Your East Anglian Wedding news and ideas from around the region

Travel Chaps will help you plan the perfect honeymoon

There is so much to do when planning your wedding, but your honeymoon shouldn't be a cause of stress; travel consultants Travel Chaps excel at making the whole process as simple and easy as possible.

Travel Chaps pride themselves on being fabulous travel consultants that specialise in booking honeymoons. Based in Lincoln, Lincolnshire, this dynamic duo will do all the leg work for you and present to you the dream honeymoon you may not have known you dreamt of. Bringing fantasy to reality, they spend their time curating all the small details to ensure your honeymoon really is a once in a lifetime trip and more than you could have imagined.

Trinity Hall is one of Cambridge's oldest colleges

Dating back to 1350, Trinity Hall is one of the oldest Cambridge colleges. Set around a series of historic courtyards, the property boasts beautiful gardens, manicured lawns and fantastic river views.

Trinity Hall welcomes wedding bookings during college vacations in the spring, summer and at Christmas. The college includes a wealth of historic buildings and interesting architectural features ranging from the Medieval period through to the present day.

Maileg Wedding Mice back at Bluebell's Burrow

Award-winning, family-run toy business, Bluebell's Burrow, is one of the UK's leading stockists of Maileg toys. These super-stylish, picture-perfect collectable toys are loved by both children and adults. With the wedding season fast-approaching, Maileg Wedding Mice Set (priced at £64) comes in a pretty presentation box, which opens up to reveal the bride and groom on their wedding day. Their clothes and accessories are removable, providing dress-up opportunities and imaginative play for children.

Bizarre wedding traditions: The Eurovision edition

Wedding traditions are dramatically different around the world. From the type of cake served to the attire of the bride, you'll be amazed at what happens on wedding days around the continent. To celebrate Eurovision 2023 taking place in the vibrant city of Liverpool, engagement and wedding ring experts at Steven Stone have rounded up some of the most bizarre traditions from participating countries – including the Big 5.

The do's and don'ts of having pets at weddings

Are you considering including your dog in your wedding festivities? While it can be a lovely way to honour your furry best friend, there are some important considerations to remember to ensure that everything goes smoothly. Dog Behaviourist at Pooch & Mutt Dr Emma Scales-Theobald, PhD, shares the do's and don'ts of including your dog in your wedding, from making sure your dog is properly trained and socialised to creating a comfortable and safe space for them during the event. These tips will help ensure your dog is happy, healthy, and well-behaved throughout the celebration...

Treat your bridesmaids to a cupcake or chocolate making class

EriVica Cakes in Ipswich, Suffolk, is owned and managed by Terri and Karen. Terri has 20 years of experience in her field and has won several awards. The duo love to design and make every style of cake, from traditional celebration cakes to unusual sculpted creations. Each one is baked and finished on-site, using handcrafted sugar flowers and decorations specific to your design requirements.

Introducing Story Locker’s wedding podcast

With the ever growing popularity of podcasting, welcome to the next big thing which makes podcasting accessible. Story Locker, a one of a kind in the UK podcast recording service that lets participants create a personal podcast based on their life story or to celebrate other special moments in life. The couple can choose to either record their podcast before their wedding day and recall the journey of their love story – from when they first met & the engagement (how it all happened!) to setting the date, the planning and build up to the big day or record their podcast after their wedding day to include memories of the big day too!

Caley Hall Hotel is a must-see venue with a relaxed atmosphere

Tastefully decorated and recently refurbished, Caley Hall Hotel is a must-see venue offering a relaxed atmosphere with a country chic feel. Think wooden beams and tartan carpet, long, beautifully-dressed tables with white cloths and hessian runners, teamed with gypsophila and candlelight for a simple but stylish celebration.

Set around the original manor house, which dates back to 1648, Caley Hall Hotel offers 37 chalet-style bedrooms, a bar, lounge and restaurant. The patio areas are the perfect place for photos, and the beach at Old Hunstanton is only a 10-minute walk away. The wide-open space, beach huts and sand dunes offer a fabulous choice of album-worthy backdrops.

Why Champagne is the number one choice for weddings and celebrations

Champagne naturally goes hand in hand at weddings and there is no shortage of creative ways to share the pinnacle of sparkling wine. The Champagne Bureau UK*, has included useful tips below on how to best serve Champagne at a wedding and help select the right style for the occasion. Using the correct glassware: whilst trends come and go and flutes have commonly been thought of as the crème de la crème - a tall, rounded, tulip-shaped glass is the perfect choice and expertly shows off your Champagne's aromas and bubbles.

#ThisBarbie is getting married! New cards from Thortful

thortful has launched a Barbie card range to send to your bestie on her big day! The internet has been coloured pink with over 107,000 views on Tiktok for #ThisBarbie following the release of a new Barbie trailer. Greetings card marketplace, thortful, has created Barbie cards to send to your nearest and dearest, including 'This Barbie has passed her driving test', and 'This Barbie is getting married'

Celebrate the King's coronation at Bedford Lodge Hotel & Spa

Bedford Lodge Hotel & Spa are celebrating the King's coronation on 8th May with a host of activities, from the delicious delights in the award-winning Squires Restaurant to the ultimate relaxation package fit for Royalty over in the spa.

