Your Somerset Glos and Wilts Wedding news and ideas from around the county

8 Tips To Avoid Wedding Guest Burnout This Wedding Season

As peak wedding season rolls in, it's not just brides and grooms who are feeling the pressure. New research reveals a growing trend of wedding burnout, and it's hitting guests just as hard. From back-to-back hen-dos and stag weekends to pricey gifts and cross-country travel, the cost and commitment of attending multiple weddings have left many guests feeling emotionally and financially drained. To help guests avoid burnout this wedding season, the experts at Queensmith have shared their 8 top tips to beat the 'wedding guest hangover', from setting a budget to knowing when to say no.

Live like the aristocracy in the heart of Wiltshire

The 22nd Earl of Suffolk and 15th Earl of Berkshire, who inherited his titles in 2022, recently announced that his childhood residence is now available for private hire. Nestled in the historical Charlton Park Estate in Malmesbury, Wiltshire, Andover House is a Grade II listed property that has been lovingly restored, offering guests a refined yet inviting retreat. This grand country home, set against a backdrop of sweeping parkland, blends heritage charm with modern comforts. Listed as Summerbourne House and available to rent through Big House Experience, this is an opportunity to immerse yourself in the grandeur of a truly historical home. Starting from £5,500 for three nights, ten bedrooms sleeping up to 20 guests await.

Hotpod Yoga Takes on Mental Health Week

Mental health awareness week (12th – 18th May) is upon us and it's time we get serious about our feelings. With the constant rise in social media consumption and the cruelty of the media, it's vita we understand how we can support our mental health. Hotpod Yoga in Birmingham are facing the week head on and, in collaboration with CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably), are helping locals support the worthy cause.

The new cleaning trend is ruining your engagement ring!

The newest trend to clean engagement rings with a coffee steamer, whilst entertaining to watch, is a sure-fire way to ruin your precious ring! We have to be very careful about our jewels and must not forget that it is four simple prongs that hold in our sparkling beauties. To educate us as to why this hack should get the sack is Neil Dutta, managing director of the engagement ring specialists, Angelic Diamonds

Holly Miller Cake Design wins National Cake Designer of the Year at The Wedding Industry Awards

Cake designer Holly Miller is super-excited and extremely proud to announce that she has taken home the trophy for National Cake Designer of the Year at The Wedding Industry Awards for the second consecutive year. She was awarded the accolade at a glitzy ceremony at the Underglobe in London, proudly retaining her cakey crown. In the 14 years the awards have been running, only two other cake designers have ever achieved this accolade. Cake Design by Holly Miller is a luxe cake maker based in Somerset, where high-end designs and distinctive flavour combinations happily collide.

B Calm Introduces a Personalised Body and Face Care Set

Born from Becky's personal journey of healing, B Calm offers beautifully designed, organic products to support modern women in finding daily balance and calm. In May 2025 they will proudly unveils their latest innovation – the Personalised Body + Face Care Set. Designed to empower individuals to create a unique self-care ritual, this customisable trio features a hydrating mist, nourishing carrier oil, and pure essential oil blend to support radiant skin and holistic well-being.

Snap up this special offer from Booth Nineteen

"Wedding bookings are at an all-time high, and 2026 is already shaping up to be an incredibly busy year," says Booth Nineteen's Craig Cheber. "Many couples are securing their dates early to avoid disappointment and take advantage of the best suppliers." So, the team at Booth Nineteen are encouraging early bookings by offering £200 off all 2026 wedding packages. This is a fantastic opportunity to lock in your date and ensure your guests experience the magic of a beautifully designed vintage photo booth. Simply quote YBSW26 when booking to claim this exclusive offer.

New Study Reveals the Best Places in England to Get Married

With wedding season fast approaching, the wedding experts at F.Hinds have analysed hundreds of the best wedding venues that England has to offer, to uncover where nearly-weds should be adding to their shortlist this summer. The study considered several factors such as popularity, reviews and weather predictions and awarded bonus points for how "Instagrammable" the aesthetic is. The systematic scoring system has revealed the "best of the best" English wedding venues for couples planning a wedding in 2025.

Wedding expert reveals the top 2025 trends

With weddings becoming more personalised than ever, many couples are rethinking the traditional elements of their big day. In 2025, couples are all about individuality and creating an experience that truly reflects them. For those looking for inspiration on what's 'in' and what's 'out' for weddings this year; Jeremy Hinds, Wedding and Engagement Ring expert at F.Hinds, shares his top tips for planning a celebration that feels both modern and timeless.

Add some Bristol blue glass to your wedding gift list

If you're looking for something to add to your wedding gift list that celebrates your love of all things local, check out the stunning selection of Bristol Blue Glass available at Bristol Museums online shop. Iconic and distinctive, the vases are the perfect addition to any space in the home or make a great gift for someone you love. Bristol Museums online shop offers a curated selection of gifts, art and memorabilia inspired by the museum's rich collections and exhibits. What's more, shopping with Bristol Museums helps to support access to arts and culture for all, with every pound earned going straight back into running the museums. Last year they welcomed 750,000 visitors for free thanks to this income. See what's available at https://shop.bristolmuseums.org.uk

Celebrate National Tea Day with the Nation’s Best Tasting Tea!

