Your North East Wedding news and ideas from around the region

GREAT! romance to Launch on Thursday 5th January 2023

Dreaming of cosying up with some love-ly film entertainment in the New Year? GREAT! romance, a new, free-to-air, TV channel dedicated to bringing feel-good, romance films to TV screens, all day, every day, is launching on Thursday 5th January 2023. If you have a soft spot for romantic movies and are looking to indulge in escapist entertainment this winter, then look no further! Romantics across the UK can fall head-over-heels with the only TV channel that promises back-to-back love stories all day every day - for free! - and the curated selection of movies is guaranteed to melt anyone's heart at the start of 2023.

New partner for ESPA

Fancy taking your mam or bestie for a relaxing spa escape prior to your wedding? Say hello to one of ESPA's newest spa partners, County Durham's The Retreat at Redworth Hall. Set in the tranquil surroundings of the Hall, the stunning Retreat leisure club and spa is a fabulous place to unwind with a treatment. Tucked in the North East countryside and set within Redworth's 26-acre estate, the spa is home to an indoor heated swimming pool, poolside terrace, calming treatment rooms, relaxation and tranquillity room, and the stylish Retreat Lounge for light meals, including afternoon tea and drinks.

Christmas winter wedding music

Getting married at Christmas doesn't mean that you have to plan a Christmas-themed wedding. Here, roaming band The Travelling Hands, suggest songs that would work well for a Christmas winter wedding and the songs to avoid! When it comes to music, the same rule applies. Just because you want to get married at Christmas it doesn't mean that your musical playlist has to be full of Wizzard & Cliff Richard if you don't want it to be there. When our acoustic roaming band The Travelling Hands perform at winter weddings we see a wide variety of decisions when it comes to Christmas songs. Some want to embrace the Christmas classics - adding these into their day. Others like a few placed in here and there, whilst some want to just stick to their favourite songs without any Christmas numbers added in at all.

Fab offer from award-winning baker

Looking for an award-winning cake maker for your big day? Consider Durham's Precisely Iced, who are offering Your North East Wedding readers a free four inch vanilla cake when a three-tiered naked or buttercreamed cake in sizes six, eight or 10 inches is ordered for their 2023 wedding. "I'm passionate about creating bespoke wedding cakes for couples to suit their individual style, budget and wedding day vibe," says owner Nova Dawson. "Personalised sugar cookie favours are available for those who'd like matching favours for their guests, and I offer a free consultation and design service, as well as providing delicious sample boxes of my popular cakes for you to try at home.

Outdated wedding laws need to change

In an article earlier this year there was discussion and praise aimed towards the Government's plans to allow outdoor weddings to be made permanent. The article also highlighted the eagerly awaited Law Commission report into marriage laws, which was due to be published in July. Now it has been published and we have had some time for the dust to settle, Kate Van Rol, Barrister at 4PB has looked into these recommendations, "Are wedding laws at present 'confusing, outdated and restrictive' as the Commission suggest, or would the implementation of their suggestions trivialise weddings and commercialise the ceremony?". Kate continues...

Newcastle’s Great North Hotel now hosting weddings

Engaged couples searching for somewhere to tie the knot should consider Newcastle's Great North Hotel, which opened its doors to the public last year following a £7.5m development. Now welcoming weddings, it boasts a purpose-built function suite and three packages designed to relieve couples of all the pressure of planning. Central to the hotel's appeal for wedding parties is its Ouseburn Suite, with private bar, which can cater for between 25 and 80 guests and can be sub-divided to create a smaller space for more intimate celebrations.

Christmas activities from The QHotels Collection

The festive season is almost upon us, bringing with it all that sparkles, from decorative baubles to candles, crackers, and colourful lights. But as December approaches, it's easy to let the time run away. So, The QHotels Collection list their top five ways to keep the sparkle alive, bring a little twinkle to your eye and warmth to your heart in the run-up to the holidays. 1.Start a countdown to Christmas - who says advent calendars are just for the kids? Extend the Christmas fun over the whole of December by finding a special way to countdown to the big day. Why not play a different Christmas song each day on your commute? To really get in the festive spirit why not book a festive activity for every weekend in December? It could be anything from making homemade wrapping paper to heading out to see the panto or enjoying a festive-themed afternoon tea with your mates.

