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

The Speech Surgery part two - icebreakers and tips for the best man

The Speech Surgery part two, Heidi Ellert McDermott shares her tips on icebreakers and advice for the best man. The wedding speech tradition is as prevalent as ever and is still very much one of the key parts of the day. For some, public speaking comes quite naturally, and they wouldn't think twice about standing up and 'performing' on cue, while for others it may cause sleepless nights and anxiety but the pressure of pleasing a loved one means you can't say no! Fear not, whether you're a pro and want to heighten your speech, or a novice and you need some advice on how to settle those nerves, Heidi is here to answer your all-important questions...

Celebrate Valentine's Day at The Loch & The Tyne

Hidden in the idyllic countryside of Old Windsor, The Loch & the Tyne is the perfect countryside escape to cosy up with your loved one this Valentine's Day. Having just been awarded a Michelin Bib Gourmand, chef Adam Handling's flavourful and creative pub dishes are the perfect elevated, yet comforting meal. The Valentine's tasting menu is a feast for the senses, created by Adam's long-standing trusted co-chef proprietors, Jonny McNeil and Steven Kerr. Start your meal with snacks and Adam's signature dish, 'Mother', before delving into dishes such as scallops, harissa and chilli and desserts of salted peanut and chocolate or strawberries and champagne. Bespoke cocktails have also been created by The Loch & The Tyne's bar team and include the Cupid's Arrow made with strawberry-infused gin.

The worst Valentine’s Day presents ever gifted

With Valentine's Day fast approaching, many people in relationships will be facing one of the toughest questions of the year - "What do I buy my other half?". There have already been 43,000 online searches for "Valentine's Day gifts" as people look for inspiration and whilst some people might receive extravagant and romantic presents, some people are less fortunate. With this in mind, Ninja surveyed the nation to find out what the worst presents people had been given for Valentine's Day, and between a bag of crisps and cat food, the results will shock you

Hen do and stag party tips 2024

Anita Naik, Savings Expert at VoucherCodes.co.uk provides her top tips on reducing the cost of a hen or stag do: "Many bridal and groom parties begin planning their respective hen and stag dos throughout the months of January and February. Taking the time to plan carefully is crucial, especially if you are planning on jetting off somewhere. "But, with rising living costs and foreign destinations being more expensive than ever, I've put together my top tips to help you have some pre-wedding fun without breaking the bank - either domestically, or abroad.

Enjoy a romantic Mini Oxford Getaway with Graduate Hotels this V Day

With Valentine's Day on the horizon, enjoy an Oxford-based break at The Randolph by Graduate hotel in this iconic city. Just an hour from London and ideal for a romantic mini Valentine's getaway, The Randolph by Graduate offers an unmatched location in the centre of historic Oxford, captivating interior design and luxurious guest rooms. After a romantic stroll through the city of Oxford, couples can relax and rejuvenate at the hotel Wellness Centre offering a range of nurturing spa treatments and a relaxing Thermal Suite with hot tub, saunas, steam room and sensation showers. End the day with a date night at The Alice, the hotel's all-day British brasserie located in the heart of historic Oxford.

2024 is here and it's time to get organised with a new wedding planner

Whether it's a new year's resolution to get more organised, or you're feeling overwhelmed with the wedding planning, use the new Our Wedding Planner to keeping track of your dreams and decisions for a stress-free wedding planning experience - allowing you to focus on enjoying day! Our Wedding Planner will not only organise your big day, but also create treasured memories for years to come. Every detail of your wedding, including hen and stag parties and the honeymoon are covered, allowing you to create your perfect wedding and keep that all-important budget on track along the way. Bursting with easy to follow advice, and space to record details of every conceivable aspect of planning the big day, this new book offers a one stop depository for ideas, prices, venues, suppliers and guests.

A matchmade in heaven for wedding gifting

Habulous is excited to reveal the latest addition to their range of personalised products, the perfect match striker pot. Handmade in the UK these personalised ceramic match striker pots look at home in your living room. The wheel-thrown pot is carefully glazed with a choice of personalisation inside the heart - reminiscent of those retro love doodles! Filled with pastel matches in complementary shades, the jars come in five signature colours: Cornflower Blue, Mint Green, Off White, Pale Pink, Light Yellow.

