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

Hale Park and St. Mary’s Church celebrate faith-filled weddings with timeless elegance

While the number of religious weddings declines nationally, Hale Park is proudly reversing the tide. Across the UK, only one in six couples now choose a religious ceremony, with just around 40,000 church weddings each year compared to more than 210,000 non-religious ceremonies. But at Hale Park, the story is different. For every civil ceremony, the venue hosts five faith-filled weddings in the historic St. Mary's Church year after year. Set in beautiful grounds and steeped in history, the Church provides the perfect backdrop for couples who want a meaningful, faith-centred wedding without compromising on elegance. Discover why Hale Park and St. Mary's Church remain a popular choice for those who want faith to come first on their wedding day. Visit haleparkweddings.co.uk or follow @haleparkweddings.

Pre-wedding aesthetic treatment must-haves

Everyone wants to look their best on their wedding day, but what can you do before the makeup artist arrives to make sure you're glowing as you walk down the aisle? With the rise of the 'quiet luxury' trend and the 'old money' aesthetic, most nearlyweds want to look like themselves, just more elevated. Dr Barbara Kubicka, founder of Clinicbe® in London, shares the top five most requested treatments her brides and grooms are booking right now.

Creatiques launch its very own bridal collection – FLORIE AND GEORGE

For over 33 years, Creatiques Bridal Boutique, based in the heart of Southsea, has been making bridal dreams come true with exceptional service and carefully selected designer gowns. In 2025, they proudly launched their own in-house label: Florie & George. This exquisite collection has been thoughtfully designed for the modern bride, blending timeless elegance with contemporary flair. From handcrafted laces to beautifully beaded and embellished gowns, Florie & George is a collection that truly makes a statement — every dress says "wow."

Guests say "I don’t" to wedding traditions

When it comes to cost, celebrating love doesn't come cheaply, as Brits say they spend an average of £219.65 per wedding. In fact, only a quarter (25%) say they spend less than £100. As a result, more than one in five (22%) admit they've had to decline an invite for financial reasons. Top of guests' wish lists? A wedding that puts people first. Almost half (49%) said making guests feel welcome and relaxed is the most important part of any wedding, far ahead of food (16%), music (17%) or even the schedule (18%).

Presence over presents: Brits ditch wedding gifts

Karin Haglund, Head of Consumer Insights at Klarna said: "Destination weddings tap into Brits' love of travel and shared experiences, but our research shows that cost remains a concern when celebrating love abroad. For those who want more flexibility, Klarna offers interest-free payment options and budgeting tools in the app that help support smarter planning — whether that's by booking travel early to secure a better deal or keeping track of costs along the way."

The Cosmetic Skin Clinic expands to new locations under Private Clinic Group

The Private Clinic Group has expanded The Cosmetic Skin Clinic into new locations, further strengthening its non-surgical aesthetics division under one unified brand. This expansion allows clients to enjoy the same trusted treatments, expertise, and five-star service in more regions. The Cosmetic Skin Clinic Bournemouth, formerly River Aesthetics, is just steps from the award-winning beaches and is led by renowned doctors Victoria Manning and Charlotte Woodward. Specialising in natural-looking, non-surgical enhancements, their team is internationally recognised for excellence, including being featured in Tatler's Top Doctors list.
The Cosmetic Skin Clinic Lymington, also headed by Dr Manning and Dr Woodward, offers the same high level of care.

The top wedding trends for Autumn and Winter 2025

As summer weddings start to take a step back, a new wave of seasonal trends are emerging. According to Pinterest Trends, searches for 'wedding inspiration' have surged by 10,000% over the past month, with terms like 'October wedding', and 'autumn wedding cake' dominating mood boards. Nicola Barker, Head of Buying at Suit Direct, shares her insights on the standout trends set to shape autumn and winter weddings this season. From elegant romantic draping and on-trend semi-naked cakes to rich, moody colour palettes, couples are embracing celebrations that feel warm, inviting, and romantic.

Hayling Island Holiday Park reopens after full regeneration under Meadow Bay

Hayling Island Holiday Park, one of four English resorts acquired by Meadow Bay in 2024, has undergone a complete regeneration to offer a fresh, upscale seaside retreat just a mile from the golden sands of Hayling Island Beach. With premium accommodation including platinum caravans with hot tubs and dog-friendly lodges, the park now boasts upgraded facilities and activities for families and couples alike. Holidays Director Nikki Rathie says, "We're excited to showcase what we've achieved this summer after significant investment. It's a whole new level of guest experience."

Harper Weddings launches live virtual tours across exclusive UK venues

Wedding planning just got easier thanks to Harper Weddings, a collective of exclusive venues that has become one of the first wedding venue brands in the UK to launch live virtual tours across its three exclusive-use properties, including Cain Manor in Hampshire. The innovative feature allows couples to explore each venue remotely via immersive 3D Matterport tours, guided in real-time by a member of the Harper Weddings team. These 'remote visits' provide a full walk-through experience from the comfort of home, ideal for busy professionals, international couples, or those early in their venue search. In addition to the guided tours, users can also self-navigate each venue at their own pace via the Harper Weddings website.

The legal implication of 'two weddings'

Wedding season is in full swing and it's a celebratory, joyous time filled with love and laughter. A wedding is the celebration of two people coming together in matrimony but what many forget is there are requirements to comply with to ensure the marriage is lawful within England and Wales. Here, Sophie Croft, an Associate at Stowe Family Law, highlights the considerations couples need to have... "It may not be the most romantic thing to think about when you're in the midst of wedding planning, but it's really important to remember that if you want the benefits of being a married couple, your marriage does need to be legally sound.

