Editor loves and inspiration

When Sherene was looking to have her bathroom redone Horace was recommended to her by a friend. She called him to arrange a time to give her a quote and ended up chatting on the phone for 20 minutes. When he turned up on her doorstep, eyes lit up on both sides but they didn't get together for a further two years, even though Sherene kept asking him back to do more work! “The proposal was so unromantic but very Horace,” Sherene tells us. On 1st January 2021, he told her he'd ask her to marry him that year at some point. Key moments such as Valentine's Day and birthdays came and went with nothing so, when Christmas and then New Year arrived, she thought surely this was it... it had been 12 years after all. Midnight arrived and nothing, and by 2am she gave up waiting resigning herself to the fact it wasn't happening. By the time everyone left and she'd gone upstairs, Sherene had started to get quite cross – “Why haven't you asked me to marry you? Am I not good enough to be your wife?” she asked. To which Horace responded by saying he had ordered the ring but it hadn't arrived in time. So, he picked up their daughter's Barbie ring and told her he would use that in the meantime. “That was even worse than not being asked,” Sherene says. But he whispered to her, “Turn around.” And as she did so saw the real ring on the table. “It had been there all along, but I was so wound up I hadn't noticed. I did make him get down on one knee and ask me properly though,” Sherene remembers. When it came to choosing a venue, Sherene had only one place in mind. “I'd seen Wotton House when I was 19 and knew then it was where I wanted to get married,” she explains. She took Horace to see it and they both loved how it looked and felt, particularly the grandeur of the old library. They didn't need to look anywhere else as they knew this was it. Join us as the bride shares her precious memories of the big day, 27th August 2023, in the latest issue available now. Read Your Surrey Wedding magazine for free!

Elegant country house hotel Pennyhill Park in Bagshot has announced the launch of a stunning new dedicated wedding venue space for the summer season. Set within a 120-acre estate in the heart of Surrey's countryside, Pennyhill Park provides a classically romantic backdrop with its charming ivy-clad mansion house defined by its traditional 19th-century architecture, garden terraces and manicured lawns. Couples can now enjoy exclusive use of the hotel's private terrace wing in its entirety. Drinks receptions can be hosted in the artfully refurbished Water Lily Suite, or on the Lily Pond Terrace overlooking the grounds when the weather is fine. Wedding receptions for up to 120 guests can be hosted in the newly renovated Parkview Suite complete with a full bar for evening celebrations. The private terrace wing is also home to five stunningly refurbished rooms and suites for members of the wedding party to stay in on the wedding night, or indeed longer. 
Find out more at www.exclusive.co.uk/pennyhill-park

For more local news, read the latest issue available now. Read Your Surrey Wedding magazine for free!

Best foot forward

Emma Brewer at First Dance Studios (https://firstdancestudios.co.uk) says: No doubt you'll already have started your to-do list of people and places to contact, so regarding your first dance we can chat online or on the phone before pencilling in dates for your lessons. Don't panic though as these won't start until a minimum of two to three months before the big day. Life can take over as you hurtle towards it, so we don't want to start too soon in case you don't have a chance to practice and you forget everything you've been taught! I absolutely promise that the lessons will be a major fun part of the wedding planning and you'll have a skill for life. Just think, you'll be sorted for all future weddings and events, and you'll be able to dance together confidently. You never know, it might even spark a love for dance and you'll carry on your lessons once you're newlyweds – what a great date night idea! Let's not get ahead of ourselves, the first step is to get in touch with your chosen dance studio for a chat and discuss your ideas or ask for advice if you don't know where to start.

For more expert advice from local Surrey businesses, read the latest issue available now. Read Your Surrey Wedding magazine for free!

V is for vintage glamour

“Nostalgia takes centre stage with vintage glamour making a comeback,” Francesca Neame-White from Event Elegance with Francesca (eventelegance.co.uk) shares. “From retro-inspired dresses to classic cars, couples are indulging in the elegance of bygone eras. Velvet textures, antique furnishings, and ornate details create an atmosphere that exudes timeless charm.”

Find more entertainment options in our A-Z guide in the issue available now. Read Your Surrey Wedding magazine for free!

“I predict we haven't seen the last of the Lambeth style vintage buttercream cakes, which will still prove popular, revamped for 2024 with small, delicately adorned ribbon bows,” says Anna Lewis from Anna Lewis Luxury Cakes. “We'll also continue to see the resurgence of large, single-tier patisserie style cakes with fresh fruit for style-led, contemporary couples.”


Read more from this company, and other local cake designers in the latest issue available now. Read Your Surrey Wedding magazine for free!

Since the pandemic, the biggest shift in the wedding industry has been towards more intimate weddings. Born out of necessity during various lockdowns and restrictions, small yet mighty nuptials made us all reevaluate what's important and remind us what a wedding is all about. So much so in fact that the trend for intimate weddings is here to stay. We chatted to our local experts to discover the benefits of a small but perfectly formed celebration as well as their tips for planning your own.

The latest issue is available now. Read Your Surrey Wedding magazine for free!

It's always hard whittling down your dream wedding venues, but for Lauren and Robert the main attraction for Reigate Hill Golf Club (www.reigatehillgolfclub.co.uk) was the outside ceremony area and the long walk down the aisle. “Although sadly, we had to move the ceremony inside the day before due to the weather,” shares Lauren. “We had the first storm of the year and the storm even got given a name it was so bad!”

You can find out more about Lauren and Robert's big day in the Dec23/Jan24 issue of Your Surrey Wedding, free to download at www.yoursurrey.wedding/free-download

Dare to be different in the stunning Valentina available at May & Grace Bridal Boutique. "This hand-painted ballgown by House of Savin is crafted in sumptuous sation with a full skirt and boned bodice. It expresses a timeless elegance," says the boutique's Emilie Crease.

For more on dressing your bridal party, check out the Oct/Nov23 issue, free to download at www.yoursurrey.wedding/free-download

Aviator is a luxury hotel designed to reflect the sleek and modern aesthetics of aviation. Aviator's exterior is modern and striking with sleek contours inspired by the shape of a propeller. The building is well-maintained and features clean lines from every angle. There's a large lawn and terrace area that get lots of sun on summer days. The lawn provides extraordinary views of the private Farnborough Airport. Watching private jets ascend and descend is spectacular and leaves a lasting impression on guests.

Find out more about this and other Surrey hotel venues in the Oct/Nov23 issue of Your Surrey Wedding, free to download at www.yoursurrey.wedding/free-download

Real wedding couple Ayesha and Oscar made activity booklets containing a couple of games about them. They placed them on each of their reception tables as an icebreaker and got everyone chatting to the other guests they were sitting with.

Find out more about their big day at Nutfield Priory (www.handpickedhotels.co.uk/nutfieldpriory) in the Oct/Nov23 issue of Your Surrey Wedding, free to download at www.yoursurrey.wedding/free-download