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

See the signs of spring in National Trust gardens

Spring is on the way at many National Trust places across the South West, including in Devon and Cornwall, with snowdrops being spotted at many places. These dainty white flowers tend to bloom in January and February and pave the way for the crocuses and daffodils, which are a common sight in springtime. This pretty little flower has been the top choice of bloom to spot by National Trust visitors over the years with more than 72% of people looking forward to seeing them in their local National Trust Garden. At Newark Park in the Cotswolds, plenty of snowdrops can be spotted. For those who'd like to explore more of Newark Park beyond the gardens, there are estate walks to enjoy.

HARIBO giving free wedding cake to Gummy Ring proposals this Valentine's

From lockdown couples to celebrities, the last few years has seen the nation embrace their inner child by getting engaged with HARIBO's iconic Friendship Ring. To mark this Valentine's Day, HARIBO, the UK's number one sweets manufacturer, is delighted to declare that lovebirds ready to unleash their inner child and dive into marital bliss with its iconic gummy ring will get the sweetest reward – the chance to win their very own HARIBO Heart Throb Wedding Cake for their big day.

TikTok’s wedding trends - what we can expect in 2024

TikTok has become the best place to source beautiful wedding inspiration, from wedding dress fashion to food. But what were the biggest TikTok wedding trends of 2023, and what can we expect to see in 2024? By analysing TikTok hashtags, ethical jewellery brand Sacet provides insights into the most influential trends of 2023, the wedding trends on the decline, and predictions for the upcoming year.

Manor by the Lake celebrates National Award Win at The Wedding Industry Awards

Manor by the Lake, a renowned wedding venue located in the heart of Cheltenham, is delighted to announce its victory as the Best Wedding Venue in the Country at the prestigious Wedding Industry Awards. The glittering awards ceremony, held in London, was a convergence of more than 500 elite wedding suppliers from across the United Kingdom. This significant accolade recognises Manor by the Lake's commitment to excellence in providing an enchanting and exclusive setting for weddings. Set amidst picturesque landscapes, this Victorian manor house has been at the forefront of offering bespoke wedding experiences, tailored to each couple's unique vision. "We are incredibly honoured to receive this award," said Jose Marques, managing director of Manor by the Lake.

Wedding floral trends for 2024

Bloom & Wild florist, Emma Forsey, presents a vision of floral enchantment that goes beyond the ordinary. From local blooms and wild meadows to bold colour clashes and the evolution of AI, here's what to come in 2024 for wedding blooms. Local flowers have been getting the love they deserve in the wedding scene, and it looks like they're going to be the go-to choice for UK weddings in 2024. More and more couples are valuing the eco-friendly element of homegrown blooms, appreciating the chance to support local flower growers. British flowers aren't just a trendy word anymore; they're becoming a significant and lasting part of the wedding flower industry.

Inside the UK’s most ‘Traitorous’ castle

The Traitors is Britain's hottest new reality competition, where a group of twenty strangers come together for the investigation of their life: to find and stop the Traitors from stealing the ultimate prize pot! It's a show full of mind-games, backstabbing and trust, and its second series proves to be gripping the nation once again. And the setting of this treacherous game makes it all the more entertaining: a beautiful castle in the Scottish highlands. In fact, enquiries about this castle have shot up since the show first aired in 2022.

From casual to formal, here’s how to plan your picture-perfect engagement party

Firsty, congratulations! You're getting married! After a proposal, there are so many things to think about, but before preparing for the big day itself, an engagement party is a great way to share your exciting news and get your nearest and dearest together to celebrate. Pinterest trends1 revealed the largest peak in searches for 'engagement party ideas' were in January last year, now is the time to get the ball rolling and start planning for the prelude of the main event. Whether you're planning an intimate gathering or a lavish affair, party planning expert at Ginger Ray, Jess Martin, shares 10 tips for your celebration, no matter how big or small:

That's so Fetch: 10 Ideas for the ultimate Mean Girls-themed hen party

It's time to channel your inner Regina George and party like it's October 3rd! To celebrate the release of the new Mean Girls movie on 19th January 2024, Fizzbox has the rundown on Mean Girls themed hen party ideas that are so fetch! In a world where wearing pink on Wednesdays isn't just a choice but a lifestyle, this is the ultimate way to celebrate your upcoming nuptials in style, whether you're an aspiring Spring Fling Queen or a Mathlete. So break out the Burn Book and dust off your Plastics-approved heels. Get in loser, we're going on a hen do!

