Your East Anglian Wedding news and ideas from around the region

The Woodyard at Worstead Estate is surrounded by 300 acres of historic parkland

Arriving in Worstead Park, via a grand lime tree avenue, guests travel through 300 acres of historic parkland to The Woodyard. The centrepiece of the landscape is an 11-acre lake complete with lake island, boathouse and summerhouse – all of which are part of the hire.

The Woodyard includes a lovingly restored thatched sawmill, courtyard and west-facing terrace to enjoy the evening sun. The listed building is around 300-years-old; the walls supporting the thatched roof are a patchwork of traditional red brick and lime mortar and is in keeping with the other Georgian buildings within the park.

Involving your family pet on the big day? Check out this personalised offering

Involving your four-legged friend on your wedding day? Are they taking a staring role walking down the aisle? If so, then you have to take a look at these smart and stylish personalised leather dog ring bearer pouches (£24) from Create Gift Love. Create Gift Love design and make personalised keepsake gifts and accessories to celebrate all of life's special moments, all handmade to order in its UK workshop from sustainable natural materials.

West Barsham Estate is a new holiday retreat perfect for pre- or post-wedding

West Barsham Estate in North Norfolk, is an ideal holiday retreat for friends or families pre- or post-wedding! Enveloped by vast Norfolk skies, 2,500 acres of farmland and just a few miles inland from the county's popular coastline, the remote and beautiful retreat is now offering travellers a special place to stay and explore. Extensively and comprehensively decorated by renowned interior designer Flora Soames, Barsham Barns now comprise six luxury self-catering barns sleeping from four to 14, while Meadow House – the former dower house – sleeps up to 14. Ideal as a couple's getaway or for week-long parties with friends and family, the elegantly decorated barns are also dog-friendly, so no member of the family need be left behind.

The most popular 2023 trends according to Pinterest

To provide insight on the most popular wedding trends for spring 2023, the experts at Aura Print compiled a list of 25 popular trends after scouring Pinterest to discover the number of Pins for each. And here are the top 15 most popular spring 2023 wedding trends to be insipired by...First place for the most popular wedding trend for spring 2023 goes to the floral-themed trend. This trend had 22,148 Pins on the image sharing platform. It can include things like floral arches, flower-themed cakes or flower crowns. With a total of 11,765 Pins, the blue-themed wedding trend places second in the study. The trend also appeared on 116 Pinterest boards from 2022 onwards, cementing its popularity for the upcoming season. What is more, there's been a great interest in navy blue wedding invites, which had a whopping 16,725 Pins.

Alpheton Hall Barns is set in acres of meadows and woodland

Alpheton Hall Barns are part of an ancient settlement comprising Alpheton Hall and the Church of St Peter & St Paul. Set in meadows and woodland at the end of a no-through road, the site was founded by Aelffl aed, whose husband Bryhtnoth, Earl of Essex, was killed at the battle of Maldon in Essex in AD 991.

The venue's two traditional, timber-frame Suffolk Barns, with black timber cladding, are set between the Stackyard Wedding Garden – ideal for your welcome drinks – and Confetti Arboretum; a young wooded area surrounded by long grasses and wildflowers, with a mown grass 'heart' perfect for your confetti run, drone shots and golden-hour photographs.

Fancy a big-day cocktail bar? Check out Whitebox Cocktails

Whitebox Cocktails, the ready-to-serve cocktail specialists, have everything you need to create the ultimate in wedding cocktail offering. From classic cocktails like the Pocket Negroni and Squeezy's Margarita, to unique and refreshing long drinks like Hippy Fizz and Disco Baby, take the hassle out of the perfect pour on your big day with a wide range of ready-to-serve cocktails to suit every taste. Expertly mixed by the award-winning team of bartenders, Whitebox Cocktails' convenient single-serve cans mean there's no need to limit your cocktail menu, as there's no mixing, no mess and no long wait at the bar. For casual weddings, cocktails can be served in ice buckets for guests to help themselves and enjoy straight from the can. Alternately, for a more elevated occasion, simply chill and serve the cocktail in a glass with ice and a garnish of choice.

