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

Make your own rules with a celebrant-led ceremony

We asked Jen Whitworth, also known at Jen the Celebrant (https://jenthecelebrant.co.uk) for her top tips on personality a wedding day. Here's what she told us: The simplest way to personalise your nuptials is to opt for a celebrant-led ceremony. A celebrant will work with you to make every aspect reflect you and your partner's personalities. Every time a celebrant officiates a wedding ceremony it will be unique, different from the last one they performed. A registrar however must repeat the same script every day, several times a day. With a celebrant at the helm, the party starts with the ceremony, as it should!

Overwhelmed planning a wedding? A leading wedding planner shares top tips

Matthew Shaw, a leading wedding and events planner and founder of sauveur. - a superb events and creative studio - is here to reveal his Top Tips to help you plan and feel calm, confident and importantly, excited for the big day. ASK FOR HELP: I would always advise considering if you would like to engage a planner at the beginning of the process. They are true experts in their field and will help organise, inspire, and de-stress the process for you. There are planners available for varying wedding budgets so do reach out and request more information.

Weddings Wrapped 2023 - wedding special

With Spotify Wrapped 2023 having just dropped, Encore Musicians, the UK's largest musician bookings platform has analysed 2,300 song requests by newlyweds to see the most requested songs and artists for weddings in 2023. They also surveyed 1,000 of its customers and musicians to discover the UK's favourite and least favourite songs to hear at weddings. Although Ed Sheeran's "Perfect" ranked as the most common song for first dances, it also ranked as the second least popular song to hear at weddings with one in seven ranking it as their least favourite.

Could you have to pay inheritance tax on a wedding gift?

Before the big day comes around, whether you are a guest giving a present or contributing to the cost of the honeymoon, or perhaps a relative considering helping towards the cost of the wedding itself, you ought to consider the inheritance tax implications of making such gifts. James Mabey, partner at law firm Winckworth Sherwood advises on the inheritance tax implications of wedding gifts. In the UK, if you die within seven years of making a gift, inheritance tax may be payable on the value of the gift after your death. This is because gifts are considered to be part of your estate for inheritance tax purposes.

Serve up the food you love with The Bath Soft Cheese Co.

We asked Daniel Murphy from The Bath Soft Cheese Co. (https://parkfarm.co.uk) for his advice on personalising a wedding celebration. This is what he had to say: Arranging a fabulous day to be remembered for all the right reasons is quite a task. Fortunately, professionals are at hand not only to make this, the happiest of days, run smoothly but also to help you create something that's truly you and tailor your catering accordingly. A lovely way of sharing memories is to choose dishes that remind you of happy times and include a description of the backstory on the menu.

Propress launches the MINI Clothes Steamer - perfecting for wedding dresses!

Professional and long-established British fabric steamer manufacturer, Propress, has unveiled the Propress MINI Handheld Clothes Steamer. A revolutionary product that combines over 40 years of steaming expertise with cutting-edge technology, the MINI allows users to say goodbye to the days of wrestling with an ironing board and hello to the future of garment care with beautifully crease-free clothes, whether at home, in the office, or on-the-go.

The Propress Mini Handheld Clothes Steamer (£110) is available in Arctic Grey, Idol Blue or Vintage Pink from the Propress website. It heats up in under a minute offering the convenience of crease-free clothes with a simple touch of a button. Its efficiency and ease of use make it a must-have for every fashion-savvy individual, plus it is versatile enough to treat various home fabrics from curtains to bedding, and is ideal for weddings or even hoteliers.

Old, new, borrowed, blue: personliase your wedding dress with help from 14 and Sixpence

We asked Cathy Keen from 14 and Sixpence (www.14andsixpence.co.uk) for her advice on personalising a wedding dress. This is what she told us: Your dress should be your dress... Still you, but the most beautiful version of you. With a simple gown you can really add some personality. Go classic with a statement veil, maybe a cape, or bling it up with a belt, tiara or choker. Alternatively, keep it understated, classy and elegant, but add those sapphire blue heels you've always longed for! A new trend in bridal attire personalisation is adding monograms or initials to the train, veil, or shoes. You could even have your dress embroidered with the date of your wedding in blue thread for your something blue.

