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

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.

The Dorset Museum now hosts ceremonies at the Roman Town House in Dorchester

The Dorset Museum has extended its wedding portfolio and can now hold outdoor ceremonies at the Roman Town House in Dorchester. The team are working in partnership with Dorset Council, which owns and holds the licence for the Roman Town House to provide tours, school visits and the ability to hire the space for outside events. Just a short walk from the Museum building, the stunning House is the only example of a fully exposed Roman Town House in the country. Offering the hire of its award-winning venue, Dorset Museum can create the perfect setting tailored directly to lovebirds' needs. The team can boast a range of fantastic spaces available for different types of weddings and budgets.

How Brits are spending and saving on weddings in 2023

New data from Barclays reveals how macro trends such as the cost-of-living crisis, inflation, and social media pressures are impacting weddings in 2023. The report combines proprietary spending data with a survey of 1,000 newlyweds and people engaged to be married to determine this year's top wedding trends and cost-saving behaviours. Two fifths (38 per cent) of newlyweds, and brides- and grooms-to-be are going over budget on their special day, with most of these couples citing the rising cost-of-living (51 per cent) and suppliers being more expensive than they anticipated (44 per cent) as the reasons for this increased spend.

Discover The Kingston Maurward Estate in Dorset

The Kingston Maurward Estate is an idyllic location for weddings in the heart of the Dorset countryside. With its parkland approach and elegant sweeping drive, the 18th-century Georgian house and ornate rooms set the scene for civil ceremonies, wedding breakfasts and receptions. The 750-acre estate comprises many beautiful spaces, including formal gardens laid out in the style of Capability Brow, a beautiful walled garden, a red garden, terraces and many more. The rolling lawns and beautiful lake are perfect for memorable photos. The Pengelly Room is the largest of the staterooms, which features Italian hand-painted wallpaper from the 19th-century and can host 96 loved ones for ceremonies.

Truffle Tablescapes Launches Luxury Tableware Rental Range

Truffle Tablescapes, a leading UK-based online tablescaping boutique, has launched its first range of rental tableware and accessories that is aimed at those wanting to decorate their lunch and supper parties, events or small weddings. Truffle has been helping at-home entertainers elevate their dinner party looks since it launched during the first lockdown in 2020. Founded by tablescaping expert and interiors lover Kate Fairlie, the brand has expanded again by launching an extensive, yet carefully curated, rental collection of luxury table linens and accessories.

Discover Hotel du Vin Poole's newly refurbished bedrooms

Hotel du Vin Poole has fully refurbished its guest bedrooms, suites, and bathrooms to refresh the décor with nautical nods that ooze quiet luxury and sophistication. The refurbishment of the 38 rooms found within this impressive Georgian-style building includes the addition of a bold colour scheme that blends statement orange hues with relaxing blue, teal and grey tones that speaks to the seaside location in a modern way. The four-star Hotel was initially built in 1776 as the Mansion House, and the refurbishment blends original features with the signature Hotel du Vin style. The newly updated décor embraces texture and warmth while taking inspiration from Poole's maritime heritage and its popularity as a seaside holiday resort.

Sentimental gift ideas from Heads & Tails Jewellery

Heads & Tails Jewellery has been making personalised, beautifully designed jewellery for more than 10 years. The brand's innovative products can be treasured by your loved ones for years to come, making them ideal for wedding day gifting. Every handcrafted gift uses high-quality materials and is presented in a luxury gift bag or luxury gift box and comes with a 12 month warranty. Emma Pearson, owner of Heads & Tails Jewellery, shares her top advice for wedding day gifting.

Weatherproofing your UK Wedding

Outdoor weddings can create truly magical experiences, from fairytale forests to Bridgerton-style countryside escapes, being surrounded by the natural world, the sound of birdsong and a gentle breeze is a perfect day for some. We wish that were always the case, but no matter how meticulously you plan your wedding, the one thing that will always be beyond your control is the notoriously unpredictable Great British weather. Fulton Umbrellas have come up with a handy guide on how you can weatherproof your wedding.

Attending a wedding this summer - save on travel costs

Now that wedding season is upon us, a recent survey by Railcard has revealed that wedding guests spend on average a whopping £402.90 on each wedding they attend. With 31% of Brits having attended between one and three weddings in the past two years, these sometimes-overlooked expenses can quickly rack up. In fact, 59% of those surveyed admit that they would decline a wedding invitation if the costs of attending were too high, showing that cost-savings to any wedding expense can really make the difference for those who RSVP 'Yes' or a regretful 'No'.

Durlston Castle provides a showstopping backdrop to events

Set on the top of an impressive headland jutting out into the sea, surrounded on three sides by high cliffs and bordered by mature woodland on the other, Durlston Castle is set within Durlston Country Park National Nature Reserve. The clifftop paradise boasts stunning views, wildlife and wildflowers. The Victorian Castle is a unique building with stone turrets, a terracotta balustrade around the copper-roofed Belvedere room and exclusive terraces. The building has a long stone wall running along its spine, upon which are numerous stone inscriptions and carved maps, all built in the 1880s.

Wedding speech pressure: top tips to nail it!

Whether the best man, the bride or a family member, giving a speech at a wedding naturally comes with pressure to perform. In fact Dr Chris Hartley, a sport and performance psychologist working with Insure4Sport, has likened it to the pressure faced by professional sportspeople in a major event like a penalty kick or break point. Here, he shares top tips on how to cope with the weight of expectation, fear of failure when giving a wedding speech, using sport psychology techniques he employs when working with top athletes.

