Your East Anglian Wedding news and ideas from around the region

Meet wedding photographer Martyn Russell at Wembley Stadium

The best thing about attending wedding fairs is being able to meet your prospective suppliers face to face. At the County Wedding Events' Signature Wedding Show at Wembley Stadium on Sunday 8th October 2023, it will provide you with the opportunity to meet with photographer Martyn Russell. "Photographing a wedding is one of the greatest honours," shares Martyn. "Many months of meticulous planning culminates in one magical, joyous day of love and celebration, and being chosen to document that day fills me with great pride and excitement."

Richard Designs in Cambridgeshire has unveiled a new bridal collection

Richard Designs in Cambridgeshire has unveiled a new bridal collection. The family-owned and run business was founded more than 30 years ago, and in that time, has grown to become one of the leading designers and manufacturers of bridal accessories in the UK, with stockists worldwide.

"The new collection includes handmade veils, headpieces and bridal gowns," says the team at Richard Designs. "We strive to offer bridal stockists a wide selection of products to suit a range of brides. Whether it's something unique, such as a black veil or a more traditional classic look, we've got them covered."

Retreat East is set within a tranquil wellness retreat in the heart of Suffolk

Set within a tranquil wellness retreat in the heart of Suffolk, Retreat East offers a taste of wedding heaven. Designed by owner and architect Dominic Richards, the beautifully restored dairy farm includes an original 16th-century farmhouse and 16 stylishly converted barns with beamed ceilings, freestanding bathtubs, and a country chic vibe. Surrounded by 35 acres of countryside and wildflower meadows, it's a quintessentially English setting. Whether you're looking for an exclusive-use wedding or a smaller, more intimate, affair, you can enjoy a tailor-made experience for your special day.

The Botanist in Ipswich has announced a new food and drink menu

Award-winning bar and restaurant The Botanist in Ipswich has announced a new food and drink menu. Ideal for a pre-wedding date night, couples can expect fresh seasonal flavours, lighter and brighter dishes, botany- inspired cocktails, as well as updates to its signature hanging kebabs.

Vegetarian and vegan diners can choose from a growing menu of options, with almost half of the dishes being vegetarian and a third now suitable for vegans.

Tuddenham Mill has a range of luxurious wedding suites to choose from

There has been a mill at Tuddenham for around 1,000 years. The earliest written record of Tuddenham Mill is in the Domesday Book of 1086, but it's suspected that flour was being milled here decades before. Over time the building has evolved from a working mill to the high-quality contemporary restaurant and boutique hotel we see today. There are glimpses of the venue's history throughout the mill, from exposed beams in the spacious bedrooms to the cast iron water wheel, which has been imaginatively brought back to life through the use of atmospheric lighting and stylish glass walls.

Four tips for storing your wedding dress after the big day

With September tipped to be the most popular month for weddings, when the big day is done deciding what to do with a wedding dress can be tricky. Whilst some people sell them or donate them so future brides can use them, others prefer to keep hold of them and preserve the memory of their wedding day. If you're looking to preserve your wedding dress after the big day, or pass it down to future generations, proper storage is essential in maintaining its pristine condition. With this in mind, Vlatka Lake, storage expert at Space Station shares four tips for storing your wedding dress to keep it in pristine condition. Vlatka adds: "Before putting your dress into storage, make sure you have it cleaned to remove any stains or marks that may have appeared from your wedding day. The most important thing to remember when putting your wedding gown into storage is that it shouldn't be stored in a plastic bag or hung on a hanger. "Plastic covers don't allow for humidity changes and can often let light in that will fade the material of your dress. Hanging your dress can also affect its shape by adding unnecessary stress on the seams or the fabric."

