Your Surrey Wedding news and ideas from around the county

Somersbury Barn crowned national winner of prestigious awards

Somersbury Barn in Ewhurst was recently announced as the Best National Event Venue in the Muddy Stilettos Awards 2024, just two years after launching. They beat off the competition in the regional round against four other local venues; Brooklands Hotel (Weybridge), Gorse Hill Hotel (Woking), Oatlands Park Hotel (Weybridge) and The Watermill (Dorking), to make it through to the National Finals. The 'Best of the Best' in each category were then chosen by the editorial team across 28 counties and announced on 11 July. Lucinda Watkinson, owner of Somersbury Barn said: "We are thrilled to have won this award and would like to thank everyone who voted, to take us through the Nationals."

National Art Pass - perfect wedding gift for culture lovers

A National Art Pass is a great way to enjoy time at hundreds of museums, galleries and historic places across the UK, and the Double Membership makes the perfect wedding gift for any culture lovers! Annual membership is only £88.50* and lets the happy couple enjoy free entry to hundreds of cultural destinations, plus 50% off major exhibitions, and special shop and café discounts. What's more, two cards will be issued for the happy couple!

Say 'I do' to shared planning - wedding expert shares tips for involving family and friends

Amy Greenshields, wedding expert at Card Factory has shared 7 tips to help you let your loved ones contribute.

Asking for help can be hard but getting friends and family involved in wedding planning can not only lighten the load but will also make them feel included and valued. Wedding planning contains many different elements, from table designs and seating charts to your floral bouquet, everything must be accounted for. A bride normally has the most influence over everything wedding-related, leading to as state of overwhelming stress. Why not share out the responsibilities – even the little ones can have a job!

Ginger Ray - An Introvert's Guide to surviving a hen party

So, you've got a hen party on the horizon, but the thought of navigating through a sea of social interactions is making you break into a cold sweat. Fear not introverts, we've got your back! Follow these top tips to make sure that you don't bring down the mood at the hen party and instead boost the atmosphere of the event. Hen parties are a chance to celebrate the lucky soon-to-be bride so make it a night she'll never forget! Jess Martin, Hen Party expert at Ginger Ray has shared 6 strategies to ensure that you not only survive, but actually enjoy the festivities:

Sten dos are on the rise

Stag and hen experts, Adventure Connections, say it is the 'Sten do' that takes traditional trends down! A mash-up of the separate parties, the Sten do provides a popular new way for the future bride and groom to be united before the big day. Rumoured to have been recreated by Harry and Megan, Sten dos prove to be the hottest way to party. Founder of Adventure Connections, Justin Sayers mentions that "things are changing when it comes to pre-wedding parties", so why not give it a try? Sten dos offer a cost-effective and inclusive solution to those separate gatherings, perfect for those with a large number of guests. Those shared memories are sure to be irreplaceable. Reduce your stress and make it a rave to remember!

Dive into the world of muted colour palettes

Rebecca Brennan-Brown, founder of GetWed, a team of wedding experts based in London, helping couples achieve dreamy, fun, and unpretentious weddings, dives into the world of muted colour palettes and shares her top tips and advice for channeling this aesthetic...In a world of Instagram algorithms and Pinterest boards that feed you new inspiration every five minutes, it can be tricky to choose a colour palette for your wedding, let alone stick to one. Do you go for classic, whimsical whites and greens? Or perhaps something bolder and more fun? Or maybe you've always envisioned a summery pastel palette. The options are endless.

Harper Weddings offers Tasting Experiences at Botleys Mansion

Harper Weddings is a family-owned and operated company specialising in crafting unforgettable weddings for more than twenty-five years. With a distinguished portfolio of venues in the South East, including Botleys Mansion exclusive-use wedding house in Chertsey, Harper promises couples an unparalleled wedding experience tailored to their dreams. They are now offering Tasting Experiences at Botleys Mansion. Nestled amidst 56 acres of picturesque parkland, Botleys Mansion stands as a quintessential English wedding venue, exuding grandeur and luxury at every turn. Featuring a striking Palladian façade and elegant interiors, Botleys Mansion offers couples the perfect backdrop for their fairytale wedding. With a capacity for up to 288 guests during the day and 500 for evening celebrations, this majestic estate ensures that every moment is nothing short of extraordinary.

