All the latest wedding news for couples getting married in the North East, along with bridal fashion and beauty inspiration and honeymoon ideas.
The number one cause of wedding planning stress and how to reduce it!
What causes stress in wedding planning is something that is individual to each couple, but where does it mainly come from? Friends? Family? Finances? "A staggering 92% of our couples planning a wedding are feeling the pressure financially and it is causing overwhelm", says Rachel Allen, the CEO of The Wedding Party (TWP)." This was the reason that Rachel formulated The Overwhelm Button® to help couples to get good support. Rachel continues, "Being stressed over finances can take several different forms, the main three being as follows...
Posted: 31 March 2023
Sustainable wedding table ideas from LIGA
Known for their love of nature's wonder material - cork, LIGA's sustainable tableware collections are a stylish and unique wedding dining-setting choice. With their extensive collection of placemats, coasters, trays and candle holders, all made from eco-frendly and recycled materials, LIGA create clean and contemporary pieces, bringing a naturally beautiful element to the tablescape. Each with a unique grain and pattern, the organic cork selected by LIGA is lightweight and soft to touch, a wonderful raw material which is naturally water resistant and easy to clean. Sourced from the Montado Forests in Portugal, LIGA's cork is hand harvested using age-old skills without damaging the trees or the delicate eco-systems which thrive in the forests. Once cork has been made into a LIGA product it continues to absorb CO2, so a living and breathing piece of homeware.
Posted: 29 March 2023
Team Hen's new Jelly Bag has landed
Meet the jelly bag that every bride tribe wants their hen party favours to arrive in 2023. Landing in three gram-worthy hues (off-white for the bride, dusky pink for the bridesmaids and maid-of-honour and pink for the hens). These reusable beauties are perfect for filling with Team Hen's latest array of coveted hen party favours and gifts whilst flaunting a cool, retro vibe. Plus, each comes tied with a matching ribbon, professionally printed in a luxe puffed design to create a slightly raised font effect. Not only are they the gift that keeps on giving (post-hen recipients can use them from beach to bar) but at £3.99 they're a steal!
Posted: 27 March 2023
Involving your family pet on the big day? Check out this personalised offering
Involving your four-legged friend on your wedding day? Are they taking a staring role walking down the aisle? If so, then you have to take a look at these smart and stylish personalised leather dog ring bearer pouches (£24) from Create Gift Love. Create Gift Love design and make personalised keepsake gifts and accessories to celebrate all of life's special moments, all handmade to order in its UK workshop from sustainable natural materials.
Posted: 17 March 2023
The most popular 2023 trends according to Pinterest
To provide insight on the most popular wedding trends for spring 2023, the experts at Aura Print compiled a list of 25 popular trends after scouring Pinterest to discover the number of Pins for each. And here are the top 15 most popular spring 2023 wedding trends to be insipired by...First place for the most popular wedding trend for spring 2023 goes to the floral-themed trend. This trend had 22,148 Pins on the image sharing platform. It can include things like floral arches, flower-themed cakes or flower crowns. With a total of 11,765 Pins, the blue-themed wedding trend places second in the study. The trend also appeared on 116 Pinterest boards from 2022 onwards, cementing its popularity for the upcoming season. What is more, there's been a great interest in navy blue wedding invites, which had a whopping 16,725 Pins.
Posted: 15 March 2023
Fancy a big-day cocktail bar? Check out Whitebox Cocktails
Whitebox Cocktails, the ready-to-serve cocktail specialists, have everything you need to create the ultimate in wedding cocktail offering. From classic cocktails like the Pocket Negroni and Squeezy's Margarita, to unique and refreshing long drinks like Hippy Fizz and Disco Baby, take the hassle out of the perfect pour on your big day with a wide range of ready-to-serve cocktails to suit every taste. Expertly mixed by the award-winning team of bartenders, Whitebox Cocktails' convenient single-serve cans mean there's no need to limit your cocktail menu, as there's no mixing, no mess and no long wait at the bar. For casual weddings, cocktails can be served in ice buckets for guests to help themselves and enjoy straight from the can. Alternately, for a more elevated occasion, simply chill and serve the cocktail in a glass with ice and a garnish of choice.
Posted: 13 March 2023
The best UK cities for a hen do
With Google search volume data revealing a 402% search increase for 'hen party ideas' since December and 2023 wedding season in touching distance, organising a pre-wedding celebration is already on the bridal party to-do list. Getting all of your nearest and dearest pals together for a hen party can be challenging - whether it's catering to availability, budget, activity preferences or dietary requirements. Hen party decoration supplier, Ginger Ray, has done a little digging to find the top 19 UK cities to host your pre-wedding celebrations.
Posted: 10 March 2023
New book launch: The modern couple's guide to wedding speeches
The Modern Couple's Guide to Wedding Speeches is for grooms and brides who want their wedding speeches to be memorable for the right reasons and to kick off their marriage with a bang. This book is intended to benefit you whether you are straight or gay, whatever your religious beliefs are, or where you live. Heidi encourages us to reconsider old traditions, and tear up the outdated rulebook to create a modern wedding guide. Because speeches are such an important part of the day, she encourages couples to think about who they want to give speeches and what they want from the speeches.
