All the latest wedding news for couples getting married in Kent, along with bridal fashion and beauty inspiration and honeymoon ideas.
How to style your outfit for weddings this winter
Renowned high street footwear brand Clarks, analysed search volume data to reveal what wedding outfit colours the nation are searching for the most this winter. Blue wedding outfits came out on top, followed by black, pink, red and green! What's more, Clarks spoke to Lindsay from Lindsay Punch Styling to give her top tips on what shoes to pair with our upcoming wedding outfits, from styles to different colours. Read on for advice on winter wedding styling...
Posted: 24 December 2021
Whether it's a winter wedding, getting hitched in spring or a summertime country affair – Evercreatures' 'Weddies' offer the bride and her girl squad eye-catching footwear. These stylish cream coloured IDO wellington boots complete with bow come in short and tall options and could just be the perfect 'surprise' gift for the bride-to-be.
They are unique, funky and a fun fashion item for brides who dare to be different. Weddies, which are exclusively designed by Evercreatures, keep you looking and feeling bright and cheerful whatever the conditions!
The boots are made from natural, sustainable rubber and are coupled with Evercreatures' unique moulded design and padded inner to be super soft and comfortable enough to wear even when the elements aren't.
Posted: 21 December 2021
Perfectly plan your wedding with Pantone's Very Peri
Very Peri, Pantone Colour of the Year 2022, is a gorgeous shade that can inspire your wedding theme and colour scheme.
The Pantone Institute says of this new hue: Displaying a carefree confidence and a daring curiosity that animates our creative spirit, inquisitive and intriguing PANTONE 17-3938 Very Peri helps us to embrace this altered landscape of possibilities, opening us up to a new vision as we rewrite our lives. Rekindling gratitude for some of the qualities that blue represents complemented by a new perspective that resonates today, PANTONE 17-3938 Very Peri places the future ahead in a new light.
We are living in transformative times. PANTONE 17-3938 Very Peri is a symbol of the global zeitgeist of the moment and the transition we are going through. As we emerge from an intense period of isolation, our notions and standards are changing.
Posted: 16 December 2021
Yeti & The Fox is a simple yet effective pharmaceutical-free solution to the dreaded hangover. With many couples choosing to opt for hangover survival kit-style wedding favours (we love this idea) Yeti & The Fox is a must-have addition. Here comes the science bit! S-acetyl gluthione is the body's main natural antioxidant and immune system booster helping the body stay healthy. When combined with N-acetyl cysteine and vitamin B6, it becomes highly effective and fighting toxins ingested via food and drink. Glutathione is in fact needed by our bodies to break down toxic substance acetaldehyde the offending substance produced as alcohol is broken down by the liver. It's also to blame for liver damage and many of the most hideous symptoms experienced during a hangover. So, with the acetaldehyde-busting ingredient glutathione being at the core of Yeti & Fox it's clear to see why it works!
Posted: 16 December 2021
Situated in the gorgeous Kentish countryside in Upchurch, The BarnYard has recently undergone and exciting new renovation. Totally different to the existing wedding offerings the new Apple Barn and Courtyard can host twilight wedding ceremonies for up to 100 guests and up to 200 for the evening bash. You can host indoor "I dos" in the barn itself or choose to hold an al fresco ceremony in the beautiful Courtyard Gazebo.
Decoration is allowed earlier in the day and there's a stunning dressing room available to book for anyone who wishes to get ready on site, including a fridge full of bubbles and snacks.
Posted: 9 December 2021
SD Home of Menswear by Suit Direct recently opened the doors to its newest store in Bluewater Shopping Centre. SD is one of the fastest growing menswear retailers in the UK offering a fantastic range of suiting, accessories and casualwear from leading brands including Ted Baker, Selected Homme, Marc Darcy, Ben Sherman, Jack and Jones, Racing Green, Limehaus, Gibson London and Jeff Banks. From three-piece suits to casual essentials, it aims to be a one-stop-shop for all things men's fashion.
Posted: 2 December 2021
The recently-refurbished Dress Dreams Boutique in Sevenoaks offers the modern bride a wonderful range of contemporary gowns with wow factor to reflect their spirit and individuality. Its dresses are created by some of the finest fashion-forward designers from Israel to Australia. The latter is at the cutting edge of contemporary bridal fashion and the incredible Austrailian designer Zavana Couture is one not to be missed. Here's your chance to preview the new 2022 collection and be the first to see and try on these show-stopping designs ahead of their arrival in boutiques next year. Prepare to be WOW'ed!! Head over to Dress Dreams for its Zavana Couture Trunk Show from 27th November and 5th December 2021 and benefit from a 10% discount during the event. Appointments are available via the website www.dressdreams.co.uk/apppointments-1
Posted: 25 November 2021
Photography team Jeff and Sarah Oliver (https://jeffoliverphotography.com) have taken to YouTube to create an indispensable video library of Kentish wedding venue tours. Originally aimed at helping couples and venues placed in a difficult position by various lockdowns, the channel is now set to be a useful tool for anyone planning their Kent wedding.
Each episode is packed with everything you could possibly need to know about each hotspot from map location, overnight accommodation, outdoor space and all of your indoor celebration-space options.
