Your Glos and Wilts Wedding news and ideas from around the area

Cheltenham-based Kingsley Leather is the perfect pick this Xmas

Are you searching for the perfect gift to spoil your groom-to-be with this Christmas, or on the morning of the wedding? Or, you might want to thank your groomsmen or fathers with something special. Kingsley Leather based in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire has the perfect pick, from bespoke leather wallets and belts to other hand-crafted men's accessories. The personalised leather cufflinks, £55 per pair are a thoughtful way to express your love and thanks, and will be something that can be treasured forever and the handmade leather bow tie, £80 offers a distinctive, dapper choice for the groom and members of the male bridal party.

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.

Wiltshire-based beauty brand Bramley launches Bramley Skin

Wiltshire-based Bramley bottles nature's most active, science-backed skincare with its latest launch, Bramley Skin. With nature as their foundation, Bramley has combined the knowledge of expert plant-smiths and therapists with ingredients from native flowers and herbs found in wild British meadows to create powerful, natural skincare. Bramley Skin offers a complete range of treatment-led, 100% natural skincare. The new 22-piece collection features products specially developed to help support the skin's natural function with a blend of vitamins, antioxidants, and powerful botanicals. Designed to deliver long-lasting results, every step in the skincare collection combines Bramley's unique apple extract with essential oils and nature's most active, science-backed ingredients.

5 reasons couples fail at sticking to their wedding budget

With the cost of living on everyone's minds, budget expert Isabel Smith, offers some insight into how couples can set (and stick to!) their wedding budget. The number of couples who are going overbudget on their wedding is dropping, from around 2/3 in 2018 to somewhere around 50% this year. This may be due to savvier couples setting more realistic budgets, or people simply refusing spend a penny more than planned owing to future financial uncertainty, but either way, I am all for it! I've never been an advocate for getting in debt over your big day, no matter how special you want it to be.

The perfect couples advent calendar

Couples looking for that x-factor idea to get them in the Christmassy mood this festive season need look no further than A Twist Of Date's personalised couples' advent calendar. This personalised QR-code collection of romantic, fun and creative couples' activities adds a spark of magic that is sure to make 2023 a December to remember. Perfect for long-term busy couples looking to reconnect through heart-warming moments, it's a no-brainer alternative to the typical chocolate-filled Christmas countdown. Whether it's an impromptu trip to your local ice rink, engaging in an act of kindness together or writing each other a romantic letter to be opened on Christmas, each day brings something new and exciting to share together.

How to master taking the perfect engagement ring photo

Proposals are often one of the most memorable, special and magical moments in a couples life, so it's only natural they want to share this joyous news with their friends, family and colleagues. In 2023, one of the most common ways for couples to share the news of their engagement is through social media. Couples often post gorgeous pictures in real time of themselves along with the dazzling engagement ring. Sharing the news via social media is a quick and easy way of telling your loved ones the news without having to individually call everyone, which can be overwhelming and time consuming. However, taking the perfect photo can be a bit of a challenge. Whilst it's not a competition to see who has the biggest ring and whose ring sparkles the most, a lot of people want their ring to look as desirable and shimmering as possible.

BS3 Santa to bring Christmas entertainment to Tewkesbury

Bristol-based actor Stewart Wright is coming to Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire on the 8th of December, offering families the opportunity to make this festive season an unforgettable one. Wright will bring Father Christmas to life as he brings his ever-popular production of BS3 Santa to Tewkesbury for the very first time. Experienced at entertaining all ages with his own brand of improvisation and audience involvement, theatre meets 'An Audience with Father Christmas' in this 50-minute interactive show. Created by Wright, one of Bristol's top comic theatre performers, in 2020, BS3 Santa was originally produced to be performed on people's doorsteps during the pandemic. For 2023, BS3 Santa has transformed into an enchanting, interactive show which will be performed outdoors at Tewkesbury Garden Centre this festive season.

