Your Hampshire and Dorset Wedding news and ideas from around the area

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 10th September 2023!

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.

Find your wedding venue at CWE's Signature Wedding Show at Ascot Racecourse

Hampshire wedding venue Oakley Hall will have a team on hand at County Wedding Events' Signature Wedding Show at Ascot Racecourse, on Sunday 1st October, to answer all of your big-day questions. Nestled in the beautiful Hampshire countryside, it's no question as to why Oakley Hall is one of the most picturesque destinations to tie the knot. The property has eight wonderful spaces to choose from for your ceremony and reception including the outdoor ceremony space, the Woodland Pavilion, 50 luxurious bedrooms and over 300 acres of grounds for your photos.

Meet photographer Myriame Lawley at Ascot Racecourse

Surrey-based Myriame Lawley Photography is exhibiting at County Wedding Events' Signature Wedding Show at Ascot Racecourse on Sunday 1st October offering couples the perfect opportunity to meet her before booking your big-day photography. Myriame says, "If you are looking for a calm, down to earth and friendly documentary and romantic portrait photographer, then I may be the photographer for you. I am dedicated to delivering you, beautiful and timeless images of your wedding day, so you not only see your images you will remember the emotions from your day. Come and visit my stand, I would love to meet you, hear your plans, share my show offers and ensure you remember your special day."

Looking for finishing touches for your bridal look? Check out The Milliner’s Hat Box

The Milliner's Hat Box Design bespoke fascinators, tiaras and head pieces, all beautifully colour matched to finish off your wedding day with a glamorous bit of sparkle. What's more, the company is exhibiting at County Wedding Events' Signature Wedding Show at Ascot Racecourse on Sunday 1st October 2023. Gorgeous tiaras that glisten with style: Large or small tiaras are all designed individually for you, and can be colour matched to your big-day theme with pearls, diamantes, feathers and beads to make them extra special and to great for that individual style. Bridesmaids' headdresses, be it pearl bands or feather headbands, can also be colour-matched to their dresses and, for your smaller bridesmaids, take your pick from pretty headbands designed with butterflies and beads and coloured ribbons!

WolfeWeddings is an exciting new venture for WolfeEdu and WolfeWalks

Having pets at weddings is as popular as ever, but there is of course things you need be be aware of, that's why you should pop and see Anna, of WolfeEdu, at County Wedding Events' Signature Wedding show at Ascot Racecourse, on Sunday 1st October 2023. Anna says, "Come and meet me at The Royal Ascot Show to find out more, If you like what you see then book on the day to receive a 20% discount! "I started WolfeEdu about three years ago when I noticed there was a need for people, especially children between the ages of 2-11, to be educated about how to share a safe space with a dog. This has now transformed into a thriving dog walking service located in the beautiful West Berkshire countryside (WolfeWalks) and now a Special Events Canine Chaperoning service (WolfeWeddings)!

Be entertained by Stephen B Wiley at Ascot Racecourse's Signature Wedding Show

Stephen B Wiley, magician and emcee, has be booked by the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire for eight years running, and not only that, he's available to perform at your wedding! Pop along to meet Stephen and see him perform at County Wedding Events' Signature Wedding Show at Ascot Racecourse on Sunday 1st October, 2023. Steve, the enchanting event host magician and after-dinner entertainer, is a master at weaving together comedy, magic, and mind-reading to create an unforgettable experience. With his captivating blend of event hosting and entertainment, Steve has the remarkable ability to mesmerize audiences, evoke laughter, and sprinkle in awe-inspiring magical surprises along the way.

Cake? Yes please! Check out Fay's Fairy Cakes

One of the most exciting aspects of planning a wedding is choosing the big-day bake, and you can do this by popping along to County Wedding Events' Signature Wedding Show at Ascot Racecourse on Sunday 1st October 2023 and meeting with baker Fay of Fay's Fairy Cakes. Fay's Fairy Cakes specialises in top tiers, cupcakes and small cakes. "The reason why I do not bake tiered cakes is because I do not like waste and there's never any waste ater slicing the top tier! There's no waiting for the venue to slice and serve, guests can help themselves straight from my stands," shares Fay.