North Shields supplier's new styling service

With Christmas looming, the thought of planning your nuptials can suddenly seem more stressful than ever. That's why North Shields wedding and party hire specialist Vanilla Teas is now offering an Easy Hire DIY Wedding Catalogue, packed with beautiful items designed to make setting your own big day up easier than ever. "We know how difficult a time this is for many people planning their celebration," says Vanilla Teas' Helen Edwards.

Spotlight on... Mark Lloyd master goldsmith

Mark Lloyd, an international master goldsmith and fellow of The Institute of Professional Goldsmiths, is preparing for the Christmas rush from his Hartlepool jewellery store. With over 36 years of experience, Mark is now recognised as one of the best jewellery designers, making bespoke commissions for clients around the world. Due to his popularity, throughout December you'll see him opening his store from 9am-6pm, rather than 9am-5pm, on the 1st, 8th, 15th and 22nd of the month.

Pantone’s Colour of The Year - we love it!

Pantone's Colour of The Year, Viva Magenta, is oh-so gorgeous and perfect for wedding colour palettes whatever time of year. Claiming, 'It's a shade rooted in nature descending from the red family and expressive of a new signal of strength. Viva Magenta is brave and fearless, and a pulsating colour whose exuberance promotes a joyous and optimistic celebration, writing a new narrative,' how very appropriate for weddings!

New website launch for Neatly Seated

County Durham venue stylists, Neatly Seated, has launched its new website today! Owner Diane says, "We're absolutely delighted and, to celebrate this, we're offering a 7.5% discount to any new customers who book with us and pay the deposit before the end of February (Minimum spend will apply). We have also had a new logo designed by our talented website company and we adore the simplicity of it."

New Wedding Planner Journal & Keepsake collection

Just in time after the influx of festive proposals, Paper Crane Unique has announced the release of its Wedding Planner Journal & Keepsake collection launching January 2023. A bride- or groom-to-be's perfect planning companion; organise your wedding plans, write about your personal story and keep your photo memories safe altogether in one place that you can keep forever. The planners are 200 pages of wedding planning tools, inspiration boards, notes and journal sheets featuring a beautiful eucalyptus design inside, cloth cover and gold gilded edges. Priced at £32.95, the collection has a choice of four colours: classic ivory, blush pink, luxe gold and dusty blue.

2023 wedding dates at Judges Country House Hotel in Yarm

An AA Inspector's Choice Red Star hotel, Judges Country House Hotel in Yarm is rated as being one of the very best hotels and restaurants in the UK and Ireland. With its welcoming atmosphere, twenty-one beautiful guest bedrooms and the unique Courtyard Suite in a setting rich with Victorian charm, guests have come to depend on the Judges Hotel's gracious hospitality and superior, unobtrusive service. Recent winners of the 2021 Good Hotel Guide's Editors Choice for Weddings in the UK and Ireland, Judges Country House Hotel is the perfect location for your wedding. From an intimate gathering to a large party we have the setting, the history and the magic to ensure a truly memorable occasion.

Luxe gifting brand launches

Brand new to the wedding scene, April & Bloom have a vision to redefine wedding gifting, by providing a range of elegant gifts for engagements, the bride-to-be, bridal party proposals and for 'the morning of'. The luxe gifting brand promises on-trend products and 'insta-worthy' moments, through its carefully curated range of signature floral gift boxes, wedding planners & notebooks, bespoke gift box service and wedding favours. Filled with stylish products from a range of desirable brands – including Whispering Angel, Pale Fox, Charbonnel et Walker, Chalke Valley and more – April & Bloom's signature keepsake gift boxes are unlike anything on the market, and come adorned with preserved posies, all wrapped up with luxurious ribbons and bows for those precious "wow" wedding moments. There are 13 signature keepsake gift boxes available from the April & Bloom website (aprilandbloom.uk), in blush, cream and neutral colour schemes.

