Your Berks, Bucks and Oxon Wedding news and ideas from around the county

Enjoy a charity ball at The Castle Hotel Windsor on Friday 11th October 2024

Enjoy a night of glamour and giving at a charity ball at The Castle Hotel Windsor on Friday 11th October 2024. Sir Richard Sutton Ltd is proud to announce its partnership with two remarkable charities: Run Kids Run and Thames Hospice. This collaboration culminates in a spectacular charity ball, a special occasion providing a platform to support these worthy causes while enjoying an evening of refined entertainment and community spirit. The charity ball promises an evening of elegance and excitement, perfectly blending the rich heritage of Windsor with the art of giving. The night will begin with a reception, featuring a champagne welcome. This initial gathering offers a chance for attendees to network, meet like-minded individuals, and share in the anticipation of the night's events.

Indulge in a family-friendly afternoon tea at the Royal Berkshire hotel this Afternoon Tea Week

This week is officially Afternoon Tea Week and guests at the Royal Berkshire can take a seat to indulge in a delicious afternoon tea, either in The Polo Bar, Fork restaurant, or outside on the charming terrace. Those visiting will enjoy this quintessential English tradition in a gorgeous setting. Head chef Jamie Brown and his team are behind the menu, which features seasonal and locally sourced ingredients. Highlights include honey roast ham and wholegrain mustard sandwiches, Earl Grey tiramisu and Baileys cheesecake. It's available all year round from 12:00 pm until 5:00 pm daily, Monday to Friday in The Polo Bar or garden terrace (weather permitting) and Saturday and Sunday in Fork restaurant, £42 pp. There's 15% off Adult Afternoon Tea during August.

Alcohol-free options for weddings with Mocktails

For those looking for booze-free options this wedding season, Mocktails Uniquely Crafted, is the non-alcoholic premium cocktail brand perfect for big-day guests! The alcohol-free, ready-to-drink beverages are perfect for those looking to offer a range of beverages at their wedding. Mocktails showcase a delectable collection of flavours, each carefully crafted with the finest ingredients, spices, and botanicals sourced from around the world. Mockarita - A zesty twist on the classic Margarita. Notes of lime, quinine and acacia flower with a refreshingly tart finish. Here at County Wedding Magazines HQ we're finding it hard to choose our favourite... Mocksow Mule anyone?

CWM partnership with Maya Deluxe and Dower & Hall for an exciting prize giveaway!

County Wedding Magazines has teamed up with Maya Deluxe and Dower & Hall for an exciting prize giveaway for our reader and social media followers! If you like or follow all three brands on either Facebook or Instagram, you'll be in with a chance of winning a £350 Dower & Hall gift voucher which can be redeemed online, as well as a £250 gift voucher for Maya Deluxe – that's jewellery and bridesmaids sorted for your wedding day leaving you more time and more budget to crack on with the rest of the wedding planning. Read on to find out more details about the brands and how to enter!

Autumnal fragrances from Woodwick and Yankee Candle

Connect to nature with scents and colours drawn from the breathtaking outdoors with the cosy new Autumn collection from Yankee Candle®, Cottage Getaway. Inspired by the nostalgic roots of outdoor adventures, and the natural beauty of our world, the collection seeks to spark creativity and inspiration, whilst bringing family and friends together. Launching in August 2024, the collection includes three warming fragrances, Woodland Weekend Memories, Pumpkin Cinnamon Swirl, and Afternoon Scrapbooking. This comforting selection of candles is perfect for reliving cherished moments at home as the late summer falls away and the new season settles n. Relax into Autumn with fragrances that ignite the senses, whilst the bright greens fade from the leaves and dusk draws in earlier by the day.

The Vintage Dresser hires everything needed for a wedding afternoon tea

Debbie Scott is the owner of The Vintage Dresser, a family-run business hiring exquisite fine-bone vintage china and accessories for weddings in Berkshire and nearby counties. Debbie offers a complimentary consultation with every hire package to ensure the perfect fit. She tells us, "Elegant and quintessentially English, this afternoon tea set up has all the finishing touches including quirky sugar tongs, silver-plated cake forks and bone-handled butter knives. The vibrancy of the fine-bone china creates an elegant backdrop for a wedding breakfast. Guests will love the floral patterned china tea sets and beautiful three-tiered cake stands." Debbies adds, "The classic elegance of the gilded chintz collection adds a touch of glamour while the subtle pastels of the Harlequin collection are in a variety of colours."

