All the latest wedding news for couples getting married in Kent, along with bridal fashion and beauty inspiration and honeymoon ideas.
How low can you go when it comes to alcohol for summer weddings
With a bumper wedding season ahead in the UK this summer, make sure you cater for all your guests' needs and be sure to offer delicious no and low alcohol options at drinks wedding celebrations. With a range of great wine, cocktail or gin alternatives to stock up on this summer for the designated drivers and sober curious, there's something for all taste buds leaving guests happy, refreshed and clear-headed the next day - hallelujah to that!
Posted: 3 August 2022
Surrounded by 150 acres of stunning landscape in the heart of the Kentish countryside, you'll find The BarnYard. Home to a beautiful barn conversion and a luxurious permanent grand marquee, it's both tranquil and charming in equal measure.
The beautiful lawn is a wonderful location for a glass of bubbly following the ceremony. There are also some terrific photo opportunities on the romantic wooden bridge. Built over a cobbled garden it's set among some stunning landscaping with a view of the orchards, woodland and rolling fields beyond.
Posted: 2 August 2022
An alcohol free stag/hen do - 6 tips from the experts
Research by Hen Weekends & Stag Weekends found that over the past few years, the search terms 'alcohol free' and 'non alcoholic' have become increasingly popular, with the former having an increase of 1,941 monthly searches between January 2016 and January 2022. As well as this, the company looked at their own data from 2021 to find that almost half (36.7%) of their booked stag and hen weekends include at least one non-alcoholic activity. With a boost in non-alcoholic alternatives hitting the beverage scene covering everything from 0% beer to clean gin, there's ample choice to still have a celebration and still feel like and adult!
Posted: 1 August 2022
Tips on keeping your wedding dress safe pre- and post-wedding
While everyone has their own budget for the big day, nobody can deny weddings are an expensive business, with a total average bill hovering around £20,000-£30,000. The dress is likely to account for over £1,000 of this – and could cost much more if it's a designer number.
When asked, 86% of brides-to-be who haven't yet purchased their dress didn't know that it might be protected under their home insurance policy! comparethemarket.com has shared some helpful things to consider ahead of bringing home the special dress.
Posted: 31 July 2022
Celebrate weddings in style with tasty wines from Bordeaux
Wedding season is back and this year it is expected to be bigger than ever. Whether it's a traditional nuptials or a celebration party for a lockdown marriage, choosing the right drinks for the big day is essential. With everything from dry whites and crisp rosés to sparkling wines and modern, fruit-forward reds, Bordeaux delivers unparalleled wedding wine inspiration. Delight guests with a delicious sweet wine cocktail before moving on to something a little unexpected – perhaps a dry white from Entre-deux-Mers or an unoaked red wine from Saint-Emilion? Celene Opale Crémant de Bordeaux is an original choice for toasting the new union and a fresh and fruity rosé is perfect for dancing the night away.
Posted: 29 July 2022
Duncan James from Blue and Claire Richards from Steps will sing at your wedding!
To celebrate the nation's love of cheese, as we head into wedding season, Mini Cheddars has brought together two pop icons - Duncan James from Blue and Claire Richards from Steps - in musical matrimony to form the ultimate wedding supergroup - Simply Wed. And one lucky couple will win an exclusive performance from 'Simply Wed' at their wedding this September. To mark the launch of the wedding supergroup, Mini Cheddars commissioned research revealing the ultimate wedding playlist with Dancing Queen by ABBA taking the top spot – 46 years after it was first released. A poll of 2,000 wedding guests saw Don't Stop Me Now by Queen and Neil Diamond's Sweet Caroline complete the top three. The 'big day' playlist also included Happy by Pharrell Williams, Toploader's Dancing in the Moonlight, as well as Mr Brightside by The Killers. Also featured in the top 40 were Single Ladies by Beyonce, 5,6,7,8 by Steps and One Love by Blue.
