Your East Anglian Wedding news and ideas from around the region

County Wedding Events coming to Sandon Manor, Hertfordshire!

If you're newlyweds-to-be embarking on your wedding planning journey, pop along to the County Wedding Events wedding show at Sandon Manor, for inspiration on Sunday 21st January 2024!Sister company to County Wedding Magazines, the event brings couples that are desperate for face-to-face wedding planning in touch with local professionals who are on hand to help plan the wedding day. From photographers to cake makers, musicians to florists you're sure to tick a lot off of your to-do list by attending one of our County Wedding Events.

The Guildhall in Bury St. Edmunds is offering a special deal for micro-weddings

The Guildhall in Bury St. Edmunds is offering a special deal for micro-weddings. Priced at £400 for the ceremony (normally £550), the deal is perfect for couples looking to tie the knot in January, February, or March 2024, from Tuesday to Thursday, with up to eight of their nearest and dearest. The ceremony will be held in the Robing Room, which was used in the past for the mayor and other dignitaries of the town to change into their ceremonial robes.

The price includes access to The Guildhall on your wedding day for 45 minutes before the ceremony and up to one hour afterwards. You can arrange for drinks to be served either in the garden, the Robing Room or the Royal Observer Corps Ops Room after the ceremony, if you wish. You have access to the courtyard and gardens (weather permitting) for photographs, and volunteer witnesses can be provided if required for a small donation to Guildhall funds.

2024 food and drink trends predicted by the experts

From flexitarianism and the rise of sharing plates, to higher demand for whiskies and the rise in under-loved species of fish; here, renowned chefs and drink experts predict what will be the food and drink trends to take 2024 by storm - inspiration for your big-day catering too, with so much choice it will be hard to pick your favourite trend!

Clayton Hotel Cambridge is a charming four-star wedding venue

Clayton Hotel Cambridge is ideally located just a one-minute walk from Cambridge train station, a short walk from Cambridge city centre, and the Botanical Gardens are just five minutes' away. The four-star hotel offers the perfect base to explore the ample history that Cambridge has to offer and take breathtaking photos.

During your stay, enjoy a hearty breakfast, gourmet lunches, and delicious dinners in the bar and restaurant, carefully created by the expert chefs using fresh, local ingredients.

Celebrate your wedding day with Niche Cocktails

If you want to serve amazing cocktails on the big day, then Niche Cocktails has you covered with its premium ready-to-drink canned cocktails. Perfect for kick-starting the celebrations, Niche Cocktails' range of all-natural cocktails taste just as good (if not better) than the ones you'd make from scratch, meaning that cocktail-loving couples can serve their favourite combos on their wedding day - why not enjoy your favourite tipples on your hen/stag or sten do too! Pre-mixed to ensure there's one less thing to worry about, you and your guests can enjoy a tasty tipple with Niche's delicious range that is so simple to serve. Each can can be poured straight into a glass or into a shaker with ice, allowing your guests more time for mingling.

Should I get a prenup ahead of my wedding?

Should I get a prenup ahead of my wedding? If you're planning your wedding, it's likely you're experiencing a whole mix of emotions! On the one hand, you'll be on cloud nine and feeling so excited. On the other, the stress can often get the better of you, no matter how in love you are. The planning, the preparation and the pressure can be overwhelming at times. In amongst all of this, you may not be thinking about putting measures in place to protect yourself in the event of the relationship one day breaking down. Whilst not the most romantic of things to be thinking about, an ever-growing number of couples are turning to prenuptial agreements ('prenups') to safeguard their money and assets before they begin their marriage and post nuptial agreements thereafter. At Stowe Family Law, we have seen enquiries for prenups increase by a quarter in the last year.

Celebrate Valentine's Day at University Arms in Cambridge

Break up the routine with a romantic overnight adventure at University Arms. With its historic cobbled streets, countless independent restaurants and bars and the charming River Cam, Cambridge offers the perfect backdrop for your Valentine's Day weekend getaway.

