Your Midlands Wedding news and ideas from around the region

Discover Ansty Hall's new High Chai Afternoon Tea

Ansty Hall High Chai afternoon tea offers a charming take on the classic British tradition. Blending historical and modern local flavours, this special experience adds a hint of spice to the cherished ritual. Guests can savour a selection of pastries and freshly baked scones, including the standout fi g and cardamom scones. Chai lattes enhance the menu, promising a delightful afternoon tea that honours the diverse local flavours – all presented in the unique Ansty style. Under the expert curation of Executive Chef Ryan Swift, the Ansty Hall High Chai afternoon tea features a menu with traditional oak smoked salmon and cream cheese sandwiches, almond éclair with caramel cremeux and pistachio, and milk chocolate mousse. Available all year round, sessions start from 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm daily and cost £42 per person, or guests can opt for Ridgeview High Chai for £55 per person.

Seasonal style

As seasons change, it's important to be aware of how the weather affects the wedding. Editorial Assistant Millicent Garton takes you through some suggestions of how to embrace the chill and celebrate the sun. Much like seasons, it's only natural that weddings and their themes flow and evolve with changing year. From the cake and catering to the dress and décor, all elements of the big day can be influenced by the time of year, so it's only fitting that special attention should be given to those minor details.

Make sure your wedding day is protected! 

When you're planning a wedding, getting insured is important to protect yourself against anything that could go awry just before, or on the big day. For those aiming to tie the knot this year, Alex Cross, Insurance Director at Tesco Bank shares his top tips on things to consider for your wedding day and make sure you're covered so things can run as smoothly as possible. Weddings can be a pricey affair, with the average cost of a UK wedding in 2024 coming in at around £20,755. Knowing the total cost of your wedding and how much you're spending on each element of your big day is crucial before choosing your insurance policy. Identifying any big-ticket expenses that you'll want covered should anything go wrong, such as venues, caterers, photographers, or dresses is also key. This can also help you decide if standard insurance policies will be enough or if you'll need something more specific or customised.

How to avoid pre-nups becoming a wedding alarm bell

As one of the most popular seasons for wedding proposals approaches, couples are being reminded to factor pre-nuptials into their plans well ahead of the big day. No longer associated with the rich and famous, people from all walks of life and finance levels are entering into nuptial agreements. And often it's not the couples themselves who initiate the idea to enter into a nuptial agreement, it can often be suggested by their parents. "It's becoming more common for couples to take out an agreement because their parents have helped them financially more than perhaps, they did 5 to 10 years ago," said Sally Ward, a Senior Associate solicitor in Family Law at leading law firm, Ellisons Solicitors.

Donations instead of wedding gifts - support VOW for Girls

From unconventional venues to unique attire choices, modern couples are redefining what it means to celebrate love. But what if one of these unique touches could mean helping change the lives of millions of girls around the world? This is where VOW for Girls steps in. Founded by Princess Mabel van Orange of the Netherlands, a serial entrepreneur for social change and founder of VOW for Girls, this unique charity aims to tackle the urgent issue of child marriage through a creative and powerful funding method. Instead of the usual wedding day traditions, VOW for Girls invites couples to use their special day as a force for good. By saying 'I do,' couples can empower millions of young girls to say 'I do' to a brighter future.

County Wedding Events coming to Stapleford Park, Leicestershire!

If you're newlyweds-to-be embarking on your wedding planning journey, pop along to the County Wedding Events wedding show at Stapleford Park, Leicestershire, for inspiration on Sunday 3rd November 2024! A must-visit for all those that got engaged over the festive months, the event brings couples that are desperate for face-to-face wedding planning 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.

Winter wedding colour trends set to dominate 2024 & 2025

The date has been set, the invitations are out. Have you planned a winter wedding for this season and are still looking for inspiration for your decorations? Trend expert Ella Citron-Thompkins from Diamonds Factory tells us which five colour schemes are ideal...Ice Princess: silver, white, blue, grey: For those who prefer classic elegance, the "Ice Princess" colour scheme is perfect. The cool colour palette of silver, white, blue and grey creates an elegant, frosty look and adds a touch of fairytale magic to your winter wedding. Crystal clear accents such as ice crystals, sparkling fairy lights and shimmering decorations fit perfectly and create a magical, almost arctic atmosphere.

