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

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!

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.

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.

Creative ways to preserve and display your wedding bouquet

Your wedding day is one of the most magical days of your life, so you'll no doubt want to hold onto your memories for as long as possible. Here, Clare Price from framing specialists Wall Space shares their tips for preserving your wedding bouquet for years to come. Preserving your wedding bouquet can be a wonderful way to keep the memories of your special day alive. Techniques like drying and pressing are some of the best methods of flower preservation, and there are countless ways to show off your preserved blooms in your home once you're done. With the tips and ideas below, you can create lasting reminders of your cherished moments and remember your special day for years to come.

Experts reveal five wedding trends set to be huge this Summer

With the new season comes new colours and trends, and with that being said, experts at Diamonds Factory have predicted five wedding trends that are set to be big this Summer. Couples will step away from the traditional colour scheme "Stepping away from the traditional black and white formal attire, we expect to see many wedding parties embrace colour this Summer. We saw the mismatched bridesmaid dresses trend resurge in popularity in late 2023, and predict this trend will take off even further this Summer, especially now it's getting warmer and with people experimenting with colour more.

The Speech Surgery: how long is too long?

The Speech Surgery: how long is too long? Heidi Ellert McDermott, founder of Speechy explores this. My groom says he's finished his speech and he's really happy with it but it's almost 2,000 words long. Is that too much? Yes. All speeches should be under ten minutes long. It seems obvious but I've seen several speeches (generally the best men) go well over half an hour, oblivious to the yawns or heckling. That's no more than 1,300 words maximum, allowing for pauses or laughter on the day. Remind your fiancé that his first draft is just the start of the writing process.

Planning a festive twixmas wedding at luxury Wiltshire hotel

Bowood Hotel, Spa & Golf Resort is delighted to announce its exclusive Twixmas Wedding Packages, available from Friday 27th to Monday 30th December 2024, starting at just £90 per person. A quick turnaround for the perfect occasion: Whilst some people take years planning their wedding, in just six months Bowood's wedding coordinators can assist in creating a bespoke celebration that reflects a couple's vision and style, ensuring a seamless and memorable experience from start to finish.

Wedding favours for Kids: ToyChoc Box

PLAYin CHOC's ToyChoc boxes are a fantastic choice for entertaining kids at weddings. These eco-friendly, vegan, and allergen-free treats come in 100% recyclable packaging. Each box contains two creamy chocolate bars wrapped in compostable packaging, along with a 3D card puzzle toy featuring animals like endangered species, sea creatures, or dinosaurs - there's also a fun animal fact inside. At just £2.25 each on Amazon, these boxes are a budget-friendly addition to your wedding plans.

Your ultimate guide to wedding gift etiquette

It's that time of year again where our inboxes and mailboxes are full of beautifully designed wedding invitations, we're scouring the web for the perfect outfit and excitedly researching accommodation and travel. Being invited to a wedding is a gift and it is tradition to provide a gift to the happy couple. But, where to begin? Luckily we've sat down with Georgie Mitchell, Wedding Planner, Coordinator and Wedding Expert, at online fashion destination SilkFred, who has shared her ultimate guide to wedding gift giving from how much to spend to how to make your gift stand out on the present table.

The Queens Hotel Cheltenham Garden opens

The garden at The Queens Hotel in Cheltenham has now reopened with a delicious new alfresco dining menu and an exciting programme of events including live music, Prosecco on tap and bottomless afternoon tea. The garden provides an outdoor sanctuary in the heart of historic Cheltenham, it is the perfect place for friends and colleagues to meet over delicious food in the sunshine. The new alfresco menu serves a mix of nibbles, small plates, fresh salads, and burgers, with highlight dishes such as the Royal Burger or Smoked salmon bao buns. The menu also includes a range of delectable small plates such as tomato arancini, mussel linguini, chicken skewers or baked feta filo, perfect for sharing as the days become warmer.

The Speech Surgery: too many thank yous? Heidi Ellert McDermott, founder of Speechy explores this

The Speech Surgery: too many thank yous? Heidi Ellert McDermott, founder of Speechy explores this here, ready now...I've written my bride speech but almost three quarters of it is 'thank yous'. Is that right? The thank yous are obviously very important but you also need to be wary of turning your speech into one long tedious list. For guests, thank yous are really only interesting if 1) they're personally getting thanked or 2) the thank yous are entertaining, from-the-heart and feel more than a cut and paste job...

Five ways to beat a wedding hangover

Weddings are notorious for booze with 50% of people admitting they wouldn't be happy to attend a wedding without alcohol. With an expectation for heavy drinking at most celebrations, lots of dancing and a late night, wedding guests often wake up feeling worse for wear. Those suffering the morning after a wedding can ease the pain with simple hacks, including drinking a pint of water before bed and sleeping on their left side. Nausea, thirst and aches can also be alleviated by having a lie-in, which helps to limit fatigue and irritation the next day.

Park Fair festival in the Cotswolds reveals red carpet treatment for dogs

Park Fair, the popular boutique shopping festival in the Cotswolds, has revealed its programme for all of the family this June - and children and furry friends get the red carpet treatment all weekend. The three-day event taking place this Friday 21st, Saturday 22nd and Sunday 23rd of June 2024 will see the Great Tew Estate transformed into a destination for kids, dogs, and their families. Expect puppy pampering, the latest in doggy fashion and treats à la The Puppuchino Bar, as well as complimentary workshops for kids, family entertainment, the coolest new children's style - and unlimited fairground rides for all.

Sudeley Castle & Gardens releases a limited number of wedding dates

Sudeley Castle & Gardens, one of England's most historic and exclusive private estates, which stands proudly overlooking the quintessential Cotswold village of Winchcombe, has released a limited number of wedding dates for 2024-25. As a popular destination and private home to Lady Ashcombe (Chatelaine of Sudeley Castle for the past 50 years), the estate only offers a select number of dates for weddings each year, with availability in high demand. Once referred to as 'the most romantic place in the Cotswolds', Sudeley Castle & Gardens offers a magnificent backdrop for weddings of all sizes, with a range of spectacular indoor and outdoor spaces, all steeped in over 1,000 years of history.

UK vs US Brides: Wedding expert reveals 5 ways we differ

It's time to settle the score: do UK brides really do it better, or are our American cousins stealing the show? Let's dive into the wedding warzone and explore five spicy differences that set us apart! According to a survey conducted by the UK's largest wedding venue collection, the Gilchrist Collection, there are some key differences in the ways Brits plan their big day, compared to that of Americans. Samantha Gilchrist, the owner of the Gilchrist Collection, has had the pleasure of helping thousands of engaged couples with their wedding, across 12 venues, both in the UK and US.

Here are 10 must-have items to include in a wedding bathroom basket

Luxury bathroom experts at Posh.co.uk have shared ten must-have items to provide to make sure guests are well taken care of. Wedding bathroom baskets can be a really nice touch for couples to show their guests they care by providing them with everything they need for a comfortable evening. Including items like safety pins, deodorant, body tape and antihistamines will mean that guests won't have to worry about a thing. Andy Ellis from Posh.co.uk said: "Wedding bathroom baskets can be a really lovely touch at a reception by providing guests with all of those small but important items that they may not necessarily be able to bring with them.