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

Say yes to saving for the big day - Top tips from Rathbones

Top tips from Kindar Brown, Senior Financial Planner at Rathbones Group Plc on budgeting together for the important day. A wedding is the beginning of a new chapter and likely one of the most important days of your life. While the day itself should be full of joy and stress free, a lot of our time and money goes into pre-wedding planning, to make sure this is the case. The cost of living crisis and sticky inflation are impacting prices across the board and wedding suppliers are no exception. For those gearing up for their wedding day, Kindar shares her top tips for anyone putting a budget together for that important day.

The Rathfinny Terrace partners with The Feathered Nest

Award-winning, English sparkling grower-producer, Rathfinny Wine Estate partners with Cotswolds gastropub, The Feathered Nest, for a summer offering on their beautiful terrace overlooking the Evenlode Valley. The traditional 15th-century inn – located 7 miles from the historic village of Bourton-on-the-Water – is a hidden gem for food and wine lovers, offering a high-quality restaurant with rooms. The terrace will feature a bespoke Rathfinny bar, ice buckets, cushions and blankets, perfect for guests to relax. Having been loyal supporters of the vintage winemaker for a while, The Feathered Nest is honoured to be partnering with Rathfinny this summer to showcase their portfolio of Sussex sparkling wines throughout the restaurant including with the afternoon tea, bar menu and tasting menu.

New opening The Great Bustard, Wiltshire

The Great Bustard, a country pub with 10 exceptional rooms, set in the picturesque hills of Wiltshire, opened in June 2024 following a complete restoration and expansion. Part of the Great Durnford Estate, renowned as the location for the reintroduction of the Great Bustard to the UK, the pub is named after these majestic birds that were once close to extinction but have now been successfully reinstated in the area. The Great Bustard will offer comforting, hearty cooking in the pub, a selection of more refined dishes in the restaurant and a combination of the two in The Courtyard, the restored walled garden.

Most popular TikTok wedding car revealed

Gone are the days of a horse-drawn carriage or a Rolls Royce pulling up to the wedding chapel, now it's all about modern cars! Couples across the UK are planning their dream weddings, with a twist. Searches for 'modern wedding cars' have surged by 60% in the last month according to Google Trends, signalling a shift from traditional vintage choices to sleek, contemporary vehicles that add a touch of modern elegance to the special day. ATS Euromaster, the tyre, MOT and vehicle services provider, has analysed TikTok hashtags and trends to reveal the changing popularity of wedding cars, both vintage and modern. Additionally, ATS has estimated rental costs for three-hour periods to help couples choose the perfect car for their special day.

National Art Pass - perfect wedding gift for culture lovers

A National Art Pass is a great way to enjoy time at hundreds of museums, galleries and historic places across the UK, and the Double Membership makes the perfect wedding gift for any culture lovers! Annual membership is only £88.50* and lets the happy couple enjoy free entry to hundreds of cultural destinations, plus 50% off major exhibitions, and special shop and café discounts. What's more, two cards will be issued for the happy couple!

Getting Personal - Bridesmaid Proposal Ideas

Once you've said yes to your future spouse, it's time to recruit your future bridal party.

To pop the question, you can keep it short and sweet or go with something a little more elaborate. A bridesmaid proposal is the perfect way to ensure they know their special role in your life and, more importantly, on your big day itself. There has been an 85% increase in Google searches for 'bridesmaid proposal ideas' over the past year, therefore gifting experts at Getting Personal have shared 6 bridesmaid proposal ideas for those needing a little inspiration for asking their bridesmaids to be part of the bridal party. Be creative and make it a fabulous memory to remember !

Say 'I do' to shared planning - wedding expert shares tips for involving family and friends

Amy Greenshields, wedding expert at Card Factory has shared 7 tips to help you let your loved ones contribute.

Asking for help can be hard but getting friends and family involved in wedding planning can not only lighten the load but will also make them feel included and valued. Wedding planning contains many different elements, from table designs and seating charts to your floral bouquet, everything must be accounted for. A bride normally has the most influence over everything wedding-related, leading to as state of overwhelming stress. Why not share out the responsibilities – even the little ones can have a job!