Unique gifts couples give each other on their wedding day

The team at hampers.com recently surveyed UK adults who have gotten married or attended a wedding in the past five years, with the goal of determining what the gifting landscape looks like for wedding season. In doing so, they spoke to almost 800 newlyweds from across the UK and a further 1,400 UK adults who have attended a wedding in the same time frame. Firstly, the study found that it's common for brides and grooms to buy each other a gift for the wedding day itself, with 65% stating they did this for their own wedding day. The average spend was found to be £115, with women most likely to purchase a pocket watch (24%) or a vintage bottle of alcohol (22%) and men most likely to purchase jewellery (37%) or personalised 'Mrs' clothing (19%)...

Big-day gifting ideas from Don't Buy Her Flowers

Gift company, Don't Buy Her Flowers, prides itself for having thoughtfulness at its core, with customers able to create a bespoke gift box that perfectly suits the person and occasion. Whether it's to celebrate, commiserate or offer someone some TLC during a tough time, Don't Buy Her Flowers offers a range of luxury British products from delicious treats, cashmere socks and bubble bath to the perfect G&T and a selection of great books. Each gift box is beautifully gift wrapped with the customer's personalised message handwritten on the gift tag, making it the perfect package for everyone from mothers, newlyweds, teachers and employees.

The Muddy Stilettos Awards have announced its winners for 2023

The Muddy Stilettos Awards have announced its winners for 2023. The awards celebrate small independent lifestyle companies across the country and, for a decade, have helped promote local businesses and high streets by championing originality, creativity and quality.

This year 77,000 businesses were nominated and 800,000 votes were cast. The winners included Lisa and Neil Wedding Photography for 'Best Wedding Photographer', Hockwold Hall won 'Best Wedding Venue' and Adella Bridal Atelier was named 'Best Bridal Store'.

Hintlesham Hall is surrounded by peaceful mature gardens

This Suffolk gem is sure to wow your guests as they wind their way down the tree-lined drive to discover the impressive hall. Surrounded by peaceful mature gardens, the outside of the building has a Georgian frontage and an elegant Tudor feature at the back.

There's a choice of distinctive rooms where you can tie the knot, including the Georgian-style Salon, which has an impressive chandelier, an ornate gold-leaf ceiling and space for up to 100 loved ones.

Five reasons why Champagne is the pinnacle of sparkling wine

The Champagne Bureau UK* have rounded up five reasons why Champagne is the long-standing pinnacle of sparkling wine. Firstly, Champagne only comes from Champagne. Champagne is a 100% French product - the Champagne region is located in France, approximately 90 miles east of Paris. It is a protected appellation (AOC). From 816 to 1825, France's royalty was crowned in Champagne's Reims Cathedral, where Champagne was said to flow freely at all the coronation banquets. Soon, highly prized for their taste and finesse, it became customary to gift these wines to any royalty visiting the region. This is how the Champagne came to be known as the wine of coronation and known in France as "the wine of Kings and the King of wines".

7 ways to ask your friends to be bridesmaids

Bridesmaid proposals are a special moment in any friendship so it's natural to want to put some thought behind popping the question. Personalising gifts such as photo frames or pyjamas are a great way to give friends something they can keep forever. The glass experts at MeandMyGlass.co.uk have shared some of the best bridesmaid proposal ideas to make the occasion memorable.John Cutts, founder of MeandMyGlass said, "Asking your friends and family to be bridesmaids is a special moment and should be done in a special way. "You can't go wrong with a personal touch which is why things like photo frames and pyjamas are a great way to show appreciation to your bridesmaids and you know they'll keep their gift.

Hair stylist Yuki Black is offering our readers an exclusive discount

Yuki Black is a professional hair stylist based in Cambridge. "I often travel around East Anglia and the surrounding counties," adds Yuki. "I graduated from Japan Hair and Beauty college in Osaka in 2006 and my extensive training in Japan opened the doors for me to travel to salons across the world. During my 18 years of experience, I have lived in Australia, New Zealand, and Canada and achieved my ambition of working in one of the UK's biggest salons, Headmasters. There I was promoted to master hair designer and was invited to join the exclusive art team, where members work for events such as London Fashion Week."

