Your Somerset Glos and Wilts Wedding news and ideas from around the county

Modern day hen do ideas - time to celebrate

The hen do is the perfect opportunity to shower your bridesmaids with love before the big day. It's all about celebrating your friendship, laughing until your cheeks hurt and making the most of your time together. If you're looking for unique and fun ways to honour your girlies, here are some ideas from hen experts, bookaparty.com. Treat your bridal crew to a bottomless brunch where the prosecco and pancakes keep coming. Head to the city centre of your choice and enjoy a fun atmosphere, good music and tasty food to suit a range of tastes. Whether it's a full English breakfast, avocado toast, fluffy waffles or pizza, your taste buds will be in heaven, and unlimited drinks help you to kick off your day in style. Sip on free-flowing glasses of fizz, cocktails, beer, cider or soft drinks as you let your hair down and even enjoy some live entertainment from DJs to cabaret shows.

2025 wedding wine trends unveiled by Laithwaites

Laithwaites, the UK's leading online wine merchant, has revealed the top five wedding wine trends of 2025. Created by experts from Laithwaites' wedding wine service, this list reflects the current vogue for unique, cost-conscious wedding celebrations that leave a lasting impression on guests. "Couples are coming to us looking to create experiences that focus on value, showcase their personalities and give their guests a great time. It's so often the food and drink that makes a great wedding stand out," says Greg Roberts, Wine Educator at Laithwaites. Wedding wine trends for 2025.

Fudge Kitchen's treats are a celebration of taste and tradition

Fudge Kitchen delights in creating delicious confectionery – a true celebration of taste, tradition and craftsmanship. Its innovative range not only tastes good but also does good, being packaged in premium sustainable material, so you can enjoy your treats without causing harm to the planet. The creamy fudge is made in small batches, using traditional techniques, before being delicately decorated by skilled artisans. The brand's new service provides a bespoke fudge sculpture for your special day. Made with a choice of mini slab flavours, this alternative to a traditional wedding cake will keep your guests talking for months to come. For wedding favours, why not try the charming single mini slice twists?

The Eve Appeal: The UK’s Leading Gynae Cancer Charity’s Get Lippy Campaign

The Eve Appeal is on a mission is to save lives by focusing on preventing and improving the early diagnosis of the five gynaecological cancers. Throughout May, they are encouraging everyone to Get Lippy alongside some of the leadingnames and brands in beauty. The campaign raises awareness of the five gynae cancers: womb, ovarian, cervical, vulval andvaginal through a series of fundraising, education, and awareness initiatives to prevent these cancers before they start.

Brits are calling for an end to ‘rowdy’ stag and hen celebrations

Gone are the days when stag and hens revolved around a simple send-off - with costs spiralling out of control, Brits are calling for an end to 'rowdy' stag and hen celebrations. The study by the UK's most-trusted discount site, VoucherCodes.co.uk, reveals Brits are forking out £1,000 more than they'd like to celebrate their friends' and families' upcoming nuptials, with the average person willing to spend just £214. With many celebrations now lasting several days and requiring trips abroad, the average stag and hen now costs an eye-watering £1,208. It's therefore no surprise that a whopping 71% of people say costs have gotten out of control.

Find your home from home at The Painswick

Nestled in the heart of the picturesque Cotswolds, The Painswick offers bespoke wedding packages and a dream venue for couples seeking an intimate wedding experience. With its stunning Georgian architecture, breathtaking valley views, and exclusive home-from-home feel, the venue is ideal for smaller, more personal celebrations, allowing you to make the space your own. Prices start from £18,000 for a 24-hour midweek wedding or £35,000 for a 48-hour weekend wedding for up to 60 guests in the day and 80 in the evening. Cost includes food, drink, venue hire fee, 17 bedrooms and the Cottage, which sleeps six.

8 Tips To Avoid Wedding Guest Burnout This Wedding Season

As peak wedding season rolls in, it's not just brides and grooms who are feeling the pressure. New research reveals a growing trend of wedding burnout, and it's hitting guests just as hard. From back-to-back hen-dos and stag weekends to pricey gifts and cross-country travel, the cost and commitment of attending multiple weddings have left many guests feeling emotionally and financially drained. To help guests avoid burnout this wedding season, the experts at Queensmith have shared their 8 top tips to beat the 'wedding guest hangover', from setting a budget to knowing when to say no.

Hotpod Yoga Takes on Mental Health Week

Mental health awareness week (12th – 18th May) is upon us and it's time we get serious about our feelings. With the constant rise in social media consumption and the cruelty of the media, it's vita we understand how we can support our mental health. Hotpod Yoga in Birmingham are facing the week head on and, in collaboration with CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably), are helping locals support the worthy cause.

Live like the aristocracy in the heart of Wiltshire

The 22nd Earl of Suffolk and 15th Earl of Berkshire, who inherited his titles in 2022, recently announced that his childhood residence is now available for private hire. Nestled in the historical Charlton Park Estate in Malmesbury, Wiltshire, Andover House is a Grade II listed property that has been lovingly restored, offering guests a refined yet inviting retreat. This grand country home, set against a backdrop of sweeping parkland, blends heritage charm with modern comforts. Listed as Summerbourne House and available to rent through Big House Experience, this is an opportunity to immerse yourself in the grandeur of a truly historical home. Starting from £5,500 for three nights, ten bedrooms sleeping up to 20 guests await.

This new cleaning trend is ruining your engagement ring!

