Your East Anglian Wedding news and ideas from around the region

Mermaid Gin expands its delicious range

The Isle of Wight Distillery has launched Mermaid Zest Gin, a limited-edition, smooth and refreshing grapefruit and gentle juniper London Dry Gin. Mermaid Zest Gin is the fourth addition to the sustainable range which includes Mermaid Gin, Mermaid Pink Gin and Mermaid Salt Vodka. Mermaid Zest Gin is produced in Seaview at the Isle of Wight Distillery, the first and only distillery on the island. Mermaid spirits are shaped by the distillery's stunning surroundings and the unique character of the Isle of Wight, all whilst minimising waste using ethically sourced and often locally sourced ingredients to hand-craft a range of smooth yet complex spirits with a hint of sea air, and the new gin is produced in harmony with the Island's coastal elements, using foraged rock samphire and rosemary.

Thinking about a crash-diet for the wedding? Don't do it!

With wedding season upon us, a new plan, devised by nutrition and fitness experts at PowerWave, the portable home-gym training device, has been launched to help brides (and grooms) get ready for their special day. Created by PowerWave founder "Coach" Jay Laville, its free healthy weight loss guide covers everything from macros to mindset, calories to caffeine and from sugar to sleep. It is also packed full of healthy recipe ideas and inspirational advice from the PowerWave team.

Loved-up Brits turn to puzzles to pop the question

A new craze sweeping the UK is seeing hundreds of people send their partners a puzzle to crack that unlocks a code to a video or text message comprising the four magical words: "Will you marry me?"! However, if you're already engaged fear not, as you can use this same innovative idea for wedding day messages, or asking your loved ones to be your bridesmaid and groomsmen etc. The craze of 'puzzle proposals' was sparked by the launch of a website in July 2020, after a locked down London-based couple, Bobbie Jackson and Will Hall, found themselves with a fair bit of time on their hands. They proceeded to spend the first months of lockdown in their kitchen creating puzzles to surprise family and friends with.

New wedding favour collection from Macmillan Cancer Support

Macmillan's new collection of wedding favours are beautifully crafted and are a great way to thank guests, honour absent friends and raise money for the growing number of people living with cancer in the UK. new range this year includes something to suit every taste, including a variety of cultural and religious favours and rainbow pin badges. 100% of the profits of every wedding favour purchase from Macmillan's shop will help the charity to continue doing whatever it takes to support the millions of people living with cancer across the UK.

Bespoke wedding gifting for celebrity-loving couples

Wedding season is here and to mark the occasion Cameo, the celebrity engagement platform, has analysed data from the site over the past 12 months, finding star James Buckley as the most booked when it comes to helping a couple pop the big question, nail a cheeky hen/stag party video, or to help deliver the perfect message for a wedding gift. Buckley, known best for his performance as Jay Cartwright in the hit comedy series The Inbetweeners has been involved in hundreds of wedding-related Cameo messages, making him the most booked celeb on the platform across all three occasions (engagements, stag / hen parties, wedding gifts).

What to do if your wedding day doesn’t go as planned

Many couples plan their wedding down to even the most minute of details, but ethical jewellery experts at Ingle & Rhode understand that unfortunately no one's big day goes exactly as planned. You may forget something at home, some guests may be late or the day just might not be going how you envisioned it. That's why the team at Ingle & Rhode are giving their advice on what to do if your wedding day doesn't go exactly how you thought it would as well as providing tips on planning ahead with things like photography and weather - we do live n the UK after all!

Start saving for your hen and stag do

According to a study by Hotels.com®, 2022 is the year to go bigger and bolder than ever when it comes to planning your hen/sten/stag do - we're all making up for lost time over the past two years! After 2020/21 nearlyweds had to reschedule a stag or hen party, this year revellers are using more holiday days and spending more money than ever to celebrate their friend's final months of unmarried life in style. The study found the average pre-wedding celebration now costs a whopping £242 compared to the more subtle cost of £150 in 2012. Nearly 47% of those surveyed believe that these pre-wedding celebrations have become more extravagant over the last decade, with 46% of travellers believing it's because people have been saving up and have larger budgets to spend on these special occasions over the pandemic.

Scotland to run out of kilts this summer as wedding bookings soar

Scotland could run out of kilts this summer with many suppliers already closing their books due to record demand. With two years of delayed weddings now able to go ahead, along with this year's planned ceremonies, the iconic ceremonial dress is in short supply meaning the unthinkable could happen; Scotland may actually run out of kilts! David Dalrymple of A1 Kilt Hire said, "We have never seen such a high level of demand for kilt hire. The pandemic has created a record number of wedding bookings for the summer; some people have been waiting since early 2020 to tie the knot, there's also those people who cancelled in 2021 plus couples who had always planned to get married in 2022 all trying to secure a kilt for their big day. Everyone needs one at the same time and although we've managed to accommodate all requests so far, others have already reached their capacity for the whole summer."

The songs millennials want played for their first dance

Over the past year, UK searches for 'first dance songs 2022' have increased by +1,300%, whilst searches for 'first dance ideas for non-dancers have increased by +300% showing that more couples are looking for inspiration. The first dance is likely to be one of the most memorable moments of your wedding, so naturally, newlyweds are determined to pick the most suitable song. A decision needs to be made whether to choose an old classic or maybe the new love song that's currently in the charts.

World Martini Day 18th June - shaken or stirred?