With the British Afternoon Tea as deeply rooted in longstanding traditions and pageantry as much as the commemorative occasion of a coronation itself, there's no better way to celebrate the new King than by tucking into some mouth-wateringly good finger sandwiches, baked savouries, and warm homemade scones. Carefully curated with His Majesty himself in mind, this celebratory Afternoon Tea is inspired by the reigning monarch and his favourite foods, with nods to the traditional English, Irish and Welsh offerings along the way. All to be enjoyed while overlooking the perfectly manicured gardens and sunny courtyard of Bedford Lodge Hotel.

Avoid a pet custody dispute - get a petnup

Ella Welsby, a senior associate at law firm DMH Stallard and specialist divorce lawyer, explains below how a petnup can help avoid a costly custody battle. Ella Welsby, a senior associate at law firm DMH Stallard and specialist divorce lawyer, said: "We are a nation of animal lovers, but consideration of how pet ownership would be dealt with in the event of a relationship breakdown often comes too late. Given the continued trend for couples to embark on pet ownership as a first foray into family life, it is important to appreciate how to best protect respective interests.

Graduate Cambridge rests in the heart of the city

Graduate Cambridge rests in the heart of the city, but is tucked away just off Mill Lane on the banks of the River Cam, a stone's throw from Scudamore's punting. Modern and bold, the front exterior of the hotel stands out amongst the Gothic buildings the city is known for, while still maintaining Cambridge's quirky charm. Guests can step through the front doors to be met with a space paying homage to its roots, relishing in the hotel's quiet luxury and eclectic style.

5 ways to plan a sentimental bridesmaid proposal

Planning your wedding is such a personalised experience, and getting to do it your own way is part of what makes it so special. With this in mind, have you thought about how you'll ask your bridesmaids to be part of your wedding party? Add a sentimental touch to this moment with these tips from Kirsty Prankherd, Managing Director of Write From The Heart. Getting everything planned for your wedding is such a personal process, and asking your bridesmaid to be in your wedding party is one of those special moments you'll remember long after the event. So naturally, you'll want to add some individual touches to this proposal to make it an even more special moment between you and your friends.

Noble Macmillan is celebrating this year's wedding season

Luxury leather goods brand Noble Macmillan is celebrating this year's wedding season with a stunning collection of exceptional quality, personalised leather gifts. This thoughtfully curated edit includes a variety of exquisite items from their ever popular classic travel games and bound photo albums, to their brand new glassware range, specifically their stunning hand-blown decanters - all would make wonderful additions to any wedding list.

Bable & Co.’s new audio guest book allows your guests to leave you a message

Launched this year, Bable & Co.'s audio guest book will literally be the talk of your guests as they leave you a message on your big day! Based on a retro GPO telephone, the new guest book from this Suffolk-based company is easy to use, simply pick up the receiver and leave your message after the newlyweds' pre-recorded greeting. Clients are supplied with a link to listen back to messages, or you can have them on a USB or even a bespoke vinyl LP – keep the voices of your wedding day forever!

Thorpeness Country Club is located just a stone’s throw from Suffolk’s pebble beach

Located just a stone's throw from Suffolk's pebble beach, Thorpeness Country Club was built over 100 years ago in 1912. Boasting not only superb sea views, but also day-long sunshine during the summer months thanks to its South-East facing position, it's the only beach side wedding venue across the whole of Suffolk and Norfolk.

There are two ceremony options to choose from. The first is the sea view lawn, with views stretching down the coastline of Aldeburgh, it's a real dream come true for those whose life-long wish is to wed outdoors.

The Pantry Bridalwear has relocated to Cambridge city centre

From showstopping separates to head-turning accessories, British brand The Pantry Bridalwear is doing things differently. First opening in the leafy town of Saffron Walden in 2019, its new home, as of September 2022, is in Cambridge city centre. Founded by Eloise Rigby, also the force behind The Pantry Underwear, the store stocks a modern edit of British designers such as Rita Colson and Bon Bridé. However, excitingly, The Pantry Bridalwear has unveiled its first-ever own label collection aiming to help the contemporary bride make a statement on her wedding day.

How to throw a Hen Do on a budget

A typical spend for a Hen Do weekend can cost over £250 per person, taking a big chunk out of the wedding budget. Not only is this a massive cost for the bride, but it could also lead to members of the bridal party worrying about how they can afford such lavish expenses, which may result in them bailing out on the plans. Making arrangements in advance and planning activities ahead of time means both the bride and the party enjoy the celebrations without any falling outs. Sticking to local destinations or opting for activities like bottomless pottery painting over brunch are some of the simple solutions to saving money but still allow everyone to revel in the fun.

Holkham Hall is an 18th-century mansion with the grandest of staterooms

Nestled amid a 3,000-acre rolling deer park, you'll find Holkham Hall, an 18th-century mansion with the grandest of staterooms, each as captivating as the next. From the sumptuous Saloon with its gilded coffered ceiling and rich caffoy walls, and the suitably roman Statue Gallery, to the showstopping Marble Hall with its 50ft domed ceiling, towering columns and sweeping staircase. Its splendid colonnade was inspired by the Temple of Fortuna Virilis, while the breathtaking ceiling is reminiscent of the Pantheon, both in Rome. Overseeing your ceremony from the niches above are statues of ancient Greek and Roman Gods, brought home from Italy by the first Earl of Leiceste.