Your Midlands Wedding news and ideas from around the region

Are these popular 2023 wedding song cursed?

Research from wedding entertainment providers Function Central shows couples are taking risks choosing songs for their weddings with shockingly high divorce rates. Function Central used existing data on the songs most likely to end in divorce to see whether couples were still taking risks by adding these songs to their upcoming nuptials. This data was then cross-referenced against existing wedding playlists of engaged couples to see whether couples were still choosing these songs for their weddings. The results were concerning for any superstitious couples worried about whether certain tracks were deemed bad luck for long lasting marriages.

Weston Hall is a Grade II* listed wedding venue

Nestled in the heart of the Staffordshire countryside, Weston Hall is a magnificent Grade II* listed building that encompasses four large pitched roofs, a striking exterior, and a mixture of modern and Elizabethan features.

The Shrewsbury Suite's impressive countryside views and original mullioned windows allow for a magical backdrop for an enchanting ceremony with up to 110 of your friends and family.

5 reasons couples fail at sticking to their wedding budget

With the cost of living on everyone's minds, budget expert Isabel Smith, offers some insight into how couples can set (and stick to!) their wedding budget. The number of couples who are going overbudget on their wedding is dropping, from around 2/3 in 2018 to somewhere around 50% this year. This may be due to savvier couples setting more realistic budgets, or people simply refusing spend a penny more than planned owing to future financial uncertainty, but either way, I am all for it! I've never been an advocate for getting in debt over your big day, no matter how special you want it to be.

The perfect couples advent calendar

Couples looking for that x-factor idea to get them in the Christmassy mood this festive season need look no further than A Twist Of Date's personalised couples' advent calendar. This personalised QR-code collection of romantic, fun and creative couples' activities adds a spark of magic that is sure to make 2023 a December to remember. Perfect for long-term busy couples looking to reconnect through heart-warming moments, it's a no-brainer alternative to the typical chocolate-filled Christmas countdown. Whether it's an impromptu trip to your local ice rink, engaging in an act of kindness together or writing each other a romantic letter to be opened on Christmas, each day brings something new and exciting to share together.

How to master taking the perfect engagement ring photo

Proposals are often one of the most memorable, special and magical moments in a couples life, so it's only natural they want to share this joyous news with their friends, family and colleagues. In 2023, one of the most common ways for couples to share the news of their engagement is through social media. Couples often post gorgeous pictures in real time of themselves along with the dazzling engagement ring. Sharing the news via social media is a quick and easy way of telling your loved ones the news without having to individually call everyone, which can be overwhelming and time consuming. However, taking the perfect photo can be a bit of a challenge. Whilst it's not a competition to see who has the biggest ring and whose ring sparkles the most, a lot of people want their ring to look as desirable and shimmering as possible.

The Manor House at Stanbrook Abbey Hotel is now available to hire

Set in 26 acres of extensive gardens, Stanbrook Abbey Hotel is renowned as one of Worcestershire's best-kept secrets. This luxury hotel, dating back to the early 16th century, is a former Grade II-listed monastery with preserved heritage through its original architecture.

Couples can now stay at the Manor House, a self-contained five-bedroom hideaway bursting with period features and nestled within Stanbrook Abbey's peaceful grounds. Celebrate in style, or simply escape for a one-of-a-kind self-catering break in the Worcestershire countryside.

Sober hen parties are on the rise

While hen parties are often characterised by celebratory cocktails, drinking games and wild night outs, the hen-do could soon be shrugging off its booze-fueled persona. Global searches for 'sober hen do ideas' have doubled over the past year while 'sober bachelorette party games' has also seen a 50% increase. On TikTok, #soberliving has seen a surge in popularity, with videos including the hashtag boasting over 650 million views. If you're a bride-to-be looking to celebrate your 'last night of freedom' tee-total-style, party planning expert, Amy Greenshields at cardfactory has shared her four top tips.