Oxfordshire-based Caroline Davidge Bridal reveals sustainable hand-crafted veils

Oxfordshire-based designer Caroline uses recycled materials as much as she can in her designs to be sustainable. She tells us, "Most of the sewing threads used in my veils are recycled. A tip for brides-to-be who are planning to wear a veil is to research a designer who makes veils to order. Also, look for a veil that is good quality so that it can be worn again. This could be by selling it after the wedding day, lending it to a friend who is a bride-to-be as something borrowed or even as an heirloom piece." Caroline adds. "The veils in my Classic Collection, pictured, are designed to compliment many different styles of bridal gowns and they're all well made to last."

Visit a Signature Wedding Show to win a mini-break with Classic Lodges

County Wedding Events, in association with Classic Lodges, is offering two overnight stays for two people to include a glass of Lanson Champagne on arrival, a three-course dinner and either a full English Breakfast or continental. What's more, the break can be taken at any Classic Lodges-owned property! Visitors must pre-register and attend a Signature Wedding Show to have the chance to win a mini-break courtesy of Classic Lodges. Terms and conditions apply.

The Future Looks Bright for The Feathered Nest Inn

Nestled in the heart of the picturesque village of Nether Westcote in Oxfordshire, The Feathered Nest Inn combines 350 years of rich history with countryside charm. Originally a malt house, this traditional Cotswolds pub now offers 3 AA Rosette cuisine, four boutique bedrooms, a dog-friendly cottage perfect for wedding guests wanting to book accommodation in the area and unrivalled countryside views. The inn is located just a 90-minute train journey from London in the quintessential English countryside and with plans for eight additional bedrooms approved in a stand-alone new property on-site, the future of this charming hideaway looks brighter than ever.

County Wedding Events comes to Chenies Manor, Buckinghamshire

If you're newlyweds-to-be embarking on your wedding planning journey, pop along to the County Wedding Events wedding show at Chenies Manor in Rickmansworth, for inspiration on Sunday 1st September 2024! 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.

Instant photos make for lasting memories!

poignant keepsake for guests or a photo album. Instant photos make for lasting memories! The INSTAX mini 12 (£79.99) is the perfect product for guest use. Place on tables or dot them around the venue to allow for guests to personalise their memories, and most importantly, take them home. The INSTAX mini Evo (£174.99) is another great option for capturing what's important. The retro-themed exterior is fitting for those vintage-themed weddings – place next to the guest book so photos can be added straight in. The INSTAX SQUARE (£129.99) is a modern option for those photographic keepsakes. Connect the devise to phones and print polaroid straight from the camera roll. Instant photos are irreplaceable.

Popular local pizzeria set to open flagship restaurant at Maidenhead's Waterside Quarter

Popular Maidenhead pizzeria, Presto, has announced the opening of its flagship restaurant at Waterside Quarter this September, taking up the final unit in the exciting development. The new location will allow Presto to expand its menu and deliver a new and improved dining experience to the local community. The new restaurant will be located directly next to the waterway complimenting the buzzing atmosphere. In addition to its renowned Neapolitan pizzas, Presto will offer a selection of delicious Italian street foods, Roman-style pizzas by the slice and a variety of artisanal desserts and bakery items, as guests enjoy dining in the picturesque setting.

Elope in style - expert advice

Couples are rewriting the script on what it means to say "I do". Over the past 12 months, searches for 'elopement weddings UK' are up +83%, 'elopement wedding packages UK' increased by +85%, and 'intimate weddings UK' have grown by +89%¹. This has highlighted a clear demand amongst couples for intimate weddings. To find out what has motivated this trend, wedding decoration experts at Ginger Ray have conducted a survey of those engaged and in the midst of planning an elopement to see what their special day will look like. Why are elopements becoming more popular? Topping the list of factors driving couples towards intimate weddings is the quest to manage expenses. More than a third (32%) of respondents highlighted financial constraints as the primary factor influencing their decision to opt for a smaller celebration.