The Speech Surgery - How many speeches are too many?

The Speech Surgery with Heidi Ellert McDermott, founder of Speechy and author of The Modern Couple's Guide to Wedding Speeches: The wedding speech tradition is as prevalent as ever and is still very much one of the key parts of the day. For some, public speaking comes quite naturally, and they wouldn't think twice about standing up and 'performing' on cue, while for others it may cause sleepless nights and anxiety but the pressure of pleasing a loved one means you can't say no! Fear not, whether you're a pro and want to heighten your speech, or a novice and you need some advice on how to settle those nerves, Heidi is here to answer your all-important questions...

The Barn at Coworth Park to relaunch with new menus

On 8 February, Coworth Park, Dorchester Collection's luxury country house hotel near Ascot, will relaunch its relaxed neighbourhood restaurant, The Barn, with a brand-new kitchen and produce-led, ingredient-focused menu. Housed in the original barn frame, the new open kitchen and grill will take pride of place in The Barn. Guided by seasonal ingredients from the UK's best producers, the menu will feature executive chef Adam Smith's take on British classics and will encourage a convivial, relaxed style of dining. Fresh and preserved ingredients from the Coworth Park estate will feature on the menu, as seen in the elderflower vinegar and cordial used as a dressing for the Scallop crudo starter. Main courses include classics such as Smithy's chicken pie.

HARIBO giving free wedding cake to Gummy Ring proposals this Valentine's

From lockdown couples to celebrities, the last few years has seen the nation embrace their inner child by getting engaged with HARIBO's iconic Friendship Ring. To mark this Valentine's Day, HARIBO, the UK's number one sweets manufacturer, is delighted to declare that lovebirds ready to unleash their inner child and dive into marital bliss with its iconic gummy ring will get the sweetest reward – the chance to win their very own HARIBO Heart Throb Wedding Cake for their big day.

TikTok’s wedding trends - what we can expect in 2024

TikTok has become the best place to source beautiful wedding inspiration, from wedding dress fashion to food. But what were the biggest TikTok wedding trends of 2023, and what can we expect to see in 2024? By analysing TikTok hashtags, ethical jewellery brand Sacet provides insights into the most influential trends of 2023, the wedding trends on the decline, and predictions for the upcoming year.

Enjoy a Taittinger Wine Dinner in Berkshire this Friday 2nd February

Embark on a journey of indulgence at the Taittinger Wine Dinner, an exclusive celebration of life's finest moments at The Vineyard in Berkshire on Friday 2nd February from 7 pm. The Taittinger family have managed one of the finest Champagne houses for nearly a century and guests will have the honour of being joined by Kevin McKee, UK director, for an evening experiencing five of their finest wines and champagne. Executive chef Tom Scade will be curating a five-course culinary journey that delights with Devon white chicken and foie gras terrine followed by a decadent 80% chocolate and coconut "bounty." Each course is meticulously designed to harmonise with the nuanced flavours of Taittinger Champagnes.

Wedding floral trends for 2024

Bloom & Wild florist, Emma Forsey, presents a vision of floral enchantment that goes beyond the ordinary. From local blooms and wild meadows to bold colour clashes and the evolution of AI, here's what to come in 2024 for wedding blooms. Local flowers have been getting the love they deserve in the wedding scene, and it looks like they're going to be the go-to choice for UK weddings in 2024. More and more couples are valuing the eco-friendly element of homegrown blooms, appreciating the chance to support local flower growers. British flowers aren't just a trendy word anymore; they're becoming a significant and lasting part of the wedding flower industry.

Inside the UK’s most ‘Traitorous’ castle

The Traitors is Britain's hottest new reality competition, where a group of twenty strangers come together for the investigation of their life: to find and stop the Traitors from stealing the ultimate prize pot! It's a show full of mind-games, backstabbing and trust, and its second series proves to be gripping the nation once again. And the setting of this treacherous game makes it all the more entertaining: a beautiful castle in the Scottish highlands. In fact, enquiries about this castle have shot up since the show first aired in 2022.