Sober hen parties are on the rise

While hen parties are often characterised by celebratory cocktails, drinking games and wild night outs, the hen-do could soon be shrugging off its booze-fueled persona. Global searches for 'sober hen do ideas' have doubled over the past year while 'sober bachelorette party games' has also seen a 50% increase. On TikTok, #soberliving has seen a surge in popularity, with videos including the hashtag boasting over 650 million views. If you're a bride-to-be looking to celebrate your 'last night of freedom' tee-total-style, party planning expert, Amy Greenshields at cardfactory has shared her four top tips.

Cheltenham's Imperial Haus Wins Muddy Stilettos Award 2023

Congratulations go to Imperial Haus boutique cocktail bar in Cheltenham which recently won best National Bar at The Muddy Stilettos Awards 2023. It's It's an independent business that opened in 2021, founded by owner Sophie Wilding, who appeared on the BBC One television show The Apprentice. It was inspired by her love of cocktails, passion for interior design and the need for traditional service. The venue was recently granted a change of license to allow under-18s in with an adult, allowing families to enjoy the venue together – there's even a specific kids' mocktail menu on offer!

Is lasting love magic, logic or luck?

Does it matter how a couple met? Contented Couples, a new guide to long-term relationships, features candid, intimate interviews with eighteen couples, based in the UK and USA. Each pair tell of how they met, how they formed a relationship and how they've thrived to become a truly happy union. One couple met and married within a month, whilst another two were thrown together repeatedly by a matchmaker who refused to give up - and it is not only guy meets girl either. The couples speak from an array of circumstance, culture and sexual orientations, including arranged marriage, friends-to-lovers and dating apps.

The five best weather apps to keep your eye on it leading up to the big day

Wedding jewellery experts Austen & Blake have listed some of the best weather apps to keep an eye on in the lead-up to your big day. The UK weather has been anything but predictable lately, with September set to be a particularly rainy and unsettled month, according to The Met Office. Top-rated apps help to track and plan your wedding day accordingly. Weather apps are invaluable when it comes to planning your nuptials, but sometimes there's no avoiding the inevitable. That's why, along with listing the best apps for tracking grey skies, the jewellery experts have teamed up with a professional wedding photographer to provide tips on how to get the best rainy snaps.

Even when the weather's a washout, it doesn't mean your wedding photos have to be! Here are some of the best weather apps to keep an eye on and how to strike the perfect pose if rain is predicted:

It's fireplace season at The Greenway Hotel and Spa in Gloucestershire

As the days get shorter and the temperature plummets, enjoy the autumnal season at the cosy Greenway Hotel and Spa in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire. The sound of a crackling fireplace while lounging on a plush sofa with a mug of hot chocolate or a glass of mulled wine is one of the most comforting things about the colder season. Take a seat in front of the roaring open fire or enjoy a pre-dinner drink with a loved one in front of the fireplace at the luxurious Greenway Hotel and Spa set in the beautiful Cotswolds countryside. The award-winning Garden Room Restaurant is also a must-try!

Don’t like your engagement ring? Relationship experts reveal what you need to do!

A marriage proposal is filled with an overwhelming amount of emotion and is a moment both you and your partner will remember forever. But once the initial rush fades, what if you come to terms with the fact that the ring placed on your finger isn't what you envisioned it to look like? Leading diamond jewellers, Diamonds Factory, teamed up with relationship experts Georgia Sturmer and Sharin Shafer, who have shared their top 3 tips on how to handle this delicate situation in the best way possible.

Enjoy fantastic offers this autumn at the Cheltenham Chase hotel

Located right on the edge of the Cotswolds, just a short drive from the charms of Cheltenham and Gloucester, Cheltenham Chase hotel offers the perfect sanctuary. Autumn is here and it's time to relax, recharge and reconnect. Allow yourself some well-earned downtime and step away from the hustle and bustle with a friend or a loved one to enjoy morning walks in the Cotswolds' countryside followed by a rejuvenating spa experience. Indulge in a massage, or facial and treat your body to some luxury with products from the wonderful Elemis and the best news is that they've just launched some new seasonal packages so that you can enjoy your getaway at a discount!