Personalisation is IN for 2024

Crafty Brewing and Lola and Luna's collaboration reveals how personalisation is being brought to the forefront of 2024 weddings. The concept of personalisation is holding a key part in redefining 'tradition' and incorporating new captivating trends in every aspect of your magical event. Aimee, a wedding expert from a wedding planning and styling company says that "Over the past few years, weddings have increasingly started steering away from the same old conventions, and opting for bespoke options more frequently." From table plans set on where the couple first met, to embroidered napkins there are so many opportunities to add a personal touch on your big day.

Scentscape your wedding day with Yankee Candle

Scentscaping your wedding day is a trend that's going nowhere! Finding the right fragrance to shape the atmosphere of your wedding is an exciting part of the wedding planning journey you can do together - beats the wedmin too! Yankee Candle, and sister brand WoodWick, boast a wide collection of candles in all shapes, colours and sizes that would work perfectly for your nuptials, reception and big-day gifting. Imagine walking into you ceremony with the scent of pink cherry and vanilla surrounding you, or at your winter reception Pumpkin Cinnamon Swirl from Yankee's new collection will certainly set the tone of the proceedings and reflect the time of year. Once you've found your favourite candle, it's also something you can purchase time and again to evoke memories of the special event, alternatively gifting loved ones who supported you on your wedding day with a candle to the big-day fragrance will be a gift where guests can reminisce too!

Paperchase unveils wedding and hen party products collection

The beloved brand Paperchase has recently launched an exclusive collection of wedding and hen party products. The new range features a wide selection of unique and sophisticated wedding staples and novelty hen products for great value prices, from stationery to decorative accessories. It is perfect for those tying the knot this year or planning a spectacular hen do. Looking for luxurious wedding invitations? but want to keep costs down? Well, the Ginger Ray Wedding Invitations with Envelopes (10pack with envelopes) with a classic cream finish they combine style with affordability for those looking to advertise their big day with a stunning opening number.

Hampton Estate offers free activities on Sunday 21st July

On Sunday, 21st July, Hampton Estate in Puttehham, Surrey is inviting the local community to join wildlife experts including Surrey Wildlife Trust to take part in a 'bioblitz' to help identify as many plant and animal species as possible across Puttenham Common which is a scenic spot for couples looking to book a pre-wedding engagement shoot. One of Surrey's most beautiful and biodiverse habitats, the common is located between Farnham and Guildford and is run by the Hampton Estate, which has a 100-year plan to manage the site for nature and wants as many people as possible to help learn about and conserve local species.

Planning for the night ahead – wedding nightwear from Chelsea Peers

West London based designer brand Chelsea Peers has an glamorous array of wedding nightwear for any bride on their special day, to complement the bride's style and luxurious taste. When wedding planning, you mainly focus on the particulars of the actual ceremony and the events of the day, however what about your first night as husband and wife? With Chelsea Peers, the elegant draping allows the bride to maintain an effortless silhouette while adding just a touch of splendour. For a spectacular wedding night, consider the chic and comfortable Satin Fringe Trim Long Pyjama Set – Ivory, that features a swishy flared shape that has plenty of movement, combined with smooth, lustrous satin.

Macdonald Hotels & Resorts brew up a coffee partnership

Independent hospitality group, Macdonald Hotels & Resorts with properties in Buckinghamshire and Berkshire, has funded 15,000 school meals for children in countries including Kenya as part of an innovative new partnership with direct trade coffee producers Paddy & Scott's. The Lunch Box programme by Paddy & Scott's, which has now been fully rolled out across Macdonald Hotels & Resorts venues, is a pioneering project designed to fund meals for children living in coffee-growing regions worldwide. As part of the partnership, Lunch Box coffee is served in all of Macdonald Hotels & Resorts' 32 properties throughout the UK, with guests able to support this charitable effort by enjoying breakfast, afternoon tea or a light refreshment in the hotel of their choice.

