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

Sweet-scented celebrations

After a wedding, creating a calming atmosphere is important to beginning a new chapter in your lives. A Yankee candle provides the perfect mood for unforgettable moments. The wide range of soft, bright, cool and warm tones fit into any colour scheme, while the hand-drawn illustrations effortlessly enhance a room. There is a candle for each unique taste, whether you like fruity and floral, or earthy and spicy notes, each candle holds a long-lasting scent that can be enjoyed time and time again.

Make way for the Barbie-themed hen party

Following the upcoming release of new movie Barbie, 21st July 2023, featuring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling - match made in Barbie heaven - unsurprisingly it's all about the Barbie hen party theme right now! Step forward, Team Hen, we're talking hot pink accessories as far as the eye can see. Luckily, for all the bride tribes out there looking to nail the trend these bride-worthy accessories and decor details will be an instagram hit channeling the coveted barbie-inspired vibe!

Think pink ring shot glasses, hot pink bride squad t-shirts, handbag-sized lip balms, balloon arch kits and sunglasses-shaped balloons - all Barbie style.

Scarlett Rose Events is an award-winning early success story

Somerset-based event planning and styling business Scarlett Rose Events was one of the final three businesses vying for the title of Start-up of the Year at the Somerset Business Awards 2023 recently. This success recognises the growth of the business, which in the last year has only gone from strength to strength. Founded by Georgina Fisher in April 2021, Scarlett Rose Events was established following 15 years experience gained in the events industry in the UK and Australia. Georgina says, "Starting a business during the pandemic could have been seen as a risky move, but I saw the potential for events to blossom in a new era. I seized the opportunity to bring a fresh perspective to the event scene of rural Somerset, embracing the beautiful scenery to create unique celebrations.

Cakes and gifts for summer wedding season

French pâtissier Ladurée, expert in providing luxury macarons and table favours, has a gorgeous selection of sweet gifts, cakes and macaron towers that would make the most gorgeous addition to any wedding celebration this summer. The story of the Ladurée macaron starts in the middle of the 20th century with Pierre Desfontaines , who had the idea of sticking two macaron shells together and filling them with a delicious ganache. Since then, the recipe remains unchanged.

How to plan your finances for marriage

Wedding season is now in full swing as couples prepare for their big day. For those planning to tie the knot, wedding preparations are not the only things that need careful planning. Taking the right steps to prepare financially for marriage can help to prevent unexpected surprises as couples embark on their new life together. Weddings are magical moments but they also require a level of practicality, to ensure that you get your partnership off to the right start. So, what can couples do to make sure they are perfectly aligned before they say their vows?

The 10 most popular first dance songs for 2023

Over the past year, UK searches for 'first dance songs 2023' have increased by +4,700%, whilst searches for 'fun first dance ideas' have increased by +100% showing that more couples are looking for inspiration. The first dance is likely to be one of the most memorable moments of your wedding, so naturally, newlyweds are determined to pick the most suitable song. A decision needs to be made whether to choose an old classic or maybe the new love song that's currently on the charts.

Pennard House launches new in-house catering services

Pennard House is a family-owned, exclusive-use wedding venue located in a small village near Shepton Mallet in Somerset. The venue boasts a relaxed, family home vibe with 10 comfortable bedrooms, plus large reception and dining rooms to enjoy and make your preparations in. Surrounded by large, lush gardens, the House offers endless photo opportunities and space for drinks receptions. The venue has recently moved all of its catering in-house, meaning all catering from the night-before supper to the wedding breakfast and evening food is provided via the expert team at The Pennard Kitchen.

How to make your wedding day dog-friendly

For many, dogs are considered to be a key member of the family, so when it comes to one of the most important days of a couple's lives, their wedding day, it's only natural that they want their four-legged friends to be involved in the celebrations. That being said, lots of strangers, loud noises and the unfamiliar location of a wedding can prove quite overwhelming for our canine companions, so if you want to include your dog in your big day, there are a couple of things you need to be aware of. Below, Carolyn Menteith, Behaviourist at tails.com has offered her top tips and advice on how to throw the 'paw-fect' wedding that will ensure both humans and dogs remain happy at all times.

Flower Preservation Workshop launches gorgeous new product

With over 35 years experience in the floristry industry the team at Flower Preservation Workshop really know how to best care for your flowers ensuring they last forever. Whether you're looking to have your bouquet preserved, a buttonhole or a selection of blooms from your arrangements the team can make sure they're safely preserved for a lifetime, becoming an heirloom for future generations to enjoy.

UK wedding guests set to spend £16.6bn in 2023

As summer approaches and wedding season hits full swing, new research from American Express has found that UK wedding guests are set to increase their spend attending weddings by 18% this year, compared to 2022. The average wedding guest is expecting to spend £1,045 on average per wedding this year, equating to £16.6 billion across the UK. In 2022, wedding goers spent an average of £883 to mark the first year of restriction-free ceremonies, totalling £15.6 billion as a population.