Fraser Hart launches its stunning lab-grown diamond collection

Fraser Hart, one of the UK's leading purveyors of fine jewellery, is redefining affordable luxury with the launch of its Born Lab Grown Diamonds collection in 10 new stores nationwide. Optically, physically and chemically identical to an earth-grown diamond, here cutting-edge technology is used to create timeless diamonds in a laboratory setting. Blending craftsmanship with innovation, Born Lab Grown Diamonds are breathtaking in their clarity, delivering the same sparkling wow-factor as traditionally mined gems, but with a more accessible price tag. The Born collection includes a stunning choice of "buy now, treasure forever" heirloom jewellery pieces. With exquisite diamond rings starting at just £799, diamond and white gold stud earrings from £799, classic diamond encrusted tennis bracelets from £5,250, and diamond pendant necklaces from £850, investing in luxurious, exceptional quality and utterly timeless diamond jewellery pieces has never been more attractive.

The wellness journals from Lovendu you need in your life

With Mental Health Awareness day falling in October, and as we approach the end of the year, take positive steps to improve your wellbeing in 2024 through journaling. The benefits of daily journaling are huge, from reducing stress and improving your mental health to boosting productivity and providing an opportunity to get in sync with your emotions. It's the ultimate act of self-care – and Lovendu makes it easy to take control of your life and truly thrive.

Trick or tweet at Birdland this Halloween

The keepers at Birdland in Bourton-on-the-Water are making use of treat-filled pumpkins to provide environmental enrichment as part of their 'Trick or Tweet' Halloween half-term event taking place from now until Sunday the 5th of November. Visitors can watch a selection of the smartest birds demonstrate their foraging skills in a series of daily talks. Keepers will be hiding a variety of creepy crawlies inside pumpkins to see how different species use their intellect and dexterity to forage for food. Among avian residents facing the daily pumpkin challenge will be cassowaries, one of the largest birds on the planet, super-smart Kiwi parrot the kea, high-brow hornbills, and clever bird of prey the striated carcara. "Environmental enrichment provides stimulation for our birds and encourages them to use natural behaviours to solve challenges," said head keeper Alistair Keen.

Getting married? Alcohol-free menu is the new must-have

Samantha Gilchrist, CEO of the UK's largest wedding venue collection, The Gilchrist Collection, conducted a survey of 2,000 UK adults to find out their wedding drinking habits. The study comes as the collection launches its new alcohol-free drinks menu, created in partnership with First Dates star bartender, Merlin Griffiths. The survey revealed that almost half (47%) of those who had attended a wedding in the last five years didn't drink alcohol during at least one of the events they had been to. Sober guests said they were often left feeling uncomfortable at weddings sipping an un-festive soft drink, as 35% of respondents said they are questioned on why they aren't having alcohol. Sadly, a quarter admitted to drinking alcohol at a wedding just to avoid awkward questions or having to share personal or medical information as an excuse.

Gloucestershire's Cheltenham Town Hall voted second most popular registry office

Gloucestershire's Cheltenham Town Hall has been voted the second most popular registry office according to a new analysis by engagement and wedding ring experts at Queensmith. Registry office weddings have emerged as an increasingly cost-effective choice for couples looking to get married. With a surge in searches for registry office wedding venues up by 800%, the growing appeal of these non-traditional ceremonies is clear. Having taken a deep dive into average monthly Google searches, Instagram hashtags and TikTok views, engagement and wedding experts at Queensmith, have revealed the top 20 best registry offices with Gloucestershire's Cheltenham Town Hall coming a close second behind Orleans House Gallery in Twickenham, London.

3 things no one tells you when it comes to setting your wedding budget

2024 is set to be a bumper year for weddings. In addition to the usual 275,000 or so which take place in the UK each year, the big day is finally coming around for a lot of couples who had to postpone because of the pandemic. Unfortunately, the cost of living crisis is squeezing all those couple's budgets tighter than ever so we've asked Isabel Smith, wedding industry veteran, to offer her advice on setting (and sticking to!) that spreadsheet. Today, Isabel let's us in on the things no-one ever tells you when you're setting your wedding budget...