Your Midlands Wedding news and ideas from around the region

Revealed the UK’s best venues with woodlands to achieve dreamy cottage-core weddings

A recent study revealed the UK's highest-rated venues for woodland-themed weddings, with Creeksea Place being named the best. The research conducted by photo wall art creator StoryBoards analysed user-generated review data to identify the UK regions with the highest quantity of top-rated woodlands venues by creating an overall rating score. The study has revealed that Creeksea Place is the most highly rated woodland in the nation. Located in Essex, the manor house, which includes picturesque woodland, has been rated five stars over 220 times giving it a perfect score of ten out of ten.

The new Yankee Candle® SS24 collection

Find an oasis this spring with the new Yankee Candle® SS24 collection, Under the Desert Sun. The new collection will brighten the home with fragrances that exude memories of warmer days, including four refreshingly light and bright fragrances including, Desert Blooms, Aloe & Agave, Sweet Vanilla & Horchata, and Stargazing. Inspired by the unique beauty of the desert, the new collection has been designed to help escape the ordinary and satisfy wanderlust, immersing the home in sun-drenched scents. The Under The Desert Sun collection features exotic fragrances such as aguaro cactus, aloe and blue lotus, as well as soothing lavender and eucalyptus.

Three spicy but sophisticated hen party ideas

Throwing a hen party that will please all attendees can be tricky. Striking a balance between risque and tame activities can be one of the most controversial challenges you'll face when planning. In fact, some of the more crude hen party gimmicks came out in the top 10 most hated parts of a hen party in this report. However, you can create a hen party that strikes the perfect balance between spice and sophistication, ensuring a night to remember for both the bride and her friends. Jess Martin, Hen Party expert at Ginger Ray has shared three amazing themes for the perfect spicy but sophisticated hen party:

Story Cabin Wedding Films is offering our readers an exclusive discount

Story Cabin Wedding Films is a video and photography team that captures weddings across the UK, France and Italy. Owner Jag tells us: "We pride ourselves on capturing raw moments with a discreet and unobtrusive approach. For us, it's about telling your story with passion, creativity and an understanding of you and your personalities. We aim to capture your moments in a raw, documentary style. We steer clear of staging any moments. We want each of our couples to have the highest quality coverage; therefore, we spend our time editing your special day. With us, you will have a one-to-one consultation free of charge. We believe in personal connections and this will help each of us understand each other better."

Experts share 5 tips on accommodating deaf guests at your wedding

Planning a wedding can be challenging, especially when there are so many decisions to be made and so many things to be considered. Whilst this is your big day, considering your guests can go a long way, especially for those who have disabilities or are hard of hearing. In the UK, one in five adults is deaf, has hearing loss or tinnitus, so the likelihood of having someone who may need additional help when it comes to hearing in attendance is quite likely. Ashish Shah, Audiologist at The Hearing Care Partnership has offered his expert advice on how you can better accommodate your deaf and hard-of-hearing guests.

Wroxall Abbey Hotel is a luxurious 72-bedroom hotel

Wroxall Abbey Hotel is a luxurious 72-bedroom hotel surrounded by 27 acres of luscious green grounds and spectacular views of the Warwickshire countryside. The estate is steeped in a rich history dating back as far as the 11th century. King Henry VIII, Sir Christopher Wren and the world-renowned writer William Shakespeare all had past ties to Wroxall Abbey.

Developed in 1866, the Courtyard formed a large part of the estate when it was transformed into a school and still has old elements of a traditional schoolhouse feel from the outside. Built as a separate annex to the main mansion house, it provides guests with total privacy.

These daily habits are ruining your wedding ring

If you've been the lucky recipient of a diamond ring or a piece of jewellery, Nilesh Rakholia, jewellery expert and founder of Abelini, has shared exactly how to care for your precious diamonds to ensure they last a lifetime... Nilesh says: "While it can be tempting to wear precious items such as an engagement ring all the time, daily habits such as cooking and cleaning can damage your jewellery. To avoid this, we always recommend removing jewellery before showering or washing up because the soap can cause a film to form, which can leave rings and bracelets looking dull.

Wedding traditions which are falling out of favour with younger generations

Researchers surveyed Gen Z couples and found many traditional wedding and proposal traditions which are falling out of favour with younger generations. But it's good news for the father-of-the-bride, as 54 percent said expecting parents to cough up for the big day was no longer necessary. Other things which are likely to fall out of favour are asking the bride's father for permission to propose (43 percent), sleeping apart the night before the wedding (38 percent) and the bride taking their partner's name (35 percent).

Of the 2,000 18- to 27-year-olds, surveyed by Churchill, as many as 86 percent believe the traditional stereotype of men proposing to women is old hat – and women should be able to pop the question too.

A third (29 percent) think that being given away is no longer necessary, while 27 percent say that tossing the bouquet is out of style. Being carried over the threshold (26 percent), promising to obey in the vows (25 percent) and wearing a veil (19 percent) are also falling out of favour.