Posted: 9 March 2023
County Wedding Magazines' competition winner!
Here at County Wedding Magazines HQ, we love nothing more than to hear from the winners of our competitions. In the crazy world of wedding planning, it's exciting for us to be able to offer our lovely readers some exciting giveaways and competitions which will hopefully give you a much-needed pick-me-up during on the countdown to your wedding day.
In the Autumn of 2022, CWM ran a competition, 'Win a two-night stay in the heart of The Lakes!' and the winners were nearlyweds Steph and Michael! The lucky pair enjoyed a stay, with dinner, bed and breakfast at The Wild Boar Inn a traditional Lakeland inn with oak beams, log fires, an in-house microbrewery and smokehouse all in the rolling countryside of the Gilpin Valley.
Posted: 8 March 2023
Surprise Singing Waitresses now expanding their business
Stockton's Surprise Singing Waitresses are now expanding their business, including several other packages to enhance your celebration. Besides surprising and delighting your guests by breaking into song – under the guise of ordinary servers – they can also offer videography, dance and choreography classes and even event planning to make your big day easier. "We are a small but growing business and have already made our mark across the North East as singers for weddings and events," say the team.
Posted: 7 March 2023
10 Most Instagrammed UK Wedding Venues
With over 278,000 UK weddings expected to take place in 2023, there's no doubt that couples across the country are already scrolling through Instagram in search of inspiration! With this in mind, Aura Print has discovered the most Insta-worthy and beautiful wedding venues of the UK. Analysing over 200 venues around the UK, they searched Instagram to discover which venue was being talked about most, narrowing it down to the 10 most desirable wedding venue locations in the UK.
Posted: 3 March 2023
How to save money on your next wedding gift
Receiving an invitation to a wedding is always an exciting time. However, deciding what gift to buy the couple, and especially how much to spend, can be daunting - now more so than ever due to the increased cost of living. Data from VoucherCodes.co.uk reveals guests will spend an average of £113.39 for each gift they buy when attending a wedding which, for many of us, is a hefty amount. Anita Naik, Savings Expert at the UK's most trusted savings site VoucherCodes.co.uk, has some great tips on how to save money on your upcoming wedding gifts without skimping on the sentiment:
Posted: 3 March 2023
Newcastle make-up artist now freelance
Looking for someone to give you that glow every bride wants for her wedding? Step forward Meg Joannou Makeup Artistry, a Newcastle make-up artist who's now gone freelance full-time. "I worked for Charlotte Tilbury for two years, and have been lucky to train with celebrity make-up artists, brand specialists and direct training with Charlotte's professional team. This has allowed me to understand the trends in make-up, meaning I can provide the best, modern looks for my brides.
Posted: 2 March 2023
Unique theatre venues for your vows and and bows!
Finding the wedding venue of your dreams can be a difficult task, especially if you're looking for something with a little less traditional with a little more drama. According to Google trend data, searches for 'unique wedding venues' have seen an uplift of 769% in the last month, and more specifically, searches for 'theatre weddings' have risen by an enormous 1250%. SeatPlan reveal the most unique, musical, dramatic, and theatrical wedding venues around the UK, so you can be centre stage and in the spotlight on your big day.
Posted: 1 March 2023
Jo Stott of Newcastle’s Love Jo Ceremonies shares her 2023 insights
We asked bridal expert and celebrant, Jo Stott of Newcastle's Love Jo Ceremonies, what you could choose and why if opting for a celebrant affair... "Many couples show their commitment through hand-tying ceremonies, while another had a tree planting ceremony, planting a rose bush in soil from their parents' gardens. The soil signified the nourishment from each family, and the rose was a wish for a sweet marriage."
Posted: 28 February 2023
Weddings don't need to cost the earth
With nearlyweds looking to opt for more sustainable choices when planning their nuptials, Talking Tables' new wedding rental scheme ensures this special occasion will look beautiful, without costing the earth. Would be spouses can choose from its best-selling tall glass candle holders in a variety of colours to suit every theme, both clear and brightly coloured bud vases, and handmade silver stainless steel plates and bowls. Tables can be exquisitely dressed for a fraction of the cost to buy and be happy knowing the items will bring more joy to others rather than sitting in the back of your cupboard - a sustainable solution!
Posted: 27 February 2023
5 songs to avoid on your big day
On top of organising flowers, dresses, venues and speeches, choosing the music for your wedding is yet another decision to make. But where do you even begin? The options are seemingly endless and the song you do pick will be the one that you define as 'yours' for the rest of your lives together. Wedding decor specialists Ginger Ray have crunched the numbers to reveal which songs and artists have made it onto the most Spotify wedding playlists and could be, dare we say it... overdone. So, whether you want to embrace the most popular choices (they are favourites for good reason after all) or whether you want to know which songs to avoid if you are looking to create a more unique soundtrack for your big day, here is Wedding Spotify, Wrapped.