From casual to formal, here’s how to plan your picture-perfect engagement party

Firsty, congratulations! You're getting married! After a proposal, there are so many things to think about, but before preparing for the big day itself, an engagement party is a great way to share your exciting news and get your nearest and dearest together to celebrate. Pinterest trends1 revealed the largest peak in searches for 'engagement party ideas' were in January last year, now is the time to get the ball rolling and start planning for the prelude of the main event. Whether you're planning an intimate gathering or a lavish affair, party planning expert at Ginger Ray, Jess Martin, shares 10 tips for your celebration, no matter how big or small:

That's so Fetch: 10 Ideas for the ultimate Mean Girls-themed hen party

It's time to channel your inner Regina George and party like it's October 3rd! To celebrate the release of the new Mean Girls movie on 19th January 2024, Fizzbox has the rundown on Mean Girls themed hen party ideas that are so fetch! In a world where wearing pink on Wednesdays isn't just a choice but a lifestyle, this is the ultimate way to celebrate your upcoming nuptials in style, whether you're an aspiring Spring Fling Queen or a Mathlete. So break out the Burn Book and dust off your Plastics-approved heels. Get in loser, we're going on a hen do!

Celebrate Burns Night tonight at The Bradley Hare

Celebrate Burns Night tonight at The Bradley Hare, a cosy country pub in Wiltshire. Celebrate the anniversary of Robert Burns' birth on the 25th of January 1759 with a celebratory dining experience. There's a cocktail special to kick off the evening - guests can quench their thirst with a Scottish Mule, made with Benromach, Drambuie, and orange bitters, topped with ginger beer. To accompany this, a six-course menu will be served with a dram of whisky (should guests desire). To start, there's cock-a-leekie soup with chicken consommé and bannock, followed by an Orkney scallop with traditional Cullen skink and pickled neeps. Succulent Venison tartare served with crispy kale, Scottish skirlie, and caviar is followed by roasted partridge with clapshot, haggis, baby neeps and jus.

The wedding gifts couples in 2024 really want...

When it comes to wedding planning, there is so much to think about, the same goes for wedding gift lists & etiquette. Gifting Guru at The Wedding Shop, Liza Baucher, answers you everything you need to know about wedding registries... In short, we advise adding 2-3 gifts per wedding guest invited. Adding a variety of gifts to your wedding list caters to the differing budgets and preferences of your guests. It's a thoughtful approach to include a wide range of items, from smaller, more affordable pieces to a few higher-end gifts. The key is balance and variety. Typically, having slightly more gifts than the number of guests or households invited allows for enough choice without overwhelming your guests.

Celebrate Burns Night at The Loch & The Tyne by Adam Handling

Celebrate Burns Night with a Scottish feast and bagpipes at Adam Handling's The Loch & the Tyne in Old Windsor. Adam and co-chef proprietors, Steven Kerr and Jonny McNeil, have created a one-off, celebratory menu, available for dinner on Thursday 25th January alongside a selection of Burns Night cocktails including the whisky hiball, made from chamomile-infused scotch, citrus, honey, and ginger ale, or a smoky nail, which combines balvenie 12YO and laphroaig 10YO with cazcabel honey and angostura bitters. This Burns Night menu showcases exquisite Scottish flavours, using the very best of British produce, in keeping with The Loch & the Tyne's ethos of Sustainable, British, Luxury. The night will be a celebration of all things Caledonian and will be priced at £65 per person.

Wedding ring trends 2024 according to Queensmith

Symbolising unconditional love, devotion and commitment, wedding rings represent the union of marriage between two people and unlike engagement rings, they are worn by both. Often, wedding rings tend to be more simple and minimalist, but there are still so many different choices you can make from the metal colour, style and bandwidth. As such, experts at engagement and wedding ring jeweller, Queensmith, have released exclusive internal data to help guide couples on what wedding rings will be popular in 2024.