Your East Anglian Wedding news and ideas from around the region

How I Planned My Wedding Without Losing My Mind (or My Fiancé)

With a whopping 84% admitting they felt overwhelmed in the run-up to the big day, and over a quarter calling it the most stressful time of their lives, it's no wonder many brides hit breaking point before they even walk down the aisle. But help is at hand! Jewellery brand Abbott Lyon spoke to real brides Jacky and Annabelle, who share the wedding day hacks that helped them stay cool, calm, and collected through meltdowns, menu dramas, and mother-in-law madness—proving that bridal bliss is possible, even when the pressure's on.

The perfect spa day offers for summer brides!

Calling all Suffolk brides-to-be! Whether you're after a glowing facial and a flawless manicure to help you look and feel your big-day best, or simply seeking a soothing spa day with your besties to celebrate this special time, The Spa at Bedford Lodge Hotel has a spa package for you! The Summer Glow Spa Day is ideal for brides wanting to achieve a glow from head to toe. This indulgent experience includes three luxurious treatments; all carefully selected to enhance the natural glow and boost their all-over body confidence. It's the perfect way for brides to prepare for their important day.

Orsett 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 Orsett Hall, Essex, for inspiration on Sunday 21st September, 2025! Sister company to County Wedding Magazines, the event brings couples 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.

Warning to Hen and Stag Parties: Avoid These Common Mistakes

Your wedding is one of the most important days of your life, that's why The Wedding Travel Company has partnered with a former BA flight attendant to give their top tips on travelling for your destination wedding this summer. "Destination weddings are continuing to grow in popularity, with more and more people looking to escape the UK for weddings abroad in areas such as Greece, Italy, Spain and Cyprus. Though planning your wedding can sometimes be demanding, you should be able to enjoy the lead up, feeling as stress-free as possible", explains Kim Deller, Concierge Executive at The Wedding Travel Company.

HOW MUCH SHOULD YOU REALLY GIFT AT WEDDINGS IN 2025?

Wedding season is fast approaching – and while many Brits are busy outfit-hunting or booking hotels, there's one part of the big day that continues to cause confusion - how much money should you actually spend on the happy couple? It's a question thousands of guests are turning to the internet for. In fact, Google searches for 'how much money should you give for a wedding gift' have soared by a whopping 5,000% over the past month*, proving just how panicked Brits are about getting it right.

Jewellery expert debunks the most common engagement myths

When it comes to engagements, traditions run deep – but not all of them hold up today. From outdated rules about who should propose to the history behind getting down on one knee, there are plenty of myths which may not reflect how couples approach engagements today. Lorna Haddon, Head of Diamonds and Jewellery at Beaverbrooks, said: "Getting engaged can be one of the most exciting life experiences for those in love – but it can sometimes be a nervous experience for those doing the proposing, with so many traditions to remember.

The 2025 Hen Party Trends - According to TikTok

Whether you're jetting off to Mykonos, booking out a villa in Spain, or hosting a garden party at home, 2025's hen dos are all about creating unforgettable moments — and capturing them in style. With TikTok leading the charge in how Gen Z and Millennials plan pre-wedding celebration and searches for 'hen party' up +118%, jewellery brand Abbott Lyon scrolled through the feeds, trends and reels to bring you the ultimate hen party playbook. From must-have themes to viral activities, this is your go-to guide for planning a hen party that you'll never forget.

Celebrate Afternoon Tea Week at Bedford Lodge Hotel

This Afternoon Tea Week (11–17 August), Bedford Lodge Hotel & Spa in Newmarket, Suffolk, offers a celebration steeped in both flavour and heritage. Once home to the Duchess of Bedford, who famously helped establish the afternoon tea ritual, this award-winning Georgian hotel continues the tradition with style. Guests can enjoy a luxurious Afternoon Tea in Squires Restaurant or unwind with an Afternoon Tea Spa Day, both served with a complimentary glass of Billecart-Salmon Champagne during Afternoon Tea Week.

Nearly half of newlyweds will experience post-wedding blues this year

As we quickly approach the start of wedding season, many brides and grooms will be amping up for the best day of their lives. While the happiness of wedding days is well explored, the lull that comes afterwards is barely spoken about and not a feeling newlyweds are warned of, leading to potential feelings of isolation. Exclusive data from engagement and wedding ring experts at Queensmith has revealed that 40% of recently married couples experience some form of post-wedding blues. An experience of sadness, letdown, or emptiness that is often the first thing to hit couples after their honeymoon - a hangover from the heady highs of wedding planning.

Unique wedding trends 2025: Film photography surges 50%

Three in five couples plan to incorporate unique elements into their wedding, and with the world of choice at the end of our fingertips, inspiration is flying in from all angles. But which of the net's most loved delights have seen the most significant interest surges since last summer? To find out, the team at Aura Print scoured social media platforms to discover what's been hot, and gathered Pinterest and Google Trends data to reveal their most adored trends that have shot up since last summer.

Threads Bridal Becomes Coco & Pearl

Formally known as Threads Bridal, Coco & Pearl is under new ownership with Hannah taking the helm. Hannah says, "Keeping the same ethos as Threads Bridal, we strive to keep sustainability at the heart of everything we do. We sell sustainably sourced bridal items that are either second-hand, end-of-line, samples, or sometimes unworn but simply pre-owned. We also offer bridal alterations, in-house for our brides, to make it as easy as possible for you."

