Your East Anglian Wedding news and ideas from around the region

Personalisation is IN for 2024

Crafty Brewing and Lola and Luna's collaboration reveals how personalisation is being brought to the forefront of 2024 weddings. The concept of personalisation is holding a key part in redefining 'tradition' and incorporating new captivating trends in every aspect of your magical event. Aimee, a wedding expert from a wedding planning and styling company says that "Over the past few years, weddings have increasingly started steering away from the same old conventions, and opting for bespoke options more frequently." From table plans set on where the couple first met, to embroidered napkins there are so many opportunities to add a personal touch on your big day.

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.

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!

Norfolk and Suffolk Hideaways has partnered with Wildfood UK

Norfolk and Suffolk Hideaways has partnered with Wildfood UK to provide guests with the opportunity to forage for food. Ideal for a pre-wedding getaway, couples will be taken on a journey through woodland, discovering how to identify edible plants as well as how to use them for culinary purposes.

Wildfood UK founder Marlow Renton explains more: "Suffolk and Norfolk, with their sprawling woodlands and pristine coastlines, offer a perfect canvas for foraging adventures. We are delighted to offer visitors staying at Suffolk and Norfolk Hideaways the opportunity to become foraging experts through our courses."

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.

Number 47 is a historic wedding venue in the heart of Norwich

Number 47 is a historic building in the heart of Norwich. Boasting stunning Georgian architecture, this magnificent building is Grade II-listed and part of Norwich's rich architectural heritage. It was originally built in the late 18th century by Mr. Ruben Deaves and later sold to Horatio Bolingbrooke, the first Sheriff of Norwich, in 1848.

Number 47 has several spaces available for your wedding ceremony. The Mancroft Suite is fully air-conditioned and suitable for up to 90 seated guests and 130 for a buffet style.

The Garden Room is suitable for up to 25 seated loved ones for a civil ceremony. For a private function, the Garden Room can comfortably seat 20 or cater for 40 standing. This room also has access to the charming private garden.

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.

Two Magpies’ Bake School is offering two new classes

Two Magpies' Bake School in Darsham, Suffolk, is offering two new classes that are perfect for date night or as a wedding gift.

Dedicated to Doughnuts is a half-day course that teaches you how to make your own delicious doughnuts. You will leave the class with six filled doughnuts and the dough to make six more at home.

Alternatively, the Pizza Masterclass runs in the evening and is a fantastic opportunity to learn how to make and shape your own sourdough pizza dough. You will create your own pizza, then enjoy eating it with a glass of wine or a beer in the cafe, followed by a delicious dessert.

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.

The Octagon Barn was built as a non-conformist Methodist meeting chapel

The Octagon Barn was built around the late 1600s to early 1700s as a non-conformist Methodist meeting chapel. The original eight-side shape sits under a magnificent open vaulted octagon roof to create a grand central atrium. Unchanged from its original design, the barn is surrounded by glorious gardens and enchanting woodlands and is just a few minutes from the city of Norwich.

At the Octagon Barn, there are two packages to choose from. The Gold Wedding Package is the perfect choice for those of you who wish to have your whole day take place at one venue. With seven licensed ceremony areas, you have many beautiful spaces to exchange vows. Having your ceremony in one of the outdoor areas enables you to surprise your guests with the magic that awaits in The Octagon Barn for your wedding breakfast and evening reception.

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.

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.

April Dace Jewellery is offering our readers an exclusive discount

April Dace Jewellery is an independent goldsmith and jewellery designer based just outside of Dereham, Norfolk, who has over 10 years of experience working with gold, silver and platinum jewellery. April specialises in creating wedding rings, engagement rings and one-of-a-kind keepsake jewellery pieces and also offers jewellery repair services.

If you're looking to have your wedding rings specially commissioned, April will work with you from start to finish to make sure your rings are just right. At her home studio, there are plenty of samples to choose from and a gallery of previous work to browse through to gain inspiration. Anything is possible, from shaped or fitted rings to diamond-set bands or simply sticking to a traditional style.

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.

Glen Lodge is a neutrally decorated wedding venue filled with natural light

Glen Lodge is a neutrally decorated venue filled with natural light that lends itself to any theme or colour scheme. The outside decking is one of the venue's focal points, overlooking the Bawburgh Golf Course and Yare Valley, it's ideal for outdoor ceremonies and photographs.

The Woodlands Accommodation Suite is a romantic setting with countryside views, a freestanding bath, a four-poster bed and a private outdoor hot tub. It's the perfect place to relax with a glass of champagne under the stars after your special day.

All of the catering at Glen Lodge is provided by the in-house team, which aims to offer a vast selection of high-quality food.

Green I dos: How to plan a sustainable wedding

The carbon footprint of a wedding in the UK is equivalent to driving a car around the world twice – both create 14.5 tonnes of carbon dioxide. Ahead of wedding season, sustainability experts from BusinessWaste.co.uk teamed up with leading wedding planner Georgie Mitchel from Georgina Rose Events to share the best ways to make a wedding more sustainable, while also saving some money. Georgie says: "Having been involved in hundreds of weddings, it's hard to see the amount of waste that is produced from that one day. However, it's so good to hear that couples are looking at ways to be more green! Here are my tips for having a sustainable wedding day."

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.

Becky’s Cake Bakes is offering our readers an exclusive discount

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."