Deer Park Hall is situated within an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty

Deer Park Hall is situated within a private 1,300-acre estate in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The property is a Cotswold stone building that dates back to the early 1800s, with a modern wall of glass looking out towards the Malvern Hills and Deer Park. Outside, there are beautiful terraced gardens, offering fabulous photo opportunities with roaming deer and panoramic views. There are two outdoor pavilions with heating and lighting, a brook cascading into a small waterfall, several firepits, outdoor sofas, and a Mediterranean-walled lavender garden with olive trees.

Is lasting love magic, logic or luck?

Does it matter how a couple met? Contented Couples, a new guide to long-term relationships, features candid, intimate interviews with eighteen couples, based in the UK and USA. Each pair tell of how they met, how they formed a relationship and how they've thrived to become a truly happy union. One couple met and married within a month, whilst another two were thrown together repeatedly by a matchmaker who refused to give up - and it is not only guy meets girl either. The couples speak from an array of circumstance, culture and sexual orientations, including arranged marriage, friends-to-lovers and dating apps.

The five best weather apps to keep your eye on it leading up to the big day

Wedding jewellery experts Austen & Blake have listed some of the best weather apps to keep an eye on in the lead-up to your big day. The UK weather has been anything but predictable lately, with September set to be a particularly rainy and unsettled month, according to The Met Office. Top-rated apps help to track and plan your wedding day accordingly. Weather apps are invaluable when it comes to planning your nuptials, but sometimes there's no avoiding the inevitable. That's why, along with listing the best apps for tracking grey skies, the jewellery experts have teamed up with a professional wedding photographer to provide tips on how to get the best rainy snaps.

Even when the weather's a washout, it doesn't mean your wedding photos have to be! Here are some of the best weather apps to keep an eye on and how to strike the perfect pose if rain is predicted:

Win a pre-wedding getaway

One of Warwickshire's most charming hotels, The Charlecote Pheasant, is offering our readers the chance to win a luxurious pre-wedding stay for two people in a deluxe room with a full breakfast, a three-course dinner, and a bottle of house wine included. A runner-up will win a Sunday lunch for four people with a bottle of house wine.

The Charlecote Pheasant is a former farmhouse and 16th-century hayloft that's full of historic charm, with landscaped gardens, event spaces, and a host of exquisite period features. It's a popular venue for staging wedding ceremonies and receptions, both indoors and out. With its Hampton Suite providing a self-contained space to host wedding celebrations or its outdoor ceremony pavilion and gardens, it's the ideal backdrop for a rustic-inspired tipi or marquee reception.

Don’t like your engagement ring? Relationship experts reveal what you need to do!

A marriage proposal is filled with an overwhelming amount of emotion and is a moment both you and your partner will remember forever. But once the initial rush fades, what if you come to terms with the fact that the ring placed on your finger isn't what you envisioned it to look like? Leading diamond jewellers, Diamonds Factory, teamed up with relationship experts Georgia Sturmer and Sharin Shafer, who have shared their top 3 tips on how to handle this delicate situation in the best way possible.

Moddershall Oaks is a country retreat in Staffordshire

Moddershall Oaks is a country retreat on the water's edge, surrounded by 72 acres of Staffordshire countryside. This warm and inviting property has a fresh and neutral décor throughout and was designed with a contemporary feel in mind. Boasting a state-of-the-art sound system, Swarovski crystal lighting, hand-made Italian glass chandeliers, a glass bar, and moveable walls, this property has everything needed to create the perfect wedding.

There are nine stylish guest suites available, each has air-conditioning, 49" TV systems, mini bars, free Wi-Fi, underfloor heating, luxury mini toiletries, GHD hair equipment upon request, private decking areas, and direct access to the private accommodation pool.