Happily ever after - making plans for the future

As nearlyweds, you may not be thinking about what happens beyond the end of your natural lives together - that's not the exciting bit - Katharine Bundell, a barrister at 4PB shares advice in this article that could make your loved ones' lives a lot easier if anything happens to you. Death and taxes remain fairly inevitable. On 16th May 2025 the Law Commission published its recommendations on wills and proposed a new statute. This is the first significant reconsideration since the Wills Act 1837 which is still effective today. Life was quite different in 1837. Queen Victoria ascended the throne aged 18 years old. Any property owned by a women on marriage was transferred automatically to her husband. It would be 40 years before Thomas Edison lit up the first electric lightbulb.

Wonderland Bakehouse: Heart and Art Between Every Layer

Based in Ipswich, Wonderland Bakehouse is a cake studio known for creating elegant, bespoke wedding cakes that combine beauty, flavour, and meaning. Founded by cake artist Nadiia Hoian, the studio proudly serves Suffolk, Essex, and beyond; the company has just been named Most Innovative Wedding Cake Design Studio in Suffolk, at the 2025 Global Wedding Awards. This recognition celebrates Nadiia's artistic approach to wedding cakes: each design is handcrafted to reflect the couple's story, personal style, and vision. From delicate faux tiers to intricate sugar flowers and custom cake boards, no detail is overlooked.

Why the bar at your wedding shouldn’t be an afterthought

In the grand orchestration of a wedding, couples often obsess over floral arrangements, lighting design and detailed seating charts. The dress, the photographer, the five-course dinner - each element is painstakingly curated. And yet, one of the most powerful forces behind a wedding's success is consistently left until the eleventh hour: the bar! Let's be honest, it's not often you hear a couple say: "First things first, let's lock in a great bar team." But maybe they should. "You can spend months working on the seating plan or deciding the perfect shade of napkin, but if the bar's giving bored function-room energy, it can all quickly lose its magic," says Luke Shelton-Sharp, co-founder of room two, the London-based cocktail studio and event planner.

The Number Wedding Etiquette Mistakes Guests Make, According To Expert

Picture this: you're scrolling through a friend's wedding photos and spot someone in flip-flops at a black-tie garden party, or worse, a guest in head-to-toe white stealing focus from the bride. Sound familiar? These fashion faux pas happen more often than you'd think at summer weddings. Thanks to outdoor ceremonies and relaxed vibes, many guests assume summer weddings mean anything goes. But according to wedding specialist Nick Bramer from Country House Weddings, a family-run business specialising in exclusive-use wedding venues across the UK, this casual approach often backfires spectacularly.

Marquis Suffolk is Expanding!

Marquis Suffolk is incredibly delighted and proud to have opened its exclusive spa and wedding venue as an extension to the existing hotel and restaurant facilities. Alongside the incredible wellness space, there's the addition of four luxurious bedrooms, a picturesque Italian Garden, wedding and events venue, an Orangery, and a Lounge Bar to give guests the most memorable experiences for all occasions.

Hen Party Treats- Big Day Cakes

To begin planning your hen party you need to set a budget first so you can make sure you'll still have enough money to spend on your actual wedding. Once that's decided you need to choose a theme and factor in the cost of the decorations and other things you may buy. You'll also have to create a guest list consisting of only your closest friends before moving onto picking the date, location and some activities to do. In need of some inspiration for what to do at your hen party? There is a variety of options to choose that will fit your fancy venturing from whether you want to do something adventurous like rock climbing or canyoning or perhaps you'd prefer to spend the day calming down and doing something relaxing such as having a spa day or afternoon tea.

How Much Should You Really Gift At Weddings In 2025?

Many people are unsure of how much money to give when they attend a wedding, statistics showed Google searches for 'how much money should you give for a wedding gift' soared by a whopping 5,000% in April of 2025 alone and 11% of guests go into debt just to attend a wedding, with the average spend hitting £451. Anita Naik, Savings Expert at VoucherCodes, has broken down exactly what you should spend based on your relationship to the couple, plus clever tricks to make your gift feel luxe on a budget.

Fancy a Jewellery Making Class?

Norfolk's bespoke jewellery designer April Dace is opening the doors to her new studio-workshop in central Dereham — and with it, launching an unforgettable experience for nearlyweds. Nestled just behind Flow Craft Café, and moments from Dereham's main car parks, April's new space is warm, welcoming and filled with the tools and treasures of her craft. It's here that April will offer jewellery-making classes, one-to-one tutoring, and the much-anticipated Couples Wedding Ring Making Experience.

How to Beat the Heat: Tips for a Comfortable Summer Wedding

A summer wedding sounds like a dream, and it often is. Long days and gorgeous sunshine can make your big day truly unforgettable. But there's one little guest that always turns up uninvited during summer: the heat. No one wants to be a sweaty mess in their wedding photos but luckily with a bit of planning, you can keep everyone cool and comfortable from start to finish. Leading wedding experts, The Foxy Hen explains how. If you're going for a full-day celebration, think about having the ceremony indoors or under cover, then move the party outside once the sun starts to ease off.