Posted: 25 November 2021
Mixology Events has re-launched bridal party cocktail masterclasses. Designed for groups of any size the classes are custom-built, 100 per cent interactive and hands-on. As you enter, you'll be treated to a complimentary cocktail before being guided through the background and concepts of mixology, cocktail making and techniques. Then, you'll each make – and drink – four cocktails at your own cocktail-bar workspace, allowing everyone to create simultaneously. Finally, you can indulge in some healthy competition as each bar competes to make an original cocktail using a wide range of liquors, spirits, syrups, fresh fruits, juices and specialised equipment. Tom Cruise, eat your heart out!
Posted: 18 November 2021
Hever Castle's wedding showcase
Hever Castle is once again hosting a stunning wedding showcase, giving guests the rare opportunity to experience the historical and stunning venue set up for a wedding. Pre-registered guests will arrive to the Astor Wing and will have the opportunity to view all three of the award-winning wedding venue opportunities on the Hever Castle estate. The wedding team will be on hand to answer any questions and discuss date availability and packages. Be it the stately grandeur of the Castle itself, the country house atmosphere of the Astor Wing, or the stunning lakeside location of the Guthrie Pavilion, Hever Castle offers a dream-come-true location for your special day. Intimate gatherings, exuberant parties, and outdoor weddings are all catered for. Five-star luxury accommodation is available to book as part of your wedding.
Posted: 16 November 2021
Recent research into the most Instagrammable National Trust properties, conducted by www.heatingforce.co.uk, has placed Kent treasure Chartwell near the top. With 28,065 hashtags on Instagram, Chartwell, once home to Winston Churchill came in third place just behind impressive country piles Waddesdon Manor and Cliveden.
In 2019 Chartwell welcomed 253,032 visitors, who flocked there to see the property's main attraction – the largest collection of the late prime minister's paintings.
If you're looking to enjoy a day out together this autumn, check out www.nationaltrust.org.uk/chartwell
Posted: 11 November 2021
Planned to perfection: The good, the bad and the ugly!
The benefits of having a professional wedding planner at the helm of your wedding can never be underestimated. This team of local wedding suppliers had such a blast showing couples how great their big day can be with professional assistance that they decided to go one step further and show how awful it could be without! Annie says, "We were positively comedic in our approach and swung hard in the opposite direction, introducing heavy make-up, ill-fitting outfits and floppy stationery."
Posted: 8 November 2021
What's that? Even MORE wedspiration from CWM!
Here at CMW HQ we're literally never satisfied when it comes to providing our readers with enough wedspiration. Because, really, what is enough? We'd go on forever if we could. So, with that in mind, we've created our very own County Wedding Magazines YouTube channel, just for you. Find tons of big-day ideas from venue tours to dream dresses. Catch up on beauty reviews and how tos from our beauty editor and peek behind the scenes of styled shoots featured in our titles past and present. You can even be a fly on the wall at some real weddings - after all, if we're honest, who doesn't love being a bit nosey! And we haven't stopped there, as you'll also find local supplier interviews packed with tips and tricks.
Posted: 5 November 2021
Neil Dutta at Angelic Diamonds, a UK wedding jewellery specialist, explores why humanist weddings have seen an increase in popularity in recent years. With official guidance looking to change in the not too distant future, giving celebrants more legal power to actually marry couples - removing the need for a pre- or post-blessing registry office date - here at County Wedding Magazine HQ we think this is a trend that will continue to soar.
Posted: 5 November 2021
Kent-based Ark Jewellery's designer, Kristina Smith, has been nominated in the Rising Star category of the Professional Jeweller's Power List 2021. This is the next instalment in a great year for her having also found herself as a finalist in the UK Jewellery Awards Creative Jewellery Design category in June.
Speaking about her wins and latest creations, Kristina says, "Art without a story is meaningless. But like all good art, my pieces give you room to discover your own emotions and connections, weaving them into a story that ultimately makes them part of your life. I'm so pleased to have been awarded these accolades, as they confirm my hard work is paying off."
Posted: 4 November 2021
Fenwick lifts the lid on this year's luxury Christmas hamper selection
Fenwick has unveiled this year's seasonal hamper collection, brimming with only the finest foods, treats and tipples. This year's extensive Christmas collection features carefully crafted quality treats and decadent pickings guaranteed to induce merriment in those lucky enough to receive. The 'Fabulously Fenwick' hamper features Fenwick's in-house produced favourites. Indulge in sumptuous seasonal preserves alongside expertly blended Christmas Day coffee, complemented with an array of flavourful condiments such as whisky-infused Seville marmalade or Amaretto-laced cherry jam. Other handpicked essentials include Fenwick's delicate dark chocolate, nutty crackers and the perfect piccalilli to bring your leftovers to life, all perfectly enhanced with Fenwick's English sparkling wine, described as a very fine, gently bubbling balance of aromatic elegance.
