Editor loves and inspiration

Nestled on the outskirts of the charming village of Foxearth, just minutes from Long Melford and Sudbury, Foxearth Hall Barn is a beautifully restored 16th-century barn offering modern comforts within a relaxed, rustic setting. Set amidst rolling countryside on the Suffolk–Essex border, the barn can accommodate up to 200 guests and provides an idyllic backdrop for weddings and celebrations of all kinds.

The venue is run by Pam Pluck, whose wealth of experience in hospitality ensures every event is seamless and stress-free. Pam’s aim is to allow couples to focus on enjoying their big day, offering as much or as little involvement as they wish. From floral arrangements and themed décor to wedding cakes, stationery and hand-written place cards, Pam’s extensive skills and trusted contacts allow every detail to be tailored with professionalism, while enhancing the barn’s natural charm.

The Granary occupies a central, elevated position within the barn, overlooking the dancefloor and providing an impressive stage area for bands, DJs, grand pianos or other entertainment. The bar is thoughtfully set back from the main space, offering generous serving areas, full refrigeration and a cosy seated corner where guests can relax.

An extensively equipped caterers’ kitchen is ideal for producing high-quality cuisine for up to 200 guests, featuring professional ovens, hot cupboards, prep surfaces and grills. Outside, a walled courtyard to the rear of the barn offers a versatile entertaining space, complete with a purpose-built brick barbecue and a enclosed area for children. The surrounding grounds of Foxearth Hall Barn, including a picturesque moat, provide stunning opportunities for photographs.

See more local companies in the latest issue of Your East Anglian Wedding. Download your free copy here.

Suffolk’s Bedford Lodge Hotel & Spa has been hosting weddings for over 60 years, offering couples a four AA red star boutique hotel setting in which to celebrate the day of their dreams. Blending historic charm with contemporary elegance, the hotel features 80 beautifully appointed rooms and a separate Mews, rich in original character and offering the perfect balance of modern luxury and refined comfort.

Over the decades, the hotel’s experienced team has seen countless wedding trends come and go, yet timeless luxury and exceptional service never go out of style. Drawing on this wealth of experience, the team at Bedford Lodge Hotel & Spa has revealed its top predictions for weddings in 2026. The team believe couples are embracing maximalism, celebrating colour, and moving away from overly themed or ‘Pinterest-perfect’ weddings. Instead, they are opting for local luxury and celebrations closer to home, favouring relaxed elegance, and delighting guests with an array of indulgent sweet treats.

See more local news in the latest issue of Your East Anglian Wedding. Download your free copy here.

Styling your wedding is an exciting but often overwhelming process. With so many options available, it can be difficult to know where to begin. A good starting point is your venue. If your venue is already rich in character or heavily styled, lean into its existing décor and architectural features rather than competing with them. In these cases, try not to over-style the space – sometimes less really is more, and allowing the venue to shine can create a far more elegant result.

If your venue is more of a blank canvas, styling it from scratch may feel daunting. To make the process more manageable, break it down into what matters most to you as a couple. Is it the colour scheme, the overall theme, or the personal details that tell your story? By prioritising what’s most important, you can build a cohesive vision without becoming overwhelmed.

See more venue styling trends in the latest issue of Your East Anglian Wedding. Download your free copy here.

Char and Chris met at a murder mystery party and felt an instant spark. Chris tells us, “I tried to kiss her in a nightclub after the party, but she promptly rejected me. I did manage to get her number though, and we went on a date later that weekend and never looked back.”

Chris proposed to Char on a skiing trip with friends to Val d’Isère in France. He had planned to take her to the Eye of the Needle, an iconic rock formation overlooking Tignes, but the weather dramatically turned and it took them hours to descend. Chris adds, “Later that evening, I popped the question beneath a button lift on a quiet walk. Not quite the picture- perfect proposal we had imagined, but it was just right for us.”

See more from their wedding in the current issue of Your East Anglian Wedding. Download your free copy here.

Hardesty Event Design is a luxury wedding and event planning company based in Norfolk and London, led by UK planner and coordinator Emily Hardesty. Specialising in full-service wedding planning, on the day coordination, elegant venue styling, corporate events, and private celebrations, Emily and her team bring meticulous design and heartfelt care to events across the UK and beyond.

Emily shares: “At the heart of Hardesty Event Design is a creative partnership with you. I promise to truly listen, understand your vision, and work tirelessly to bring it to life. My Bespoke Planning service is crafted for couples who want to stay hands-on, yet value expert guidance to make their celebration everything they dream of. My goal is to ensure you feel supported and stress-free while we thoughtfully curate every detail of your day.”

Hardesty Event Design’s comprehensive planning and design service ensures no detail is overlooked, creating sophisticated, meaningful celebrations woven with storytelling, stunning décor, and seamless guest experience – luxury wedding planning shaped entirely around you and your vision.

