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

Enjoy a taste of Malaysia at The Gainsborough Bath Spa

Luxury five-star city sanctuary in the heart of Bath, The Gainsborough Bath Spa by YTL Hotels is a modern icon of luxury wellness, combining the rich history of the thermal waters in Bath with the YTL brand's Malaysian heritage to offer a one-of-a-kind wellness experience in its Spa Village. Now, The Gainsborough is paying homage to the brand's heritage through its food, with the launch of a new Far East Meets West dinner menu. Including irresistible dishes from the brand's sister restaurants both in Malaysia and Japan, this delectable new menu is not to be missed for both locals and overnight guests alike and is available to book in the elegant Gainsborough Brasserie.

Spring Bank Holiday weekend is set to host second highest number of weddings for 2024

The team at hampers.com, who strive to bring joy and wholehearted togetherness through gifting, recently undertook a study to determine the most popular dates for weddings in 2024, surveying almost 2,300 UK adults who were set to get married this year. When asked what date they were getting married on, the most popular dates were found to be were these here...

Need a helping hand with your groom's speech? Check out these top tips from Speechy

'The Speech Surgery' with Heidi Ellert McDermott, founder of Speechy & author of The Modern Couple's Guide to Wedding Speeches'. My groom isn't naturally romantic. How can I help him with his speech without actually writing it for him? Well, no one will be expecting him to be reciting sonnets and he doesn't need to have a personality transplant, but it would be nice if he managed to deliver at least a few suitably sweet lines in his speech! Send him a few good blog posts (including this one) and encourage him to get the advice & feedback from his friends (ideally, married ones who have been through the speechwriting process before).

Indulge in Vera Wang x Chopin vodka this wedding season

With the 2024 wedding season fast approaching, brides and grooms-to-be are looking for ways to impart luxury to their special day. From elevating their drink offering with expertly crafted cocktails to creating a sophisticated monochrome look, the Vera Wang x Chopin vodka has all the assets to make one's celebration stylish and memorable. Vera Wang x Chopin vodka comes from a unique partnership blending the refined style of iconic fashion designer Vera Wang with the unparalleled craftsmanship of Chopin.

The UK’s top stately homes for Bridgerton-themed weddings

A recent study has revealed the UK's highest-rated stately homes for Bridgerton-themed weddings, with Pembroke Lodge, Surrey named the best. The research, conducted by photo wall art creator StoryBoards, analysed user-generated review data from a popular wedding planning site to identify the UK regions with the highest quantity of top-rated stately homes by creating an overall rating score. The study has revealed that Pembroke Lodge is the nation's most highly rated stately home. Located in Surrey, the grand wedding venue has over 1,100 five-star ratings and an overall perfect score of 10 out of 10.

Onwards and upwards for Waterside Country Barn

Waterside Country Barn has been successfully running up to eight events per year for the past three years, and has now gained planning consent to increase that number by a further 20. Nestled on the outskirts of Bradford on Tone, Waterside Country Barn boasts a stunning backdrop for weddings of all sizes. The venue offers a variety of customisable spaces, including a beautiful barn, the stylish Blue Room, and a picturesque outdoor setting with decking and an attractive gazebo overlooking the emerald lake. It can host up to 250 people and offers exclusive use of the site. Georgia Venn, owner and events manager says, "The increase of the frequency of events allows for us to honour more enquiries for weddings and other events.

New research reveals biggest wedding trends of 2024, and some will surprise you

The wedding themes of 2024? Expect them to be smaller and more intimate, more informal and just generally more fun! That's according to a new study which was commissioned by high street jewellers, F.Hinds. They asked 2,000 UK couples for their thoughts on which wedding traditions are still important (and which aren't), and what new trends will be incorporated into wedding day plans for 2024. They also spoke to a wedding expert for her views. Their research revealed that the 'big day' traditions that remain in favour include the bride walking walked down the aisle (53%), having wedding rings (52%), cutting the cake (49%), having a best man (44%), and the bride being given away by a family member (43%).

Sweet success for Cake Design by Holly Miller

Cake Design by Holly Miller, based in Yeovil has recently been awarded the coveted National Cake Designer of the Year accolade at The Wedding Industry Awards. The local lovely progressed from winning the regional event in November at the Aldwick Estate through to the national finals held at the Underglobe in London. The goal of these prestigious awards is to recognise and celebrate the very best of the wedding industry and are voted on by a panel of judges as well as the nominees' previous couples. "We're very proud to have been awarded this new title and to have brought it home for the South West," says owner Holly Miller. The wedding cake business competed against seven of the top cake designers from across the county to win.

Having a multicultural wedding? Make sure everyone is include with these tips from Speechy

'The Speech Surgery' with Heidi Ellert McDermott, Founder of Speechy & author of The Modern Couple's Guide to Wedding Speeches. My groom's family is Italian and some of them don't speak any English. How do we ensure they feel included during the speeches? This is becoming an issue for more and more couples as relationships become increasingly international. Bringing two cultures together at a wedding can be wonderful but it's not without its challenges, the prime example being the speeches.

Top tips on moving in together for the first time

Making the big decision to move in together can be an exciting, yet daunting time! Whether you've been living apart due to distance, financial constraints or other circumstances, deciding to take the next step in your relationship can help strengthen your bond and progress it further. Whilst being around each other 24/7 has its benefits, it's important not to overlook the potential issues that could arise as a result. Property experts at Essential Living have teamed up with Dr Becky Spelman, Psychologist and Founder at Private Therapy Clinic to reveal some of the issues the couples might experience and her top tips on what to keep in mind before taking the big step.

What's on in Bristol this spring?