Celebrate Burns Night tonight at The Bradley Hare

Celebrate Burns Night tonight at The Bradley Hare, a cosy country pub in Wiltshire. Celebrate the anniversary of Robert Burns' birth on the 25th of January 1759 with a celebratory dining experience. There's a cocktail special to kick off the evening - guests can quench their thirst with a Scottish Mule, made with Benromach, Drambuie, and orange bitters, topped with ginger beer. To accompany this, a six-course menu will be served with a dram of whisky (should guests desire). To start, there's cock-a-leekie soup with chicken consommé and bannock, followed by an Orkney scallop with traditional Cullen skink and pickled neeps. Succulent Venison tartare served with crispy kale, Scottish skirlie, and caviar is followed by roasted partridge with clapshot, haggis, baby neeps and jus.

The wedding gifts couples in 2024 really want...

When it comes to wedding planning, there is so much to think about, the same goes for wedding gift lists & etiquette. Gifting Guru at The Wedding Shop, Liza Baucher, answers you everything you need to know about wedding registries... In short, we advise adding 2-3 gifts per wedding guest invited. Adding a variety of gifts to your wedding list caters to the differing budgets and preferences of your guests. It's a thoughtful approach to include a wide range of items, from smaller, more affordable pieces to a few higher-end gifts. The key is balance and variety. Typically, having slightly more gifts than the number of guests or households invited allows for enough choice without overwhelming your guests.

Celebrate Burns Night at The Loch & The Tyne by Adam Handling

Celebrate Burns Night with a Scottish feast and bagpipes at Adam Handling's The Loch & the Tyne in Old Windsor. Adam and co-chef proprietors, Steven Kerr and Jonny McNeil, have created a one-off, celebratory menu, available for dinner on Thursday 25th January alongside a selection of Burns Night cocktails including the whisky hiball, made from chamomile-infused scotch, citrus, honey, and ginger ale, or a smoky nail, which combines balvenie 12YO and laphroaig 10YO with cazcabel honey and angostura bitters. This Burns Night menu showcases exquisite Scottish flavours, using the very best of British produce, in keeping with The Loch & the Tyne's ethos of Sustainable, British, Luxury. The night will be a celebration of all things Caledonian and will be priced at £65 per person.

Wedding ring trends 2024 according to Queensmith

Symbolising unconditional love, devotion and commitment, wedding rings represent the union of marriage between two people and unlike engagement rings, they are worn by both. Often, wedding rings tend to be more simple and minimalist, but there are still so many different choices you can make from the metal colour, style and bandwidth. As such, experts at engagement and wedding ring jeweller, Queensmith, have released exclusive internal data to help guide couples on what wedding rings will be popular in 2024.

2024 wedding trend: cocktails to serve at 70s-inspired weddings!

Pinterest has launched its Pinterest Predicts report and '70s-inspired weddings are set to be huge in 2024, with searches for 'groovy wedding' increasing 170% and 'retro wedding theme' spiking 80%. Experts at NIO Cocktails have shared popular cocktails from the 1970s that you should serve at your retro wedding: "The era that brought us the rise of disco music, retro prints and bell bottom trousers also brought us a resurgence in classic cocktails and new ones, too! There were many cocktails that were popular in the 1970s and if you're wanting to throw the perfect '70s-inspired wedding, we'd definitely advise including our top three '70s cocktail picks in your wedding."

