Editor loves and inspiration

Hair stylist Stacie Goodwin shares her tips for adding texture and volume to your wedding look.

"Long, fine hair can be tricky to work with, but there are a few things you can do to achieve volume and texture. Firstly, I would recommend adding clip-in hair extensions if you are considering a style that’s down or half-up, half-down. Not only will this give you the volume you need, but it will also help with longevity, especially if your hair doesn’t hold curls well.

"For adding texture, blowdry a product such as sea salt spray into the roots prior to styling, as this will add a layer of ‘grit’ to the hair and help you achieve volume and texture. Another tip I give to my brides-to-be is to use a clarifying shampoo in the lead-up to the wedding. This will help to remove any product build-up that can weigh the hair down."

See more top tips in the current issue. Download your free copy at www.youreastanglian.wedding/free-download

Lydia and Leith met online. “We actually went to the same secondary school for a few years,” says Lydia. “Leith was a couple of years above me at school and I actually remembered him, but he had no clue. We connected almost immediately!

“Leith takes great pleasure in telling everyone that I had booked the wedding before I had the ring, which is technically true, but it was a joint decision,” shares the bride. “My dad’s health started rapidly declining towards the end of 2021 and we were hoping to get married before anything happened, but unfortunately we weren’t able to do so. But this had started us having conversations and we went to an open day and fell in love with our venue, so we booked it!”

See more from their wedding in the current issue. Download your free copy at www.youreastanglian.wedding/free-download

This photo shoot was centred around Pantone’s Colour of the Year: Peach Fuzz. “As soon as we saw this was the colour of the year, we thought it would be a great idea to show what a wedding could look like when incorporating this colour,” say organisers Modesta and Rohiny. “This allows couples who are planning their wedding this year to incorporate or accentuate peach fuzz or peaches themselves. Peach fuzz symbolises romanticism, which we wanted to see fit together with florals that have soft tones. Both dresses we selected symbolised bridal elegance, which fit into the softness theme really well. The tablescape featured peach tones, peaches themselves and hints of gold. The airy environment of Barrington Hall gave us the opportunity to tie the whole theme perfectly.”

See more from the shoot in the current issue. Download your free copy at www.youreastanglian.wedding/free-download

Sarah and Daniel met at school. “We didn’t actually speak until a night out for my sister’s birthday 22 years ago,” says Sarah. “The day after, he jumped out at me with a bunch of flowers while I was walking to work.”

Daniel proposed in May 2023 during a holiday to Crete. “I was completely surprised and had no idea he was going to pop the question,” shares the bride. “He took me to a church by the sea where we were posing for a family photo when he dropped down onto one knee.”

See more from their wedding in the current issue. Download your free copy at www.youreastanglian.wedding/free-download

Content creator Katie Rayner put together this styled shoot with the help of local suppliers. “I fell in love with weddings and since I have family that work in the industry, I was looking for a way to join,” says Katie. “I heard about content creators becoming a new trend and thought I would research it further. The role described exactly the type of content that I would love to have at my own wedding, so I gathered the information that I needed and launched my business, Katie Anne Content Creator. I knew of a lot of suppliers in the industry, so I decided to organise a styled shoot at Hockwold Hall. The theme really fit with the venue and everyone worked together to create an amazing day.”

See more from the shoot in the current issue. Download your free copy at www.youreastanglian.wedding/free-download

To help you create your dream outdoor ceremony, we spoke to humanist celebrant Dawn Rees and asked for her top planning tips.

"As an experienced celebrant with hundreds of ceremonies under my belt, I know that an outdoor wedding can be absolutely stunning," says Dawn. "Choosing an outdoor wedding gives you lots of options and can be incredibly photogenic, but what criteria should you consider when selecting an outdoor wedding venue? Here are some top tips based on my years of experience:

"Visit the property at least twice and try to meet the staff you will be dealing with and get a feel for the place and the people. Consider what type of ceremony you want and share your ideas when you visit the venue. Is it going to be formal, informal, or have a party vibe? How many guests will be coming? Where in the grounds will the ceremony be held? Many venues have specific places where it is either shaded, woody, sunny, under a tree, or on a stone terrace. But what factors should you consider before making up your mind?

"Think about your guests. Is the site accessible? How far away is the car park? Is there a path for friends and family with mobility issues? Is the ground even or uneven? Is it a formal or informal space? What will suit your vibe? Think about how you will reach the ceremony site. How far is it from the main building and/or the reception area? Is your walk in music of sufficient length?"

Head over to our Outdoor Weddings feature in the current issue to see more. Download your free copy at www.youreastanglian.wedding/free-download

Becky’s Cake Bakes, a talented cake maker based in Soham, Cambridgeshire, is offering our readers two special discounts. The owner, Becky Coverdale, offers a bespoke service and works closely with her clients to create their dream wedding cake. She tells us: “I handmake all of the flowers that I use in my designs out of wafer paper, which makes them very lightweight, realistic and a beautiful keepsake from your wedding day. I also love to make bride-and-groom cake toppers. I use photos of the couple and details of what they will be wearing on the day to create the topper. If the couple chooses, I can also include bridesmaids, pageboys, or pets. Toppers make a lovely keepsake from your special day that you can keep for many years to come.”

Exclusively for Your East Anglian Wedding readers, Becky’s Cake Bakes is offering couples that order a couple cake topper 10 per cent off the price! What’s more, Becky is also giving couples who book their wedding cakes for 2024 or 2025 a 10 per discount! To claim these amazing offers, get in touch with Becky and mention Your East Anglian Wedding by email or via her website.

See more local news in the current issue. Download your free copy at www.youreastanglian.wedding/free-download

Danielle and Sam met while on a night out. “A mutual friend introduced us,” says Danielle. “She still calls herself cupid for setting us up. He added me on Facebook after I left; we got talking and went from there. On our first date, we took my dog for a walk, and she ran off, which she had never done before. I don’t think she approved, but she absolutely loves him now.”

Sam proposed on the couple’s fifth anniversary in 2021. “He proposed in our garden,” shares the bride. “He organised for our florist to come and decorate the garden with roses and flower arrangements and he stood under our pergola with ‘marry me’ written in carnations. It was definitely a surprise, as he told me he was going to play golf and I went out shopping with my mum for the morning. When I arrived home, the hallway was covered in rose petals leading to the back door. Music was playing and he had bought me a gift. I assumed it was an anniversary gift, so I stood there for ages opening the gift, not realising Sam was waiting outside in the middle of the garden to ask me to marry him.”

See more from their wedding in the current issue. Download your free copy at www.youreastanglian.wedding/free-download

We love flowers here at Your East Anglian Wedding, but with so many gorgeous blooms to choose from, it can be a bit overwhelming. To give you some inspiration, we've asked Bracken and Twine Flowers to share one of their favourite on-trend images.

Head over to our Flowers feature in the current issue to see more. Download your free copy at www.youreastanglian.wedding/free-download

Make-up artist Hayley Clarke tells us her top beauty tip.

"It’s important to start thinking early about getting your skin in good condition ahead of your wedding day," says Hayley. "Book a facial up to three months prior to the wedding and don’t leave it until the month before. This gives your skin time to calm down, ensuring any breakouts are done and dusted before the big day!

"I recommend most of my brides visit Louise Thomas Skin Care in Norwich as they have looked after many of my clients ahead of their weddings and they always turn up on the big day with the best skin they’ve ever had. Having healthy skin ensures the very best base for your make-up application."

See more top tips in the current issue. Download your free copy at www.youreastanglian.wedding/free-download