Birchall Tea is a family-owned tea company with a heritage dating back to 1872. Known for its exceptional quality and flavour, Birchall Tea sources the finest ingredients to create a wide range of blends enjoyed by tea enthusiasts worldwide. Committed to sustainability and ethical practices, Birchall Tea continually seeks ways to support environmental and social causes. To celebrate National Tea Day 2025, Birchall is giving customers 10% off any online purchase, but hurry as it's available for today only!

Emma's Kitchen launches new Grazing Table

Local lovely, Emma's Kitchen, has announced the launch of its new Grazing Table, the perfect addition to your wedding celebrations. This stunning setup includes a beautifully crafted cutting cake along with a variety of bakes, all chosen by you to delight your guests and tailored to match your special day. The Grazing Table offers an interactive dessert experience, allowing guests to enjoy a selection of treats throughout the evening. From filled cookies to indulgent brownies, there's something for everyone to enjoy. It's not just a dessert table; it's a delicious centrepiece adding a personal touch to your celebrations.

The Gathering Barn offers magnificent views and easily accessible rural isolation

In a stunning location on the South Wiltshire Downs, The Gathering Barn offers magnificent views and easily accessible, rural isolation. Meanwhile, the ancient brick and flint barns boast high-end, modern facilities while retaining their idyllic rustic charm. The barns are linked around a pretty south facing courtyard, great for relaxing and games. Here, you can delight in wide-reaching views, gardens, fields, parkland and epic industrial barns providing a backdrop for endless photographic opportunities. Exclusive Thursday morning to Sunday afternoon hire is available. This four-day celebration allows you to enjoy two large barns aiding a seamless transition between ceremony, meal and party. They team here is all about total flexibility so, you're permitted to choose your own suppliers including caterers.

Q&A with The Painswick's events manager, Chelsea Tunstall

The Painswick is a charming boutique hotel nestled in the heart of the picturesque Cotswolds, and its bespoke wedding package offers the perfect venue for couples seeking an intimate and unique wedding experience. With its stunning Georgian architecture, breathtaking valley views, and exclusive, home-from-home feel, The Painswick is ideal for smaller, more personal celebrations, allowing couples to make the space their own. Chelsea Tunstall, The Painswick's wedding manager, recently shared her insights into what makes this venue so special...

Couples seek help with their Wedding Checklist

With the average 2025 wedding costing £20,822, it's understandable that couples are feeling the pressure to ensure their special day runs smoothly. Wedding costs have more than doubled since the pandemic and with higher budgets often comes increased planning and the need for checklists. Last year "wedding checklist" received 6,600 average monthly searches online as UK couples turned to Google for guidance, to make sure nothing was missed. As your 2025 wedding day approaches and the big elements are secured, from venue and dress to guest list, there will still be a number of important details to manage in those final weeks.

Lovely locks with Bristol-based Hairy Jayne

Bristol-based Hairy Jayne is a local beauty brand transforming the haircare industry with its innovative, multi-award-winning products that are both ethical and effective, designed to cleanse, condition and care for your hair. Infused with nature's most nutritious ingredients, Hairy Jayne delivers visible results while protecting the planet and supporting meaningful causes. Founded by hairdresser Jayne Rutland in 2019, the brand is driven by her knowledge of natural haircare recipes, dedication to plant-based results and commitment to genuinely sustainable haircare.

Experience the tranquillity of nature at Ellenborugh Park

Beautifully positioned at the foot of Cleeve Hill, located within 90-acres of glorious grounds, just moments away from the famous Cheltenham Racecourse and nearby to many of England's most picturesque villages, Ellenborough Park is one of The Cotswolds' finest estates. The 15th century manor house has been lovingly restored to its original glory, combining history, elegance and nature with contemporary comforts, state-of-the art facilities and world-class service. The in-house spa invites guests to unwind and relax in comfort and tranquillity. As well as offering a variety of relaxing and restorative treatments, the spa at Ellenborough Park has six treatment rooms, a heated outdoor swimming pool, state-of-the-art gym, thermal suites and relaxing karma room.

From smart invites to livestreams: the tech-savvy wedding trends of 2025

Like the tides of fashion, wedding trends come and go; however, the coming online age of nuptials is coming in fast and causing quite the wave. From AI-generated floor layouts and digital invites, modern couples are finding new ways of broadcasting their love. Here are some of the biggest trends in technology that will shape weddings in 2025, and how the industry is adapting to meet couples' expectations.

The Barn at Berkeley releases additional availability for 2026/27

The Barn at Berkeley is a charming family-owned wedding venue, renowned for its restaurant-standard food and stunning rural location. This quintessentially Cotswolds destination is a popular choice for exclusive hire and the team behind this hidden gem have recently released additional availability for 2026 and 2027. Nestled in a beautiful rural haven, neighbouring Cattle Country Farm Park and run by the same third-generation farmers, the talented hospitality team at the barn have more than 20 years' experience expertly hosting celebrations. Their venue is now available for exclusive use for weddings with between 60 and 120 guests during the day and up to 200 in the evening. The venue boasts a selection of versatile spaces for each element of a wedding, including

Jo Malone reopens in Cheltenham

British fragrance house Jo Malone London has opened the doors to its newly refurbished store in Cheltenham. "Renowned for its stunning Regency architecture and rich cultural history, this vibrant town in Gloucestershire continues to provide the perfect setting for Jo Malone London," says Rachel Baker, the brand's vice president general manager. "With its elegant charm and enduring heritage, Cheltenham embodies the timeless sophistication and craftsmanship that are at the heart of our brand."