Winter weddings: how to create the perfect tablescape

Creating the perfect tablescape to bring that wow factor is an important part of your wedding. But how does winter change things? Here, Suzanne Pearce from the interior experts Casa Bella offers some tips. Planning the aesthetic and decoration for your wedding is an exciting task, but it can be tricky to know how to adapt to the seasons when you are having a winter wedding, as so many classic wedding tablescapes are inspired by floral summer designs. But there's still plenty that you can do to incorporate the seasons and make your wedding table look as beautiful and atmospheric as you like. The added drama of seasonal foliage and scenery can add a whole new level to your winter wedding, and can make for some truly memorable photos. Here, we'll show you how you can create a beautiful winter wedding tablescape that's personal to you and your partner.

Stylish advice for grooms, fathers-of-the-bride and ushers

Choosing your wedding dress is only part of the story when it comes to styling your big day. In order to achieve a coordinated look, it's important to think about what the men who make up the wedding party will be wearing. What you choose will ultimately come down to the style of wedding you're planning, the location and of course the time of year. Here Cliff Bashforth, MD of Colour Me Beautiful shares with us his advice on how to ensure that they not only look the part but feel comfortable too. Do not overlook the men who will be at your wedding. What they choose, or you tell them, to wear must complement what you are wearing and be consistent with the rest of the bridal party. A little guidance on colour and fit will ensure that they, too, look the part and feel comfortable.

How much have Brits spent attending weddings this summer?

We all love a wedding! After two years of covid and postponed big-days, 2022 was a bumper year for nuptials with more taking place than ever! The team at Fenwick has delved into the true cost of attending weddings that aren't your own. Have you ever wondered how much the average person spends? By surveying 1,000 people, the study reveals how much Brits are spending on each wedding they attend.

Mmm cake! What your cake-cutting etiquette says about you

It's fair to say that cake is a universal dessert - from birthdays, weddings and anniversaries there's no better way to celebrate an important occasion than with cake. The best part about this yummy dessert is that it can be enjoyed at any time, whether it's after lunch or dinner, or if you're feeling adventurous - maybe even for breakfast! Everyone has their favourite flavours, their go-to for any celebration and this is why this wonderful delicacy has become customary for all kinds of events. Quite simply because it tastes great and is guaranteed to hit the spot! Cake is truly the best dessert, but did you know the way you cut your cake can actually say a lot about your personality traits? The cake connoisseurs at Sponge.co.uk have revealed what your cake-cutting etiquette says about you. From the traditional slice, to using props in a weird and wonderful way – this list will be sure to keep you thinking for when you next cut into your next spongey treat.

Happy feet: 5 expert tips to care for your feet at a wedding

Whether you're a wedding guest or it's your own big day, sore feet and rubbing heels can get in the way of you having the time of your life on the dancefloor. With these five top tips from Rachel Clinkard — of family-run shoe company Charles Clinkard — you can give your feet some more TLC during wedding season. Weddings are some of the most memorable days of our lives, so it's important that we enjoy these special occasions without the distraction of sore feet or painful shoes. However, from dancing the night away to that all-important walk down the aisle, we tend to be on our feet all day. To help you stay comfortable and celebrate into the small hours, here are five of my top tips for looking after your feet at weddings.

Get the party started with PartyStarters Northeast

PartyStarters Northeast, an event planning company based in Sunderland. Launching as a balloon decoration business, they've recently added a mini VIP wedding corner set up to their service. "This has been designed with all of our mini guests in mind," explain co-owners Beth Harding and Marie Pullan. "This includes a double lace teepee, fluffy rugs, throws and cushions, plus an activity table with wedding packs and colouring sheets to make a card for the happy couple. There's also giant Jenga and wooden Connect 4, wooden cars and trains, mini air hockey, mini chalkboard, a tub of teddies – and even sweets for the kids to enjoy! Covering the whole of the North East, the entire VIP area for children is available for your wedding for just £120."