Discover Rituals Cosmetics new West Midlands store

Beauty and well-being brand Rituals Cosmetics will open a new store in Staffordshire's McArthurGlen Designer Outlet West Midlands, offering the perfect products for pre-wedding pampering. Annemarie Forsyth, managing director of Rituals Cosmetics (UK & Ireland), says: "As soon as customers enter our store, they can explore our collections and fully immerse themselves in our brand. It's a place to discover our collections, including gift sets and uplifting well-being treats, all at fantastic outlet prices." Rituals Cosmetics is a brand dedicated to sustainable and personal well-being in the beauty luxury industry. As the foremost founder of integrating bath, body, and home care into a single portfolio, the company embraces the lifestyle of transforming everyday routines into more meaningful moments.

Top tips for a happy marriage

Victoria Walker, family lawyer and partner at Moore Barlow gives her top tips for a happy marriage! A happy marriage is built on a foundation of effective communication, love and mutual respect. Here are my essential tips to strengthen your partnership and foster lasting happiness. Wishing you all the best for your hopefully happy ever after. Before getting married... Don't rush! Take your time to really get to know the person. Ensuring that you both share similar or complementary aspirations is key. I've encountered couples where one person desired early retirement or to work overseas while the other was not in agreement, leading to irreconcilable differences and the end of the relationship. There have also been instances where one partner was satisfied with a simple and less demanding lifestyle, while the other was not. Qualities that were initially endearing might become sources of frustration later on.

Tie the knot at The Tin at The Coal Vaults

The Tin at The Coal Vaults is a multi-use arts venue that doubles as the perfect alternative wedding reception venue. The 18th-century building in Coventry Canal Basin's former coal storage building oozes character with exposed brick walls and curved ceilings. Its somewhat industrial style creates the ideal backdrop, giving the space a distinctive sense of charm and character while remaining versatile enough to be personalised and adapted to suit personal tastes. The venue is set in two vaults; one contains a fully licensed bar stocked with locally sourced ales, wines, and spirits with a seating area, and the other has a built-in stage and dancefloor. Being on one level, the entire venue is wheelchair accessible.

Cuckney House now has a wedding licenced

Cuckney House has just become fully licenced for five civil weddings a year for up to 38 guests. Amongst the grand and impressive rooms, plus landscaped gardens, couples are sure to have memorable weddings. The panelled ballroom provides an elegant setting for wedding breakfasts and the all-important first dance, while the stunning Walled Garden can be transformed with fairylights and fire pits for an al fresco setting like no other. Within its five acres of grounds are countless hidden corners for romantic and treasured wedding photographs. Couples can choose to have the licenced service in the ballroom, the dining room or the stunning Edwardian garden pavilion.

How to Manifest Anything: practical secrets to turn all your dreams into reality

Renowned manifestation coach and author Victoria Jackson has released her highly anticipated second book, How to Manifest Anything, published on 12th September 2024 by Octopus Books.Following the success of her debut book, "Manifesting For Beginners," Victoria returns with an essential guide that answers the most pressing questions about manifestation. "How to Manifest Anything" is written with Victoria's signature 'agony aunt' concept, providing a practical, dip-in-and-out collection of the most popular and recurring questions people have about manifestation as they incorporate it into their daily lives. Whether you're wondering how to manifest your soulmate, attract financial abundance, secure your dream job, or troubleshoot delayed manifestations, this book offers the guidance you need.

Exchange vows at Moor Hall Hotel & Spa

Moor Hall Hotel & Spa is a family-owned venue with beautiful grounds in Sutton Coldfield. The four-star hotel has options for smaller or larger weddings of up to 180 guests, as well as evening-only and afternoon tea receptions. There are 83 bedrooms, including doubles, twins, family rooms and hot tub rooms, for loved ones to choose from. All guests will have access to the pool, spa bath, sauna and steam room as well as a full English breakfast the following day. Couples can hold civil ceremonies inside the Charter Suite or outside in the magical Sunken Garden, with its fountain, stone staircase and grottos for up to 180 loved ones. The elegant Charter Suite creates a spectacular backdrop for weddings.