The Speech Surgery: modern day etiquette with Heidi Ellert McDermott, founder of Speechy

The Speech Surgery: modern day etiquette with Heidi Ellert McDermott, founder of Speechy, and author of The Modern Couple's Guide to Wedding Speeches: Some say addressing guests as 'ladies and gentlemen' is a mistake these days... what is the Modern newlywed speech etiquette? Let's start by saying (again) there are no wedding speech rules. When it comes to etiquette, it's simply a case of common sense and being polite. Honestly, that's it. When it comes to addressing your audience, 'Ladies and gentlemen' is becoming less common for two reasons.

Store Opening for Busby & Fox in Farnham, Surrey

Busby & Fox have recently opened a stylish news store in the historic market town of Farnham in Surrey. As a leading independent womenswear store, this is their eighth one after opening five new stores in just five years. The fashion-forward Busby & Fox pieces are designed by founder Emma Vowles to create and inspire confidence for women in their late 40's, 50's and beyond, and Sophie Cornish (founder of www.notonthehighstreet.com) is the managing director. The brand has recently been enjoying bumper sales and is going from strength to strength – it's the perfect shopping destination for a wedding guest outfit.

Creative ways to preserve and display your wedding bouquet

Your wedding day is one of the most magical days of your life, so you'll no doubt want to hold onto your memories for as long as possible. Here, Clare Price from framing specialists Wall Space shares their tips for preserving your wedding bouquet for years to come. Preserving your wedding bouquet can be a wonderful way to keep the memories of your special day alive. Techniques like drying and pressing are some of the best methods of flower preservation, and there are countless ways to show off your preserved blooms in your home once you're done. With the tips and ideas below, you can create lasting reminders of your cherished moments and remember your special day for years to come.

Dreamsaver Wedding Insurance launches Campaign

Dreamsaver Wedding Insurance, a prominent brand under the umbrella of Voyager Insurance services, recently announced the launch of its 2024 campaign, Safeguard Your Destination Wedding with Dreamsaver. The new initiative seeks to underscore the growing trend of couples opting for destination weddings and celebrations and emphasises the wide range of coverage provided by Dreamsaver Wedding Insurance, including coverage for destination weddings at no additional cost. Moreover, through Voyager Plus Travel Insurance, customers who purchase a Dreamsaver policy to safeguard their destination wedding will receive an exclusive 15% discount to cover the travel aspects of their honeymoon, wedding travel, or both!

Experts reveal five wedding trends set to be huge this Summer

With the new season comes new colours and trends, and with that being said, experts at Diamonds Factory have predicted five wedding trends that are set to be big this Summer. Couples will step away from the traditional colour scheme "Stepping away from the traditional black and white formal attire, we expect to see many wedding parties embrace colour this Summer. We saw the mismatched bridesmaid dresses trend resurge in popularity in late 2023, and predict this trend will take off even further this Summer, especially now it's getting warmer and with people experimenting with colour more.

The Speech Surgery: how long is too long?

The Speech Surgery: how long is too long? Heidi Ellert McDermott, founder of Speechy explores this. My groom says he's finished his speech and he's really happy with it but it's almost 2,000 words long. Is that too much? Yes. All speeches should be under ten minutes long. It seems obvious but I've seen several speeches (generally the best men) go well over half an hour, oblivious to the yawns or heckling. That's no more than 1,300 words maximum, allowing for pauses or laughter on the day. Remind your fiancé that his first draft is just the start of the writing process.

Wedding favours for Kids: ToyChoc Box

PLAYin CHOC's ToyChoc boxes are a fantastic choice for entertaining kids at weddings. These eco-friendly, vegan, and allergen-free treats come in 100% recyclable packaging. Each box contains two creamy chocolate bars wrapped in compostable packaging, along with a 3D card puzzle toy featuring animals like endangered species, sea creatures, or dinosaurs - there's also a fun animal fact inside. At just £2.25 each on Amazon, these boxes are a budget-friendly addition to your wedding plans.