An Essex Wedding news and ideas from around the county

Alcohol-free options for weddings with Mocktails

For those looking for booze-free options this wedding season, Mocktails Uniquely Crafted, is the non-alcoholic premium cocktail brand perfect for big-day guests! The alcohol-free, ready-to-drink beverages are perfect for those looking to offer a range of beverages at their wedding. Mocktails showcase a delectable collection of flavours, each carefully crafted with the finest ingredients, spices, and botanicals sourced from around the world. Mockarita - A zesty twist on the classic Margarita. Notes of lime, quinine and acacia flower with a refreshingly tart finish. Here at County Wedding Magazines HQ we're finding it hard to choose our favourite... Mocksow Mule anyone?

Autumnal fragrances from Woodwick and Yankee Candle

Connect to nature with scents and colours drawn from the breathtaking outdoors with the cosy new Autumn collection from Yankee Candle®, Cottage Getaway. Inspired by the nostalgic roots of outdoor adventures, and the natural beauty of our world, the collection seeks to spark creativity and inspiration, whilst bringing family and friends together. Launching in August 2024, the collection includes three warming fragrances, Woodland Weekend Memories, Pumpkin Cinnamon Swirl, and Afternoon Scrapbooking. This comforting selection of candles is perfect for reliving cherished moments at home as the late summer falls away and the new season settles n. Relax into Autumn with fragrances that ignite the senses, whilst the bright greens fade from the leaves and dusk draws in earlier by the day.

CWM partnership with Maya Deluxe and Dower & Hall for an exciting prize giveaway!

County Wedding Magazines has teamed up with Maya Deluxe and Dower & Hall for an exciting prize giveaway for our reader and social media followers! If you like or follow all three brands on either Facebook or Instagram, you'll be in with a chance of winning a £350 Dower & Hall gift voucher which can be redeemed online, as well as a £250 gift voucher for Maya Deluxe – that's jewellery and bridesmaids sorted for your wedding day leaving you more time and more budget to crack on with the rest of the wedding planning. Read on to find out more details about the brands and how to enter!

County Wedding Events coming to Cave Hotel, Kent!

If you're newlyweds-to-be embarking on your wedding planning journey, pop along to the County Wedding Events wedding show at The Cave Hotel, Kent, for inspiration on Sunday 8th September 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. A day to remember - a stylish sanctum that seamlessly blends a high-end contemporary look with a laid-back and welcoming approach, The Cave is not just a venue, getting married here is a truly holistic experience where you and your guests take center stage. You would be able to relax, eat, celebrate and sleep better than you ever have before; there really is nowhere quite like it.

Make a statement this summer with South Beach!

South Beach is making waves this summer with their latest core collection really heating things up! Elevate your holiday wardrobe instantly with this season's must-have prints, luxurious fabrics and flattering silhouettes. Why not mix and match your South Beach favourites to create a cute, customised look? Whatever you choose, South Beach offers the perfect blend of confidence, comfort and cutting-edge style! Whether you're lounging poolside, hitting the beach or making the most of sunsets with your friends, South Beach has every look to match your holiday vibe.

‘Race4Grace’ car rally

Two men are taking on a European car rally through nine countries, dressed as lifeguards in a car bought for £650 to help raise funds for a Colchester girl with a rare genetic condition. John Everett, 42, a vehicle body repairer who lives in Leigh-on-Sea, Essex and Rich Lessemun, 46, an HGV driver who lives in Boxford, Suffolk, met at a Classic VW car club and are taking part in the Two Ball Banger Rally through nine countries in four days, starting in France on August 15.

Golden hour - Tan edit!

BPerfect Cosmetics has launched their new Golden Hour Travel Sets, the ultimate summer sets with a collection of travel essentials! Arrive at destination bronzed before stepping on the plane with the Golden Hour - Tan Edit! A summer set with a collection of must-have travel essentials for a sunkissed glow! Featuring the award-winning Instant Bronze Boost Gel Drops, Mini Empress Base & Body Brush, plus two new products: The new Body Talk Liquid Lustre Travel Mini and new One Hour Express Passion Fruit Tanning Mousse! All packaged in an exclusive silver holographic travel bag!

Visit a Signature Wedding Show to win a mini-break with Classic Lodges

County Wedding Events, in association with Classic Lodges, is offering two overnight stays for two people to include a glass of Lanson Champagne on arrival, a three-course dinner and either a full English Breakfast or continental. What's more, the break can be taken at any Classic Lodges-owned property! Visitors must pre-register and attend a Signature Wedding Show to have the chance to win a mini-break courtesy of Classic Lodges. Terms and conditions apply.

Instant photos make for lasting memories!

poignant keepsake for guests or a photo album. Instant photos make for lasting memories! The INSTAX mini 12 (£79.99) is the perfect product for guest use. Place on tables or dot them around the venue to allow for guests to personalise their memories, and most importantly, take them home. The INSTAX mini Evo (£174.99) is another great option for capturing what's important. The retro-themed exterior is fitting for those vintage-themed weddings – place next to the guest book so photos can be added straight in. The INSTAX SQUARE (£129.99) is a modern option for those photographic keepsakes. Connect the devise to phones and print polaroid straight from the camera roll. Instant photos are irreplaceable.

Battleswick Farm - Be inspired!

This styled shoot was inspired by American filmmaker, Wes Anderson, whose films are known for their eccentricity, unique visual and narrative styles, Battleswick Farm was the perfect backdrop! Jodie from Ella Bella Events created a styled shoot at the picturesque Battleswick Farm. She says, "Caroline at Caroline Versallion Bridal sent me these beautifully unique dresses which were, in her words, Wes Anderson inspired and that was the start of the shoot.

