Get those dancing shoes on - weddings are restriction free!
The day has finally come – wedding ceremonies and celebrations are restriction free! Grab your dancing shoes and get ready to sing at the top of your voice: "Celebrate good times... come on!"
It's been a long road that many of us have tentatively navigated over the last 16 months; from us here at County Wedding Magzines HQ to suppliers and couples. There's been small highs and many lows, as each glimmer of hope was put out by another government announcement. Lockdown 1.0 turned into 2.0 and then 3.0, wedding guest numbers went from 0 to 12, 15 to 30 and now we can actually invite all of our loved ones, friends and family dear to our hearts to the big day.
There's really been no better time to say 'I do', not only will it be mask free (personal choice), socially distance-free and rule-free; but it will be a true celebration of marriage, a union of friends and family, love and friendship.
There will no longer be limits on the number of people who can attend weddings, civil partnerships, funerals and other life events (including receptions and celebrations). There will be no requirement for table service or restrictions on any other element of the day such as singing or dancing.
By no means are we a country free from Covid, and as restrictions are lifted the government is highlighting the importance that we all use personal judgement to manage our own risk; when it comes to the big day perhaps remind guests that they should feel free to wear masks or keep socially distant as a personal and respected choice.
"I've been inspired by so many couples over the past year, who despite uncertainty and a multitude of hurdles to overcome have never lost sight of why their wedding day was so important to them. Their big days might not have been as big in number as originally planned, but they were certainly big in love and joy. We've all learnt a lot from them."
"I've seen some amazing weddings over the past year that prove you can still have a magical day even with a limited guest list. All the real weddings I've featured in the past year have agreed that although it wasn't the celebration they initially planned, they still had the perfect day and wouldn't change it for the world. I've loved seeing how positive both couples and the wedding industry as a whole have been throughout this difficult year, and it's made me proud to be a part of such a wonderful industry. I can't wait to see even more weddings in the next few months, whether they're small or large, and for people to celebrate their love with all their friends and family."
"The events of the last year have shown us one thing remains true: Love prevails. Over the last 16 months there has been more Google searches for engagement rings and proposals than ever before! This is because, when the world fell around us, it all made us realise what matters: family. "I was in awe of our wonderful NHS, I was in awe of how resilient couples where having their big days postponed time and time again – I hope you now have a date and get the day of your dreams. I was in awe of how wedding suppliers overcame and adapted to the situations they faced; and I can not wait to see the outpouring of love and jubilation at all the weddings taking place in the coming months and years!"
"The feeling on this day? Relieved is an understatement. As a bride-to-be who's suffered multiple postponements along with the rest of our readers, the last 16 months has been hard. But the biggest lesson I'll take from this experience is that health always comes first and love lasts forever. Being able to spend more quality time with the hubby-to-be has been absolutely precious. We've truly been through the highs and the lows together and we are so much closer as a couple for it."
"We've all been holding our breath for this moment for so long, it seems hard to believe that today's the day that restrictions are actually being lifted. I know we'll all be proceeding with caution but one thing that stands out the most for me throughout this pandemic is the resilience of couples patiently waiting - many of whom have had to cancel their weddings two or three times - and those who have chosen to tie the knot regardless of the limitations on many of the things we love about a traditional wedding. It's been a real inspiration and testament to the old adage ' Love wins'. I for one will be raising a glass to that today!"
"I'm amazed at how the wedding industry adapted so quickly during the past year with many local suppliers introducing new ideas and concepts to keep their businesses lucrative. Whether these were venues altering their space to accommodate smaller micro weddings or caterers and cake designers adding at-home delivery boxes to their menu so that guests who couldn't attend weddings could still indulge, wedding suppliers up and down the UK have gone over and above to help couples marrying during a difficult year. I'm excited to see what creative ideas come from this moving forward as we navigate the new normal. I'm excited to be able to feature the larger real weddings throughout my three magazines in the coming months but I also love seeing the smaller celebrations and think these are set to continue."
County Wedding Events comes to Nutfield Priory, Redhill, Surrey
If you're newlyweds-to-be embarking on your wedding planning journey, pop along to the County Wedding Events wedding show at Nutfield Priory, Redhill, Surrey, for inspiration on Sunday 8th November, 2026! Sister company to County Wedding Magazines, the event brings couples face-to-face 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.
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New Autumnal Menu is Welcomed at Norton Park Hotel
A comforting new Autumn menu has just landed at Scene Restaurant at Norton Park Hotel, Spa & Manor House. It has been carefully developed to balance classic favourites with modern dining trends, celebrating the very best of autumn's harvest. As the colder months approach, the new curated menu prioritises warmth, indulgence, and robust flavours. It includes a rich and indulgent duck liver parfait and pan-fried scallops with a delicate flavour. Headlining the new mains is the crown prince pumpkin ravioli, celebrating seasonal produce. This inventive dish responds to growing demand for vegetarian dishes, combining comfort with refinement whilst adding colour and vibrancy to the menu.
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Modern wedding rituals revealed as Brits bury sausages for the big day
For decades, the British wedding has followed a well-known rulebook of etiquette, from formal seating plans to three tier cakes. However, new research from Moonpig, the UK's leading online greeting card and gift retailer, has revealed that the nation is moving away from these traditions in favour of highly personal and often quirky rituals. The study of 1,500 Brits reveals that authenticity is winning over tradition. Six in ten (59%) believe a wedding should be a true reflection of the couple's personalities, even if it means breaking classic wedding etiquette. To ensure their day feels truly unique, many are turning to unconventional superstitions and spiritual services. Over one in five (22%) Brits said they have buried or would consider burying a sausage to guarantee good weather on their wedding day. Meanwhile, over a third (39%) would consider hiring an 'Etsy witch' or similar spiritualist to provide blessing rituals for their big day.
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UK’s Leading Stag & Hen Planners Under New Ownership
Tour operator Groupia, the parent company of leading stag and hen party brands StagWeb and GoHen, have been acquired by fellow group travel firm Funktion Leisure. Funktion Leisure, the company behind Funktion Events - an ABTA-bonded UK event specialist founded in 2007 - have also retained several of Groupia's staff to help with the transition and retain some of their extensive stag and hen party expertise. Funktion Events Managing Director Jay Broughton, said: "We acquired GoHen and StagWeb because they're two of the strongest names in UK hen and stag travel, with more than 750,000 customers between them since 2002.