Escape to The Countryside This Summer at The Bradley Hare

With Summer just around the corner, there's no better time to escape the hustle and bustle of city life. Nestled amidst the picturesque Wiltshire countryside, The Bradley Hare offers the perfect idyllic retreat. Just a short train journey from central London, this charming bolthole Inn is the perfect place to relax and escape it all this season. Located on the Duke of Somerset's Estate in the beautiful village of Maiden Bradley, The Bradley Hare has twelve bedrooms each expertly designed by James Thurstan Waterworth, ex-European Design Director for Soho House.

Ginger Ray - An Introvert's Guide to surviving a hen party

So, you've got a hen party on the horizon, but the thought of navigating through a sea of social interactions is making you break into a cold sweat. Fear not introverts, we've got your back! Follow these top tips to make sure that you don't bring down the mood at the hen party and instead boost the atmosphere of the event. Hen parties are a chance to celebrate the lucky soon-to-be bride so make it a night she'll never forget! Jess Martin, Hen Party expert at Ginger Ray has shared 6 strategies to ensure that you not only survive, but actually enjoy the festivities:

Sten dos are on the rise

Stag and hen experts, Adventure Connections, say it is the 'Sten do' that takes traditional trends down! A mash-up of the separate parties, the Sten do provides a popular new way for the future bride and groom to be united before the big day. Rumoured to have been recreated by Harry and Megan, Sten dos prove to be the hottest way to party. Founder of Adventure Connections, Justin Sayers mentions that "things are changing when it comes to pre-wedding parties", so why not give it a try? Sten dos offer a cost-effective and inclusive solution to those separate gatherings, perfect for those with a large number of guests. Those shared memories are sure to be irreplaceable. Reduce your stress and make it a rave to remember!

Dive into the world of muted colour palettes

Rebecca Brennan-Brown, founder of GetWed, a team of wedding experts based in London, helping couples achieve dreamy, fun, and unpretentious weddings, dives into the world of muted colour palettes and shares her top tips and advice for channeling this aesthetic...In a world of Instagram algorithms and Pinterest boards that feed you new inspiration every five minutes, it can be tricky to choose a colour palette for your wedding, let alone stick to one. Do you go for classic, whimsical whites and greens? Or perhaps something bolder and more fun? Or maybe you've always envisioned a summery pastel palette. The options are endless.

Enjoy a Wine Tasting & Tapas Experience at Plate No. 6 on Wednesday 17th July

Plate at No. 6 in Windsor is hosting a Wine Tasting & Tapas Experience: Discovering the Mediterranean on Wednesday, 17th July from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm. This event will introduce guests to the art of food and wine pairing, offering a delightful journey through Mediterranean flavours. For just £50 per person, attendees will indulge in a carefully curated selection of tapas and wines designed to tantalize taste buds, and enhance their culinary knowledge. The evening's menu includes a variety of tasty food options such as homemade bread and dips, falafel served with a cucumber and tomato salad with aioli and smoked bacon croquetas with pickled cucumber. There's a delicious lemon and polenta cake with pistachio praline to finish.

Personalisation is IN for 2024

Crafty Brewing and Lola and Luna's collaboration reveals how personalisation is being brought to the forefront of 2024 weddings. The concept of personalisation is holding a key part in redefining 'tradition' and incorporating new captivating trends in every aspect of your magical event. Aimee, a wedding expert from a wedding planning and styling company says that "Over the past few years, weddings have increasingly started steering away from the same old conventions, and opting for bespoke options more frequently." From table plans set on where the couple first met, to embroidered napkins there are so many opportunities to add a personal touch on your big day.

Paperchase unveils wedding and hen party products collection

The beloved brand Paperchase has recently launched an exclusive collection of wedding and hen party products. The new range features a wide selection of unique and sophisticated wedding staples and novelty hen products for great value prices, from stationery to decorative accessories. It is perfect for those tying the knot this year or planning a spectacular hen do. Looking for luxurious wedding invitations? but want to keep costs down? Well, the Ginger Ray Wedding Invitations with Envelopes (10pack with envelopes) with a classic cream finish they combine style with affordability for those looking to advertise their big day with a stunning opening number.

Scentscape your wedding day with Yankee Candle

Scentscaping your wedding day is a trend that's going nowhere! Finding the right fragrance to shape the atmosphere of your wedding is an exciting part of the wedding planning journey you can do together - beats the wedmin too! Yankee Candle, and sister brand WoodWick, boast a wide collection of candles in all shapes, colours and sizes that would work perfectly for your nuptials, reception and big-day gifting. Imagine walking into you ceremony with the scent of pink cherry and vanilla surrounding you, or at your winter reception Pumpkin Cinnamon Swirl from Yankee's new collection will certainly set the tone of the proceedings and reflect the time of year. Once you've found your favourite candle, it's also something you can purchase time and again to evoke memories of the special event, alternatively gifting loved ones who supported you on your wedding day with a candle to the big-day fragrance will be a gift where guests can reminisce too!

Cliveden literary festival is set to take place this September

Now in its eighth year, the Cliveden literary festival is set to take place this September at Berkshire's Cliveden House, a prestigious wedding venue. The festival is a unique forum for lively discussion, thought-provoking ideas, and political debate. Cliveden Literary Festival is run by a committee of authors and historians – Andrew Roberts, Natalie Livingstone, Catherine Ostler and Simon Sebag Montefiore – drawing on Cliveden House's unique history as a literary salon frequented by writers and thinkers including Alexander Pope, Alfred Lord Tennyson, George Bernard Shaw, Jonathan Swift and Sir Winston Churchill. Visitors to the Cliveden Literary Festival will also have the opportunity to explore the beautiful National Trust gardens and enjoy scenic walks down to the River Thames.

Most booked spas in Gloucestershire

DoubleTree by Hilton Cheltenham has been revealed as Gloucestershire's most booked spa. The findings have been revealed by experts in wellness and the UK's leading spa experience and booking agency Spabreaks.com following insights from their 2023 consumer booking data. The spa totalled 32.88% of all bookings made in Gloucestershire in 2023. With the second most bookings is Gloucester Robinswood Hotel followed closely by Delta by Marriott Cheltenham Chase and Totworth Court. And with the fifth most bookings in and around Gloucestershire is The Greenway. Spabreaks.com founder Abi Selby commented, "It's always really insightful to look back across the past year and see where and how customers are using the spa. At Spabreaks.com we know that everyone uses the spa in different ways, whether it's for a spa weekend break or just a quick visit of an evening. We make sure our offerings suit everyone, and that the spa is a place accessible to all."

Planning for the night ahead – wedding nightwear from Chelsea Peers

West London based designer brand Chelsea Peers has an glamorous array of wedding nightwear for any bride on their special day, to complement the bride's style and luxurious taste. When wedding planning, you mainly focus on the particulars of the actual ceremony and the events of the day, however what about your first night as husband and wife? With Chelsea Peers, the elegant draping allows the bride to maintain an effortless silhouette while adding just a touch of splendour. For a spectacular wedding night, consider the chic and comfortable Satin Fringe Trim Long Pyjama Set – Ivory, that features a swishy flared shape that has plenty of movement, combined with smooth, lustrous satin.

The Speech Surgery: modern day etiquette with Heidi Ellert McDermott, founder of Speechy

The Speech Surgery: modern day etiquette with Heidi Ellert McDermott, founder of Speechy, and author of The Modern Couple's Guide to Wedding Speeches: Some say addressing guests as 'ladies and gentlemen' is a mistake these days... what is the Modern newlywed speech etiquette? Let's start by saying (again) there are no wedding speech rules. When it comes to etiquette, it's simply a case of common sense and being polite. Honestly, that's it. When it comes to addressing your audience, 'Ladies and gentlemen' is becoming less common for two reasons.

Ellenborough Park is Gloucestershire's only five-star hotel

A stunning 15th-century manor house, Ellenborough Park is Gloucestershire's only five-star hotel, and offers a choice of stunning wedding venues, beautiful rooms, a relaxing spa and delicious food. The vast gardens and surrounding estate ensure the perfect backdrop for an unforgettable wedding - the grounds are perfect for larger marquees - whilst the hotel can accommodate up to 150 guests. The hotel's wedding team are able to design tailormade wedding celebrations with personal touches such as bespoke arrangements, decorations, and set menus collaboratively prepared with the executive chef. The celebrations include the drinks reception with the option for drinks and canapes on the Mews Lawn with garden games and an outdoor bar, or indoors at the Horse Box Brasserie. Followed by an evening reception tailored to fit every need, with space for a dancefloor and DJ.