Posted: 29 July 2022
EriCakes is a new company based in Medway
Medway-based Erica Dunn started as a hobby baker 11 years ago after a cake made for her son's birthday was not at all what she was expecting. "It looked terrible and tasted awful, so I had a go myself and became hooked," she tells us. Since then she's made hundreds of celebration cakes, big-day bakes and cupcakes for friends and family, with people regularly exclaiming: "You're so talented," and, "Your cakes are fantastic to look at and taste amazing too!" So it was, in October 2021 that she decided to take her hobby to the next level and her registered business EriCakes was born.
Posted: 28 July 2022
Wedding flowers 2022 - which are the most popular?
Floral bouquets and decorations are still very much the focus of many couple's wedding plans. From pedestal displays to moongates and arches the choices are endless when it comes to displaying blooms on your big day. Based on UK Google Search Volume, wedding insurance specialists Protectivity's research has revealed the the most popular wedding flowers for 2022. What's more, if you don't know your cosmos from your hydrangeas, the team has provided advice on choosing your wedding flowers.
Posted: 27 July 2022
What can you do to make your wedding day more sustainable?
Formed in 2020, The Sustainable Wedding Alliance aims to help conscious couples understand what you can do to make sure your wedding is memorable, without leaving a lasting impact on the planet. There is an increasing demand from couples looking for sustainable wedding venues and suppliers in the UK, and that demand is only set to rise further as more couples become aware of the environmental impact their wedding can have. In 2021 as part of the SWA couple survey, 95% of couples said that sustainability was a factor when planning their wedding. With 66% saying it was important or very important! These figures, alongside the Alliance's experience of working with couples means its members know that you wish you had a greater choice when it comes to sustainable, and ethical, venues and suppliers. As responsible business owners, the members of the Sustainable Wedding Alliance are focussed on making both their business and the weddings they are part of, more sustainable.
Here, founder of the Sustainable Wedding Alliance Michelle, shares her wealth of knowledge on how to make your wedding day more sustainable.
Posted: 26 July 2022
The most popular UK wedding locations
The UK is full of gorgeous locations that are perfect for weddings. From the rolling countryside to the history-rich cities, no picturesque location is out of reach for soon to be newly-weds. But, of all the places to tie the knot, where is the most popular? New data analysed by Surrey resort and wedding venue, Foxhills, has revealed the most popular wedding locations, showing the favourite places in the UK for all types of marriage ceremonies. By analysing data on the total number of weddings in a year and scoring them by how many times they occurred in various types of marriages, the most popular wedding locations in the entire nation have been discovered.
Posted: 25 July 2022
Most popular celebrity weddings of all time
New research by DC Jewellery has revealed the world's most popular celebrity weddings of all time, from Royal weddings to A-listers, when there's a famous couple tying the knot we can't help but want to know all the finer details: what did they where? Who was on the guest list? What cake did they have? The research proves that the world's fascination with British royalty is real. Meghan Markle and Prince Harry had the most popular celebrity wedding of all time (beating Kate and Wills), with a total of 301,600 Google searches since 2018 and 2,579,200 total Google searches in the last year alone. Kate and Prince William had the 6th most popular celebrity wedding of all time, with 1,050,600 searches in the last year, closely followed in 8th place by Kate's sister Pippa's wedding to James Matthews.
Posted: 23 July 2022
Couples are planning deluxe weddings
In the past couple of years, tying the knot has been challenging. Getting married is an important decision, and recent events had only contributed to rousing doubts and dilemmas around this life-changing milestone. Many couples resorted to intimating weddings that abided by government regulations. From Zoom ceremonies to short guest lists, brides and grooms have embraced the micro-wedding trend. But, as we cruise confidently back towards normality, large celebrations seem likely to make a welcomed return. This sparks one obvious question: how is the rise of big, jaunty ceremonies altering the plans of soon-to-be-married couples? Here, the team at Langley Castle, has taken a look at how we can expect to celebrate weddings in 2022, detailing both trends and tips you may want to consider for your own big special event.