The best UK cities for a hen do

With Google search volume data revealing a 402% search increase for 'hen party ideas' since December and 2023 wedding season in touching distance, organising a pre-wedding celebration is already on the bridal party to-do list. Getting all of your nearest and dearest pals together for a hen party can be challenging - whether it's catering to availability, budget, activity preferences or dietary requirements. Hen party decoration supplier, Ginger Ray, has done a little digging to find the top 19 UK cities to host your pre-wedding celebrations.

New book launch: The modern couple's guide to wedding speeches

The Modern Couple's Guide to Wedding Speeches is for grooms and brides who want their wedding speeches to be memorable for the right reasons and to kick off their marriage with a bang. This book is intended to benefit you whether you are straight or gay, whatever your religious beliefs are, or where you live. Heidi encourages us to reconsider old traditions, and tear up the outdated rulebook to create a modern wedding guide. Because speeches are such an important part of the day, she encourages couples to think about who they want to give speeches and what they want from the speeches.

The Swan at Lavenham Hotel has a new offer for some much-needed me-time

Weavers' House Spa at The Swan at Lavenham Hotel, Suffolk has a new offer for some much-needed me-time.

Our Place, Your Face includes three blissful hours of using the facilities incuding Weavers' heat and relaxation suites. Indulge in the outdoor vitality pool, heated to 38 degrees, spend time in the sauna and steam room, and unwind in the peaceful lounge – fluffy robe, slippers and towels are provided!

County Wedding Magazines' competition winner!

Here at County Wedding Magazines HQ, we love nothing more than to hear from the winners of our competitions. In the crazy world of wedding planning, it's exciting for us to be able to offer our lovely readers some exciting giveaways and competitions which will hopefully give you a much-needed pick-me-up during on the countdown to your wedding day.

In the Autumn of 2022, CWM ran a competition, 'Win a two-night stay in the heart of The Lakes!' and the winners were nearlyweds Steph and Michael! The lucky pair enjoyed a stay, with dinner, bed and breakfast at The Wild Boar Inn a traditional Lakeland inn with oak beams, log fires, an in-house microbrewery and smokehouse all in the rolling countryside of the Gilpin Valley.

Perfect excuse for some pre-wedding pampering

Mother's Day provides the perfect opporunity to spend some quality time together before upcoming nuptials - and it's the perfect excuse for some pre-wedding pampering for yourself! Relax and unwind in the heart of Suffolk at Bedford Lodge Hotel & Spa, the four AA red star hotel is nestled in three acres of manicured gardens in Newmarket, the ancestral home of British horseracing. Offering luxury throughout, the hotel is home to a two AA rosette restaurant that includes a traditional bar menu, a la carte, and scrumptious afternoon teas! It's spa and dinning packages are also an essential Mother's Day gift, that you both can benefit from....

The Dial House is a grand Georgian, Grade II listed building

Nestled within the heart of Norfolk The Dial House is a grand Georgian, Grade II listed building set in the picturesque and historic Market Town of Reepham – just 30 minutes from the Norfolk Broads National Park as well as the North Norfolk Coastline.

To the front of this historic property, the terrace is quite the sun trap, with shade for those that want it, and is the perfect place to enjoy a drinks reception of local tipple!

10 Most Instagrammed UK Wedding Venues

With over 278,000 UK weddings expected to take place in 2023, there's no doubt that couples across the country are already scrolling through Instagram in search of inspiration! With this in mind, Aura Print has discovered the most Insta-worthy and beautiful wedding venues of the UK. Analysing over 200 venues around the UK, they searched Instagram to discover which venue was being talked about most, narrowing it down to the 10 most desirable wedding venue locations in the UK.

