Your North East Wedding news and ideas from around the region

Blackwell Grange Hotel is a 17th-century mansion on the outskirts of Darlington

Blackwell Grange Hotel is a 17th-century mansion surrounded by picturesque countryside on the outskirts of Darlington. The property has benefited from an extensive refurbishment of its public areas, giving the venue a contemporary and sophisticated feel. From the moment your guests arrive at the sweeping driveway, they will fall in love with the hotel and its beautiful lawned gardens.

The Gazebo is ideal for fairytale weddings and is set on the lawned gardens, while the Bruhenny Suite is a light and airy room with space for 120 guests.

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.

Must-visit wedding shows this April

Whether you've recently gotten engaged or are at the end of your wedding planning journey, trying to find the perfect suppliers can be stressful. To help you plan the wedding of your dreams, why not visit a local wedding fair? This is the ideal time to meet some of the region's best companies and discuss your big day.

Taking place at the Hall Garth Hotel on Saturday 13th April is Yorkshire's Sustainable Wedding Fair. Doors open from 1pm to 4pm and entry is free of charge.

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.

Linden Hall Hotel, Golf and Country Club is a Grade II listed Georgian manor house

Linden Hall Hotel, Golf and Country Club offers you the charm of a Grade II-listed Georgian manor house surrounded by picture-perfect grounds, a thrilling 18-hole golf course and 450 acres to use and explore for all your wedding snaps. The picturesque, tree-lined drive leading to the pillared main entrance gives you an immediate sense of Linden's history as soon as you arrive. Added to that is the fact that the Hall can cater for weddings of all sizes, budgets and timelines, with its elegant rooms complementing your décor whether you plan a rustic barn vibe or a traditional and luxurious feel.

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.

Fyzal Photography is offering our readers an exclusive discount

Fyzal Photography is run by Fyzal and Dawn Kirk, two talented photographers based in Durham. Fyzal tells us more about their company: "I've been photographing weddings for 19 years and it's more than just work for me; it has become one of my greatest passions. Photography is a moment captured for a lifetime. I capture the big moments and little details of your special day for you to treasure and share for years to come. I hope the images I capture serve as a reminder of friends and family together in one special place, celebrating love and laughter."

Moonpig reveals weddings cards are the hardest to write

Greeting cards have been a popular way to express celebrations and affection for our loved ones. We're used to purchasing cards for milestones from birthdays, weddings, new jobs and more, but how often do we struggle with what to write in a card? With the recent growth in popularity of AI models like ChatGPT, Moonpig has launched its "Smart Text" tool, a feature which uses generative AI as a writing assistant for customers who need help in those moments where they don't know what to put in a card to their loved ones.

New Bridal Boutique in Amble, Northumberland

Made Simply Perfect has recently branched out from all-things venue styling to open a new Bridal Boutique in Amble, Northumberland! Since opening in March, the team are receiving amazing, positive, feedback of the dresses stocked and the boutique experience. The premise behind it was to bring Italian luxury to Northumberland, giving brides the dolce vita experience when bridal shopping. More about Made Simpy Perfect, In the heart of Northumberland, multi-award-winning family business Made Simply Perfect specialise in full wedding venue styling, floristry, bespoke stationery and various finishing touches.

Thinking of doing a joint wedding speech? Read Speechy's top tips

The Speech Surgery' with Heidi Ellert McDermott, Founder of Speechy & author of 'The Modern Couple's Guide to Wedding Speeches. A joint speech follows the same etiquette principles as your standard bride and groom speech but allows you to present it as a team and play up to your relationship dynamic. But, despite the two voices, be careful not to make the speech double the length! No more than 1,500 words maximum. When it comes to writing a joint speech, it all comes down to your ability to collaborate, discuss and bounce ideas off each other.

Things to consider when booking your big-day musicians

As the UK's largest and most sustainable musician bookings platform, musicians for weddings account for around 50% of Encore's bookings. As such, the company is well-versed in the most cost-effective ways to cut down on one of the more expensive aspects of a wedding. Please see below some best tips to help you save the most money when booking your wedding entertainment. On average, couples book musicians for their wedding seven and a half months in advance, but if your big day falls on a Saturday during peak season, you should book your musicians at least nine months in advance.

