All the latest wedding news for couples getting married in Kent, along with bridal fashion and beauty inspiration and honeymoon ideas.
County Wedding Events comes to Morden Hall, London!
If you're newlyweds-to-be embarking on your wedding planning journey, pop along to the County Wedding Events wedding show at Morden Hall, Morden, London for inspiration on 14th May 2023! A must-visit for all those that are desperate for face-to-face wedding planning, the show puts you in touch with local professionals who are on hand to help plan the wedding day. From photographers to cake makers, musicians to florists you're sure to tick a lot off of your to-do list by attending one of our County Wedding Events.
Posted: 21 March 2023
Calling all newlyweds and nearlyweds - County Wedding Magazines need you!
Here at County Wedding Magazines HQ, there's nothing we love more than our real wedding features - and we couldn't do them without you! If you would like to see your wedding grace the pages of one of our County Wedding Magazine titles, featured across four whole page, then please do get in touch! Grand and big-budget extravaganzas, to small and intimate I dos, themed from beginning to end, or personalised with a sentimental touch - we want to hear about them all!
Posted: 21 March 2023
Find your big-day photographer with County Wedding Events
Ryan Cox Photography has over 20 years' experience in wedding photography and will be exhibiting at our County Wedding Event Signature Wedding Show at Mercedes-Benz World on Sunday 16th April. Originally based in Kent, Ryan moved to Surrey in 2021 and is rapidly establishing his reputation and client base in the county. Capturing weddings throughout the UK and in destinations including Portugal, Spain, Italy, Dominican Republic, St Lucia, Turkey & Sri Lanka, Ryans relaxed documentary style of photography is in high demand. Following the pandemic 2022 Ryan flew to St Lucia and has travelled across the south of England including Kent, Surrey, Suffolk, Hampshire and the Cotswolds to shoot weddings.
Posted: 21 March 2023
The lowdown from formalwear expert Stephen Bishop Suiting
Regular show favourite Stephen Bishop from Woking-based formal menswear store Stephen Bishop Suiting shares his top advice for choosing your big-day attire. What's more, Stephen will be on hand, at County Wedding Events' Signature Wedding Show at Mercedes-Benz World, on 16th April 2023 to answer all of your wedding day questions and will have a huge selection of his suits and coordinating accessories on display. Established in 2013, Stephen Bishop Suiting opened specifically to offer men a higher-end, one-stop-shop for formal wear, specifically with weddings in mind. I'm a multi-award-winning formal wear specialist with more than 30 years of experience.
Posted: 21 March 2023
Involving your family pet on the big day? Check out this personalised offering
Involving your four-legged friend on your wedding day? Are they taking a staring role walking down the aisle? If so, then you have to take a look at these smart and stylish personalised leather dog ring bearer pouches (£24) from Create Gift Love. Create Gift Love design and make personalised keepsake gifts and accessories to celebrate all of life's special moments, all handmade to order in its UK workshop from sustainable natural materials.
Posted: 17 March 2023
This collabroation between Kent and Sussex suppliers showcases the gorgeous Tonbridge School
Located close to the Kent/Sussex border Charlotte and Callum from C&C Imagery decided to put together a shoot featuring the work of fabulous local suppliers from both counties. Showcasing the stunning Tonbridge School and its glorious grounds, the team set about creating two shoots together; one with a warm winter boho feel, capturing the last of the snow, and the other Hollywood glam inspired.
Posted: 16 March 2023
The most popular 2023 trends according to Pinterest
To provide insight on the most popular wedding trends for spring 2023, the experts at Aura Print compiled a list of 25 popular trends after scouring Pinterest to discover the number of Pins for each. And here are the top 15 most popular spring 2023 wedding trends to be insipired by...First place for the most popular wedding trend for spring 2023 goes to the floral-themed trend. This trend had 22,148 Pins on the image sharing platform. It can include things like floral arches, flower-themed cakes or flower crowns. With a total of 11,765 Pins, the blue-themed wedding trend places second in the study. The trend also appeared on 116 Pinterest boards from 2022 onwards, cementing its popularity for the upcoming season. What is more, there's been a great interest in navy blue wedding invites, which had a whopping 16,725 Pins.
Posted: 15 March 2023
Wedding entertainment fair to be held at Evegate Artisan Business Park on 20th-21st May
Samantha Beeny at The Pretty Prep Studio in Ashford is in the process of organising a first-of-its-kind wedding entertainment-led fair, to be held at Evegate Artisan Business Park on Saturday 20th and Sunday 21st May, 2023, 10am to 2pm. There will be live acts, showcasing their talents, throughout the weekend including musicians and magicians sure to wow visitors. You can enjoy a drink from the micro-pub, while being thoroughly entertained as you select your all-important wedding entertainment. What's more, there'll be more than 30 other wedding suppliers, covering all specialisms on hand too, so why not cross a few more things off of your to-do list while you visit?
Posted: 14 March 2023
Bromley Court is a romantic hotel steeped in history
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.
The grounds are bursting with both beauty and 200 years of history. The Italianate gardens are a particular highlight with urns and terracing, plus a myriad of colourful flowers blooming all year round.
