Your Cheshire and Merseyside Wedding news and ideas from around the area

Take a break from the wed-min - 30 things which bring happiness

Although joyous occasions, planning a wedding can be stressful with money worries and family politics all thrown into the mix. If you feel like this is your situation right now, grab yourself a brew and a biscuit and read this heartfelt study by Samsung: a definitive list of 30 things which bring us pure moments of happiness! An optimistic 94 percent of those surveyed, agree that joy is all around us, we just have to choose to see it.

The amazing Firework Champions is coming to Arley Hall in Cheshire

The amazing Firework Champions is coming to Arley Hall in Cheshire on 12th August, featuring no fewer than four fantastic displays from three of the UK's best firework companies who will compete with a 10-minute firework display each. The event is the only one of its type in the UK and visitors will have the chance to vote for the team they loved the most using their phones. You can take your own picnic along or grab something tasty from one of the on-site vendors, and be entertained before the main event kicks off by bouncy castles, rides and music.

How to choose the perfect wedding ring

Often overlooked, there's a big difference between platinum, gold and white gold rings, even though they look very similar. Despite gold rings being the traditional choice platinum wedding bands have over 6.1k searches and platinum wedding rings 3.3k in the UK each month. Whilst gold wedding bands have only 1k searches and gold wedding rings 5.4k, this suggests that in 2023 the most popular choice may be a platinum band. But with more 15k searches for 'Wedding Bands' in the UK every month - the decision may not be as simple as what's on trend. Here, jewellery expert Sach Kukadia at 7879 recommends how to choose the perfect wedding ring a purchase far more more important than your regular jewellery! Find out the difference between platinum vs golds, delving into everything, including their pros and cons, through to how well they'll fare in the long run...

Summer hair trends and special offer from RUSH Hair Liverpool

With the glorious warm weather we are having, summer is now well and truly in full swing and with that in mind, we caught up with the award-winning RUSH Hair team in Liverpool, to get their lowdown on what will be the most popular hair colour, cut and styling trends this season. The team also shared their tips on how to keep hair in its most optimum condition during the summer and post-holiday for those keen to keep their locks free from damage and instead, full of shine.

How to nail your bridesmaid gifts

Finding that perfect thank you gift for your bridesmaids can be a mind boggling task. How can you truly thank them for supporting you on your big day? New research* from gifting experts at Getting Personal shows that apart from our parents, friends are the hardest people to shop for with one in seven (15%) admitting they struggle. To help brides give envy-inducing thank you gifts gifting expert at Getting Personal, Tara Butler, shares eight tips for figuring out what they really want... without having to ask.

The perfect wedding gift that couples will love

Wedding season is upon us and picking out the perfect wedding gift that is personal, but also has character and a luxe feel to celebrate the couple's big day can be a daunting task. However look no further, whether it's to say thanks to your bridesmaids, or to celebrate the happy couple, Yvonne Ellen, a home and interiors designer who specialises in hand-painted home gifts, has picked out some of her top gift ideas to suit all types of couples including gifts for loved ones and the bridal party.

10 things wedding guests really care

Whether it's an open bar, live band or fireworks, choosing the best elements to add to your wedding day could really make or break your big day, new research reveals. Wedding experts Queensmith analysed thousands of comments from Reddit to reveal the things that really matter to guests when attending a wedding. Unsurprisingly, an open bar is a consistent success with guests at a wedding, however, it seems seating charts and a late-night snack are just as important.

Your wedding playlist, according to DJ experts

Now that we have entered peak wedding season, (May-October), DJing experts from CD Pool have provided the ultimate wedding playlists for your reception that is guaranteed to keep the dance floor hopping with happy guests. CD Pool analysed Spotify API data, exploring 2117 playlists with the keyword "wedding" to compile four playlists that reflect the atmosphere at different stages of the wedding reception. The suggested No. 1 song to include in your wedding playlist is I Wanna Dance With Somebody by Whitney Houston, a guaranteed floorfiller that appeared in over 320 playlists on Spotify, making it the most popular wedding-related track.

Top wedding travel tips for big-day guests

Anita Naik, Savings Expert at VoucherCodes.co.uk provides her top tips on how to manage journey costs, when travelling to attend a wedding. "Wedding ceremonies are well known for placing financial strain upon guests, ranging from the cost associated with your gift, to a new outfit, and even – your transport. Whether the ceremony is being held in the UK, or further afield, consumers will likely have to travel to attend a loved one's big day. I've pulled together my top tips to help you cut costs and ensure you can enjoy your family and friend's nuptials without worrying about your finances.

The Botanist unveils summer menu packed with vegan options at its various Cheshire locations

Award-winning bar and restaurant The Botanist, with venues in Alderley Edge, Chester, Knutsford and Warrington, has announced its offering for the summer season with a new food and drink menu. You can expect fresh seasonal flavours, lighter and brighter dishes, reviving botany-inspired cocktails as well as major updates to its signature (and fan favourite) hanging kebabs. What's more, vegetarian and vegan diners can choose from a growing menu of options, with almost half (46%) of dishes being vegetarian and a third (30%) now suitable for vegan diners. Options include the vegan meatball kebab roasted with marinara sauce, katsu curry with coconut rice and pickled ginger, and the roast cauliflower and onion bhaji burger, complete with mango sauce and mint raita.