Langley Castle is offering a special discount

Langley Castle, located near Haydon Bridge in Northumberland, is celebrating the 10th anniversary of same-sex marriages with a special 10 per cent discount on weddings for 10 or more people.

The discount applies to wedding groups as small as 10 in number, as micro-weddings are something of a specialty at the atmospheric Medieval castle. To claim this discount, use the code 'Perfect 10' when booking your wedding for 10 or more people. Just call the events team before 31st March 2024 to access the discount on your preferred wedding date in 2024.

Planning a hen (or sten) party? These activity-based bars need to be on your list

Tasty food, gorgeous cocktails and a bit of healthy competition equals a winning recipe for an amazing time for your pre-wedding get together! How does a side of shuffleboard or darts with your cocktails sound? Whether you're looking for a daytime plan or something to keep you partying into the early hours, Electric Shuffle and Flight Club are great options. Both have resident DJs banging out the tunes, and both offer fab bottomless brunch packages if an afternoon booze session is more what you're after. They're also perfectly designed for the most amazing insta-worthy pics

Bamburgh Castle boasts sweeping sea views of the Northumberland coastline

With its sweeping sea views of the Northumberland coastline to one side and the splendour of the castle on the other, Bamburgh Castle truly is a place like no other to exchange vows, high above the beach. From its earliest beginnings, the castle's breathtaking location overlooking the Northumberland coast has long captured hearts and given couples the chance to turn their dreams into reality. In Anglo-Saxon times, the 6th century King Æthelfrith named Bamburgh after his wife Bebba and as a demonstration of true love, the castle became Bebba's Burgh.

More recently, Bamburgh captivated the great Victorian industrialist Lord Armstrong, who put his heart and soul into restoring the castle into the spectacular fortress it is today. It remains the home of the Armstrong family and the team there love to make your special day part of the castle's ongoing story of romance, love, friends and family.

Revealed the UK’s best venues with woodlands to achieve dreamy cottage-core weddings

A recent study revealed the UK's highest-rated venues for woodland-themed weddings, with Creeksea Place being named the best. The research conducted by photo wall art creator StoryBoards analysed user-generated review data to identify the UK regions with the highest quantity of top-rated woodlands venues by creating an overall rating score. The study has revealed that Creeksea Place is the most highly rated woodland in the nation. Located in Essex, the manor house, which includes picturesque woodland, has been rated five stars over 220 times giving it a perfect score of ten out of ten.

The new Yankee Candle® SS24 collection

Find an oasis this spring with the new Yankee Candle® SS24 collection, Under the Desert Sun. The new collection will brighten the home with fragrances that exude memories of warmer days, including four refreshingly light and bright fragrances including, Desert Blooms, Aloe & Agave, Sweet Vanilla & Horchata, and Stargazing. Inspired by the unique beauty of the desert, the new collection has been designed to help escape the ordinary and satisfy wanderlust, immersing the home in sun-drenched scents. The Under The Desert Sun collection features exotic fragrances such as aguaro cactus, aloe and blue lotus, as well as soothing lavender and eucalyptus.

Three spicy but sophisticated hen party ideas

Throwing a hen party that will please all attendees can be tricky. Striking a balance between risque and tame activities can be one of the most controversial challenges you'll face when planning. In fact, some of the more crude hen party gimmicks came out in the top 10 most hated parts of a hen party in this report. However, you can create a hen party that strikes the perfect balance between spice and sophistication, ensuring a night to remember for both the bride and her friends. Jess Martin, Hen Party expert at Ginger Ray has shared three amazing themes for the perfect spicy but sophisticated hen party:

Blackton Grange is hosting a wedding fair

Blackton Grange is a new wedding venue in the heart of the North Pennines, between the picturesque towns of Middleton-in-Teesdale and Barnard Castle. Situated on a designated Dark Sky Discovery Site and boasting spectacular views over reservoirs and secluded moors, it really is a dreamy destination for a wedding.

The property will be hosting its first wedding showcase on Sunday 24th March between 11am and 3pm. The team tells us: "From the moment you book to the moment you say 'I do', our approach as a family-run wedding venue is all about personalisation and control. We believe that your special day should be exactly how you envision it, which is why we offer a unique dry hire approach. You will have complete control over all of your food and drink choices, including the option to self-cater and bring your own alcohol."