Why August 23rd Could Be the Most Romantic Day of the Decade

Celebration vacations are on the rise, as more people swap parties for passport stamps to mark life's biggest milestones. From weddings and retirements to birthdays and new jobs, searches for 'anniversary holidays' are soaring at 585k monthly, 'birthday trip ideas for couples' have doubled year-over-year, and 'celebration vacations' is up 57% in the last month alone. A new survey of 1,000 UK travellers, commissioned by Citalia, found that over half (56%) believe celebrating a major milestone abroad turns their trip into a once-in-a-lifetime story, whilst 47% say travel makes milestone moments truly unforgettable.

Expert shares how to preserve your wedding bouquet

From weddings and anniversaries to special birthdays and proms, there are some occasions where flowers just mean more and are hard to let go of. Whether you want to decorate your home, create a framed keepsake, or make your own potpourri, drying your flowers is the perfect way to hold on to beautiful memories. The flower experts at Bloom & Wild have shared three easy and effective ways to dry your bouquet at home with no special tools or floristry training required.

Renowned matcha brand PerfectTed launches wedding initiative

If there's one thing every wedding needs, it's energy and lots of it. From early-morning prep to late-night dancing, it's a full- day marathon of emotions, celebrations and unforgettable moments. That's why PerfectTed – Europe's #1 matcha brand – has launched PerfectWed, a new nationwide sampling initiative offering free matcha drinks to selected UK couples tying the knot. As part of the campaign, PerfectTed will send selected couples a curated selection of matcha drinks, including the brand's Healthy Energy cans and matcha lattes for wedding guests to enjoy. The couples will also have the chance to have their wedding speeches professionally filmed and featured in the brand's upcoming Speech Series

Post-Big Day Renovation with BHS

The confetti has settled, the thank-you notes are being written, and the whirlwind of wedding planning is finally over. Now that the excitement of your big day has passed, it's the perfect time to turn your attention to another beautiful chapter: making your shared home truly bespoke to you. Whether you've been living together for years or are just settling into a new rhythm, this post-wedding period is ideal for refreshing your space and infusing it with your combined style as a married couple. And when it comes to affordable yet high-quality lighting and home accessories, BHS is here to help you create the perfect sanctuary.

STAUB Unveils its NEW Sorbet Rose Colourway

Renowned cast iron specialist, STAUB has introduced a new Sorbet Rose colourway to its premium collection of cookware - a soft, elegant shade that reflects the enduring popularity of pink in the kitchen. As homeowners continue to embrace pink-toned cabinetry, small appliances and accessories, Sorbet Rose is a natural addition to STAUB's carefully curated colour range. Bringing a gentle touch of charm to both kitchen and table, Sorbet Rose is perfect for everything from alfresco summer suppers to Valentine's Day brunches. Inspired by the subtle hues of blush pink, this calming, nurturing colour complements a wide variety of palettes - pairing beautifully with natural woods, muted greys, crisp whites, and earthy greens. Its versatile appeal suits both contemporary minimalist kitchens and traditional farmhouse settings, making it a timeless choice for any home.

How I Planned My Wedding Without Losing My Mind (or My Fiancé)

With a whopping 84% admitting they felt overwhelmed in the run-up to the big day, and over a quarter calling it the most stressful time of their lives, it's no wonder many brides hit breaking point before they even walk down the aisle. But help is at hand! Jewellery brand Abbott Lyon spoke to real brides Jacky and Annabelle, who share the wedding day hacks that helped them stay cool, calm, and collected through meltdowns, menu dramas, and mother-in-law madness—proving that bridal bliss is possible, even when the pressure's on.

Tylney Hall Wedding Fair hosted by County Wedding Events

If you're newlyweds-to-be embarking on your wedding planning journey, pop along to the County Wedding Events wedding show at Tylney Hall, Hook, Hampshire, for inspiration on Sunday 21st September, 2025! Sister company to County Wedding Magazines, the event brings couples 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. Tylney Hall is a Grade II listed building and remains an outstanding example of a luxury country house hotel that has never lost its old world sense of charm, whether you are visiting for business or pleasure.

Warning to Hen and Stag Parties: Avoid These Common Mistakes

Your wedding is one of the most important days of your life, that's why The Wedding Travel Company has partnered with a former BA flight attendant to give their top tips on travelling for your destination wedding this summer. "Destination weddings are continuing to grow in popularity, with more and more people looking to escape the UK for weddings abroad in areas such as Greece, Italy, Spain and Cyprus. Though planning your wedding can sometimes be demanding, you should be able to enjoy the lead up, feeling as stress-free as possible", explains Kim Deller, Concierge Executive at The Wedding Travel Company.

HOW MUCH SHOULD YOU REALLY GIFT AT WEDDINGS IN 2025?

Wedding season is fast approaching – and while many Brits are busy outfit-hunting or booking hotels, there's one part of the big day that continues to cause confusion - how much money should you actually spend on the happy couple? It's a question thousands of guests are turning to the internet for. In fact, Google searches for 'how much money should you give for a wedding gift' have soared by a whopping 5,000% over the past month*, proving just how panicked Brits are about getting it right.

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 14th September 2025! Sister company to County Wedding Magazines, the event brings couples 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.