Posted: 14 March 2023
Fancy a big-day cocktail bar? Check out Whitebox Cocktails
Whitebox Cocktails, the ready-to-serve cocktail specialists, have everything you need to create the ultimate in wedding cocktail offering. From classic cocktails like the Pocket Negroni and Squeezy's Margarita, to unique and refreshing long drinks like Hippy Fizz and Disco Baby, take the hassle out of the perfect pour on your big day with a wide range of ready-to-serve cocktails to suit every taste. Expertly mixed by the award-winning team of bartenders, Whitebox Cocktails' convenient single-serve cans mean there's no need to limit your cocktail menu, as there's no mixing, no mess and no long wait at the bar. For casual weddings, cocktails can be served in ice buckets for guests to help themselves and enjoy straight from the can. Alternately, for a more elevated occasion, simply chill and serve the cocktail in a glass with ice and a garnish of choice.
Posted: 13 March 2023
County Wedding Events coming to Layer Marney Tower, Essex!
If you're newlyweds-to-be embarking on your wedding planning journey, pop along to the County Wedding Events fair at Layer Marney Tower, Essex on 12th March, 2023! A must-visit for all those that are desperate for face-to-face wedding planning, the show puts you in touch with local professionals who are on hand to help plan the wedding day. From photographers to cake makers, musicians to florists you're sure to tick a lot off of your to-do list by attending one of our County Wedding Events.
Posted: 10 March 2023
The best UK cities for a hen do
With Google search volume data revealing a 402% search increase for 'hen party ideas' since December and 2023 wedding season in touching distance, organising a pre-wedding celebration is already on the bridal party to-do list. Getting all of your nearest and dearest pals together for a hen party can be challenging - whether it's catering to availability, budget, activity preferences or dietary requirements. Hen party decoration supplier, Ginger Ray, has done a little digging to find the top 19 UK cities to host your pre-wedding celebrations.
Posted: 10 March 2023
New book launch: The modern couple's guide to wedding speeches
The Modern Couple's Guide to Wedding Speeches is for grooms and brides who want their wedding speeches to be memorable for the right reasons and to kick off their marriage with a bang. This book is intended to benefit you whether you are straight or gay, whatever your religious beliefs are, or where you live. Heidi encourages us to reconsider old traditions, and tear up the outdated rulebook to create a modern wedding guide. Because speeches are such an important part of the day, she encourages couples to think about who they want to give speeches and what they want from the speeches.
Posted: 9 March 2023
The Rochester Corn Exchange won acclaim at the regional finals of the Wedding Industry Awards
Wedding bells rang for The Rochester Corn Exchange after the historical 18th-century venue won acclaim at the South East Regional Finals of the Wedding Industry Awards. It was the first time the building had entered the prestigious UK-wide awards, voted on by a panel of judges and recommendations from couples who had previously booked the venue. The team attended the gala awards evening at The Ravenswood, West Sussex, proudly coming away with a highly commended in the historical venues category.
As you exchange your vows in The Corn Exchange you'll be standing in a place with centuries of tradition, making it the perfect romantic backdrop for a wedding ceremony, function or evening celebrations.
Posted: 9 March 2023
County Wedding Magazines' competition winner!
Here at County Wedding Magazines HQ, we love nothing more than to hear from the winners of our competitions. In the crazy world of wedding planning, it's exciting for us to be able to offer our lovely readers some exciting giveaways and competitions which will hopefully give you a much-needed pick-me-up during on the countdown to your wedding day.
In the Autumn of 2022, CWM ran a competition, 'Win a two-night stay in the heart of The Lakes!' and the winners were nearlyweds Steph and Michael! The lucky pair enjoyed a stay, with dinner, bed and breakfast at The Wild Boar Inn a traditional Lakeland inn with oak beams, log fires, an in-house microbrewery and smokehouse all in the rolling countryside of the Gilpin Valley.
Posted: 8 March 2023
How to save money on your next wedding gift
Receiving an invitation to a wedding is always an exciting time. However, deciding what gift to buy the couple, and especially how much to spend, can be daunting - now more so than ever due to the increased cost of living. Data from VoucherCodes.co.uk reveals guests will spend an average of £113.39 for each gift they buy when attending a wedding which, for many of us, is a hefty amount. Anita Naik, Savings Expert at the UK's most trusted savings site VoucherCodes.co.uk, has some great tips on how to save money on your upcoming wedding gifts without skimping on the sentiment:
Posted: 3 March 2023
10 Most Instagrammed UK Wedding Venues
With over 278,000 UK weddings expected to take place in 2023, there's no doubt that couples across the country are already scrolling through Instagram in search of inspiration! With this in mind, Aura Print has discovered the most Insta-worthy and beautiful wedding venues of the UK. Analysing over 200 venues around the UK, they searched Instagram to discover which venue was being talked about most, narrowing it down to the 10 most desirable wedding venue locations in the UK.
Posted: 3 March 2023
New to the wedding scene is Kent-based brand April & Bloom
New to the wedding scene is Kent-based brand April & Bloom, with a vision to redefine wedding gifting by providing a range of elegant presents for the bride-to-be, bridal party proposal and for the morning of.