Need your photographer? Pop along to Ascot Racecourse's Signature Wedding Show

Hampshire-based Sarah Hoyle Photography will be exhibiting at County Wedding Events' Signature Wedding Show at Ascot Racecourse on Sunday 1st October, giving couples the opportunity to meet with her and potentially book her for their wedding day. Sarah adds, "If you're a couple that's looking for a photographer who can put you at ease and create elegant, natural and romantic photos of your wedding day, then head over to see me at Sarah Hoyle Photography- I look forward to hearing all about your day!'

Venue styling sorted with Surrey's Chair Cover Dreams

Surrey-based Chair Cover Dreams is exhibiting at County Wedding Events' Signature Wedding Show at Ascot Racecourse on Sunday 1st October 2023. Owner, Maxine has worked in the industry for 12 years specialising in weddings and events in the UK, from the Ivy in London to marquees that seat 600, celebrity weddings to smaller intimate affairs. Providing chair covers, table décor, venue styling, theming, centrepieces, focal points, draping, mood-lighting, interior design and event management; the company can provide fairytale weddings to masquerade balls.

Renowned entertainers exhibiting at three Signature Wedding Shows!

TheRocketsCollective Showband provides luxury entertainment to weddings and events across the UK and internationally. In January, it launched its new branding along with more energy, more party and more fun (if that was possible). From ceremony duos to a 12-piece flagship showband for the evening do, they've got every aspect of entertainment covered for your wedding day with some of the best musical talent in the industry.

Four tips for storing your wedding dress after the big day

With September tipped to be the most popular month for weddings, when the big day is done deciding what to do with a wedding dress can be tricky. Whilst some people sell them or donate them so future brides can use them, others prefer to keep hold of them and preserve the memory of their wedding day. If you're looking to preserve your wedding dress after the big day, or pass it down to future generations, proper storage is essential in maintaining its pristine condition. With this in mind, Vlatka Lake, storage expert at Space Station shares four tips for storing your wedding dress to keep it in pristine condition. Vlatka adds: "Before putting your dress into storage, make sure you have it cleaned to remove any stains or marks that may have appeared from your wedding day. The most important thing to remember when putting your wedding gown into storage is that it shouldn't be stored in a plastic bag or hung on a hanger. "Plastic covers don't allow for humidity changes and can often let light in that will fade the material of your dress. Hanging your dress can also affect its shape by adding unnecessary stress on the seams or the fabric."

Big-day gifting ideas from Don't Buy Her Flowers

Gift company, Don't Buy Her Flowers, prides itself for having thoughtfulness at its core, with customers able to create a bespoke gift box that perfectly suits the person and occasion. Whether it's to celebrate, commiserate or offer someone some TLC during a tough time, Don't Buy Her Flowers offers a range of luxury British products from delicious treats, cashmere socks and bubble bath to the perfect G&T and a selection of great books. Each gift box is beautifully gift wrapped with the customer's personalised message handwritten on the gift tag, making it the perfect package for everyone from mothers, newlyweds, teachers and employees.

Unique gifts couples give each other on their wedding day

The team at hampers.com recently surveyed UK adults who have gotten married or attended a wedding in the past five years, with the goal of determining what the gifting landscape looks like for wedding season. In doing so, they spoke to almost 800 newlyweds from across the UK and a further 1,400 UK adults who have attended a wedding in the same time frame. Firstly, the study found that it's common for brides and grooms to buy each other a gift for the wedding day itself, with 65% stating they did this for their own wedding day. The average spend was found to be £115, with women most likely to purchase a pocket watch (24%) or a vintage bottle of alcohol (22%) and men most likely to purchase jewellery (37%) or personalised 'Mrs' clothing (19%)...

