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

The HMS Warrior creates a unique wedding backdrop

The HMS Warrior creates a unique wedding backdrop in the heart of Portsmouth's Historic Dockyard, with spectacular views across Portsmouth Harbour and beyond. Ceremonies onboard the ship create captivating stories as couples embark on a new chapter in their life bathed in the grandeur of maritime history. HMS Warrior is more than a venue; she's an experience lovebirds will never forget! Surrounded by her timeless beauty, couples can say "I do" in one of the exquisite venue spaces. The Officer's Half Deck is the perfect blank canvas for ceremonies and receptions with 60 seated guests. Couples can add personal style to occasions, creating a beautifully bespoke atmosphere. For those looking to experience more intimate ceremonies, resplendent in Victorian grandeur, the Captain's Cabin will create an effortlessly luxurious ambience for ceremonies with 20 people. As pairs continue through their perfect day, they'll move seamlessly from the vows to celebratory drink receptions on the Upper Deck of HMS Warrior. Stand under the magnificent mast and sails, gently swaying in the sea breeze, and enjoy the very best in catering, canapés and champagne while taking in the sublime waters of the Solent!

Luxury stationery designed and hand-crafted in Berkshire

If you're looking for a luxury stationery suite for your wedding day, then pop along to County Wedding Events' Signature Wedding Show at Ascot Racecourse and visit the Harris & Bloom stand. Wedding and event stationery designer Amy Harris will be showcasing a variety of stunning stationery examples of her work, from invitation suites to signage and menus! Your journey with Harris and Bloom is all about helping you realise your vision from the initial contact and planning, to finalising all of the bespoke finishing touches that will make your dream stationery a reality

Say cheese, with the Vintage Camper Booths

Looking for something unique, quirky, and that will be loved by your guests? Pop along to Ascot Racecourse's Signature Wedding Show, hosted by County Wedding Events to find what Vintage Camper Booths has to offer. "We are a local business in Ascot with a range of unique campervans and indoor photo booths, glitter bars, audio telephone guestbook services, and, new for this summer our Vintage Ice Cream Trike!" shares owner Naomi. "This will be available to hire on a self-serve basis offering a range of delicious ice cream and sorbets in a variety of flavours, what's more, we have an introductory offer on for the show!"

20% off packages at Decobloom boutique

Elevate your event with DecoBloom Boutique's decor hire service, explore stunning floral arches, centrepieces, and arrangements at County Wedding Events' Signature Wedding Show at Ascot Racecourse in April. "Hello future couples," say owners Donna and Katrina, "We're eagerly counting down the days until the Ascot Signature Wedding Show, where we'll have the pleasure of meeting you in person! We're thrilled at the opportunity to connect with you and hear all about your beautiful love stories and cherished family moments.

Luxury gifts for all occasions with WOLF

The ultimate gift awaits with WOLF, a family-owned British brand, luxury jewellery boxes, travel jewellery cases, bags, watch winders and cases and a plethora of other accessories. Whether it's a pre-wedding treat for yourself, a thank you gift for your bridal party, or something you want added to your big-day giftlist, WOLF's beautifully designed jewellery boxes and cases are exquisite in design and intricate in detail and make the perfect travel accompaniment for your hen do or honeymooon. The Caroline Large Jewellery Box could be a wonderful maid of honour gift for the wedding season or a timeless classic gift for a mother, while the travel jewellery case Caroline Jewellery Portfolio, available in ivory, black or red, is perfect for securing precious items on your honeymoon.