Book a stay for two on the Valentine's Day package between Thursday 1st and 29th February 2024 and enjoy a luxury, romantic Valentine's Day in Cambridge from £276 per night.

The Harper has been awarded Best Hotel in East Anglia by The Good Hotel Guide

The Good Hotel Guide has revealed the winners of its 12 César Awards. Announced annually, the Césars (inspired by Swiss hotelier César Ritz) comprise a collection of outstanding hotels, inns, and B&Bs throughout Britain and Ireland that are recommended by readers and backed by professional inspection. The latest version of The Good Hotel Guide: Great Britain and Ireland is now live online, featuring more than 700 hotels, including 73 new entries.

This year's César winners include a historic capital city hotel with a resident cat, a former harbourmaster's house in Wales, a glassworks-turned-boutique hotel in Norfolk and a Grade II Jacobean manor house in Kent that boasts fireplace panelling from Windsor Castle.

Most popular day for marriage proposals revealed

New research has revealed the most common dates for marriage proposals in the UK, with Christmas Day, New Year's Eve and Valentine's Day taking the top three spots. In order to delve into engagement trends, a UK wedding venue has conducted a survey of married, engaged and single people... More than 2,700 people aged 18 and over took part in the research, 76% of whom were married or engaged and 24% of whom had not been engaged yet. Respondents answered questions about their past proposals, or what they would want from a proposal in future. Wedding venue Hensol Castle first of all asked what date of the year anyone who was or had been engaged was asked for their hand in marriage (or did the asking), which revealed the following top five dates to be the most popular of the year:

The Boathouse is set in an idyllic spot on Norfolk’s Ormesby Broad

Just a few miles from the coast and the popular seaside town of Yarmouth is The Boathouse. Set in an idyllic spot on Norfolk's Ormesby Broad, the venue is in a picturesque location where your guests can relax on the terrace and take in the stunning views while waiting for you to arrive for the 'I dos'.

Wonderfully light and airy, The Ceremony Room is big enough for up to 120 of your friends and family. The sliding glass doors open onto the spacious terrace, and beside it, there's a pretty wedding arbour where you can say your vows.

2024 wedding trends from the experts

Emma Gold, founder of GSP Events, an events production agency responsible for some of the most iconic weddings of the last 27 years, unveils the 2024 wedding trends along with other experts in the industry..."Another trend we are seeing more and more of – the hotel buyout; guests are keen for total exclusivity and privacy for their guests. It is no longer enough to simply take a few rooms or the events spaces for the day or the weekend. Going forward, guests are taking over entire hotels. Clients of ours this year had the Maybourne Riviera for the weekend. One event was hosted there, with best friends and family all accommodated in the hotel. It means the celebrations never stop, and it allows guests to spend good quality down time together too. From a logistical perspective, it's hugely helpful in ensuring guests are at the right place at the right time; but also, what a dream to be able to have all your loved ones in one place."

20 things to get us through January according to Brits

With Christmas over, and the most depressing month of the year in full swing researchers asked Brits to vote for the things which we love about the colder months, with snuggling up with a blanket the top choice! The research, conducted by luxury ski resorts Club Med, also revealed a Sunday roast helps us get through the chilliest days, as over a quarter (27 per cent) love the smell of a roast dinner wafting through the house.

The best alcohol-free drinks to serve at weddings?

Discover the delightful range of award-winning non-alcoholic beverages from Mocktails which will make the perfect accompaniment to alcohol-free weddings and hen/stag dos! The ready-to-drink beverages are perfect for those looking to embrace the benefits of alcohol-free without compromising on flavour. Mocktails offer a delectable collection of flavours, each carefully crafted with the finest ingredients, spices, and botanicals sourced from around the world. Mixology-inspired and uniquely crafted, drinks include Mockarita, Sansgria, Mockscow Mule, Mockapolitan and Espress0% Martini. Mocktails' beverages are made with real fruit juices, exotic and natural flavours, and pure cane sugar.

