weddings

If your summer wedding is approaching it’s likely you’ve selected your dress, décor, venue and menu.  You’ve probably deliberated for hours about the flowers and pondered over the travel and transport plans. But have you thought about which drinks you’ll serve to guests as they celebrate your ‘I dos’? Summer wedding cocktails could provide the anwser.

“With so many other decisions to make, drinks are not often a high priority,” says Sarah Miller, wedding coordinator at The Barton Grange Hotel near Preston. “Many couples simply opt for champagne or Prosecco, with wine and beer for the tables. It’s a classic drinks menu that’ll appeal to many, but for those looking for a little something extra, cocktails can take your refreshments to another level.

So you’ve booked the wedding, and the first thing on your friends’ minds? The stag and hen parties, obviously.

With a range of budgets, people living in different parts of the country and work/family life making availability an issue, it can be a real headache trying to decide what to do and arrange an event. So at Vows & Venues, we’ve done some of the research for you by checking out unusual stag and hen parties which won’t break the bank…

Camping and glamping​

Glamping is more popular than ever before, with a new survey revealing 10% of holiday park visitors are tent dwellers. For those not into roughing it, a pod or treehouse can offer pretty much the same luxury as a hotel room.

ED SHEERAN topped the list of most popular first dances at weddings in 2018, occupying both the number one and number two spots for brides and grooms taking their first spin on the dancefloor this year with his hits ‘Perfect’ and ‘Thinking Out Loud’. The list of 2018’s top ten favourite first dances was released by wedding music experts Music HQ this week, as peak wedding season draws to a close. The Llanelli-based company creates and manages its own portfolio of professional bands and musicians and has provided music for hundreds of couples at more than 460 weddings this year across the UK. 

Other entries on the Music HQ First Dance list were: 

All of Me - John Legend

In the past, all you needed for a fairy tale wedding was something old, new, borrowed and blue. However, now it seems pet pooches have been added to the list of must-haves, as half (46%) of British dog owners profess their dog is key for the paw-fect celebrations, which begs the question, has man’s best friend become man’s best man, too? According to a new survey from EUKANUBA1, the advanced pet nutrition brand, this is the case for one in eight (13%) British dog owners who hope to have their dogs as their best man. 

DOGS and royal weddings are set to become one of this year’s big themes – and Princess Eugenie’s forthcoming nuptials could be no exception.

Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank tie the knot at Windsor Castle on October 12th – and there’s speculation as to what part the Princess’s devoted dog – also called Jack - will play in their big day.

Meghan Markle’s rescue dog Guy was said to be the hit of the Royal wedding reception when she married Prince Harry in May - so could it be second time around for a ‘furrytail’ ending?

You don’t have to be a Princess to want your precious pet to be involved in such a special day.

Thanks to dog sitting specialists Barking Mad, you no longer have to ‘paws’ for thought when it comes to your dog attending your wedding as a VIP.

Weddings this year have been all about ‘keeping it local’ according to research from wedding planning website www.engageweddings.co.uk.

The founder of the popular online wedding resource Becca Pountney says that following research among 500 brides, just under three-quarters (62 per cent) said that they have preferred wedding planning with local suppliers as opposed to those further afield for three key reasons. 

Firstly, they like the fact that suppliers are easy to reach, secondly they are often more cost effective and finally, word of mouth recommendation is often done locally through friends or via local Facebook groups.

Newbury Racecourse launches new packages for the big day

Couples are set to race down the aisle after Newbury Racecourse announced a new range of wedding packages.

The historic venue in Berkshire has been hosting horse races since 1905 – but will now see happy couples heading down the home straight too.

The launch comes in response to recent trends from wedding couples seeking less traditional venues.

Gemma Williams, Weddings Executive at Newbury Racecourse commented: “We’ve seen a real uptake in requests for unique weddings and in some cases specifically equestrian-themed events. We’re proud to now cater for both through our new wedding packages.”

Children can really make a wedding very special.   Whether it’s the couple getting married who have children that will feature in the day, or family and friends who want to bring along their kiddies, having children around can really add to the atmosphere of the wedding.  

But, if you are inviting children, it’s important to ensure that they are catered for and looked after during the day. Invest in planning something for them now will ensure parents and children both have a great time!  Our team are experts in organising weddings that include children, and here’s our top tips to help keep children of all ages, amused and entertained all day!

It’s unlikely that Seaham Hall requires an introduction. This glorious Georgian manor house, situated on County Durham’s heritage coast, is one of the UK’s most special and sought-after wedding venues. 

New for 2019: Couples keen on having a ‘destination wedding’, yet mindful of the logistics and costs involved for their guests, can have the best of both worlds.

Outdoor wedding ceremonies, overlooking the beach

Summer BBQ weddings 

The National Wedding Show at Eventcity, Manchester: everything a couple needs to plan their dream wedding, and you could win a pair of standard tickets to attend, carry on reading for more information.

Show-stopping favourites will run alongside brand new features over two days, during which guests will have the chance to imagine the reality of their own wedding day. 

New research from travel company Yellow Zebra Safaris has revealed a growing number of newlyweds looking for adventure over traditional honeymoons. 

The research showed significant differences between the honeymooners of the early 2010s and the more adventurous couples today! Now Yellow Zebra has created a full set of statistics, including original data, to showcase this new segment of honeymooners.

Almost half of British women admit they were “disappointed” with the way their partner popped the question, according to a new study.

Researchers studied women who have been proposed to, and discovered as many as 40 percent were unhappy with how their partner asked for their hand in marriage – with a further 12 percent saying they were “bitterly disappointed”. 

And almost a quarter (23 percent) were left red faced from an over the top gesture, including flash mobs, lavish gifts and public displays of affection.

Two thirds of women felt a proposal should be all about the ‘little details’ rather than grand gestures – with 92 percent saying the special event should NEVER take place in public.

-      3.9 arguments per month contribute to a happy marriage

-      76% believe it is healthy for happily married couples to argue

-      Going on 3.8 dates and having sex 8.35 times per month are key to a successful marriage

British adults have revealed the elements they believe make up a successful 21st century marriage, and there are some surprising results.

A survey of 2,000 UK adults carried out by One4all, the Post Office gift card, found 76% believe it is healthy for happily married couples to argue.

In fact, an average of 3.9 arguments per month contribute to a “happy ever after” in 2017, according to Brits.

We all know weddings can be expensive.

After saving every spare penny for months or years on end you finally breathe a sigh of relief after the big day, safe in the knowledge that you won’t have to fork out any more cash.

However, this is not always the case. From paying off any lingering accounts, to sending out thank you cards, the little costs continue to mount up.

If wedding admin is leaving you feeling frazzled, pre-wedding nerves are sneaking in, or you’re looking to relax after the stressful task of organising your wedding, it sounds like you are in need of a relaxing retreat. 

Well you’re in luck, as Health and Fitness Travel, the leading experts in tailor-made wellness holidays worldwide, share their top five health retreats for stressed out brides, where you can enjoy luxury spa pampering and wellness relaxation before stepping into the limelight on the big day, or winding down on your dream honeymoon.