Find your wedding DJ with County Wedding Events

Fizz and Groove are going to be at our Ascot Racecourse Signature Wedding Show on Sunday 7th April, giving you the chance to witness its entertainment offering first hand, and also chat to the team about your big day requirements. Fizz and Groove are a wedding and event hire company based in London and the surrounding counties and have 100% five-star reviews. They have an incredible offer on at the moment that they call 'The Complete Fizz and Groove Experience' which includes:

Tie the knot at The Royal Maritime Hotel

Tie the knot at this one-of-a-kind venue and immerse in the atmosphere of the maritime city. Situated in Old Portsmouth, close to the historic dockyard and Gunwharf Quays, The Royal Maritime Hotel is steeped in history and provides an original setting for weddings with a difference. With naval artefacts and memorabilia around every corner, each function room is individually decorated to reflect the club's history. Ceremonies and receptions can occur at this venue, and with 90 comfy en suite bedrooms for the wedding party, why not make a weekend of it and explore the city the next day? Fully licensed for weddings, pairs can exchange vows in the Trafalgar Ballroom, the property's largest function space, and celebrate in style afterwards.

Bespoke jewellery with exhibitor Initialled

What better way to celebrate your big day than with unique, hand-stamped, personalised initial jewellery? You'll find a stunning selection at County Wedding Events' Signature Wedding Show at Ascot Racecourse, courtesy of exhibitor: Initialled. With pieces you and your bridal party can keep, wear again and cherish forever, it offers a range of options and price points from 24k gold/silver plated, waterproof and tarnish-free stainless steel to the longer lasting sterling silver and gold vermeil.

Close-up magic with Tommy Knight at two of County Wedding Events' Signature shows

Want to hear the 'oohs' and 'aahs' from excited guests on your wedding day? Why not hire a magician? Pop along to the County Wedding Events' Signature Wedding Show at Ascot Racecourse on Sunday the 7th April, and Mercedes-Benz World on 28th April, and meet magician Tommy Knight. "I'm a professional close-up and stage magician, recently becoming Surrey's 'Stage Magician of the year', and I'm really excited to meet you all at the show! I'm offering a 15% discount to anyone who books me after visiting my stand - so come and say hi!"

Find amazing entertainment at Ascot Racecourse's Signature Wedding show

So Sinatra will be performing at the Signature Wedding Show hosted at Ascot Racecourse, to showcase what an amazing entertainment option So Sinatra is for the wedding breakfast. "My mission is to make the wedding breakfast standout as a truly memorable experience," shares Paul. "It's quite normal for couples to book a singer for the evening party, ceremony or reception drinks but not for, in my opinion, the dullest part of most weddings which is the wait from the main course to the speeches and over dessert!

Chat to the experts at Ascot Racecourse about your venue styling needs

Bellissima Days is a bespoke service that provides all your styling and floristry needs, a one-stop shop for everything pretty, the team will be on hand at Ascot Racecourse's Signature Wedding Show, hosted by County Wedding Events, with some of examples of their work. Attention to detail is the key to the company's success, Danielle and Isabelle, CEO and co-founders work with clients to design and create bespoke events that will hold special memories for everyone involved.

Find your dream bespoke stationery suite with County Wedding Events

Finding those finishing touches for your wedding day is one of the most exciting parts of wedding planning, and you can find everything from your save the dates, to your place settings with Surrey's Simply Laura Calligraphy - exhibiting at County Wedding Events' Signature Wedding Show at Ascot Racecourse and Mercedes-Benz World this April! "If you're recently engaged and planning a wedding, firstly congratulations!" shares Laura. "When it comes to stationery designs, the possibilities are endless, from save the dates to place cards and on-the-day signage, Simply Laura Calligraphy helps bring your special day to life through print.

Expert advice from County Wedding Events' exhibitors

Find a helping hand towards saving for the big day with Utility Warehouse's Deena Chauhan who will be exhibiting at County Wedding Events' Signature Wedding Show at Ascot Racecourse on Sunday 7th April! What's more, to celebrate all things wedding, Utility Warehouse is giving one lucky couple the chance to win £20,000! "This means no matter where you are in the planning process you can benefit from this tremendous prize," says Deena. "That's not all, we can show you how to save money for your big day and how you can earn hundreds of pounds in CashBack on purchases for your wedding and beyond, such as hotels, honeymoon, rings, flowers, favours and lots more. Please come and visit us and let's talk about saving money, rather than spending it!"

