Your Surrey Wedding news and ideas from around the county

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.

Exclusive Rosa Clara event at May & Grace Bridal

Calling all future Rosa Clara brides! This November, the stunning new Rosa Clara 2024 wedding gowns will be arriving at May & Grace direct from the heart of Barcelona. As a platinum Rosa Clara stockist, May & Grace already carry a huge selection of their collection. However a trunk show delivers extra gowns from the 2024 collection for this one weekend only. This gives Rosa Clara fans a chance to see an even wider selection of what this designer has to offer all in one place (this beautiful Surrey Boutique). With standout, sophisticated and romantic bridal gowns, Rosa Clara has been a brand that brides have fallen in love with, worldwide, since 1995.

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:

Surrey's Foxhills' ultimate guide to winter weddings

Winter weddings are becoming increasingly popular as couples are drawn to the romantic and festive atmosphere of the season. With its frosty landscapes, roaring fires, and stunning sunsets, winter can be the perfect time of year to tie the knot. There's a magical ambiance throughout winter and a festive warmth and togetherness we've all come to know and love. It can provide couples with a breathtaking backdrop for an intimate wedding celebration like no other. Not only that, but winter weddings often come with cost savings and discounts during the off-peak season. However romantic a winter wedding can be it does come with some unique challenges that you should carefully consider when planning your dream winter wedding. The team at Foxhills Country Club in Surrey has put together the following guide to help you arrange every last detail of the perfect winter wedding.

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.

Book your wedding dance package with First Dance

First Dance specialises in fun and informal dance lessons for all couples considering their first dance options, whatever their age, ability or requirements. Owner Emma Brewer and her First Dance teachers have taught more than 2000 first dances since they started 20 years ago so you'll be in good hands when you put on your dancing feet! All lessons are taught in the private dance studio in Woking. Couples receive a free initial consultation at the studio or on Zoom and can choose to attend a group session, or book one-off lessons or a package of lessons. Book your wedding dance package of three lessons for 2024 before the end of December, and First Dance will honour the 2023 price of £250 rather than the 2024 price of £299.

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.

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.

Guildford’s Wedding Frox Bridal Boutique is celebrating 15 years

Guildford's Wedding Frox Bridal Boutique, are celebrating an amazing 15 years of dressing brides and keeping their collection fresh are excited to become platinum retailers for the stunning new collection of gowns 'Always & Forever' by San Patrick, Pronovias. Arriving from the Barcelona-based house of Pronovias, the collection offers all the effortless European stylishness you'd expect, with outstanding fabrics, exquisite detailing and award-winning designs, which are already proving a huge hit with today's modern bride. If you want to see the collection for yourself, your relaxed one-to-one private bridal appointment with a member of the experienced styling team is where to start. They'll help and guide you, making sure that you try on many different styles and find the one that is perfect for you.

Find your wedding venue at CWE's Signature Wedding Show at Mercedes-Benz World

"At Balfour Hospitality we'll take care of every detail to ensure that your wedding day is as perfect as you always imagined. Choose from one of our beautiful countryside pubs, The Goudhurst inn Cranbrook, The Ship Inn in Rye, The Tickled Trout in Maidstone, or The Woolpack in Tenterden, as the perfect setting for your big day. Each of our pubs are located within a stone's throw of stunning churches or halls to have your ceremony, with The Tickled Trout also having its own license to perform ceremonies on site. With our experienced team and stunning locations, we guarantee an unforgettable celebration that you and your guests will cherish forever.

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."

5 engagement ring trends for 2024

With the festive season being the most popular time of year that couples choose to pop the question, it's no surprise that internet searches for 'engagement ring' have been steadily increasing the last six months as we head towards the new year. Luxury diamond jewellers, Diamonds Factory, have used Pinterest Trends data from the last six months (4th April 23' - 26th September 23') to find out which engagement ring styles are set to be big in 2024...

Festive weddings at Surrey's Brooklands Hotel

Looking for a venue to host your big-day celebrations between Christmas and New Year in 2023 or 2024? Look no further than the luxury Brooklands Hotel. Planning for a Twixmas wedding has been made easy for you with a package that includes the key elements to make your day magical and the price starts from just £52 per person. For an additional cost, you can add a variety of options to this package including an upgrade to the banqueting menu, adding a menu tasting or opting for an additional half bottle of house wine on the tables. Couples can also book Signature Suite 319 for the wedding night for £289, saving up to £154.

The secrets to a happy relationship

Researchers surveyed 2,000 British couples who have been together for ten years or longer, and it revealed a host of secrets to a happy, long-term relationship, according to those who have achieved it - including having no secrets (43 percent), a similar sense of humour (41 percent), never going to sleep on an argument (31 percent) and regular sex (32 percent.) Over a quarter (26 percent) of the long-term couples polled, said a 50/50 division of household labour was essential to keeping things amicable. Being able to laugh at each other (42 percent), not trying to change each other (36 percent) and having an open phone policy (10 percent) all featured in the list. Almost half (44 percent) of the British couples surveyed, claim they are very happy in their relationship, while a further 29 percent said they were generally happy.

The top autumn and winter wedding trends for 2023

An expert has forecast the wedding trends we can expect to see in the remainder of 2023. Wedding-goers in autumn and winter can expect to see a large emphasis on sustainability, DIY and an ode to all things vintage, according to Rachael Kiss from Alliance Online. She commented: "Wedding trends change seasonally, so it's crucial wedding hosts stay ahead of the curve. Efficient spending, sustainability and a vintage feel are key focuses this season, and rightly so. Wedding hosts no longer have to feel obliged to over-indulge in their big day and can instead, save money."

Surrey’s Butteflies and Bows proud title holder

If you're looking for a florist or venue stylist for your big day, you're in luck because you have an award-winning supplier on your doorstep who'll bring your dream to life. Annabel Grange, owner of Surrey's Butteflies and Bows has been the proud title holder of Hitched 2023, Florist and Décor/Venue Styling award this year and she is mega proud. "I was nominated by my brides, which made it even more special, and we were up against hundreds of other florists and venue decorators, so it's something we're very proud of," says Annabel. Butterflies and Bows can provide your flowers as well as offering a full styling service and even cakes, catering and disco if required.

Frost Point Production is exhibiting at County Wedding Events

Cotswold-based Frost Point Production is exhibiting at County Wedding Events' Signature Wedding Show at Mercedes-Benz World on 29th October 2023. Sam says "With a strong background in sound recording, I decided to further my passion to videography. I have gained a great level of experience in the field and am excited to share my passion for storytelling through video with the world. "Starting the business has allowed me to combine my love of videography and my desire to run my own business". "I am an extremely motivated, personable, hardworking individual, with a sharp eye for detail. With a genuine love for the industry, I am thrilled to be able to work closely with clients to bring their visions to life."