Posted: 21 July 2022
Bromley Court is hosting a wedding showcase on 28th July
Bromley Court is a hotel steeped in history and has the atmosphere of a wonderful and intimate country house. Years of hospitality experience have gone into fine-tuning its rooms and event spaces to guarantee you a great stay and the team like to keep things simple by making sure everything you could ever need is included as standard.
Wedding Showcase Evenings at Bromley Court Hotel are the ideal opportunity for you to experience the venue's function rooms set up for a wedding breakfast. You'll have the chance to meet the friendly team, who will be on hand to help you plan your perfect day with plenty of ideas and inspiration.
Posted: 21 July 2022
Out with the old - and in with the new wedding laws
The Law Commission of England and Wales has today outlined recommendations to reform weddings law that gives couples more choice over where and how their wedding takes place. This will be music to the ears of many couples who are currently restricted by many of the outdated regulations. The main law which governs marriage is from 1836 and it seems madness that modern couples are still having to adhere to these policies that do not reflect their beliefs or blended unions.
Posted: 19 July 2022
What your wedding favours say about you
The wholesale experts at WholesaleSweets.co.uk have looked at the sweet treats a couple chooses and what it says about them. Wedding favours are usually a small, fun and sweet way of saying thank you to guests for attending a wedding. Traditionally wedding favours were sugared coated almonds but over the years people have put their own spin on wedding favours and now give out things like sweets, jars of honey or jam and even mini shots. Kathryn Hague from Wholesale Sweets said: "Wedding favours have been around for years and it's really interesting to see what people choose for them these days.
Posted: 19 July 2022
Be dragged up the aisle with The Foxy Celebrant
Martin Fox-Roberts at Proud Fox Ceremonies crafts magical, one-of-a-kind ceremonies to will make you feel proud and maybe even a bit foxy! Martin prides himself on putting your experience at the centre of everything he does from the very start to the very end. Whether it's an exciting union of a wedding or renewing your vows - an experience that's unique to you and will always to remain with you as one of the most happiest memories in your lives.
Posted: 19 July 2022
The Weald of Kent is a beautifully maintained golf course and hotel
The Weald of Kent is a beautifully maintained 18-hole parkland golf course and hotel. Set amongst the rolling Kent countryside, it boasts far-reaching views and lies just a short drive from Maidstone and Ashford as well as the surrounding villages of Sutton Valence, Headcorn, Staplehurst and Tenterden. The recently-decorated wedding suites now boast the addition of luxurious carpets in a neutral hue, together with freshly-painted walls throughout, and are ready to welcome you on your big day. With the immaculately- manicured golf course and beautiful lakes as your backdrop, you can also relax and enjoy the exclusive wedding patio for drinks and mingling.
Posted: 19 July 2022
Mystery stags and hens dos - reduce the stress!
2022 is the year of the re-organised Covid wedding, there will be around 350,000 weddings across the country this year which means nearly 700,000 hen/stag and sten dos! srprs.me, the world's leading mystery holiday provider, has collated its top tips for organising the least stressful, most spontaneous mystery trips perfect for stag and hen dos this summer - saving friendships from endless decision-making in the process. Anneke Nijenhuis, Chief Surprise Officer at srprs.me, wants to take the stress out of planning a stag or hen do with the following tips...
