peace of mind because it’s one of only a handful of outdoor ceremony options throughout the UK. We also have a semi-permanent, glass-fronted marquee that can be adapted to any future guidelines in a truly historic setting. The Estate itself boasts 725 acres of stunning countryside with breathtaking views over the mile-long lake from the outdoor listed loggia, where the ceremonies can take place, as well as 300-acres of woodland and an abundance of rare and stunning wildlife.”

To find out more, visit www.trentham.co.uk