Winter wedding inspiration from leading wedding planner

Matthew Shaw, founder & creative director at sauveur. shares his winter wedding inspiration for those looking to tie the knot at this time of year. Winter weddings have grown hugely in popularity. The festive season can be a truly magical time of year to host a wedding and stand out from the crowd but it does bring its own set of considerations for the planning. Whilst the key areas of your wedding planning will be the same as a wedding in any other month, there are a few different elements to consider to create an incredible winter wedding celebration.

How to kick-start your wedding planning

Samantha Gilchrist, Co-Founder and CEO of the UK's largest wedding venue collection, The Gilchrist Collection, shares her top tips on how to kick-start your wedding plans, taking away any unnecessary stress and disappointment in preparation for that special day. Set a Date - possibly the most important aspect of planning as getting this date in the diary will allow you to move forward with your plans. When choosing a date, it's worth carrying out a simple checklist to help you nail that day down such as: Think if there is a time of year you both always wanted to get married in? A season you both love or a month that is special to you is a great starting point.

A more sustainable, ethical, and zero-waste approach to weddings

Reports suggest that 4,910 tonnes of unrecyclable plastic was used up and left behind at British weddings last year, with this in mind, 77 Diamonds has released a planning guide to promote a more sustainable, ethical, and zero-waste approach to weddings. Individually, one wedding can produce as much as 20kg of plastic waste. What's more, the black bags used to collect the rubbish are themselves potentially harmful. They can take as many as 90 years to break down under the ground. But it's not just plastic which has an impact. Food wastage is also a common theme for most weddings.

Find County Wedding Magazines on YouTube

We're never satisfied when it comes to providing our readers with enough wedspiration, which is why we've created our very own County Wedding Magazine YouTube channel! You'll find tons of big-day ideas, from venue tours to dream dresses, then take a peek behind the scenes of styled shoots featured in our titles past and present. We're adding more content all the time, so why not hit SUBSCRIBE so you never miss a thing? Simply head to YouTube and search for 'County Wedding Magazines' now

5 unique winter wedding trends for 2023

From décor inspired by the season's natural beauty to creative ways to keep your guests warm, wedding supply experts Aura Print have searched TikTok to bring you the top five quirky winter wedding trends for 2023.While traditional wedding fayre often includes champagne toasts and wine, a hot chocolate bar offers a warm, decadent, and customisable alternative for the colder months. As the evening progresses and temperatures drop, guests can enjoy a sweet treat to keep them going on the dance floor. For younger guests or for those who don't drink alcohol, a hot chocolate bar also provides a great non-alcoholic option. With over 112.7 million TikTok hashtag views, the hot chocolate wedding bar trend is set to take the winter wedding season by storm!

Keep it classy with Booth Nineteen!

We asked Craig Cheber from Booth Nineteen (https://booth19.co.uk) for his advice on personalising a wedding. Here's what he had to say: Creating a bespoke wedding day epitomises refinement and elegance. Elevate your celebration with personalised touches that echo your distinctive love story. Here's how to curate a wedding resonating with discerning couples. Now, first things first..! Boutique photo booth: Elevate your wedding entertainment with Booth Nineteen's boutique photo booth, capturing candid moments, creating bespoke keepsakes mirroring celebration's sophistication. Ceremonial grace: Elevate your ceremony with tailored vows and anecdotes weaving your unique journey into celebration's fabric. Luxurious décor: Adorn your venue with opulent décor mirroring your love story. Incorporate heirlooms, fine art, plush textiles resonating with refined tastes.

AI creates the ultimate first dance song

There are over 217,000 first dances in the UK every year (1,950,000 in the US) yet couples usually pick the same handful of songs. Have you ever wondered why tracks like Etta James' At Last and Just You And I by Tom Walker are so popular at weddings? And what makes them so timeless? Function Central, a platform for finding and hiring musicians and bands for events, have answered exactly that! By analysing the most popular first dance songs to find the top 10 that couples choose, they have used AI to create the world's ultimate first dance song based on their findings, showing couples that they can have a timeless first dance song that is unique to their wedding.

