Your East Anglian Wedding news and ideas from around the region

Three cheers for mum!

Mother's Day is fast approaching, and with this comes the worry of buying the right present. Mum does so much, how can we possibly repay her? For many mothers, they'll be sat there thinking they don't want the fuss, maybe just a cup of tea and a lay in. However, it's important we show them that they're worth the extra day of love and affection. The mother of the bride is a special role, and I'm sure one all mums look forward to. The extra support we get from our mums on our wedding day is three-fold, so let's unpack them and remind ourselves why we should be treating them on the 30th of Mach 2025.

The Most popular Wedding Gifts and Their Impact Post-Wedding

You've received your invitation, you've picked out your outfit, now you just need to select your gift! A simple task that can bring reality crashing in "what on earth can I get them?" Here's Not on the Highstreets most popular wedding gifts, along with expert insights from their exclusive interview with multi-award-winning relationship coach Gemma Nice on how these gifts can strengthen relationships and keep the connection alive long after the wedding day.

The Ultimate Mother’s Day Gift Guide!

It's time to get our purses out and to spoil mum. Rituals is a luxurious brand that offers gorgeous gifts for affordable prices, which is one of the many reasons why they are a great place to start for Mother's Day. Rituals recognises that maternal love manifests in various forms and can come from unexpected sources, such as a caring neighbour or a trusted babysitter. Rituals' goal is to honour and celebrate all forms of love.

Bressingham Hall Wedding Fair hosted by County Wedding Events

If you're newlyweds-to-be embarking on your wedding planning journey, pop along to the County Wedding Events wedding show at Bressingham Hall & High Barn, Diss, Norfolk for inspiration on Sunday 23rd March 2025 - 11pm - 3pm! 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.

Quality Over Quantity: The Surge of Micro Weddings

The modern couple are ditching large lavish weddings and choosing a more intimate affair. A micro wedding is a wedding that has less than 50 guests and focuses more on the meaningfulness of the day rather than the spectacle. Diamonds Factory Ireland with expert wedding planner Akilah Atiba-Davies from With Akilah & Co, unpacks the surge of this trend and why more couples are leaning towards smaller events.

How to avoid overspending on your wedding budget

It is a special time for you and your partner, planning the perfect event to celebrate your love with friends and family. However, it can often become stressful as people try to fit such a big event into their budgets. With the average wedding for 2025 coming to a total of £20,822, getting everything from drinks to décor can be a chore. Lake District Country Hotels, providers of wedding venues in the Lake District, pair with James Beckett, financial coach and founder of MoneyStocker.com, to help you budget your way to your big day.

Dragon Hall Wedding Open House

People have lived, worked and celebrated on the site of Dragon Hall, in Norwich, for more than 1,000 years. Now, the Dragon Hall team are delighted to invite couples to celebrate their marriage within the historic walls of its majestic Great Hall.The Great Hall is the heart of Dragon Hall; a rare example of a medieval trading complex, built in 1427 by merchant, Robert Toppes. In the Great Hall, history and beauty surrounds you; constructed with English oak from some 1,000 trees, with seven bays that were originally decorated with colourful carvings — of which only the eponymous Dragon remains. It provides a sumptuous backdrop for ceremonies and wedding breakfasts.

County Wedding Events coming to Old Essex Barn, Essex!

If you're newlyweds-to-be embarking on your wedding planning journey, pop along to the County Wedding Events wedding show at Old Essex Barn Essex, for inspiration on Sunday 9th March, 2025! Sister company to County Wedding Magazines, the event brings couples in touch with local professionals for face-to-face wedding planning. 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. Old Essex Barn is a simply stunning renovated barn from the 15th century, located on the outskirts of the quiet village of Kelvedon. The barn oozes character with beautiful historic oak timbers and vaulted ceilings, it truly is a special place to say 'I do'.

The hidden language of roses, revealed by expert

Chris Waugh, Florist at Bloom & Wild discusses the symbolism of roses and the bridal trends we can expect to see: "Roses are set to remain a popular choice for weddings in 2025, remaining as one of the most traditional parts of a bridal bouquet. While floriography, known as the language of flowers, was popular during the Victorian Era, the hidden language of roses is still more apparent than ever. Whether you want your guests to be enticed by a feeling of love and passion by incorporating dark red roses into your big day, or if you'd prefer a more delicate approach to love and gratitude by using pink roses, it's important to pick each colour wisely to ensure you're getting the most appropriate messaging across to your guests."

Swynford Manor has won an award

Boutique Cambridgeshire wedding venue, Swynford Manor, has been named the UK's most romantic location to tie the knot by the Nation's Wedding Awards. With more than 250 finalists across 28 different categories, Swynford Manor was announced as the most 'Romantic Wedding Venue of the Year' at the awards ceremony.

Sian Parry, the venue manager at Swynford Manor, said: "The Swynford Manor team works incredibly hard to deliver one-of-a-kind weddings to all of our couples on a weekly basis. We are ecstatic to be recognised for our dedication and commitment – not only by the English Wedding Awards but also by The Nation's Wedding Awards – and this achievement is a real testament to all our hard work."

Cley Windmill is a charming wedding venue situated on the North Norfolk coast

Cley Windmill is a charming wedding venue situated on the North Norfolk coast that's considered a local landmark. Instead of a traditional garden, the venue is surrounded by reeds and marshland with the sea in the distance, creating an idyllic setting for those in search of an original big-day backdrop. The gallery at the top of the tower provides the ultimate photo opportunity, with the windmill sails in the background, that are sure to wow your guests.