Pinterest’s wedding trends we love this summer

Wedding supply experts at Aura Print have served up the top 10 summer wedding trends we need to know about, as loved by Pinterest. From disco balls, to Barbie-core, upcycling to anti-bridal - get ready to see these wedding trends everywhere! You can never have too much sparkle at your wedding, and we love the playful, retro feel to it. The trend started to pick up steam in 2020, when glitter balls and 80s playlists became a great DIY option to add some retro-meets-modern fabulousness to the big day. The trend is going nowhere this summer, with over 32k Pinterest pins and a 7400% global increase in searches since January. So get your groove on and be ready to dance the night away!

Save Your Spending as a Wedding Guest!

Weddings are one of the most joyous occasions to attend, however the cost of simply being a guest can add up quickly. Here are NetVoucherCodes' top tips to save money when attending a wedding.

Here’s how to include your dog in your big day

Wedding days are often filled with celebrations with the ones you love the most, so it's understandable that for many people it simply wouldn't feel right to celebrate their special day without their faithful furry companion. "From a 'dog of honour' to a ring bearer, the possibilities of including your pet at your wedding are endless," explains PDSA Vet Nurse Nina Downing. "While bringing your dog along to your wedding can be rewarding, it can also add some complexity so there's lots to think about to make it work." Nina has pulled together her top tips and some things to consider before saying yes to involving your pet on your big day!

Find out how to plan a sustainable wedding with Event In A Tent

We recently asked the region's wedding experts for their top tips on planning a sustainable wedding. Hannah Mayo-Caligari from Event In A Tent (www.event-in-a-tent) says: Sustainability has quickly become a huge consideration when planning a wedding in 2023, as there are so many aspects of such a celebration that can be a burden on the environment. Here are a few tips to help. When choosing your tent hire company, look at their products and sustainability initiatives.

7 wedding moments to capture in photos

Wedding photographers will have their own photos they will capture on the day with important ones including the first kiss, first dance and the bride walking down the aisle. However, couples should also have an idea of the kinds of photos they'd like to have and suggest these to their photographer if they haven't discussed them already. Matt Dahan from ParrotPrint.com says, "Your wedding happens once and you want to capture as much as you can so you have some really lovely memories to look back on. As a couple it's always a good idea to sit down with your wedding photographer and talk about how you want your pictures to look and the kinds of images you want captured.

Keep your wedding scheme alive at home

It's no surprise couples often suffer from the wedding blues after their nuptials, but with peak wedding season around the corner, to help those wondering how they can relive their special day, Stephanie King, Colour Expert & Creative Lead at Dulux, is sharing her savvy tips to help. Stephanie says, "Not only will utilising elements from your wedding help you save money when re-decorating, but recreating your wedding theme at home can help couples create a more meaningful space that brings personality and happy memories into the home. Weddings are full of sentimental value, so creating a space which reflects a shared experience and sense of nostalgia will act as a constant reminder of your beautiful moment and love for each other every day."

Say I do with these 5 tips on saving for a wedding

Your wedding is likely to be one of the most important days of your life. While the day itself should be as relaxed as possible, a lot of time, money and effort goes in to making sure that is possible. The cost of living is impacting prices across the board, and wedding suppliers are no exception. For those gearing up for their wedding day, Emma Watson, Head of Financial Planning at Rathbones Group Plc, shares her top tips for anyone putting a budget together for that important day.

Brits are spending nearly £1k attending a friend's hen party!

It's always exciting news when you find out your close friend is getting married, but have you ever stopped to consider how much the wedding is going to cost you? Life insurance broker, Reassured polled 1,500 people to reveal the costs of attending a hen party. To be exact, you'll be out of pocket by nearly £979 for attending the hen party!

Pre-wedding wellbeing

Lovendu was created to help people improve their mental wellbeing and become the best version of themselves. In the lead up to a wedding, it's also important to manage your wellbeing. The brand's new Romanticising Your Life Journal provides daily gratitude reminders, mindfulness activities and motivational quotes, you will be encouraged to live in the present moment and notice the beauty in life. With the Romanticising Your Life Journal, you will have space for 14 weeks of daily journalling- your perfect accompaniment for pre-wedding preparations.

Sweet-scented celebrations

After a wedding, creating a calming atmosphere is important to beginning a new chapter in your lives. A Yankee candle provides the perfect mood for unforgettable moments. The wide range of soft, bright, cool and warm tones fit into any colour scheme, while the hand-drawn illustrations effortlessly enhance a room. There is a candle for each unique taste, whether you like fruity and floral, or earthy and spicy notes, each candle holds a long-lasting scent that can be enjoyed time and time again.