Fraser Hart launches its stunning lab-grown diamond collection

Fraser Hart, one of the UK's leading purveyors of fine jewellery, is redefining affordable luxury with the launch of its Born Lab Grown Diamonds collection in 10 new stores nationwide. Optically, physically and chemically identical to an earth-grown diamond, here cutting-edge technology is used to create timeless diamonds in a laboratory setting. Blending craftsmanship with innovation, Born Lab Grown Diamonds are breathtaking in their clarity, delivering the same sparkling wow-factor as traditionally mined gems, but with a more accessible price tag. The Born collection includes a stunning choice of "buy now, treasure forever" heirloom jewellery pieces. With exquisite diamond rings starting at just £799, diamond and white gold stud earrings from £799, classic diamond encrusted tennis bracelets from £5,250, and diamond pendant necklaces from £850, investing in luxurious, exceptional quality and utterly timeless diamond jewellery pieces has never been more attractive.

The wellness journals from Lovendu you need in your life

With Mental Health Awareness day falling in October, and as we approach the end of the year, take positive steps to improve your wellbeing in 2024 through journaling. The benefits of daily journaling are huge, from reducing stress and improving your mental health to boosting productivity and providing an opportunity to get in sync with your emotions. It's the ultimate act of self-care – and Lovendu makes it easy to take control of your life and truly thrive.

The National Wedding Fayre is back for 2024

The National Wedding Fayre is back for 2024! With more than 125 exhibitors, a VIP lounge with afternoon tea, fashion shows and a fabulous win your wedding competition, the show has everything you need to plan the wedding of your dreams. If that wasn't enough, there will be hands-on advice from industry experts, luxury products, services at an affordable price and special promotions from some of the region's biggest wedding suppliers.

Treat yourself to the VIP package, which includes a drink voucher, an upgraded gift bag, reserved seating for the fashion show, access to the VIP lounge and fast track entry – what's not to love?

Getting married? Alcohol-free menu is the new must-have

Samantha Gilchrist, CEO of the UK's largest wedding venue collection, The Gilchrist Collection, conducted a survey of 2,000 UK adults to find out their wedding drinking habits. The study comes as the collection launches its new alcohol-free drinks menu, created in partnership with First Dates star bartender, Merlin Griffiths. The survey revealed that almost half (47%) of those who had attended a wedding in the last five years didn't drink alcohol during at least one of the events they had been to. Sober guests said they were often left feeling uncomfortable at weddings sipping an un-festive soft drink, as 35% of respondents said they are questioned on why they aren't having alcohol. Sadly, a quarter admitted to drinking alcohol at a wedding just to avoid awkward questions or having to share personal or medical information as an excuse.

Brinsop Court is an award-winning 14th-century manor house

Brinsop Court is an award-winning 14th-century manor house encircled by a moat, a traditionally built oak barn, and two idyllic cottages. Nestled within 800 acres of farmland and wonderfully preserved nature, you'll have exclusive use of the Grade I-listed estate for your big day.

The venue is perfect for pre-wedding retreats; put your feet up in front of the wood-burning fire and unwind in the hot tub with a glass of something bubbly. Located just a short walk from the house, the Ivy and Wood Cottages are ideal places to spend the night before your big day.

3 things no one tells you when it comes to setting your wedding budget

2024 is set to be a bumper year for weddings. In addition to the usual 275,000 or so which take place in the UK each year, the big day is finally coming around for a lot of couples who had to postpone because of the pandemic. Unfortunately, the cost of living crisis is squeezing all those couple's budgets tighter than ever so we've asked Isabel Smith, wedding industry veteran, to offer her advice on setting (and sticking to!) that spreadsheet. Today, Isabel let's us in on the things no-one ever tells you when you're setting your wedding budget...

The Top 10 Instagrammable Spas in the UK

With National Spa Week taking place between the 4th and 10th of November this year, it is time to book your favourite location to totally relax! Whether with the girls, in a couple, or even on your own, treating yourself to a weekend away at a spa can revive you. Maddie, Senior Marketing Exec at Pink Boutique, says: "Reset the everyday stress with a weekend away at a luxurious spa and hotel. From acres of woodland setting the picture-perfect backdrop to dipping into a pool worthy of Aphrodite, you deserve to look as good as you feel, and with these spas, there's no doubt your followers will be that little bit jealous."