Wedding

Bloom & Wild: how to get the perfect wedding flowers

wedding flowers: Caroline Grimble – Bloom & Wild’s Lead Florist – with a bouquet

Caroline Grimble – Bloom & Wild’s Lead Florist – gives Vows & Venues her top tips on the current trends in wedding flowers, and creating your own bouquets and floral arrangements. 

There is so much to think about for your big day – and what goes into your bouquet and floral decorations are no exception. Bloom & Wild have seen several trends coming through for 2019 and there’s something for every bride!

10 most Instagrammed road trip honeymoons

road trip honeymoons – west coast of the USA

After the blur of a busy wedding day, there’s something quite idyllic about the idea of exploring the open road with your new spouse – just you two, the miles in front and a good playlist. You can make a road trip anything you want it to be – a bohemian experience with a campervan sleeping under the stars or hiring a car and staying in nice hotel – the choice is yours. However, road trip honeymoons can take a lot of planning, so here’s what you need to know.

Hold your own royal wedding at Kensington Palace

Kensington Palace wedding showcase – a wedding dress is modelled

The State Apartments at Kensington Palace were recently licensed to host civil ceremonies for the very first time. To mark the occasion, a showcase was held which proved that you really can hold your own royal wedding!

Decorated with floral plinths by Hayford & Rhodes, guests took in their surroundings whilst enjoying drinks and canapes served by Blue Strawberry, including prosciutto cannelloni with crispy ham, mushroom and truffle & pea mousse and roasted pumpkin & mandarin ice-cream lollipop.

5 top wedding styling trends for 2019

Rocket Food - a wedding canapés tray

Rachel Warren, head of creative at London’s leading catering company, Rocket, offers on-trend ideas for your wedding.

1. Bringing nature indoors:

Use our seasonal British plants with roots, fragrance and native beauty. From tangled foliage and fresh greenery to potted herbs incorporated with dried poppy heads, cotton branch, willow  – all these ingredients make for a gorgeous table centre or canape tray decoration. Pots can display geographic reference or personal designs / place names or table numbers. They can even be a favour for guests to replant in their garden for memories of their own happy day.

2. Personalisation:

DIY Wedding: create a feature wall for your wedding

DIY Wedding: create a feature wall for your wedding

A feature wall is a great opportunity to add character to your wedding without splurging out and spending too much of your wedding budget. Here are a few DIY feature wall ideas to make your special day even more beautiful.

Let the wall bloom

Kim K married Kayne in front of a flower wall in 2014. If that's not enough reason to consider your own flower wall, we don't know what is. 

A flower wall can be a beautiful backdrop for photos of yourselves and guests. Choose flowers (real or fake depending on your budget and accessibility) that will compliment the theme of your wedding. 

Get £100 discount on eternity rings from James Veale

James Veale wedding jewellery – a bracelet

The Virtue collection by Veale Fine Jewellery showcases gems united by a magnificent force that keeps them forever connected, a truly special selection exuding elegance. These sparklers are the perfect pieces for any bride-to-be, to those looking to indulge in diamonds or surprise someone they love with a carat creation – the Virtue collection is luxury without the label.

We caught up with designer James Veale to find out the hottest trends in wedding jewellery for 2019…

What are the emerging trends for 2019?

Helping your dog become part of your special day

Dog in wedding photograph

It’s widely known that we’re a nation of dog lovers but if you want your four-legged friend at your wedding is it really possible?

The answer is most definitely yes, after Staffordshire-based dog lover Jacqueline Smith launched Quintessential Wedding Day Dogs, recently.

The self-confessed dog lover, who also has kennels and grooming facilities spotted a niche in the market when her daughter tied the knot and wanted the family’s labrador to be a part of the day.

Celebrating in style at Crabwall Manor - review

Crabwall Manor

Vows & Venues' managing editor Emma Hatherall took a trip to historic Chester for a relaxing spa weekend in a romantic setting. Read her review here…

Crabwall Manor is located a short taxi ride from the historic city of Chester and has a lot to offer whether you're looking for a wedding venue, a hen do or even just a chilled out spa weekend. Set in Mollington, it’s a stone's throw from all that Chester has to offer – the shopping, the horse racing, the history – Crabwall Manor still has that lovely country house feel to it. I took my Mum for an overnight spa break and we loved it

Say ‘I do’ to a wedding on the North Coast 500

North Coast 500

With its rugged landscapes and jaw-dropping vistas, there’s little wonder why the coast of Scotland is heralded as one of the most magical countries in the world. Celebrated for its charm and forward-thinking nature, Scotland is more than just another place on the map, it’s somewhere that holds a special place in hearts across the country. 