Posted: 17 July 2022
9 tips on how to prepare for an outdoor wedding
Outdoor weddings became increasingly popular during Covid due to restrictions and the safety of guests. However, the outdoor wedding trend looks like it's here to stay with celebrities like Kourtney Kardashian and Travis Barker recently hosting a beautiful outdoor wedding on the Amalfi Coast. A British summer's day can be enchanting, being surrounded by nature, the brilliant blue skies above, and an aisle strewn with flowers, a perfect setting for a magically romantic wedding. Planning an outdoor wedding requires several considerations from locations, decor, and weather, the experts at Queensmith have listed their top tips on how to be prepared for an outdoor wedding:
Posted: 16 July 2022
How to choose the perfect shade of white or cream - Tips from Colour Me Beautiful
When searching for your wedding dress, you'd be forgiven for thinking it's an easy task just deciding between white and cream! However, although wedding dresses have traditionally been white or cream, these colours come in many different shades and you need to ensure that if you're going for white or cream, that you'll be choosing the most flattering shade for you. In order to help you, Cliff Bashforth, MD of style consultants Colour Me Beautiful, has shared his top tips with County Wedding Magazines.
Posted: 15 July 2022
AJ Pyrotechnics offers amazing heart fireworks
How special would it be to literally write your love across the sky on your wedding day? Well, now you can with AJ Pyrotechnics' amazing heart fireworks. The company's Adrian Walters says, "They each spin out of a firing tube at hundreds of miles per hour and it really is luck that they break the right way around! For the one in the picture, I angled it slightly into the wind and crossed my fingers!" The heart is a specially-bought piece, which comes ready prepared to be loaded and fired. Adrian is finding that more and more couples are asking for them and is currently considering tailoring a dedicated section of the displays to them – "We could fill the sky with several of them joined together," Adrian says.
Posted: 14 July 2022
Ryan Reynolds’s cocktail suggestions to combat the heatwave
Summer has officially arrived in the UK and during the upcoming heatwave, take Hollywood film star and co-owner of Aviation Gin, Ryan Reynolds' advice by serving up some Aviation Gin cocktails for al fresco celebrations. Aviation American Gin has been voted the world's highest rated gin (97 points, Wine Enthusiast) and has helped establish a new style of American gin - softer and smoother, with juniper in the background and citrus and floral notes in the front - resulting in more balanced cocktails.
Posted: 13 July 2022
The ultimate space for bride-tribe preparations has arrived in Ashford
The ultimate space for bride-tribe preparations has arrived in Ashford. Based in a beautiful, light and airy oast barn, The Pretty Prep Studios have been thoughtfully and purposefully designed for wedding day mornings with every detail in hand from umbrellas in case it rains, to boxes for belongings to hide any untidiness from photos. There are four beauty stations, so no more fighting over plug sockets or mirrors and there's plenty of free parking so you can leave your cars if you wish.
The kitchen and dining area is the ideal place for some morning snacks and bubbles, where your best gals can chill after they've had their turn in the hair and make-up chair.
Posted: 12 July 2022
Take a non-alcoholic walk on the wild side with Wild Eve Recipe no 1.
When planning your wedding day celebrations, accommodating your guests' needs is paramount when considering you food and drink offering. From veggies and vegans to the teetotallers - you should ensure you have something for everyone. Award winning Apothecary and herbalist, Amanda Saurin, is excited to announce the launch of her long anticipated organic botanical infusion drink, Wild Eve Recipe no 1. This innovative, small batch non-alcoholic drink is hand crafted from an exclusive selection of organic flowers, fruits, leaves, and seaweeds, hand foraged on the Isle of Harris, in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland. The carefully blended botanicals assist to reduce stress, alleviate anxiety, and invite calm through the innate properties of the plants.
Posted: 11 July 2022
A good night's sleep with Dreams - 8 top tips!
Being a bride or groom is arguably one of the most exciting and heart-warming days of a person's life, but as the big day draws closer, pre-wedding insomnia can cause difficulty in falling, and staying, asleep. As we know, our sleep is very important and no one wants tired eyes on such a big day. But what can we do to avoid the sleepless nights? According to Dreams Sleep Expert, Sammy Margo, consistency is key. So, maybe it's time to drop the outdated wedding 'preparation' superstitions. Sammy says: "We love rhythm and routine, so sticking to the same routine of bed sharing makes sense before your big day.
Posted: 9 July 2022