On trend flower arrangements for summer 2023

With Summer here at last, it's time to elevate our flower arrangements in align with all the 2023 trends. Much like the fashion designs we follow year upon year, the world of florals is equally monitored for on-trend flowers and colours of the seasons. Bloomsbury Flowers are here with all the top tips on keeping your flower arrangements on trend for 2023. The luxury and longstanding florist (based in Covent Garden) has served some of London & the UK's most stylish venues and beyond with their individual designs and scents. With their reputation for premium and bespoke flower arrangements, they certainly know what they're talking about when it comes to flower trends.

New Etsy Registry launches for weddings

Etsy has launched its Etsy Registry, a new wedding gifting experience that allows couples to register for truly meaningful gifts. In addition to handmade and vintage gifts, couples can register for personalised items and specify the exact customisation for their guests, making Etsy the place people can go for gifts, decor, and even bridal party items – all while supporting UK small businesses.

Tips for making the perfect wedding gift hamper

Struggling to find the perfect gift for the couple who has everything this wedding season? Hampers are one of the best wedding gifts for newlyweds because of their practicality, variety, versatility and thoughtfulness. As well as being the perfect personalised and affordable gift that can be done on any budget. Cartwright & Butler's hamper and recipe developer, Karolina Glowacka, has given 8 tips on building the ultimate wedding gift hamper for the newlywed couple to continue to enjoy even months after their big day.

Moments Frame from Inkifi, the ultimate wedding gift

The Moments Frame from inkifi is a stylish way to display treasured memories at home, suiting both contemporary and traditional interiors schemes. A 52 aperture premium framed print to showcase the most special moments at home. Perfect for savouring a memory for each week of the year or for celebrating landmark moments like a wedding, a child's first year or photos from treasured holidays.

Booth Nineteen introduces its newest backdrops

The team at Somerset-based Booth Nineteen, love to introduce new perks and features for their couples on a yearly basis. From updating the selection of print template options to offering entirely new photo booth designs. The newest option for 2023 is the addition of the already super-popular wood-effect backdrop. This brings the range up to a total of six backdrops to choose from for your wedding day. Owner Craig Cheber says, "We designed and printed this version due to an increase in requests to use wood-panelled venue walls, so we thought: let's make this look available to everyone!" To find out more head over to https://booth19.co.uk

Demand for dry weddings increases

Whether it's teetotallers, the 'sober curious' or simply those wishing to cut back on the amount of alcohol they consume, dry weddings are an emerging growth market according to one leading events planner who has seen a 28% increase in requests for completely alcohol-free weddings, and a notable focus on alcohol free drinks in weddings that aren't forgoing it altogether. Liz Taylor, CEO of leading wedding and events management company, the Taylor Lynn Corporation (TLC), has been at the forefront of the wedding industry for over thirty-five years and has never seen such demand for no or low alcohol weddings, with requests rising nearly a third in the last two years.

Top trending wedding readings #WeddingTok #PoetryTok

With wedding season upon us, and many people looking for reading inspiration, the experts at Poem Analysis have found the top trending (and least cheesy) wedding readings on TikTok! There are 140.4 million views for the search 'best wedding readings' so you're not the only one if you're struggling with the right words to say on your big day! What's more, there's been 2.6 billion views and counting on #PoetryTok and #WeddingTok has 7.4 billion views and rising with advice for every element of your big day, and 140.4 million of those views are for the search 'best wedding readings'.

Bailbrook House in Bath is fit for a queen

With one of the stars of Bridgerton, Queen Charlotte, being given her own spin-off series, available on Netflix now, Hand Picked Hotels is offering fans the opportunity to follow in her footsteps with a regal overnight experience of their own. Series three scenes have already been filmed in Bath itself and the group's Bailbrook House Hotel, with Regency architecture, is the perfect place to live your best Bridgerton life! One of only two Grade II listed country house hotels in Bath, the Hotel features 20 acres of stunning grounds, three royal lounges, a conservatory bar, and Cloisters restaurant where you can relax in style.

8 actionable tips for a more sustainable wedding

Weddings cause a surprising amount of waste and CO2 emissions. And, as more and more people consider the effect, many couples are starting to plan greener weddings. Lucille, jewellery expert at ethical jewellery brand Sacet shares eight actionable tips for a more sustainable wedding...Use conflict-free rings and jewellery - consider the ethics of your wedding rings and any other jewellery you may wear on the day. Diamond mining has a devastating impact on the environment and communities. So, choosing conflict-free, lab-grown diamonds, particularly diamonds created using Chemical Vapour Deposition or CVD - a method which requires lower temperatures than the first successful High Pressure, High-Temperature process, which requires a great deal of energy, and recycled metals is the way forward, particularly when it comes to the star of the show, your engagement ring.

Love and gin - matchmade in wedding heaven!

Tied the Knot Wedding Gin by Manchester Gin was crafted by founders Seb and Jen to celebrate their own wedding in 2022. Relaunching in time for wedding season as part of the distillery's core range, Tied the Knot contains 11 botanicals in perfect harmony. Juniper-forward, like most of the Manchester Gin range, this very special edition also celebrates the delicate summer flavours of elderflower and hibiscus, which work beautifully with bright lemon and grapefruit.