How to save money on your next wedding gift

Receiving an invitation to a wedding is always an exciting time. However, deciding what gift to buy the couple, and especially how much to spend, can be daunting - now more so than ever due to the increased cost of living. Data from VoucherCodes.co.uk reveals guests will spend an average of £113.39 for each gift they buy when attending a wedding which, for many of us, is a hefty amount. Anita Naik, Savings Expert at the UK's most trusted savings site VoucherCodes.co.uk, has some great tips on how to save money on your upcoming wedding gifts without skimping on the sentiment:

Marnie’s Bakery is known for its unique and creative wedding cakes

Marnie's Bakery, based in Sudbury, Suffolk, is known for its unique and creative wedding cakes. Using locally sourced ingredients – free range eggs from Knights Hill Farm in Cockfield – and homemade jams, curds and fillings ensure the most outstanding flavour and uphold its sustainable practices. Baker and owner Lillie Marnie will guide you through the process of choosing your big-day bake allowing you to have a truly memorable experience.

Call 07895 141 025 or visit www.marniesbakery.co.uk

Unique theatre venues for your vows and and bows!

Finding the wedding venue of your dreams can be a difficult task, especially if you're looking for something with a little less traditional with a little more drama. According to Google trend data, searches for 'unique wedding venues' have seen an uplift of 769% in the last month, and more specifically, searches for 'theatre weddings' have risen by an enormous 1250%. SeatPlan reveal the most unique, musical, dramatic, and theatrical wedding venues around the UK, so you can be centre stage and in the spotlight on your big day.

Holmewood Hall offers 10 acres of well-kept grounds and parklands

Nestled in the Cambridgeshire countryside, Holmewood Hall offers 10 acres of well-kept grounds and parklands that provide a secluded retreat for couples who want to enjoy an escape to a country manor.

A characterful and charming Gothic Tudor-style house, its imposing red-brick exterior offers a striking backdrop. Steeped in history, the hall is bursting with 18th-century period features, from its grand fireplaces and ornate ceilings to floor-to-ceiling windows and wooden panelling. Holmewood Hall offers either an indoor ceremony room the Gold Room, seating up to 77, or a picturesque al fresco option in the Bandstand. If you want to make an entrance, the Gold Room has a 50-foot-long aisle with an ornate 18-carat gold leaf ceiling, a beautiful period fireplace, aisle mirror and stained-glass windows.

Weddings don't need to cost the earth

With nearlyweds looking to opt for more sustainable choices when planning their nuptials, Talking Tables' new wedding rental scheme ensures this special occasion will look beautiful, without costing the earth. Would be spouses can choose from its best-selling tall glass candle holders in a variety of colours to suit every theme, both clear and brightly coloured bud vases, and handmade silver stainless steel plates and bowls. Tables can be exquisitely dressed for a fraction of the cost to buy and be happy knowing the items will bring more joy to others rather than sitting in the back of your cupboard - a sustainable solution!

5 songs to avoid on your big day

On top of organising flowers, dresses, venues and speeches, choosing the music for your wedding is yet another decision to make. But where do you even begin? The options are seemingly endless and the song you do pick will be the one that you define as 'yours' for the rest of your lives together. Wedding decor specialists Ginger Ray have crunched the numbers to reveal which songs and artists have made it onto the most Spotify wedding playlists and could be, dare we say it... overdone. So, whether you want to embrace the most popular choices (they are favourites for good reason after all) or whether you want to know which songs to avoid if you are looking to create a more unique soundtrack for your big day, here is Wedding Spotify, Wrapped.

Bable & Co is offering readers who book a free audio guest book worth £249

Based in Suffolk, Bable & Co. provide a luxury photo booth hire service across East Anglia. Made in England, its Everybooth design is the most luxurious in the world with high-end technology; it's been handcrafted to perfection, guaranteeing studio-quality photos every time. As well as a DSLR camera, the booth is equipped with professional lighting, a top-of-the-line printer and touch screens. As well photos you can make GIFs and videos, and immediately share and print them for guests. In addition to this, the booth is fully portable without the need for power or cables from the mains.