Elope in style - expert advice

Couples are rewriting the script on what it means to say "I do". Over the past 12 months, searches for 'elopement weddings UK' are up +83%, 'elopement wedding packages UK' increased by +85%, and 'intimate weddings UK' have grown by +89%¹. This has highlighted a clear demand amongst couples for intimate weddings. To find out what has motivated this trend, wedding decoration experts at Ginger Ray have conducted a survey of those engaged and in the midst of planning an elopement to see what their special day will look like. Why are elopements becoming more popular? Topping the list of factors driving couples towards intimate weddings is the quest to manage expenses. More than a third (32%) of respondents highlighted financial constraints as the primary factor influencing their decision to opt for a smaller celebration.

Say yes to saving for the big day - Top tips from Rathbones

Top tips from Kindar Brown, Senior Financial Planner at Rathbones Group Plc on budgeting together for the important day. A wedding is the beginning of a new chapter and likely one of the most important days of your life. While the day itself should be full of joy and stress free, a lot of our time and money goes into pre-wedding planning, to make sure this is the case. The cost of living crisis and sticky inflation are impacting prices across the board and wedding suppliers are no exception. For those gearing up for their wedding day, Kindar shares her top tips for anyone putting a budget together for that important day.

Greenwoods Hotel & Spa host celebrity afternoon tea

Multi award winning Greenwoods Hotel and Spa in Stock Essex hosted some important guests for afternoon tea this month: celebrity vegan pastry chef and author Danielle Maupertuis with her guest Karin Ridgers of Veggie Vision TV channel and autism activist, broadcaster and fundraiser Dr Anna Kennedy OBE who visited with her friend Steven Smith, celebrity make up artist and writer.

Most popular TikTok wedding car revealed

Gone are the days of a horse-drawn carriage or a Rolls Royce pulling up to the wedding chapel, now it's all about modern cars! Couples across the UK are planning their dream weddings, with a twist. Searches for 'modern wedding cars' have surged by 60% in the last month according to Google Trends, signalling a shift from traditional vintage choices to sleek, contemporary vehicles that add a touch of modern elegance to the special day. ATS Euromaster, the tyre, MOT and vehicle services provider, has analysed TikTok hashtags and trends to reveal the changing popularity of wedding cars, both vintage and modern. Additionally, ATS has estimated rental costs for three-hour periods to help couples choose the perfect car for their special day.

Surprise guests with a champagne tower!

Surprise guests with a champagne tower! Beautiful wedding venue, Houchins, now offers a champagne tower which is proving very popular - and is a great photo opportunity! Why not add this to your package to kick off the reception drinks or to welcome evening guests. Or whenever the happy couple would like. Houchins will construct the champagne tower in the perfect position with 55 glasses for £150 (champagne not included - but it can be added to a drinks package or they can pay corkage - however they would like to do it). The couple can then of course pour the champagne and get the bubbles flowing!

National Art Pass - perfect wedding gift for culture lovers

A National Art Pass is a great way to enjoy time at hundreds of museums, galleries and historic places across the UK, and the Double Membership makes the perfect wedding gift for any culture lovers! Annual membership is only £88.50* and lets the happy couple enjoy free entry to hundreds of cultural destinations, plus 50% off major exhibitions, and special shop and café discounts. What's more, two cards will be issued for the happy couple!

Say 'I do' to shared planning - wedding expert shares tips for involving family and friends

Amy Greenshields, wedding expert at Card Factory has shared 7 tips to help you let your loved ones contribute.

Asking for help can be hard but getting friends and family involved in wedding planning can not only lighten the load but will also make them feel included and valued. Wedding planning contains many different elements, from table designs and seating charts to your floral bouquet, everything must be accounted for. A bride normally has the most influence over everything wedding-related, leading to as state of overwhelming stress. Why not share out the responsibilities – even the little ones can have a job!

The big screen is coming to Braintree Village

Pass the popcorn – the big screen is coming to Braintree Village! From the 20th - 29th August, join the crowds for a summer spectacular of movie madness, at Braintree Village's very own summer Open Air Cinema! Based next to the North entrance, we've got a packed schedule of films, including some of this year's biggest hits like Barbie and Wonka, childhood favourites like Harry Potter and The Greatest Showman, and film classics, including Dirty Dancing, Top Gun and Grease, plus many more!

Ginger Ray - An Introvert's Guide to surviving a hen party

So, you've got a hen party on the horizon, but the thought of navigating through a sea of social interactions is making you break into a cold sweat. Fear not introverts, we've got your back! Follow these top tips to make sure that you don't bring down the mood at the hen party and instead boost the atmosphere of the event. Hen parties are a chance to celebrate the lucky soon-to-be bride so make it a night she'll never forget! Jess Martin, Hen Party expert at Ginger Ray has shared 6 strategies to ensure that you not only survive, but actually enjoy the festivities:

Sten dos are on the rise

Stag and hen experts, Adventure Connections, say it is the 'Sten do' that takes traditional trends down! A mash-up of the separate parties, the Sten do provides a popular new way for the future bride and groom to be united before the big day. Rumoured to have been recreated by Harry and Megan, Sten dos prove to be the hottest way to party. Founder of Adventure Connections, Justin Sayers mentions that "things are changing when it comes to pre-wedding parties", so why not give it a try? Sten dos offer a cost-effective and inclusive solution to those separate gatherings, perfect for those with a large number of guests. Those shared memories are sure to be irreplaceable. Reduce your stress and make it a rave to remember!