The luxe gifting brand promises on-trend products and Insta-worthy moments, through its carefully-curated range of signature floral gift boxes, wedding planner and notebooks, bespoke gift box service and wedding favours.
April & Bloom's signature keepsake boxes are filled with stylish products from a range of desirable brands including Whispering Angel, Pale Fox, Charbonnel et Walker, Chalke Valley and more. All come adorned with preserved posies, and all wrapped up in luxurious ribbons and bows for that precious wow moment. There are 13 options available on the website in blush, cream and neutral colours.
Posted: 2 March 2023
Unique theatre venues for your vows and and bows!
Finding the wedding venue of your dreams can be a difficult task, especially if you're looking for something with a little less traditional with a little more drama. According to Google trend data, searches for 'unique wedding venues' have seen an uplift of 769% in the last month, and more specifically, searches for 'theatre weddings' have risen by an enormous 1250%. SeatPlan reveal the most unique, musical, dramatic, and theatrical wedding venues around the UK, so you can be centre stage and in the spotlight on your big day.
Posted: 1 March 2023
Your Kent Wedding talks to James Brown, Medway Superintendent Registrar
With its spectacular riverside location and rich heritage, it's no surprise that Medway is one of Kent's most popular wedding destinations, supported by some of the county's most spectacular and unique venues. James Brown leads the team who register 800 weddings a year on average in Medway including places of worship, for those wanting a traditional religious ceremony, as well as ships, castles and buildings rich in history.
Posted: 28 February 2023
Weddings don't need to cost the earth
With nearlyweds looking to opt for more sustainable choices when planning their nuptials, Talking Tables' new wedding rental scheme ensures this special occasion will look beautiful, without costing the earth. Would be spouses can choose from its best-selling tall glass candle holders in a variety of colours to suit every theme, both clear and brightly coloured bud vases, and handmade silver stainless steel plates and bowls. Tables can be exquisitely dressed for a fraction of the cost to buy and be happy knowing the items will bring more joy to others rather than sitting in the back of your cupboard - a sustainable solution!
Posted: 27 February 2023
The countdown is on… to our Signature Wedding Show at Ascot Racecourse
We live and breathe weddings at CWM towers, so we can't wait for our Signature Wedding Show at Ascot Racecourse on Sunday 26th February 2023! It's our first Signature Wedding Show of 2023's Spring wedding show season; and a must-visit for all those that got engaged over the festive months. The event brings couples that are desperate for face-to-face wedding planning in touch with local professionals who are on hand to help plan the wedding day. From photographers to cake makers, musicians to florists you're sure to tick a lot off of your to-do list by attending one of our County Wedding Events.
Posted: 25 February 2023
5 songs to avoid on your big day
On top of organising flowers, dresses, venues and speeches, choosing the music for your wedding is yet another decision to make. But where do you even begin? The options are seemingly endless and the song you do pick will be the one that you define as 'yours' for the rest of your lives together. Wedding decor specialists Ginger Ray have crunched the numbers to reveal which songs and artists have made it onto the most Spotify wedding playlists and could be, dare we say it... overdone. So, whether you want to embrace the most popular choices (they are favourites for good reason after all) or whether you want to know which songs to avoid if you are looking to create a more unique soundtrack for your big day, here is Wedding Spotify, Wrapped.
Posted: 24 February 2023
Editor, Kelly Andrews visited one of the UK's most successful English wine producers
Gusbourne, near Ashford, is one of the UK's most successful English wine producers receiving acclaim for its award-winning sparkling wines and exceptional visitor experience. Founded in 2004, Gusbourne produces a range of sparkling and still wines from grapes grown at its vineyards in Kent and West Sussex. Its sparkling wines are well known, but it's also growing its reputation for great still wines, and is soon to launch its first 100 per cent Pino Meunier.
The vineyard in Appledore, Kent, is home to The Nest tasting room, and it's here editor Kelly visited one particularly dark, dank and dreary afternoon. She says, "Located in a beautiful spot The Nest at once feels welcoming and oh-so modern. We were warmly greeted and shown to our seats on the ground floor for our Sparkling Tasting Flight, accompanied by a plate of absolutely delicious local crackers and cheese. Here, mum and I spent an incredibly enjoyable hour sampling the vineyard's delightful produce, and being educated on how each came about along with how to pair them.
Posted: 23 February 2023
Hidden away from public roads, Havenfield Hall sits at the end of a romantic driveway
Hidden away from public roads, Havenfield Hall sits at the end of a long drive that opens up to reveal the building's grand scale. Its interiors have been lovingly restored to bring them into keeping with the original building's character and charm, with just a few modern touches added for comfort. Each of the seven bedrooms has its own individual decorative style.
As you walk past the front of the house and around to the back where it opens onto the gardens, you'll find the external games room, complete with full-sized snooker table and bar billiards table. Further on, there's the Old School House, Cart Shed and bar, which hug a central courtyard, providing the perfect space for live bands, DJs and entertainment.
Posted: 21 February 2023