Spring is in the air with some exciting and diverse openings and events in Bristol over the coming months. From from hen and stag party ideas to wedding guest accommodation there's much to look out for as the city buzzes this season! Diverse Artists Network, champions of local arts and culture, is excited to present DIASPORA, a new arts festival for Bristol and the South West taking place from 3rd to 6th May. This four-day festival will be a vibrant celebration of music, film, poetry, dance, storytelling and community engagement projects. Following the recent ITVX drama Archie about Bristol's very own film star Cary Grant, Show of Strength is hosting its newest actor-led tour this spring.

Wedding menu guide from Papier

A wedding day is an unparalleled occasion, filled with unforgettable moments and cherished memories. Best-selling British stationery brand Papier understand the importance of every detail on this special day, especially when it comes to creating a memorable dining experience for the happy couple and their guests. Food is a huge part of your wedding day. Whether it's a meal guests have chosen or a set menu, informing your loved ones about what's ahead gets them excited to sit down and tuck in

Sleep well at Francis Hotel, Bath

The Francis Hotel in Bath has been awarded a gold Green Tourism Award following its sustained engagement with the local community and an excellent performance in all areas of protecting and supporting staff and customer health and wellbeing. The award recognises and supports eco-friendly achievements of tourism businesses, and the gold award stands as its most prestigious. The Hotel is immersed in the heart of a World Heritage Site, with plenty to explore on its doorstep. First opened by Emily Francis in 1884, a leading entrepreneur of her time, it has shown great initiative in paving the way for a greener future.

Worried about your dad's wedding speech? Here's some top advice from Speechy

'The Speech Surgery' with Heidi Ellert McDermott, founder of Speechy & author of 'The Modern Couple's Guide to Wedding Speeches. At Speechy, we believe that all great speeches have good story-telling at the heart of them. So instead of hunting down one-liners, encourage your dad to simply tell his favourite stories. Remind him that he can call on your mum or siblings for help with content and constructive feedback, and send him links to lots of various speech examples to get his brain thinking.

The best place in the UK for a springtime wedding

A new study has revealed the areas in the UK with the best vendors and venues for spring wedding ceremonies, with Essex being crowned top for both. The research conducted by photo wall art creator StoryBoards analyzed data from a popular wedding planning site, to identify the UK regions with the highest quantity of top-rated vendors and venues, including vineyards, cake companies, and stationery brands. Most brides and grooms will agree that planning a wedding is stressful, as trying to pull off an event that feels unique to the couple while managing expectations, budget, and family can be difficult at times. Thankfully, beautiful venues exist to help make the whole process easier.

Glowing for gold with Omorovicza at The Gainsborough Bath Spa

In the modern world of beauty where everyone is looking to fight signs of ageing and get the golden glow, many spa and cosmetic offerings are recognising the unique benefits of the use of gold and are continuing to drive the demand, with indulgent treatments such as gold massages and skincare. An example of a brand spearheading this trend is the innovative Hungarian skincare brand, Omorovicza, through its brand new partnership with five-star hotel, The Gainsborough Bath Spa. Part of the prestigious YTL Hotels brand, this luxury spa hotel has recently unveiled a collection of five new Mineral Cure Rituals to its existing Spa Village offering, including two gold spa treatments that will redefine self-care and leave guests feeling like royalty.

Does your mum need help with her wedding speech? Read these tips from Speechy

The Speech Surgery with Heidi Ellert McDermott, founder of Speechy & author of The Modern Couple's Guide to Wedding Speeches. Firstly, reassure your mum that we work with lots of mothers (both of the bride, and increasingly, the groom's) so it's no longer unusual to see a mum on the mic. Whether your mum is standing in for your father, speaking in addition to him or your dad isn't part of the picture, we generally find mothers have a lot to say! In terms of getting your mum excited at the prospect of delivering a speech, rather than dreading it, send her a few blog posts to show her how simple writing her speech can be.

Your ultimate hen do survival guide by SilkFred

With April being the most popular month for hen do's, and online fashion destination SilkFred finding that 625 people will be attending at least one hen do this 'hen do season' (with 93 of respondents attending 3+ hen do's)*, we've sat down with Georgie Mitchell, Wedding Planner, Coordinator and Wedding Expert at Silkfred and Head Stylist Megan Watkins, who have shared their ultimate 'Hen Do Survival Hacks' to manage everything from budgets and schedules to styling tips and mastering the art of saying "no".

Five myths about Champagne

For centuries, great occasions in life have been punctuated with Champagne. However, there are several myths surrounding the drinking, storing and essence of Champagne. As a result, the Champagne Bureau UK* wanted to bust those myths to separate fact from fiction and demonstrate how best to enjoy the pinnacle of sparkling wine, as well as ensure that you aren't fooled by some of the most common Champagne myths. Myth: Pop the cork and spray Champagne in times of celebrations. The blunt pop of the cork and the fizz of the fine bubbles – instantly reminiscent of celebration – is a sparkling start to any special occasion.

Spring has sprung as riverside pub, The Lock Keeper reopens

Step into a foodie haven at The Lock Keeper as the riverside pub reopens its doors following a stunning refurbishment. Set to the backdrop of the Keynsham Lock, the historic pub is back with a new look and a host of exciting menus, which shine a spotlight on seasonal British ingredients, handpicked at the height of harvest. Located a 10-minute drive from Bristol city centre in the charming village of Keynsham, the Grade II listed inn has been sensitively restored throughout, blending original features with contemporary flourishes. Sitting on the banks of the River Avon, diners can enjoy the view from the pub's bright and airy conservatory space, with an eclectic mix of seating and floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the river and countryside views.