The host with the most - come and meet Toastmaster John

With many years experience in organising and coordinating weddings, golfing, sports and charitable events,Toastmaster John is on hand exhibiting at the Signature Wedding Show at Ascot Racecourse, and Mercedes-Benz World hosted by County Wedding Events. "Hi I'm John Heasman. Toastmaster John. Do you need that stress buster for your big day? Come and have a chat, it will be your best investment. From welcoming your guests to announcing your first dance. My service is remembered long after my price is forgotten."

Source your big-day venue with County Wedding Events

The team from renowned wedding venue, Royal Berkshire in Sunninghill near Ascot, will be on hand and County Wedding Events' Signature Wedding Show at Ascot Racecourse. For a wedding to remember, choose the spectacular backdrop of the Royal Berkshire in Sunninghill near Ascot. Greet your guests over perfectly chilled Champagne as they wander past the hopelessly romantic fountains and congregate for canapés on the beautifully landscaped lawns. With exclusive use offerings, Royal Berkshire becomes entirely yours to celebrate with your nearest and dearest. The cosy Polo bar, luxurious lawns and standout suites make it an intimate yet lavish day – a home from home, to make your own.

Sax & The City will be sharing its floor-filling music with you all at Ascot!

Sax & The City, London's hottest new DJ/Sax Duo is showcasing their amazing set at County Wedding Events' Signature Wedding Show at Ascot Racecourse this April! This incredible DJ Live act is perfect for corporate and private events alike, with their adaptable sets lending them perfectly to smaller and larger gigs. With music being a community experience, Sax & The City work closely with their clients to tailor playlists that are event specific, ensuring the atmosphere is perfect for everyone involved, all the time.

Bearwood Lakes, in Wokingham, is exhibiting at the Signature Wedding Show at Ascot Racecourse

Wokingham-based Bearwood Lakes, will be exhibiting at County Wedding Events' Signature Wedding Show at Ascot Racecourse on 7th April, and will have its team on hand to answer any questions couples have about planning their wedding day. Bearwood Lakes holds a limited number of weddings each year, meaning every wedding is unique and they mark a special place in the history of the venue. The team are passionate about making your wedding dreams a reality and your very own dedicated wedding planner, Mandy, will be on hand at every moment during your wedding planning process, ensuring that the build-up is seamless and the big day itself is everything you could wish for and more.

Investment deal set to shake up the stag and hen industry

Brighton-based tour operator The Stag Company has announced an exciting investment deal whereby Danish travel company Awesome Adventures Group has secured a significant shareholding in the company. The partnership will facilitate growth for both businesses within the stag and hen market, acting as a springboard for more competitive pricing and product portfolio expansion. The deal positions Awesome Adventures as the go-to ground agent for The Stag Company customers, which means they will be welcomed into resort via an infrastructure of teams in location, thereby elevating the customer experience.

Thinking of having fireworks at your wedding? Check out this supplier

Berkshire-based Best Fireworks, is exhibiting at County Wedding Events' Signature Wedding Show at Ascot Racecourse on Sunday 7th of April. If you've been considering having fireworks at your wedding, it's a great time to speak to the specialists! Managing director, Daniel Hounsome, adds, "We're looking forward to meeting attendees at our first wedding fair, and are offering a very generous 10% discount off our displays for any bookings on the day of the show or after by quoting 'Ascot Wedding Fair'."

Mother's Day ideas for the mother-of-the-bride

With Mother's Day just around the corner on Sunday 10th March, it's time to celebrate the unsung hero of weddings, the mother of the bride! It's time to shower her with the love and attention she deserves. From spa days to chocolates, meals out to heartfelt notes, there are countless ways to make her day special. Leading hen party company, Fizzbox dives into treating the mother of the bride this Mother's Day. Get ready for heartwarming ideas, laughter and maybe even a happy tear or two!