Wedding fragrance suggestions

Floral, citrus, or woody - and everything in between - wedding scents are becoming more popular as couples incorporate them into their day. They can provide an ideal way to remember the occasion, the trigger of a special memory when you come across that fragrance connected to it. What's more, key scents can also help control emotions according to psychologists. Yasmin Sharp, essential oils expert at Nikura, says, "With more than 12 million hashtag views on TikTok, wedding scents (#weddingscent) are becoming more and more popular

Upthorpe Wood is an intimate woodland venue licensed for weddings

Upthorpe Wood is the perfect setting for free-spirited couples who like to think outside the box. This intimate woodland venue is licensed for weddings inside and out and is available on a dry-hire basis, so you're free to make it your own for a truly one-of-a-kind celebration.

You can tie the knot under the Cartlodge or in the Woodland Barn; both look magical lit with twinkling fairylights and are perfect for dining and enjoying the evening entertainment

Wedding ring mistakes to avoid!

Aimee Howlett, jewellery expert at Diamonds Factory, has shared how to choose and clean your wedding band. 'When choosing your wedding band, it's important to consider your lifestyle and daily activities. If you're someone with an active lifestyle you might want to go for a more durable material like platinum or tungsten that can withstand potential scratches and avoid a ring that has diamonds. With this in mind, it's worth visiting a jewellery store and trying on different styles of wedding bands, which can be really fun! Pay attention to comfort, fit, and how well it pairs with your engagement ring (if you have one).

Wedding gift inspiration from L'OR

Coffee brand L'OR provides the perfect machine which will ensure you capture the heart of any coffee-loving couple, whilst also providing a useful gift that lasts! With a unique double-spouted design that offers flexibility to adapt to different coffee preferences, the L'OR BARISTA is powered by Phillips technology and has become a much-loved coffee machine since its launch. What's more, the machine is not only compatible with L'OR pods, but also a wide range of alternative branded coffee capsules on the market*, providing maximum flexibility and choice.

L'OR BARISTA Sublime Coffee Machine (£104.99*) is available in Piano Noir, Satin Blanc and Sunset Rubis, while the L'OR BARISTA Original Latte Machines (£164.99*) is available in Piano Noir and includes built-in milk frother.

7 topics all couples should cover in a prenup

While a prenuptial agreement is unlikely to be on many people's wedding checklist, a family lawyer has urged couples who will be tying the knot in the coming months to consider making it a key priority. With research by the law firm revealing that Google searches for terms related to prenups including 'what is a prenup?', 'meaning of prenups' and 'prenups in the UK' have increased by 21% in the last three months compared to the three months previous, it is clear they are growing in popularity.

Sibton Park Estate in Suffolk has opened a new one bedroom spa cottage

With its own natural swimming lake, rowing boat and a private spa area with hot-tub, steam and sauna rooms, Stump is a new one bedroom spa cottage at Sibton Park Estate in Suffolk. This fairytale thatched folly is an idyllic romantic retreat for couples wishing to sneak away from it all for some privacy and pampering.

The interior is both luxurious and characterful. Playing on its name 'Stump', this one-bedroom bolthole is full of charming little details with little arched oak doorways and windows and a magnificent tree fireplace for guests to cosy by.

Garden wedding ideas for the big day

Co-founder of Togather.com, Hugo Campbell, unveils garden wedding ideas for the big day. As wedding trends evolve, couples may be seeking unique ways to celebrate their special day. For those looking to embrace a laid-back atmosphere and the shabby chic aesthetic, from Ottolenghi-style dining and Aperol carts, to enchanting fairylights and the perfect venue. A festival theme: Many couples are looking for maximum flexibility and the ability to perfectly match their food to the vibe of the day. This summer Togather.com is seeing many couples opting for a festival feel for their food, hiring multiple different street food trucks and allowing their guests a choice of handheld food rather than a sit-down meal. This means they can cater to all sorts of dietary requirements and preferences as well as give their guests a more relaxed feel.