Your East Anglian Wedding news and ideas from around the region

Under the Stars with Bedford Lodge

Nestled in the heart of Suffolk in the horse racing town of Newmarket, Bedford Lodge Hotel & Spa has launched its enchanting new Twilight Ceremonies. Designed for gatherings of 10 or more friends and family, these enchanting evening receptions allow couples to create magical moments as twilight deepens over rural Suffolk, enveloped by the warmth and elegance of the hotel's Georgian architecture and classically designed interiors.

Introducing Cake Spiral™ - the next evolution in cake displays by Prop Options

Prop Options, the UK-based innovators setting the standard for modern cake styling, has launched Cake Spiral – the industry's first fully flat-pack spiral cake support to hit the professional market. Made from high-quality, food-safe acrylic, Cake Spiral transforms from flat to full-height spiral in seconds – no tools, no bending, no shaping required. The structure simply pulls into place, locks securely between tiers, and can be styled and set up in moments. It is the only spiral cake stand on the market to combine fold-flat portability with genuine structural support.

A Big Win for Swynford Manor

Cambridgeshire wedding venue Swynford Manor has been named 'Romantic Wedding Venue of the Year' at The Nation's Wedding Awards 2024. With more than 250 finalists across 28 different categories, Swynford Manor was one of 10 venues in the UK to be shortlisted for 'Romantic Wedding Venue of the Year' – and the only one to be recognised from the Cambridgeshire region.

Picture Perfect with Craig Greenwood Photography

Norfolk Wedding Photographer Craig Greenwood Photography has been announced as an East of England Regional Winner at The Wedding Industry Awards 2025 in the 'Best Wedding Photographer 2025' category. Craig tells us: "Winning such a prestigious accolade felt surreal and deeply humbling. With the national awards coming up, in which all the regional winners are automatically entered, I'm holding onto that same sense of hope and excitement, dreaming big for what's to come."

Congratulations to The White Horse

The Good Hotel Guide has revealed its annual list of César winners. The 20 Césars are given to hotels, inns and B&Bs that are considered outstanding in their particular category. The White Horse in Brancaster, Norfolk, was named 'Best Hotel in East Anglia'. Loved by birdwatchers, The White Horse has 15 spacious bedrooms, dramatic views, a friendly and relaxed atmosphere and excellent dining that's perfect for mini-moons or pre-wedding getaways.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

To pre-nup or not to pre-nup?

What is a pre-nuptial agreement and why does it sound so intimidating? Anna Cross, Legal Director in Ellisons' Family Law Team unpacks the rise in the pre-nuptial agreement and why this should be explored by newly engaged couples. Pre-nuptial agreements offer couples transparency and peace of mind, helping them enter marriage with a clear understanding of their financial rights and responsibilities.

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.

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!

Couples seek help with their Wedding Checklist

With the average 2025 wedding costing £20,822, it's understandable that couples are feeling the pressure to ensure their special day runs smoothly. Wedding costs have more than doubled since the pandemic and with higher budgets often comes increased planning and the need for checklists. Last year "wedding checklist" received 6,600 average monthly searches online as UK couples turned to Google for guidance, to make sure nothing was missed. As your 2025 wedding day approaches and the big elements are secured, from venue and dress to guest list, there will still be a number of important details to manage in those final weeks.

Hanbury Manor 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 Hanbury Manor Marriott Hotel & Country Club, Hertfordshire, for inspiration on Sunday 13th April 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. Accessed by an impressive sweeping driveway and set on 200 sprawling acres of land that once housed some of England's most important historical figures, Hanbury Manor Marriott Hotel and Country Club is an enchanting venue. Rebuilt in the stately Jacobean style, the stunning hotel surrounds you with timelessly elegant interiors, state-of-the-art amenities and stunningly refurbished function rooms Whether you're planning a small and intimate affair or grand and glamorous Hanbury Manor is the perfect choice.

From smart invites to livestreams: the tech-savvy wedding trends of 2025

Like the tides of fashion, wedding trends come and go; however, the coming online age of nuptials is coming in fast and causing quite the wave. From AI-generated floor layouts and digital invites, modern couples are finding new ways of broadcasting their love. Here are some of the biggest trends in technology that will shape weddings in 2025, and how the industry is adapting to meet couples' expectations.