Posted: 24 February 2023
Chester Le Street’s Wedding Wardrobe's new collection
Want your mam to look as gorgeous as you? Course you do. With this in mind head to Chester Le Street's Wedding Wardrobe bridal boutique and check out their new Mother of the Bride and Groom collection. "Our range of beautiful dresses, jackets and wraps are made with high quality fabrics in jersey, chiffon and lace," says Wedding Wardrobe's Tracey Whelan.
Posted: 23 February 2023
Sophie Ellis-Bextor’s disco tour coming to a local venue near you!
Sophie Ellis-Bextor's Christmas Kitchen Disco UK Tour begins in November and here at County Wedding Magazines HQ we think it will make a great night out for your hen/stag or sten do! Tickets for shows are on-sale now The shows will feature hits from throughout Sophie's career, as well as some very festive classics, all in Sophie's own seasonal disco style. The tour follows on from the huge success of her 2022 Kitchen Disco Tour in which she brought her lockdown online sensation from her kitchen to sold-out stages across the country, including a sold-out finale at the London Palladium.
Posted: 22 February 2023
Whitely Bay’s Walk & Woof Dog Services take the stress out of wedding planning
Pets are family; enough said – so why leave your fur baby at home while you celebrate without them? Take any stress out of the equation with Whitely Bay's Walk & Woof Dog Services; on hand to offer a bespoke dog wedding chaperone service so your four legged bestie enjoys your day as much as you. "I make sure you never have to worry about who's looking after your pet throughout your day," says owner Jade Mcdonald. "I offer a complimentary consultation to run through your wedding plans and visions, meeting your precious pooch so they're comfortable around me. With over 13 years' experience, you can be rest assured your baby is in safe hands."
Posted: 21 February 2023
Top tips for having a low waste wedding
Getting married is one of the most exciting days of your life, and you'll want it to be as special as possible. But you might also want your wedding to be kinder to the planet than the usual nuptials — indeed, a study found that British weddings create 18kg of plastic waste per event, adding up to 4,910 tonnes of plastic waste every year. Even for the biggest event of your life, this is a lot of waste to produce during a single day, and many people are increasingly looking to find ways of reducing it and have more sustainable nuptials. If you want to enjoy the big day but also make it more of an eco-friendly event, suppliers of catering equipment Alliance Online have put together some tips for you to take forward in your wedding planning. Even though getting married is a big event, you can still keep the carbon footprint small.
Posted: 20 February 2023
Proposing a prenup? A guide to practical romance this February
Some consider February to be one of the most romantic months of the year. With January finally over, we can start to look forward to Spring, and the warmer months ahead. Each leap year, the 29th of February is traditionally held as a day when the tables can turn and women are supposed to propose marriage to men, instead of the other way around. However, most obviously, February contains Valentine's Day and the celebrations of lovers up and down the country who look to St Valentine for inspiration for their friendships and romantic relationships.
Posted: 17 February 2023
Teesside’s Wynyard Golf Club the perfect blank canvas
Your North East Wedding is always on the hunt for deals for couples feeling the pinch – and when we saw this latest offer from Teesside's Wynyard Golf Club we knew it had to be included! The club, located in 200 acres of mature woodland and rolling parkland, is the perfect blank canvas to bring wedding ideas to life, and is currently offering 10% off their 2024 packages. But that's not all – there's also a bargain Fairytale package from autumn 2023 to spring 2024, priced at only £3,995!
Posted: 16 February 2023
Say ‘I Do’ to a Dry Wedding with Mavrik Alcohol-free Cocktails
With a growing number of people going sober or choosing to moderate their drinking, the traditional wedding 'knees up' may be a thing of the past as today's couples opt for a more sober affair - which everyone can remember! In the past, non-drinkers or designated drivers would be somewhat left out of the celebrations with access to only a sad selection of soft drinks or juices. However, now nearlyweds-to-be are putting as much effort into deciding what alcohol-free drinks to offer as they would apply to sourcing the Champagne for the toasts! Plus, not only are dry weddings a huge money saver, but they also allow guests to enjoy the day with a clear head and leave the event with all those special memories firmly in tact.
Posted: 15 February 2023
Five things that mean more to love than Valentine's gifts (and are free)
Dr Rachel Taylor is a neuropsychologist, podcast host and founder of UNBroken. She has this advice on the five things that mean more to love than Valentine's gifts (and are free). "The brain has many different circuitry mechanisms associated with feelings of love. Below are some suggestions that mean more to love than commercial gifts."To appreciate is to raise in value, so the appreciation of another is truly better than a gift. Appreciation of another triggers a part of the brain called the hypothalamus which is directly involved in controlling our circadian rhythm. We also get a dopamine hit which supports us to be more motivated to perform the same behaviour. The more we appreciate a person, the more motivated they are to carry on being the amazing person that we think they are.
Posted: 11 February 2023