And couples looking for a wedding venue like no other are being encouraged to take their love on the road by an award-winning jeweller.

How to get better sleep before your big day

Woman asleep on bed

Sleep: we all need it but, sometimes, we just can’t seem to get enough of it. It affects your long-term health and energy levels, but also has an impact on your physical appearance – probably one of the biggest concerns for brides-to-be before their big day. 

In general, adults need between seven and nine hours of sleep but the exact amount varies from person to person. A good night’s sleep won’t rid you of your problems in the run up to your wedding day, but it can mean that you’re able to deal with difficult or stressful situations more easily. 

Unbridled elegance for your mane event – stable advice for the perfect equestrian wedding

Unbridled elegance for your mane event – stable advice for the perfect equestrian wedding

A horse theme at a wedding can be the perfect way to add a touch of sophistication and personality to the big day. It’s extremely versatile – opt for a race-day dress code, bring a fairy tale to life, honour the tradition of the Baraat, or take your lead from the royal family with a horse drawn carriage! Horse venues, such as racecourses, ranches and barns, have far more personality than hotels and can often cater to larger wedding parties than standard venues. Planning an equestrian wedding might have its hurdles, but it’s a sure-fire way to make your wedding stand out. Here are the top tips from Newbury Racecourse to ensure a perfect horse-themed event! 

Stunning new wedding venue in Bristol with unique views of the Avon Gorge

Stunning new wedding venue in Bristol with unique views of the Avon Gorge

Bristol, 6th September 2018: Bristol is home to a stunning new wedding venue, following  the restoration of the historic Avon Gorge hotel, which has been transformed into the new-look Avon Gorge by Hotel du Vin. 

The iconic Victorian building, which dates back to 1898, has been completely renovated, and now offers two distinct spaces that provide the perfect backdrop for wedding ceremonies, civil partnerships, receptions and celebrations.

Plastic free - the latest eco-friendly wedding trend

Plastic free - the latest eco-friendly wedding trend

It’s been a momentous year for Britain’s young royals, with not one but two weddings taking place. In summer, the world eagerly tuned in to watch Prince Harry exchange vows with Suits actress, Meghan Markle. In Autumn, it will be Princess Eugenie’s turn, as she prepares to say ‘I do’ to her fiancé, Jack Brooksbank.

With less than three months to go until the big day, details of Eugenie and Jack’s wedding are starting to emerge - who the maid of honor is, where it will be held, and most refreshingly of all, that it will be completely plastic free.

Revealed: How much you can expect to pay when attending a wedding this summer

Revealed: How much you can expect to pay when attending a wedding this summer

The parents of the bride and groom will pay out the most, followed by the best man who will spend more than the maid of honour. Attending a wedding is an exciting event to have in your summer calendar however, it can also be quite stressful especially in terms of money but new research has revealed what each party member can expect to be paying.

A bride's parents will still pay the most for their daughter’s wedding, forking out up to 113% more than the parents of the groom, according to the survey conducted by short term loan provider Wonga.

The poll of 1,000 adults that included parents of the bride, parents of the groom, best men, maids of honour, bridesmaids, ushers and wedding guests, looked at who pays the most money to be part of the big day.

Did you know that Brits can have a legally binding wedding outdoors in Central Park, New York?!

Did you know that Brits can have a legally binding wedding outdoors in Central Park, New York?!

For many people, the term “destination wedding” evokes the image of a wedding ceremony taking place on a beach, somewhere sunny. Beach weddings can be very lovely but they don’t suit everyone, so how about bringing a group of your nearest and dearest to an amazing city for a destination wedding?
Most airports in the UK now offer direct flights to New York, and it is an incredible city that truly has something for everyone – history, shopping, food, luxury, and the beautiful spaces of Central Park. Lots of Brits are flying over to New York to get married there. I plan weddings for couples who want to get married in New York’s Central Park. I got married there myself seven years ago, when I was living nearby, and I’ve helped almost 250 couples to get married there since.