Say yes to saving for the big day - Top tips from Rathbones

Top tips from Kindar Brown, Senior Financial Planner at Rathbones Group Plc on budgeting together for the important day. A wedding is the beginning of a new chapter and likely one of the most important days of your life. While the day itself should be full of joy and stress free, a lot of our time and money goes into pre-wedding planning, to make sure this is the case. The cost of living crisis and sticky inflation are impacting prices across the board and wedding suppliers are no exception. For those gearing up for their wedding day, Kindar shares her top tips for anyone putting a budget together for that important day.

The Rathfinny Terrace partners with The Feathered Nest

Award-winning, English sparkling grower-producer, Rathfinny Wine Estate partners with Cotswolds gastropub, The Feathered Nest, for a summer offering on their beautiful terrace overlooking the Evenlode Valley. The traditional 15th-century inn – located 7 miles from the historic village of Bourton-on-the-Water – is a hidden gem for food and wine lovers, offering a high-quality restaurant with rooms. The terrace will feature a bespoke Rathfinny bar, ice buckets, cushions and blankets, perfect for guests to relax. Having been loyal supporters of the vintage winemaker for a while, The Feathered Nest is honoured to be partnering with Rathfinny this summer to showcase their portfolio of Sussex sparkling wines throughout the restaurant including with the afternoon tea, bar menu and tasting menu.

Most popular TikTok wedding car revealed

Gone are the days of a horse-drawn carriage or a Rolls Royce pulling up to the wedding chapel, now it's all about modern cars! Couples across the UK are planning their dream weddings, with a twist. Searches for 'modern wedding cars' have surged by 60% in the last month according to Google Trends, signalling a shift from traditional vintage choices to sleek, contemporary vehicles that add a touch of modern elegance to the special day. ATS Euromaster, the tyre, MOT and vehicle services provider, has analysed TikTok hashtags and trends to reveal the changing popularity of wedding cars, both vintage and modern. Additionally, ATS has estimated rental costs for three-hour periods to help couples choose the perfect car for their special day.

PoB Hotels Presents Get Set, and Go - Tailored Breaks Inspired by Britain’s Favourite Sports

PoB Hotels, with properties in Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Cornwall and Devon presents Get Set, and Go - tailored breaks inspired by Britain's favourite sports. Ahead of an exciting summer of sport, PoB Hotels is encouraging guests to plan their own athletic staycation, pursuing their favourite British sport, or trying their hand at something new. 'Get Set, and Go' from PoB Hotels features a variety of PoB Breaks predominantly centred around Britain's five most-loved sports, inspiring guests to embrace their inner sportsman or woman in idyllic locations across the country, staying at some of the finest independent hotels around the British Isles.

National Art Pass - perfect wedding gift for culture lovers

A National Art Pass is a great way to enjoy time at hundreds of museums, galleries and historic places across the UK, and the Double Membership makes the perfect wedding gift for any culture lovers! Annual membership is only £88.50* and lets the happy couple enjoy free entry to hundreds of cultural destinations, plus 50% off major exhibitions, and special shop and café discounts. What's more, two cards will be issued for the happy couple!

Say 'I do' to shared planning - wedding expert shares tips for involving family and friends

Amy Greenshields, wedding expert at Card Factory has shared 7 tips to help you let your loved ones contribute.

Asking for help can be hard but getting friends and family involved in wedding planning can not only lighten the load but will also make them feel included and valued. Wedding planning contains many different elements, from table designs and seating charts to your floral bouquet, everything must be accounted for. A bride normally has the most influence over everything wedding-related, leading to as state of overwhelming stress. Why not share out the responsibilities – even the little ones can have a job!

QHotels Collection with a property in Oxford announces summer sale

The QHotels Collection, with a property in Oxford has launched its summer sale offering incredible discounted packages at its numerous destinations across the UK. Whether you're planning a family staycation, a romantic escape, or a fun retreat with friends, there's something for everyone with stays from just £44 per person! As the holiday season approaches, here's your chance to plan a summer mini-break at some of Britain's best destinations, with up to 25% off. The QHotels Collection is thrilled to announce its special summer sale, offering incredible discounted packages at its numerous destinations across the UK. Whether you're planning a family staycation, a romantic escape, or a fun retreat with friends, there's something for everyone.