A third of Brits decline wedding invites due to cost Klarna finds

The wedding season is just around the corner! What is normally a cause for joy can often become a financial strain for guests. Travel, outfits, gifts – the costs can quickly soar to unexpected heights. This is also confirmed by a recent survey by Klarna*, the flexible choice for smart, secure payments: One third (36.4%) of those surveyed said they had declined wedding invitations in the past due to associated costs. Moreover, 30.2% of respondents said they have not attended a Stag or Hen party due to the expenses involved.

Why not spoil you and your partner with a romantic meal for two by DukesHill?

If you're feeling the stresses of wedding planning, why not spoil you and your partner with a romantic meal for two at home using nothing but the best ingredients? Famed for their luxury wicker gift hampers bursting with fine food produce from small-batch suppliers, DukesHill has curated a selection of dine-in meal boxes that include their high-quality British meat.

Kick off your meal with DukesHill's finest smoked salmon pâté, paired with traditional Scottish oatcakes. The main event is a pair of tender grass-fed British beef fillet steaks full of flavour. The meal is rounded off with an indulgent sticky toffee pudding and a bottle of wine.

9 in 10 newlyweds say budgeting is the biggest wedding stress

New research of newlyweds has revealed that 9 in 10 newlyweds find budgeting to be the biggest wedding stress. Queensmith's research surveyed 1,000 recently married couples throughout the UK, exploring the most and least enjoyable aspects, as well as the most stressful moments, leading up to their weddings and during the day itself. Weddings take a lot of time to plan in order to make them fabulous, but they also cost a pretty hefty sum of money too. Looking at the most stressful aspects of wedding, a whopping 93% of respondents said budgeting was the most stressful part of planning a wedding.

Wychbury Rooms is surrounded by extensive grounds nestled in the Clent Hills

Nestled in the Clent Hills, Wychbury Rooms is surrounded by extensive grounds that look stunning in photographs.

The Wychbury Room is the main function space, which can accommodate 150 guests for the reception or 100 people for a sit-down meal. It's fully air-conditioned, has access to a private balcony and is accessible via a lift, with accessible toilets available downstairs. It has a private bar and the team can discuss bespoke wedding packages to suit your needs using preferred entertainment, catering and room décor specialists, or you are welcome to provide your own.

Hen party dos and don'ts according to brides

Planning a hen party can be a stressful task, and with more and more brides opting for weekends over one last night of single life, there's even more pressure to get it right. To help you create the perfect celebration, Amy Greenshields, party planning expert at cardfactory spoke to 10 recent brides and bride-to-bes, unveiling their hen party dos and don'ts. Using this insight, Amy shares her top tips for 'kissing the miss goodbye' in style.

Expert advice on how to plan a wedding in 2024

Georgie Mitchell, Wedding Planner and Wedding Expert for online fashion destination Silkfred, shares her expert insight on how to plan a wedding in 2024. "Figure out your goals! Every wedding starts very differently and couples want different things. Sit together and decide what is the most important part of your wedding day - are you looking for a big party? Therefore drink and music may be key. Alternatively, if the look of everything is the most important thing, then this is where your money will be spent. Ensure you then allocate the budget and start with these suppliers."

Bigmouths Catering is offering our readers 10 per cent off its services

Bigmouths Catering, a bespoke catering business based in Worcestershire, is offering our readers 10 per cent off its services. "We take a customer-first approach, meaning we can offer solutions for any budget or event size, whether it is casual, fine dining, or however you want to theme your big day. At Bigmouths Catering, we believe that great food is at the heart of every successful event. Whether you're planning a corporate lunch, a wedding reception, or a special celebration, our team of experienced chefs and event planners will work with you to create a customised menu that will impress your guests and make your event a success."

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.

St Johns House is an elegant Georgian house located in the heart of Lichfield

St Johns House is an elegant Georgian house located in the heart of Lichfield. Dan Ralley acquired St Johns House in August 2012. Having fallen in love with the building, he set about bringing it back to life. This included a rear extension, which is now the Pavilion Room, acting as the main function room at the house.

Great care was taken in restoring all of the redeeming features the house had to offer, combining contemporary furnishings with classic antiques to create a very stylish, warm and friendly place to stay. With a real passion to make guests as comfortable as possible, St Johns House offers so much more than a good night's sleep.

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.

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!

New data reveals the UK hotspots for wedding bliss

A new study has revealed the areas in the UK with the best vendors and venues for wedding ceremonies, with Essex being crowned top for both. The research conducted by photo wall art creator StoryBoards analyzed data, to identify the UK regions with the highest quantity of top-rated vendors and venues, including vineyards, cake companies, and stationary brands. Most brides and grooms will agree that planning a wedding is stressful, as trying to pull off an event that feels unique to the couple while managing expectations, budget, and family can be difficult at times. Thankfully, beautiful venues exist to help make the whole process easier.