World Martini Day - which could also be James Bond day! - is on the 18th June. And whether you like it shaken like Mr Bond himself, or stirred for something different, wet or dry, however you like your favourite tipple celebrate with five Gin Martini cocktails from Aviation Gin, Cotswolds Dry Gin, Mermaid Gin, Pinkster Gin and Perthyn Low Alcohol Spirit. What's more, the following provides drinks-piration for wedding day cocktails you might want to try... here at County Wedding Magazines HQ we can't pick our fav! Bottoms up!

Speak up! Wedding Toasts 101

Author of new book Wedding Toasts 101 The Guide to the Perfect Wedding Speech, Pete Honsberger, walks the reader through the building blocks of making a great speech, anecdotes and advice from past weddings, and an easy-to-follow checklist to make sure you hit all your points. An essential read for the wedding couple and the bridal party, this humorous guide will take the fear out of public speaking - what's more you might even enjoy it!

Summer nights at The Spa at Bedford Lodge...

The beauty of lighter evenings during the summer, means that people can still enjoy the spa, no matter what time of day and, set in the heart of Newmarket, The Spa at Bedford Lodge is the perfect spot to relax as the summer evenings wind down. Retaining the charm of a country house whilst offering the best in modern comfort and luxury, the below packages are perfect for those light summer evenings of relaxation after work - and certainly the perfect excuse to take a break from the wedmin!

Yes you can! New launch from Vin du Can

Newly launched Vin du Can, is a convenient single serve wine in a can perfect for al fresco drinking this summer at wedding celebrations. Whether it's on the day itself, or a pre- or post-wedding get-togethers, the range includes three varietals, Pale Rosé, French Sauvignon Blanc and Argentinian Malbec. All three are vegan friendly and packaged in aluminium cans which are fast to chill and 100% recyclable. The Vin du Can logo sits prominently at the front of the can and is surrounded by etched wine glasses and a number of these represent fun line drawings of people and animals.

UK wedding guests to spend £15.6 billion in 2022

Spending by wedding guests has risen again this year as they enjoy a return to restriction-free ceremonies across the UK in 2022. New research from American Express reveals that British wedding goers will spend £883 on average to attend each wedding this year equating to £15.6 billion across the population, with guests spending more on accommodation, travel, outfits and hair, beauty & grooming compared to 2021. Of those who have or are planning to spend more on weddings this year, a third (33%) say this is because they want to celebrate with friends and family who they haven't seen as much due to the pandemic, while 27% say they are happier to spend more now that restrictions have been removed.

Top ways to save money and have that dream wedding

With wedding season now in full swing, brides and grooms to be will all agree that with so much to plan for, from clothes and shoes to flowers and photography, costs can soon escalate. But saying 'I do' doesn't mean you have to break the bank, Anita Naik, Consumer Editor at VoucherCodes.co.uk shares this brilliant money saving tip to help make your dream big day a little more cost effective... and it's all in the timing!

7 things to consider when planning a same-sex wedding

June is Pride month! Unbelievably, same-sex weddings are fairly new in the UK, having only become legal in 2014, so for LGBTQ+ couples planning their big day, it's about doing what feels right for you as a couple. Lisa Forde, wedding expert and founder of stationery favourites Tree of Hearts, said: "A wedding is all about celebrating your special love for one another so if anything that is deemed a 'wedding tradition' that doesn't make sense to you or feels outdated then you can simply ignore it.

Loving all things wedding? Check out this new novel

If while planning your wedding day you have fallen in love with the wonderful world of weddings, then this new release from Katy Birchall, The Wedding Season will certainly keep you in the wedding bubble. The perfect accompaniment when taking a break from the wed min, this will have you laughing out loud! Freya Scott is getting married. Her wedding to Matthew, her long-term boyfriend, is the first of eight in her calendar this year, and as someone who prides herself on being meticulously organised, Freya is intent on making it the perfect day to remember....

Introducing Gastrono-me Cambridge

Beautiful, crave-worthy dishes, creative cocktails, and a strict good-vibes-only policy – Gastrono-me has officially opened its doors on Bridge Street in Cambridge. Providing the perfect environment for a pre- or -post-wedding get together, Gastrono-me are self-confessed flavour junkies, serving up breakfast, bottomless brunch, lunch, supper, and everything in between. Dishes that you will remember long after your visit and will crave to eat again and again. The dishes chosen for their eclectic menus tell a story of far-flung places and ones right on your doorstep. All made with passion, vibrancy, and zing. From your first brew of the day to bottomless brunch with the gang or a romantic date for two, Gastrono-me is the ultimate go-to for fun from the start of the day to bedtime.

Top hen and stag do destinations revealed for 2022

Following research, findings by the UK's leading savings site VoucherCodes.co.uk reveal that, when it comes to stag, hen and sten parties, there are several cities that go hand in hand with these pre-wedding celebrations. Many of those painting the town white this year are set to make their mark in London (21%), with Manchester (11%) and Liverpool (9%) following closely behind. Those travelling further afield, are set to hit the streets of Dublin (5%) and Ibiza (4%). Despite such glam locations making it to the list of most popular destinations, a third of disgruntled guests say costs have now gotten out of hand. Almost one in three (32%) say the cost of a UK party is almost the same as going abroad, while 24% feel an expectation from the happy couple to go overseas.

How much to spend on wedding day gifting?

The average cost of being a wedding guest is £541.90 which includes a new outfit, somewhere to stay, drinks and, of course, a gift. To help cut down some of this cost, the personal finance experts at Ocean Finance have run the numbers to reveal how much is appropriate to spend on a wedding present, depending on where you sit in the wedding party and whether you have an invite to the whole day or just the evening!