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

Hide yourself away in the Secret Garden

The award-winning Manor House Hotel and Spa in Alsager has announced exciting and ambitious new plans to expand and develop its existing spa garden facilities. The English country inspired garden will see an expansion of 36 square metres, inviting guests into a new secret garden area. The new space will provide a vibrant, multi-experience oasis designed to give guests a mix of relaxation and restore energy levels. Following the popularity of the spa's signature swim up bar, the first of its kind in the UK, the new secret garden will be adding a second, named The Bothy Bar. The new bar will provide more space for guests to enjoy a delicious hot or cold drink, immersed in warmed water.

Tie the knot at Rainhill Hall, nestled in the scenic suburbs of Merseyside

Nestled in the scenic suburbs of Merseyside, Rainhill Hall is a Grade II listed manor house dating back to 1824. Carefully preserved from every angle the historical hall showcases a blend of timeless beauty and rustic charm. The chapel has an opulence of space with a rich history, completed by beautiful stained-glass windows. With its floor-to-ceiling feature flower wall, it really gives the wow factor to your wedding day. It can welcome 180 of your loved ones for the "I dos." It can also host 120 for the wedding breakfast and 180 for the evening celebrations. The chapel bar is just next door and provides a smooth flow for guests during the day.

Modern day hen do ideas - time to celebrate

The hen do is the perfect opportunity to shower your bridesmaids with love before the big day. It's all about celebrating your friendship, laughing until your cheeks hurt and making the most of your time together. If you're looking for unique and fun ways to honour your girlies, here are some ideas from hen experts, bookaparty.com. Treat your bridal crew to a bottomless brunch where the prosecco and pancakes keep coming. Head to the city centre of your choice and enjoy a fun atmosphere, good music and tasty food to suit a range of tastes. Whether it's a full English breakfast, avocado toast, fluffy waffles or pizza, your taste buds will be in heaven, and unlimited drinks help you to kick off your day in style. Sip on free-flowing glasses of fizz, cocktails, beer, cider or soft drinks as you let your hair down and even enjoy some live entertainment from DJs to cabaret shows.

2025 wedding wine trends unveiled by Laithwaites

Laithwaites, the UK's leading online wine merchant, has revealed the top five wedding wine trends of 2025. Created by experts from Laithwaites' wedding wine service, this list reflects the current vogue for unique, cost-conscious wedding celebrations that leave a lasting impression on guests. "Couples are coming to us looking to create experiences that focus on value, showcase their personalities and give their guests a great time. It's so often the food and drink that makes a great wedding stand out," says Greg Roberts, Wine Educator at Laithwaites. Wedding wine trends for 2025.

The Eve Appeal: The UK’s Leading Gynae Cancer Charity’s Get Lippy Campaign

The Eve Appeal is on a mission is to save lives by focusing on preventing and improving the early diagnosis of the five gynaecological cancers. Throughout May, they are encouraging everyone to Get Lippy alongside some of the leadingnames and brands in beauty. The campaign raises awareness of the five gynae cancers: womb, ovarian, cervical, vulval andvaginal through a series of fundraising, education, and awareness initiatives to prevent these cancers before they start.

Brits are calling for an end to ‘rowdy’ stag and hen celebrations

Gone are the days when stag and hens revolved around a simple send-off - with costs spiralling out of control, Brits are calling for an end to 'rowdy' stag and hen celebrations. The study by the UK's most-trusted discount site, VoucherCodes.co.uk, reveals Brits are forking out £1,000 more than they'd like to celebrate their friends' and families' upcoming nuptials, with the average person willing to spend just £214. With many celebrations now lasting several days and requiring trips abroad, the average stag and hen now costs an eye-watering £1,208. It's therefore no surprise that a whopping 71% of people say costs have gotten out of control.

Wedding to cross two countries on three modes of transport in one day

Couple Ben Miller, 32, and Lorenzo Garofalo, 45, are taking the stress of wedding planning to new heights as they intend to take their entire wedding party from Liverpool to Edinburgh by combining the Northern Belle luxury train, road transfer and the floating hotel Fingal in May 2025. The elegance and opulence of 1930s travel forms the theme through this immersive wedding with brunch and dinner onboard the Northern Belle luxury train, known for its art deco opulence and first-class service, with the ceremony taking place onboard the now five-star floating boutique hotel. "We knew we wanted to do something unique and memorable," says Ben Miller.

8 Tips To Avoid Wedding Guest Burnout This Wedding Season

As peak wedding season rolls in, it's not just brides and grooms who are feeling the pressure. New research reveals a growing trend of wedding burnout, and it's hitting guests just as hard. From back-to-back hen-dos and stag weekends to pricey gifts and cross-country travel, the cost and commitment of attending multiple weddings have left many guests feeling emotionally and financially drained. To help guests avoid burnout this wedding season, the experts at Queensmith have shared their 8 top tips to beat the 'wedding guest hangover', from setting a budget to knowing when to say no.