THE NICI Spa opens its doors in Dorset this month

THE NICI Spa opens its doors in Dorset this month, which is the perfect way to unwind from wedding planning! The world-class spa is a vibrant yet tranquil space, featuring a bespoke menu of Oskia treatments alongside an 18m heated indoor pool, hydrotherapy pool, steam room, aromatherapy sauna and crystal energy loungers to help the body to restore its natural equilibrium. The Oskia Facial is an opulent treatment combining traditional techniques such as acupressure, specialist face sculpt-and-tone massage, reflexology, lymph drainage, gentle enzyme and AHA peeling. The facial will leave clients with beautifully healthy and glowing complexions. Using the renowned OSKIA professional skincare range and result-driven technology, highly skilled therapists will tailor the treatment to meet any needs.

Should more women taking the wedding speech spotlight

More women should be taking the spotlight at big events, according to new research from learning and development company Good Shout. However, according to a new poll, conducted in partnership with YouGov, the very prospect fills two thirds of women (67%) with dread. Of those women in the UK who would refuse to give speeches at a wedding, 50% said that it was the "cringe factor" that held them back, i.e. being too self-conscious or feeling too awkward or uncomfortable in the situation.

Tips for tying the knot while it’s hot

With Summer wedding season in full-swing and the English weather as unpredictable as ever, happy couples across the country may get more than what they bargained for when it comes to wishing for a sunny day. As temperatures across the UK already reaching highs of 30C and the Met Office predicting even hotter temperatures expected ahead, Samantha Gilchrist, former wedding photographer turned cofounder and CEO of The Gilchrist Collection, the UK's largest wedding venue collection, gives her expert advice gathered from over 15 years in the industry.

Hen parties in UK more popular now

Hen parties on UK soil are the number one choice for Brits, according to new research from Butlin's Big Weekenders. According to a study commissioned to mark the reopening of Butlin's Big Weekenders breaks in September, over half of Brits (53%) say a hen do in the UK is more appealing than one abroad and almost the same (54%) say a hen do is better on one resort where all the facilities are in one place. On a Butlin's Big Weekender guests can enjoy accommodation, food, drink entertainment, and activities all in one place. The adult-only weekends are available at all three resorts - Bognor Regis, Minehead and Skegness. What's more, organisation is key for British hens, as data reveals the most common time to plan a hen do is 3-4 months in advance, in stark comparison to men, who are most likely to plan a stag do just 2-3 days in advance!

Discover Oakley Hall Hotel's new dog-designated bedrooms

With 50 bedrooms, a two AA Rosette Restaurant and acres of beautiful grounds to explore, Oakley Hall Hotel is the perfect location for pre-wedding getaways in the countryside. The team are delighted to welcome dogs to the property, as no trip away is the same without beloved pooches. The Hotel has several dog-designated bedrooms in the beautiful Courtyard, just a short walk from the main Hotel. Located in a quieter area of the property and with direct access to the gardens, what location could be a better place for pups to settle? There will be an additional £35 per dog per stay. Relax and unwind with a refreshing drink or indulge in delicious seasonal dishes from the Garden Terrace all-day menu while taking in the beautiful views of the gardens with four-legged friends.

Most Instagrammable beach wedding venues in the UK

Wedding invitation company, Aura Print, analysed 70 of the most sought-after beach wedding destinations and discovered the UK's most Instagrammable coastal wedding venues. The stunning spot of Tunnels Beaches in Ilfracombe, Devon boasts over 13k hashtags on Instagram, making this the study's number one pick. Located on the beautiful North Devon coast, Tunnels Beaches is situated on a cliff top with hand carved tunnels down to a secluded private beach. The venue provides a thatched roof gazebo which overlooks the breathtaking Devon coastline for a picture-perfect backdrop

Brits feel judged on wedding gifts

Almost one in five (20%) Brits feel judged by friends and family when they cannot afford wedding gifts and 14% say they feel judged when they can't afford to attend a wedding, stag or hen party. 81% are depending on a form of finance other than their main income to provide for their family New research has revealed that almost one in five Brits (20%) feel judged by friends and family when they cannot afford wedding gifts. A further 14% say they feel judged when they can't afford to attend a wedding, stag or hen party.

Sara Davies, Fred Sirieix and Raj Somaiya revealed as BBC judges

Launching in August, BBC Two's Ultimate Wedding Planner will see eight wedding planners battle it out to prove they are Britain's next best wedding expert as they design spectacular ceremonies for six couples. Dragons' Den star Sara Davies, First Dates favourite Fred Sirieix and wedding industry expert Raj Somaiya will be the judges and mentors - overseeing the planners as they create dream weddings for our couples. Throughout the competition they will send home the weakest planner until just two remain in the final where the planners will face one final challenge to decide who will be crowned the winner.

The Kings Arms provides the perfect backdrop for weddings

Nestled next to the River Avon with Christchurch Castle as a backdrop, The Kings Arms offers a blank canvas setting that makes a beautiful backdrop for year-round weddings. The idyllic Dorset wedding venue comprises The Kings Pavilion, The Bowling Green and the split-level Kings Priory Suite, decorated in a New England style. All locations boast classic untouched elegance while matching any colour scheme or theme. Ceremonies and receptions can occur in the Kings Pavilion with 96 people. The beautiful restored pavilion opens onto a tranquil bowling green with highly maintained landscapes – perfect for garden games and entertainment. The space offers an outside airstream bar and an inside bar for drink receptions.