Five reasons why Champagne is the pinnacle of sparkling wine

The Champagne Bureau UK* have rounded up five reasons why Champagne is the long-standing pinnacle of sparkling wine. Firstly, Champagne only comes from Champagne. Champagne is a 100% French product - the Champagne region is located in France, approximately 90 miles east of Paris. It is a protected appellation (AOC). From 816 to 1825, France's royalty was crowned in Champagne's Reims Cathedral, where Champagne was said to flow freely at all the coronation banquets. Soon, highly prized for their taste and finesse, it became customary to gift these wines to any royalty visiting the region. This is how the Champagne came to be known as the wine of coronation and known in France as "the wine of Kings and the King of wines".

7 ways to ask your friends to be bridesmaids

Bridesmaid proposals are a special moment in any friendship so it's natural to want to put some thought behind popping the question. Personalising gifts such as photo frames or pyjamas are a great way to give friends something they can keep forever. The glass experts at MeandMyGlass.co.uk have shared some of the best bridesmaid proposal ideas to make the occasion memorable.John Cutts, founder of MeandMyGlass said, "Asking your friends and family to be bridesmaids is a special moment and should be done in a special way. "You can't go wrong with a personal touch which is why things like photo frames and pyjamas are a great way to show appreciation to your bridesmaids and you know they'll keep their gift.

Wedding fragrance suggestions

Floral, citrus, or woody - and everything in between - wedding scents are becoming more popular as couples incorporate them into their day. They can provide an ideal way to remember the occasion, the trigger of a special memory when you come across that fragrance connected to it. What's more, key scents can also help control emotions according to psychologists. Yasmin Sharp, essential oils expert at Nikura, says, "With more than 12 million hashtag views on TikTok, wedding scents (#weddingscent) are becoming more and more popular

Wedding ring mistakes to avoid!

Aimee Howlett, jewellery expert at Diamonds Factory, has shared how to choose and clean your wedding band. 'When choosing your wedding band, it's important to consider your lifestyle and daily activities. If you're someone with an active lifestyle you might want to go for a more durable material like platinum or tungsten that can withstand potential scratches and avoid a ring that has diamonds. With this in mind, it's worth visiting a jewellery store and trying on different styles of wedding bands, which can be really fun! Pay attention to comfort, fit, and how well it pairs with your engagement ring (if you have one).

Wedding gift inspiration from L'OR

Coffee brand L'OR provides the perfect machine which will ensure you capture the heart of any coffee-loving couple, whilst also providing a useful gift that lasts! With a unique double-spouted design that offers flexibility to adapt to different coffee preferences, the L'OR BARISTA is powered by Phillips technology and has become a much-loved coffee machine since its launch. What's more, the machine is not only compatible with L'OR pods, but also a wide range of alternative branded coffee capsules on the market*, providing maximum flexibility and choice.

L'OR BARISTA Sublime Coffee Machine (£104.99*) is available in Piano Noir, Satin Blanc and Sunset Rubis, while the L'OR BARISTA Original Latte Machines (£164.99*) is available in Piano Noir and includes built-in milk frother.

7 topics all couples should cover in a prenup

While a prenuptial agreement is unlikely to be on many people's wedding checklist, a family lawyer has urged couples who will be tying the knot in the coming months to consider making it a key priority. With research by the law firm revealing that Google searches for terms related to prenups including 'what is a prenup?', 'meaning of prenups' and 'prenups in the UK' have increased by 21% in the last three months compared to the three months previous, it is clear they are growing in popularity.

Garden wedding ideas for the big day

Co-founder of Togather.com, Hugo Campbell, unveils garden wedding ideas for the big day. As wedding trends evolve, couples may be seeking unique ways to celebrate their special day. For those looking to embrace a laid-back atmosphere and the shabby chic aesthetic, from Ottolenghi-style dining and Aperol carts, to enchanting fairylights and the perfect venue. A festival theme: Many couples are looking for maximum flexibility and the ability to perfectly match their food to the vibe of the day. This summer Togather.com is seeing many couples opting for a festival feel for their food, hiring multiple different street food trucks and allowing their guests a choice of handheld food rather than a sit-down meal. This means they can cater to all sorts of dietary requirements and preferences as well as give their guests a more relaxed feel.