Wedding Showcase to be held at The Langley, a Luxury Collection Hotel

On Sunday 25th February, The Langley in Buckinghamshire will host a complimentary Wedding Showcase from 11 am until 4 pm. This countryside retreat is hidden amidst 150 acres of secluded parkland offering the idyllic setting for an elegant wedding surrounded by a wealth of historical luxury. The showcase will allow visitors to meet the hotel's dedicated events team, enjoy a tour around the property and its expansive grounds and check out the stunning spa facilities. Couples will have the opportunity to speak with The Langley's hand-picked suppliers including bespoke wedding cake creator Ana Lewis, elite hair, make-up and beauty therapist MACH MGMT, bridal boutique owner Ellie Sanderson, and the floral design specialist team Lily's Flowers.

2024 food and drink trends predicted by the experts

From flexitarianism and the rise of sharing plates, to higher demand for whiskies and the rise in under-loved species of fish; here, renowned chefs and drink experts predict what will be the food and drink trends to take 2024 by storm - inspiration for your big-day catering too, with so much choice it will be hard to pick your favourite trend!

January Suite Deals available at The Vineyard in Berkshire

The Vineyard, a bucket list hotel for wine lovers in Newbury, Berkshire is offering stays from £199 for two. This January, guests are invited to experience suite deals starting from just £199 per room. The offer includes two hours of pure relaxation in the private spa facilities. There are 32 suites with an open-plan Atrium suite featuring a lounge area, a heavenly bathroom, and a balcony or French doors opening to the crisp Berkshire countryside. A restful night's sleep is guaranteed, followed by a leisurely late noon check-out. To start the day right, savour a cooked and continental breakfast. But, be quick – the suite deals are limited.

Celebrate your wedding day with Niche Cocktails

If you want to serve amazing cocktails on the big day, then Niche Cocktails has you covered with its premium ready-to-drink canned cocktails. Perfect for kick-starting the celebrations, Niche Cocktails' range of all-natural cocktails taste just as good (if not better) than the ones you'd make from scratch, meaning that cocktail-loving couples can serve their favourite combos on their wedding day - why not enjoy your favourite tipples on your hen/stag or sten do too! Pre-mixed to ensure there's one less thing to worry about, you and your guests can enjoy a tasty tipple with Niche's delicious range that is so simple to serve. Each can can be poured straight into a glass or into a shaker with ice, allowing your guests more time for mingling.

Should I get a prenup ahead of my wedding?

Should I get a prenup ahead of my wedding? If you're planning your wedding, it's likely you're experiencing a whole mix of emotions! On the one hand, you'll be on cloud nine and feeling so excited. On the other, the stress can often get the better of you, no matter how in love you are. The planning, the preparation and the pressure can be overwhelming at times. In amongst all of this, you may not be thinking about putting measures in place to protect yourself in the event of the relationship one day breaking down. Whilst not the most romantic of things to be thinking about, an ever-growing number of couples are turning to prenuptial agreements ('prenups') to safeguard their money and assets before they begin their marriage and post nuptial agreements thereafter. At Stowe Family Law, we have seen enquiries for prenups increase by a quarter in the last year.

The Old Bell Hotel in Malmesbury Wins AA Awards

Adding to its long list of recent accolades, The Old Bell in Malmesbury has recently been awarded 4 Stars for its truly spectacular rooms, two AA Rosettes for its fabulous restaurant, Abbey Row, and a rare AA Breakfast Award for their "memorable breakfast", firmly placing Wiltshire on the map as one of the UK's greatest destinations for staycations and dining. After visiting more than 4000 hotels and restaurants across the UK, the AA report writes that the "hotel team are evidently at the heart of this property and ensure a most memorable stay...refurbishment presents very well with a modern contemporary feel whilst still retaining the many characteristics of this impressive Grade I listed property. The overall quality is impressive."

Most popular day for marriage proposals revealed

New research has revealed the most common dates for marriage proposals in the UK, with Christmas Day, New Year's Eve and Valentine's Day taking the top three spots. In order to delve into engagement trends, a UK wedding venue has conducted a survey of married, engaged and single people... More than 2,700 people aged 18 and over took part in the research, 76% of whom were married or engaged and 24% of whom had not been engaged yet. Respondents answered questions about their past proposals, or what they would want from a proposal in future. Wedding venue Hensol Castle first of all asked what date of the year anyone who was or had been engaged was asked for their hand in marriage (or did the asking), which revealed the following top five dates to be the most popular of the year: