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

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.

Enjoy a mini-moon in the quintessential Cotswolds this spring

Spring newlyweds should explore the Cotswolds countryside during a mini-moon in at Bergman Design House's one-bedroom private cottage. For those wishing to rustle up a feast, the popular Broadway Market and Daylesford Farm are located close by and provide the freshest, organic produce from local farmers. Ramblers in search of the most scenic spots will love the variety of rewarding walking routes surrounding the cottage, including the nearby grounds of the beautiful Sudeley Castle and gardens.

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.

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:

Wiltshire wedding venue Bowood set to host summer motoring event

June 2023 will mark the debut of Masters of Motoring, a new premium motoring lifestyle event from Great British Motor Shows that's being held at the luxury hotel wedding venue, Bowood. The new show, which is to be staged on Father's Day on June 18th should prove to be a great addition to early summer motoring enthusiasts and collectors show as well as to next year's social events calendar, both in the UK and internationally. Masters of Motoring will be a combination of high-level classic and performance car displays, married with a carefully selected mix of leisure and lifestyle luxury retail opportunities, excellent food, drink and hospitality - all set against the beautiful backdrop of the Lansdowne family home at Bowood house and gardens, in Wiltshire.

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.

Cotswold Hills wine sold in Packamama's eco-flat format bottle

Cotswold Hills, the Royal Agricultural University's award-winning wine and social enterprise based in Gloucestershire, has become the first UK vineyard to trial the use of Packamama's multi-award-winning flat wine bottles. A small run of the 2021 English white wine, perfect for weddings, will be available in the new sustainable eco-flat bottles as part of an ongoing, student-led, project undertaken at the Royal Agricultural University (RAU) and a celebration of how collaboration in the English wine industry can help create a more sustainable future. A core premise of the project is to allow students to gain first-hand enterprise and employability skills, learning about vineyard management, grape varieties, wine production, marketing and finances.

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!

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.

The hottest new wedding venue in the Cotswolds opens its doors

Tucked away amidst beautiful private grounds in the heart of the sleepy Cotswold village of Ewen is Water's Edge, the hottest new wedding and party venue on the Cotswold scene that launched in December 2022 in time for the 2023 celebration season. Purpose-built in the form of a contemporary Cotswold barn, this stunning exclusive-use venue marries modern style with plenty of traditional rustic charm - perfect for couples in search of low-key elegance for their big day.

Relax with a wellness break at Glos and Wilts-based PoB Hotels

There's no better time to prioritise your health than during the colder months, when taking the time to relax, boost the immune system and refresh the body and mind is a must. Thankfully, PoB Hotels provide some of the most perfect locations in the British Isles for a Winter Wellness break, whether that be with a Cotswolds spa retreat or cosy stay in Wiltshire. PoB Hotels is a collection of carefully curated rooms, the finest restaurants and spas, and the most authentic regional experiences across the British Isles. Banish the winter blues with bubbles of all kinds, including unlimited spa time and a delicious Taittinger Champagne afternoon tea with Calcot & Spa's 'Winter Bubbles' package. Available for all midweek stays, this package also includes complimentary use of the hotel's bikes, with more than 220 acres of meadowland to explore in the surrounding area.

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.

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.

Enjoy Forest Yoga at The Swan at Streatley this February

Coppa Club is beating the February blues this year with a range of activities and classes for couples and families alike. Guests and locals can participate in yoga and art classes. Activities include Forest Yoga at The Swan at Streatley in Berkshire. At 9 am on 24th February, Coppa Club invites guests to immerse themselves and reconnect with the body and soul in its natural riverside surroundings. Yoga professional, Carlita, will guide guests through a 90-minute Forest Yoga practice followed by a 20-minute walk along the river to allow the practice to travel deeper through guests' bodies and spirits.

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.

Indulge in a Cotswolds dry gin cocktail this Valentine's Day

Whether you're celebrating Valentine's Day with your partner tonight, a Galentine's gathering with the girls, or simply planning some 'me time', a gin cocktail made using Cotswolds Dry Gin from the Cotswolds Distillery is a must! At YGWW HQ, we love the Hanky Panky recipe they've unveiled, which is a mix of 45ml of Cotswolds Dry Gin with 45ml of Cotswolds Vermouth and 10ml of freshly squeezed orange juice plus 5ml of Cotswolds Whisky Amaro Liqueur No.2. Place all of the ingredients into an ice-filled cocktail shaker. Shake and fine strain into a chilled martini glass and garnish with an orange peel.

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.

5 ways to get your pooch involved in your wedding

Planning a wedding is a whirlwind of nerves and excitement, and if you have a dog, you might want to get them involved in the event too. But how? Here, Lisa Melvin from Webbox offer some ideas. Organising a wedding can be as overwhelming as it is exciting. If you have a dog, you might be wondering if you can involve them in the event too — your pooch is most definitely part of your family, and it's natural to want them to be a part of your special day. Read on to find out some ideas for how you can bring your pooch to the wedding.

Stay at The Bradley Hare and sample the new Wine Tasting Experience

The Bradley Hare is a cosy country inn, situated in the beautiful village of Maiden Bradley in southwest Wiltshire. Located on the Duke of Somerset's Estate, The Bradley Hare is home to 12 unique bedrooms, with seven located in the main house and a further five in the Coach House. Guests can expect a romantic and stylish stay here, as James Thurstan Waterworth, ex-European design director for Soho House, has overseen the interiors. All of the rooms offer sought-after home-from-home comforts, some with vast elegant freestanding baths and all with sumptuous beds and linen.

How to create a bespoke drinks menu for your wedding

Your wedding should be as personalised, luxurious and enjoyable as possible, and the drinks menu is no exception! Here, Steve King, managing director at the drinks retailer Bottled & Boxed, shows you how to bring together a bespoke drinks menu for your wedding. Organising a wedding is as exciting as it is overwhelming: you'll want your day to be as special as possible, and the drinks menu is no exception to this. It's becoming more and more popular to create your own personalised drinks, with Google searches for 'bespoke drinks menu' increasing 10% since the beginning of 2022.