Hold your ceremony in the round-beamed Dining Room, which is full of character, or in one of the many outdoor spaces, including the decked area among the reeds.

Enjoy a cosy reception in the windmill or dance the night away in the marquee in the garden.

County Wedding Events coming to Sprowston Manor, Norfolk!

If you're newlyweds-to-be embarking on your wedding planning journey, pop along to the County Wedding Events wedding show at Sprowston Manor, Norfolk, for inspiration on Sunday 2nd March 2025! 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. Sprowston Manor Hotel, Golf and Country Club would make the perfect venue for your dream wedding. The Manor House hotel is over 450 years old with charming features from it's grand sweeping staircase to the original historical fireplaces, landscaped gardens and calming water features.

The Perfect Pairing: Champagne styles for every wedding

The Champagne Bureau UK* wanted to share some tips for couples who are planning to celebrate their big day with a sparkling touch; pairing the perfect Champagne styles with different wedding themes. Champagne has long been synonymous with celebration, and the versatility of its styles means there is a perfect style for every couple, no matter the wedding theme. If your wedding theme is classic and traditional Brut Champagne offers versatility, it is an excellent choice for celebrations where guests will feel part of the couple's love story. Brut Champagne makes up around 80% of Champagne shipments to the UK, beloved for its balanced structure and refreshing finish.

Love Wedding Cakes is celebrating its 10th anniversary

Love Wedding Cakes, based in Dereham, Norfolk, is celebrating its 10th anniversary. Owner Amber Briggs tells us more: "Over the past decade, I'd like to think that Love Wedding Cakes has become synonymous with elegance, artistry and exceptional taste. Each cake is crafted with meticulous attention to detail, using only the finest ingredients and showcasing my expertise in sugarcraft. I'm incredibly proud of what we've accomplished over the past 10 years. It's been a journey filled with creativity, dedication, and the pleasure of bringing couples' wedding dreams to life. I also feel fortunate to be a part of the Norfolk and Suffolk wedding industry, full of talented business owners who all support each other. This 10-year milestone seemed like the perfect time to expand our delivery service. I'm excited to announce that, in addition to serving Norfolk and Suffolk, my creations are now available to wedding venues in Lincolnshire, Cambridgeshire, London, Buckinghamshire, and beyond. I'm excited to continue serving more couples, some further afield, and sharing my passion for beautiful cake design."

Couples are making sustainable wedding choices from the beginning - engagement ring trend

When it comes to choosing an engagement ring, many couples are looking to take inspiration from the likes of royalty and celebrities who decided to remodel or repurpose their symbol of enduring love from a vintage or pre-loved item or family heirloom. Not only does it give your engagement ring a deeper meaning or story, it's also a more sustainable way to shop, for one of the most important pieces of jewellery you'll ever own – you'll end up saving potentially thousands of pounds, plus you could end up with something completely unique to you. One such jeweller who is helping couples with this big decision is Rachel Fox, Jewellery expert TV presenter from Channel 4's Millionaire Hoarders, and Store Manager from pre-owned luxury jewellery seller, S&R Jewellers. As one of London's top specialists in this area, S&R Jewellers reports a huge uptick in the number of couples choosing the pre-loved route for their engagement ring.

Madingley Hall & Gardens is just four miles from the centre of Cambridge

Just four miles from the centre of Cambridge and a mere 60 minutes from London, Madingley Hall & Gardens provides a memorable setting for your special day.

Built in the 16th century, this elegant country house has seven acres of spectacular gardens and grounds, designed in the 18th century by 'Capability' Brown.

The Hall is one of the few university venues to offer all year-round availability for residential and non-residential events, offering superb catering using locally sourced, seasonal ingredients, a bar, ample car parking and even croquet lawns in season.

Rushton Hall Wedding Fair hosted by County Wedding Events

If you're newlyweds-to-be embarking on your wedding planning journey, pop along to the County Wedding Events wedding show at Rushton Hall, Northamptonshire for inspiration on Sunday 23rd February! 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.

Couples share the key ingredient to a long-lasting relationship

In the spirit of Valentine's Day, greeting card marketplace, thortful, has spoken to five couples who are still going strong after many years about the key ingredient to a long-lasting relationship – and one is quite taboo. Speaking to the five couples, who have all been together longer than 10 years, communication, small gestures, and alone time were among the most common ingredients for a long-lasting relationship. All couples even unanimously agreed that farting in front of each other strengthens their relationships. Lack of communication is among the top reasons for break ups, according to experts, which is why Tom Lanaway, who has been with his partner for 11 years, claims strong communication to be the key to his strong connection.

Minimalist or maximalist? The décor styles couples are choosing in 2025

As we step into 2025, it's crunch time for soon-to-be-weds to lock in those wedding details. Whether you've just popped the question or are counting down to the big day, knowing the latest wedding décor trends can spark some serious inspiration for your celebration. The décor at your wedding isn't just about aesthetics; it's the mood setter, the vibe creator, the silent DJ of your day. From colour schemes to special touches, the décor styles set the tone and the atmosphere. So, let's dive into the styles that will be painting the town (and your wedding) this year.

Tracey Davies Photography was named as a regional finalist at The Wedding Industry Awards

Bures-based wedding photographer Tracey Davies Photography was named as a regional finalist in the 'Wedding Photographer of the Year' and 'Best Newcomer' categories at The Wedding Industry Awards – congratulations!

Tracey tells us: "To be announced as a regional finalist meant so much. I love wedding photography because it captures human interaction and connection at its very best and that's why I am so passionate. To be voted by the couples and have this recognition is profoundly monumental for me in marking triumph and a conquering over what has been quite a life journey. I am absolutely delighted."