Planning a marquee wedding at home? Hardesty Event Design will help you create a magical celebration beneath the sky. Whether you imagine transparent panels opening to birdsong and soft breezes or a romantic first dance beneath the stars, marquee weddings blend the elegance of indoors with the beauty of the outdoors. Emily adores every aesthetic detail – colours, textures, florals, candlelight – but she’s equally invested in the unglamorous essentials: backup generators, perfect site levels, the placement of windows for the best light, and all the behind-the-scenes decisions that make a marquee wedding feel effortless.

Your wedding planning is always a partnership. Emily and her team are here to guide, support, and take on the tasks that feel overwhelming. Together, you’ll create something truly magical.

See more local companies in the latest issue of Your East Anglian Wedding. Download your free copy here.

Riverhills Health Club & Day Spa in Ipswich has expanded its treatment range by partnering with award-winning spa house Tribe517 to launch two exclusive signature rituals: The Art of Sleep and The Art of Happiness. Both are 45-minute treatments; The Art of Sleep is designed to relax and quiet the mind, while The Art of Happiness aims to invigorate and uplift. These new additions complement the already impressive collection of spa facilities at Riverhills Health Club & Day Spa, including a vitality pool, SnowSky, a sensory spa garden, and much more. Both treatments are perfect for de-stressing in the run-up to your big day.

Debbie Lawes, the spa manager at Riverhills Health Club & Day Spa, tells us: “Partnering with Tribe517 brings two new signature experiences to Riverhills that perfectly complement our ethos of personalised, intuitive spa days. The Art of Sleep and The Art of Happiness are treatments that go beyond massage; they invite our guests into rituals that restore balance, encourage emotional wellbeing, and truly enhance the Riverhills spa experience.”

See more local news in the latest issue of Your East Anglian Wedding. Download your free copy here.

If you’ve always dreamed of trying on wedding dresses and you’re a soon-to-be bride, then your time has come! Getting ready for your first bridal boutique appointment can be quite daunting, but by being appointment can be quite daunting, but by being prepared, you can brace yourself for anything the day may throw at you.

Before we dive into the nitty-gritty of what you need to do, something to consider is how you feel in changing rooms: do you breeze through without a second thought, or do you agonise over every detail? If you resonate with the latter, then you need to make sure you’re bringing people with you who hype you up! No Debbie-downers or glass-half-empty attitudes — we need good energy and kind honesty.

See more bridal boutique tips in the latest issue of Your East Anglian Wedding. Download your free copy here.

Lucy and Graham met at work, and it was at a Christmas party that they sparked a relationship. They had been dating for 16 years when Graham decided to pop the question – asking Lucy on Great Yarmouth pier with their beloved dog, Ruby, in attendance.

Their choice of wedding venue was a sentimental one, as Caley Hall Hotel had set the scene for many of their getaways. They said their “I do’s” in the local church, Old Hunstanton.

Their theme was a collection of all their favourite things, with dogs, vintage touches, beaches, and traditional elements all making an appearance. This was highlighted by a pink colour scheme, seen throughout the décor and the bridesmaids’ dresses. They adorned the venue with white and pink flower displays, an impressive floral arch, a handmade beach hut post box, and seashells on the tables.

See more from their wedding in the current issue. Download your free copy here.

Set against the warm, weathered textures of Buggs Barn, this romantic summer editorial brings to life a vision of vintage elegance wrapped in soft pastel hues. Inspired by the gentle blush of garden flowers, heirloom details, and the effortless beauty of countryside charm, this shoot strikes a delicate balance between the timeless and the whimsical.

Layers of florals spill over antique-style furniture, silks flutter in the breeze, and each scene is thoughtfully styled to evoke a sense of dreamy nostalgia. From blush pinks to powdery blues and faded lilacs, the palette whispers of summer afternoons, wildflower meadows, and the charm of a bygone era.

Every detail, from the vintage tableware to the floral-adorned stationery, has been carefully chosen to echo the softness and soul of the setting. The result? A dreamy, painterly celebration of love in its most poetic form.

See more from the styled shoot in the current issue. Download your free copy here.

Bayfield Catering, a wedding caterer based in Holt, Norfolk, attended The Wedding Industry Awards at the end of November as nominees for a prestigious category. This nomination is a testament to the outstanding service the company has provided to brides and grooms throughout the year.

Owner Emma Boubaker shares her story: “I am a local girl from the North Norfolk Coast, born in Blakeney, and I have worked in the catering industry all my life. I trained at Norwich City College, where I achieved my Catering City & Guilds Diploma. My first job was under Galton Blackiston at Morston Hall, where I trained for a couple of years. I continued my career in various local establishments along the Norfolk coast, gaining experience in different working environments.

“I worked my way through a range of catering roles and held five head chef positions before deciding to launch my own company, Bayfield Catering. I now run my outside catering business with the help of my family. I have a passion for food, use high-quality produce, and maintain strong relationships with local suppliers.

“We can help you create your perfect day, ensuring it is as stress-free as possible. Whether you’ve chosen a large or small venue, we can accommodate your needs and offer advice on what will work well. We provide a variety of hot and cold food options, including canapés, sharing boards and platters, and three-course meals with a wide range of choices to suit all budgets and taste buds.”

See more local companies in the latest issue of Your East Anglian Wedding. Download your free copy here.