Posted: 2 November 2021
Five tips on how to ensure your caterer is acting sustainably
A typical British wedding produces one third of a metric tonne of solid waste and 14.5 tons of carbon dioxide in one day. To put that into perspective, annual carbon emissions per capita in the UK are around 9.1 tonnes. A large percentage of the waste comes from catering. In fact, an average of £488 worth of food is wasted at every wedding. There is a pressing need for change in how we approach weddings, keeping them fun, beautiful and memorable yet responsible.
Fortunately, more people today are turning to sustainable options, and this trend is here to stay. Aiming to have a sustainable wedding catering experience does not mean sacrificing luxury and quality – it means catering wisely and creatively. You do not need to forfeit your personal taste and unique preferences when envisioning an environmentally conscious wedding.
Tania Burton, the founder of a sustainable, family-run luxury wedding and event catering business Ginger Snap (https://www.ginger-snap.co.uk/), shares 5 ways to ensure your wedding catering is delicious and beautifully presented without harming the environment.
Posted: 2 November 2021
Everything you need to know about wedding traditions
Traditions have played a huge part in weddings for hundreds of years, with more recent, modern weddings incorporating a mix of both old and new. With the wedding season in full swing, here's some of the most popular wedding traditions, looking at their origins as well as modern alternatives. Here at County Wedding Magazines HQ we still love some of the classics, such as exchanging the rings and having a wedding cake, but would happily say cheerio to the father-daughter dance and throwing the bouquet! Have a read and see how many you want to keep!
Posted: 13 October 2021
The fab four in Wedding Planning Apps
Post-lockdowns, couples are still rejoicing in the fact that being restriction free means it's full steam ahead with wedding planning - without the impending doom of cancellations and postponements! Whether you're nearlyweds, or just engaged, planning a wedding can be a daunting task; however, there's a whole host of useful Apps that can help you get organised and actually easy the stress of it meaning you can enjoy the wedding planning as much as the day itself! Events specialists AYRE Event Solutions, reveal the fab-four of best apps to download for wedding planning.
Posted: 11 October 2021
Win a honeymoon with Signature Wedding Show exhibitor
The Inspire Me Travel Company Ltd, based in Stansted, Essex, is exhibiting at our Signature Wedding Show on 24th October 2021, at The Brentwood Centre in Essex. What's more, for couples still in the midst of planning their honeymoon - then put that on hold - as there's a chance to win your honeymoon with this exhibitor on the day of the show! So what are you waiting for? Hurry along to the show and enter your details!
Posted: 7 October 2021
The UK's most beautiful wedding castles
Wedding dreams of being kings and queens of the castle for the big day? Lucky for you, this fairytale ending can come true as the UK is blessed with a whole host of romantic castle wedding venues. Engagement ring specialists at Steven Stone analysed a comprehensive list of castles on wedding planning websites and using hashtag data from Instagram to reveal which venues has the highest number of posts to inspire your big-day wedding venue choice.
Posted: 7 October 2021
Spooky hen and stag do ideas this October from Fizzbox
As this year's Halloween draws closer, here at County Wedding Magazines HQ we thought it would be fun to share some spooky hen and stag do ideas from Fizzbox.com! Now that lockdowns are over, the hen and stag do parties are back from the dead just in time for the spooky goings on this Halloween. So get your thinking caps on - witches hats! - and get planning a night of a lifetime as there's 18months of no socialising to make up for!
Posted: 7 October 2021
How to choose the perfect gifts for your wedding party
Gifts for the wedding party can often be left to the last minute, however, they can show your guests just how much they mean to the two of you. But where do you start, especially when looking for something truly heartfelt? The gifting experts at www.hampers.com have rounded up some gift inspiration for the different members of your wedding party, which here at County Wedding Magazine HQ we think will go down an absolute treat with your loved ones...
Posted: 5 October 2021
A foodie kind of fizz from Kent's Mereworth Wines
Despite its first wine being released just in April of last year, there have already been many bottles of 'Mereworth' popped and enjoyed over lockdown and in celebrations since. But Kent winemaker, Mereworth Wines, is keen to explain why its English Sparkling Wine is much more than just a celebratory drink. Sparkling wine is often opened as a drink of celebration, but you may not know 'Mereworth's English fizz is also incredibly food-friendly, pairing with a wide range of dishes, so you can make it a regular at your lunch or dinner table. The bubbles wake up your taste buds, and the vibrant acidity cuts beautifully through a range of salty, fatty or sweet foods to effortlessly partner whatever you bring to the table.
Posted: 5 October 2021
The Countdown Begins: Your Wedding Planning Checklist
The process of planning out your dream wedding day is an exciting and exhilarating time that many eagerly look forward to doing their whole life. With this said, it can also be quite a stressful time too, with so many different attributes to your wedding needing to be organised and thought of. Before even contemplating how much your big day will cost and who you're going to invite, the questions of where and how to even start planning your wedding is something on everyone's mind at first. Thanks to technology impacting the majority of aspects in our day-to-day lives, there are an abundance of wedding planner apps you can use. Making your wedding planner checklist only a finger tap away at all times. With restrictions on wedding guest numbers recently lifted alongside an end to all social distancing rules, we're beginning to return to normal. Here, we present a step-by-step guide to your wedding planning checklist and outline when exactly the right time to plan for the next step is.
Posted: 1 October 2021