73 per cent of adults opt for staycations such as seaside trips instead of a holiday abroad

According to a new study conducted by UK Saunas (www.uk-saunas.co.uk) 73% of adults are more likely to opt for staycations such as seaside trips instead of a holiday abroad as the cost of living crisis continues to bite, and Weston-super-Mare has been crowned in the top ten of most relaxing seaside town for a trip away. The study, which analysed the number of hotels and spas in seaside towns and villages, as well as their population, also ranked locations using categories from the UK Health Index related to peacefulness and relaxation. A wellness expert from UK Saunas has explained the benefits of taking a seaside visit:

How to make your engagement ring shine for wedding day

Between shampoo, hairspray, moisturiser and hand cream – we can all agree that our beautiful engagement rings go through a lot on a daily basis. After all, many of us wear them every day without ever taking them off! But if your big day is just around the corner, it's crucial to keep your ring looking its best for those all-important wedding photos and to ensure your nearest and dearest see it in all its glory. With this in mind, experts at family-owned jewellers and diamond merchants, Chisholm Hunter, offer their specialist advice on how to get your ring gleaming before your big day... Max Brown, Retail Director at Chisholm Hunter, shares their top tips for ensuring your engagement ring is sparkling ahead of your wedding day: "If you want your precious jewellery to look its best on the big day, we recommend taking your ring to a professional jewellers for both ultrasonic and steam cleaning and using fine emery paper followed by a full polish to remove any surface scratching.

Venues for the perfect autumnal ceremony

New research conducted by ethical jewellery brand Sacet has revealed the top country wedding venues across the UK that would make the perfect location for an autumnal ceremony. By analysing a number of factors (including guest capacity, number of reviews, professionalism, quality of service and value for money) of over 30 wedding venues that offer barn, country and forest-style weddings in the UK, the top 10 were revealed. Brinsop Court Manor House and Barn, in Hereford, has been crowned the overall winner, with top ratings across all factors (quality of service, response time, professionalism, value for money flexibility and average rating). It also had the most number of reviews and can hold between 30 to 250 guests.

New Townhouse branch opens in Clifton

Townhouse, the ultimate destination for luxurious nail care, has recently opened Townhouse Clifton. This signifies a significant milestone for the brand as it doubles its presence in Bristol, alongside Townhouse Cribbs Causeway, located in H Beauty at The Mall. The new salon nestled in the heart of Clifton, just a short stroll from The Ivy Clifton, brings Townhouse's industry-leading technology, chic interiors, and impeccable manicures and pedicures to the area. With a loyal following that includes Grammy award-winning singers and leading cast members from popular TV shows like Game of Thrones, Sex and the City, and Made in Chelsea, the new branch is set to become the go-to destination for celebrity-worthy nail treatments.

Are these popular 2023 wedding song cursed?

Research from wedding entertainment providers Function Central shows couples are taking risks choosing songs for their weddings with shockingly high divorce rates. Function Central used existing data on the songs most likely to end in divorce to see whether couples were still taking risks by adding these songs to their upcoming nuptials. This data was then cross-referenced against existing wedding playlists of engaged couples to see whether couples were still choosing these songs for their weddings. The results were concerning for any superstitious couples worried about whether certain tracks were deemed bad luck for long lasting marriages.

What's in store at Somerset's Rookery Bridal

Rookery Bridal has been hard at work over the last few months working hard to improve its social media, looking at new ways to help its brides and improving the experience it offers when you visit. The team have also attended two big wedding fairs this October: The UWE Wedding Fair and The Big Southwest Wedding Fair. Owner Sarah Hackett says, "We're going to be busy bees looking after you all in the boutique and meeting you all outside of it!" It's gown ordering time of year too, so keep an eye out for new dresses arriving over coming months.