The newest trend to clean engagement rings with a coffee steamer, whilst entertaining to watch, is a sure-fire way to ruin your precious ring! We have to be very careful about our jewels and must not forget that it is four simple prongs that hold in our sparkling beauties. To educate us as to why this hack should get the sack is Neil Dutta, managing director of the engagement ring specialists, Angelic Diamonds

Holly Miller Cake Design wins National Cake Designer of the Year at The Wedding Industry Awards

Cake designer Holly Miller is super-excited and extremely proud to announce that she has taken home the trophy for National Cake Designer of the Year at The Wedding Industry Awards for the second consecutive year. She was awarded the accolade at a glitzy ceremony at the Underglobe in London, proudly retaining her cakey crown. In the 14 years the awards have been running, only two other cake designers have ever achieved this accolade. Cake Design by Holly Miller is a luxe cake maker based in Somerset, where high-end designs and distinctive flavour combinations happily collide.

B Calm Introduces a Personalised Body and Face Care Set

Born from Becky's personal journey of healing, B Calm offers beautifully designed, organic products to support modern women in finding daily balance and calm. In May 2025 they will proudly unveils their latest innovation – the Personalised Body + Face Care Set. Designed to empower individuals to create a unique self-care ritual, this customisable trio features a hydrating mist, nourishing carrier oil, and pure essential oil blend to support radiant skin and holistic well-being.

Snap up this special offer from Booth Nineteen

"Wedding bookings are at an all-time high, and 2026 is already shaping up to be an incredibly busy year," says Booth Nineteen's Craig Cheber. "Many couples are securing their dates early to avoid disappointment and take advantage of the best suppliers." So, the team at Booth Nineteen are encouraging early bookings by offering £200 off all 2026 wedding packages. This is a fantastic opportunity to lock in your date and ensure your guests experience the magic of a beautifully designed vintage photo booth. Simply quote YBSW26 when booking to claim this exclusive offer.

New Study Reveals the Best Places in England to Get Married

With wedding season fast approaching, the wedding experts at F.Hinds have analysed hundreds of the best wedding venues that England has to offer, to uncover where nearly-weds should be adding to their shortlist this summer. The study considered several factors such as popularity, reviews and weather predictions and awarded bonus points for how "Instagrammable" the aesthetic is. The systematic scoring system has revealed the "best of the best" English wedding venues for couples planning a wedding in 2025.

Wedding expert reveals the top 2025 trends

With weddings becoming more personalised than ever, many couples are rethinking the traditional elements of their big day. In 2025, couples are all about individuality and creating an experience that truly reflects them. For those looking for inspiration on what's 'in' and what's 'out' for weddings this year; Jeremy Hinds, Wedding and Engagement Ring expert at F.Hinds, shares his top tips for planning a celebration that feels both modern and timeless.

Add some Bristol blue glass to your wedding gift list

If you're looking for something to add to your wedding gift list that celebrates your love of all things local, check out the stunning selection of Bristol Blue Glass available at Bristol Museums online shop. Iconic and distinctive, the vases are the perfect addition to any space in the home or make a great gift for someone you love. Bristol Museums online shop offers a curated selection of gifts, art and memorabilia inspired by the museum's rich collections and exhibits. What's more, shopping with Bristol Museums helps to support access to arts and culture for all, with every pound earned going straight back into running the museums. Last year they welcomed 750,000 visitors for free thanks to this income. See what's available at https://shop.bristolmuseums.org.uk

Celebrate National Tea Day with the Nation’s Best Tasting Tea!

Birchall Tea is a family-owned tea company with a heritage dating back to 1872. Known for its exceptional quality and flavour, Birchall Tea sources the finest ingredients to create a wide range of blends enjoyed by tea enthusiasts worldwide. Committed to sustainability and ethical practices, Birchall Tea continually seeks ways to support environmental and social causes. To celebrate National Tea Day 2025, Birchall is giving customers 10% off any online purchase, but hurry as it's available for today only!

Emma's Kitchen launches new Grazing Table

Local lovely, Emma's Kitchen, has announced the launch of its new Grazing Table, the perfect addition to your wedding celebrations. This stunning setup includes a beautifully crafted cutting cake along with a variety of bakes, all chosen by you to delight your guests and tailored to match your special day. The Grazing Table offers an interactive dessert experience, allowing guests to enjoy a selection of treats throughout the evening. From filled cookies to indulgent brownies, there's something for everyone to enjoy. It's not just a dessert table; it's a delicious centrepiece adding a personal touch to your celebrations.

The Gathering Barn offers magnificent views and easily accessible rural isolation

In a stunning location on the South Wiltshire Downs, The Gathering Barn offers magnificent views and easily accessible, rural isolation. Meanwhile, the ancient brick and flint barns boast high-end, modern facilities while retaining their idyllic rustic charm. The barns are linked around a pretty south facing courtyard, great for relaxing and games. Here, you can delight in wide-reaching views, gardens, fields, parkland and epic industrial barns providing a backdrop for endless photographic opportunities. Exclusive Thursday morning to Sunday afternoon hire is available. This four-day celebration allows you to enjoy two large barns aiding a seamless transition between ceremony, meal and party. They team here is all about total flexibility so, you're permitted to choose your own suppliers including caterers.

Q&A with The Painswick's events manager, Chelsea Tunstall

The Painswick is a charming boutique hotel nestled in the heart of the picturesque Cotswolds, and its bespoke wedding package offers the perfect venue for couples seeking an intimate and unique wedding experience. With its stunning Georgian architecture, breathtaking valley views, and exclusive, home-from-home feel, The Painswick is ideal for smaller, more personal celebrations, allowing couples to make the space their own. Chelsea Tunstall, The Painswick's wedding manager, recently shared her insights into what makes this venue so special...