Lamport Hall in the Northamptonshire countryside offers a stunning backdrop to events

Lamport Hall offers an elegant backdrop to events in the heart of the Northamptonshire countryside, close to the Leicestershire border, with excellent travel networks via the A14 and M1. The country house makes for spectacular arrivals with a classical frontage and Victorian additions, including a main entrance flanked by columns. The property offers stunning views from the elevated spot across the valley in an unspoilt corner of the county. The Hall is set in approximately 10 acres of tranquil gardens, resulting in more than 450 years of love and dedication, enclosed by a spacious park. Although the size and location are the same as when first laid out, the design has been strongly influenced by the interests and tastes of successive owners.

Advice from a divorce lawyer before your wedding day

As a divorce lawyer, one of the things that Joanna Farrands, a family lawyer and partner at Moore Barlow, helps couples soon to be married with is a prenuptial agreement. Here, she shares her advice... "These are increasingly common and popular as a way of considering your finances and future ahead of the wedding. Now, these can sometimes have a bad reputation. Some people dismiss them as they aren't the most romantic gesture, but in reality, a prenuptial agreement with your partner is a sensible, practical thing, and the conversations you have when going through it can make your relationship even stronger.

Cuckney House has just become fully licenced for weddings

Cuckney House, a Grade II listed property located on Nottinghamshire's Welbeck Estate, has just become fully licenced for five civil weddings a year for up to 38 guests. Amongst the grand and impressive rooms, plus landscaped gardens, couples are sure to have memorable weddings. The panelled ballroom provides an elegant setting for wedding breakfasts and the all-important first dance, while the stunning Walled Garden can be transformed with fairylights and fire pits for an al fresco setting like no other. Within its five acres of grounds are countless hidden corners for romantic and treasured wedding photographs. Couples can choose to have the licenced service in the ballroom, the dining room or the stunning Edwardian garden pavilion.

Goodybag collaboration with Yankee Candle - don't miss out!

For couples coming along to the County Wedding Events' Signature Wedding Shows at Bluewater, Kent, Mercedes-Benz World, Surrey and Ascot Racecourse, Berkshire, they're in for a treat because in the Goodybags you'll find a Yankee Candle Votive. Yankee Candle Filled Votives come in the Signature Collection-exclusive and tried-and-true fragrances, making these tiny treats an easy (and adorable) way to try something new. Hand-illustrated labels, vibrant wax colours, and a premium soy-wax blend create an inspired addition to your home. Decided on a favourite? Arrange several of the same fragrance together to add sparkle and scent to your mantel or table.

Goodybag collaboration with Mocktails - don't miss out!

For those looking for booze-free options this wedding season, Mocktails Uniquely Crafted, is the non-alcoholic premium cocktail brand perfect for big-day guests; and when attending County Wedding Events' Signature Wedding Shows at at Bluewater, Kent, Mercedes-Benz World, Surrey and Ascot Racecourse, Berkshire, you'll find a sample in your Goodybag! The alcohol-free, ready-to-drink beverages are perfect for those looking to offer a range of beverages at their wedding. Mocktails showcase a delectable collection of flavours, each carefully crafted with the finest ingredients, spices, and botanicals sourced from around the world.

Dream themes

Planning a wedding is a stressful time, but allocating a theme can help by making the important decisions slightly less difficult. Here, editorial assistant Sophie Clark has created a guide to inspire you for your big day. From Regency-core to overflowing natural elements, there are plenty of themes to draw inspiration from to help you navigate your wedding planning. Not only could it narrow down a specific colour scheme from which you can arrange the bridal parties' outfits, but it can project the atmosphere you want to achieve at your dream-like wedding. This will ensure that the memories created on your special day are timeless, and that the photos will turn out absolutely divine to give you something to reminisce on.

Exchange vows at Selly Manor in Bournville

Selly Manor and Minworth Greaves are two of Birmingham's oldest buildings. Chocolate manufacturer George Cadbury saved these beautiful houses, then dismantled them and moved them to the heart of his famous historic garden village of Bournville, where they have stood for more than 100 years. It creates such a unique setting for intimate and memorable weddings! The experienced and friendly team will guide couples in creating extraordinary events, from the booking process to welcoming guests and everything in between. Weddings begin with a short interview with the registrars, either as a couple or individually, in one of the historic rooms. Ceremonies will occur in the stunning Medieval Hall of Minworth Greaves, in front of the ancient oak dining table, surrounded by 40 guests.