1 in 7 couples buy wedding insurance at short notice

Christmas and New Year is the most popular time to get engaged* but research from wedding insurance specialist, CoverMyWedding.co.uk, reveals that couples might not be financially protecting all their purchases. One in seven (16%)** couples buy wedding insurance within 100 days of their wedding, according to CoverMyWedding.co.uk, leaving them potentially missing out on protection if they have already started putting down deposits and making payments. Wedding insurance often only covers items booked and bought after it is purchased, so it is important to buy it as soon as possible and before any big bookings or purchases are made, as depending on your insurer, they may not be included.

Sustainable wedding wrapping paper from Curlicue

Curlicue, a British-made, female-founded company, has a delightful range of love-themed gift wrap - perfect for wedding gifting or Valentine's Day! All wrap is on 100% FSC-certified recycled and recyclable paper, plastic-free, and made with vegetable-based ink. The company uses a waterless and chemical-free printing process to be kinder to the environment, and use a UK printer for its paper to keep its carbon footprint as low as possible - from making to shipping its plastic-free!

Beau’s & Belle’s Event Planners has launched a range of wedding fairs taking place throughout 2024

Beau's & Belle's Event Planners, a team of event planners covering Essex, Norfolk, Suffolk, and the surrounding areas, has launched a range of wedding fairs taking place throughout spring 2024. The first fair will be at Copdock Hall in Ipswich on Sunday 14th January 2024 between 11am and 4pm.

All of the events are free to attend, and there are lots of suppliers exhibiting who can cater to all your wedding needs. What's more, if you pre-register for an event by midnight the day before, you'll receive a free goody bag including a show guide, floor plan, and a welcome drink.

Wedding gifting etiquette - your guide from the experts

When it comes to wedding planning, there is so much to think about, the same goes for wedding gift lists! That's why we are here to help with your guide to wedding gift list etiquette! We have spoken to The Wedding Shop, the UK's leading gift list provider to bring you everything you need to know about wedding registries. In short, we advise adding 2-3 gifts per wedding guest invited. Adding a variety of gifts to your wedding list caters to the differing budgets and preferences of your guests. It's a thoughtful approach to include a wide range of items, from smaller, more affordable pieces to a few higher-end gifts. The key is balance and variety. Typically, having slightly more gifts than the number of guests or households invited allows for enough choice without overwhelming your guests.

Graduate Cambridge is a modern and bold wedding venue on the banks of the River Cam

Tucked away just off Mill Lane on the banks of the River Cam is Graduate Cambridge. Modern and bold, the front exterior of the hotel stands out amongst the Gothic buildings the city is known for while still maintaining Cambridge's quirky charm. Your guests will step through the front doors to be met with a space paying homage to its roots, relishing in the hotel's luxurious and eclectic style.

Following a complete interior renovation that includes all rooms, common spaces, the fitness club, and the pool, Graduate Cambridge's interiors are made up of colours, patterns, and textures that reflect the green surroundings of the pastoral English countryside. The event spaces, thanks to the floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the river, are light and bright with bold design choices.

Big-day gifting ideas from Yvonne Ellen

With careful eyes on tight-budgets, it's easy to forget the charm of gift-giving but with careful planning and your eye in the right place you can still find wedding gifts for loved ones. Based in London, Yvonne Ellen is an independent British home and lifestyle brand specialising in home and giftware that is quirky yet timeless. Bringing her passion for home design to life in 2017, award-winning designer Yvonne Ellen hand paints her illustrations on a wide range of fine china home and lifestyle products that's inspired by her love of travelling, fashion and London, bringing a colourful and bold statement either on its own or as part of an eclectic assortment of goodies.

2024's biggest gifting wedding trends revealed with The Wedding Shop

Gifting Guru, Liza Baucher from The Wedding Shop, reveals the 2024 wedding gifting trends that are set to be huge next year. According to The Wedding Shop's recent gifting survey, 99% of wedding guests will still give a gift in 2024 and the average price of a gift is higher. Which means, despite the cost of living - people are still spending more on wedding gifts. Liza adds, "In an era of rising costs, it's inspiring to see wedding guests prioritise the joy of giving. The significance of being part of someone's special day hasn't diminished, in fact it has grown stronger!