Bridal fashion newness from Unbridled Studio, Liverpool

Unbridled Studio's Collection III launches in 2025 bringing a fashion forward edit of beautifully crafted and considered bridal pieces. Modern and sculptural silhouettes, luxe fabrications and transformative separates layer effortlessly onto the current collection, to evolve and elevate. This collection focuses on textural mixes, with crafted jacquards and modern lace mixing with clean and contemporary satins. Staying true to the brand's ethos, the collection is underpinned by the importance of sublime fabrication and impeccable cuts, with an emphasis on the innovative styling possibilities of each piece. Collection III is available from Unbridled Studio's Liverpool studio from March 2025. Check out www.unbridledstudio.co.uk

Hotpod Yoga Takes on Mental Health Week

Mental health awareness week (12th – 18th May) is upon us and it's time we get serious about our feelings. With the constant rise in social media consumption and the cruelty of the media, it's vita we understand how we can support our mental health. Hotpod Yoga in Birmingham are facing the week head on and, in collaboration with CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably), are helping locals support the worthy cause.

This new cleaning trend is ruining your engagement ring!

The newest trend to clean engagement rings with a coffee steamer, whilst entertaining to watch, is a sure-fire way to ruin your precious ring! We have to be very careful about our jewels and must not forget that it is four simple prongs that hold in our sparkling beauties. To educate us as to why this hack should get the sack is Neil Dutta, managing director of the engagement ring specialists, Angelic Diamonds

Start your fitness journey with The Women's Gym by Total Fitness in Wilmslow

Discover a gym designed exclusively for you! The Women's Gym by Total Fitness is inviting women across Cheshire to experience a new approach to fitness. The gym offers a private and inclusive setting where you can focus on your health and fitness, with support from specially trained instructors allowing you to feel safe and empowered. The Women's Gym includes a full range of cardio and strength equipment, thoughtfully designed workout areas, dedicated workout spaces, digital content to guide workouts, friendly female team members available to assist and a choice to work out in front of mirrors or not, depending on your preference.

B Calm Introduces a Personalised Body and Face Care Set

Born from Becky's personal journey of healing, B Calm offers beautifully designed, organic products to support modern women in finding daily balance and calm. In May 2025 they will proudly unveils their latest innovation – the Personalised Body + Face Care Set. Designed to empower individuals to create a unique self-care ritual, this customisable trio features a hydrating mist, nourishing carrier oil, and pure essential oil blend to support radiant skin and holistic well-being.

Maddison J Creations launches sister company Bridal Bouquet UK

There's exciting news from local lovely Maddison J Creations, which has launched its very own sister company, Bridal Bouquet UK offering high quality artificial bouquets.Owner Katie Lloyd says, "Our real touch roses are super-realistic in appearance and feel, with the added bonus of no wilting, unlike fresh flowers. They'll stay perfect throughout your whole wedding day and are a perfect keepsake. They're also perfect to take abroad if you're tying the knot overseas." Find out more at www.bridalbouquet.co.uk

New Study Reveals the Best Places in England to Get Married

With wedding season fast approaching, the wedding experts at F.Hinds have analysed hundreds of the best wedding venues that England has to offer, to uncover where nearly-weds should be adding to their shortlist this summer. The study considered several factors such as popularity, reviews and weather predictions and awarded bonus points for how "Instagrammable" the aesthetic is. The systematic scoring system has revealed the "best of the best" English wedding venues for couples planning a wedding in 2025.

Immerse yourself in the beauty of stargazing at Pale Hall Hotel

The collection of Britain's finest independent hotels, PoB Hotels, invites guests to immerse themselves in the beauty of stargazing, the ultimate in honeymoon romance. With PoB Hotels' Under The Stars collection, you can explore the awe-inspiring beauty of dark skies and stargazing, as well as experiencing the wellness benefits it offers. From exclusive packages to expert-guided tours and prime viewing locations, you can enjoy celestial wonders while indulging in the exceptional comfort and luxury that characterises these distinctive properties.

Wedding expert reveals the top 2025 trends

With weddings becoming more personalised than ever, many couples are rethinking the traditional elements of their big day. In 2025, couples are all about individuality and creating an experience that truly reflects them. For those looking for inspiration on what's 'in' and what's 'out' for weddings this year; Jeremy Hinds, Wedding and Engagement Ring expert at F.Hinds, shares his top tips for planning a celebration that feels both modern and timeless.

Talhenbont Hall brings home the wins

Beautiful Talhenbont Hall has had quite the auspicious start to 2025 with awards and accolades flying in from all directions. This popular spot has recently won the Best Wedding Venue (Non-Hotel) in the North Wales Wedding awards, as well as a Platinum Award from Bridebook for five-star reviews from its 2024 couples. But that's not all! The team has recently discovered that they've been announced as finalists in the Guides for Brides customer service awards, and also for the Welsh Wedding Awards. They'll find out soon at the award ceremony whether they've won. "We're so delighted with the accolades we're receiving," says owner Alicia Cox.

Celebrate National Tea Day with the Nation’s Best Tasting Tea!

Birchall Tea is a family-owned tea company with a heritage dating back to 1872. Known for its exceptional quality and flavour, Birchall Tea sources the finest ingredients to create a wide range of blends enjoyed by tea enthusiasts worldwide. Committed to sustainability and ethical practices, Birchall Tea continually seeks ways to support environmental and social causes. To celebrate National Tea Day 2025, Birchall is giving customers 10% off any online purchase, but hurry as it's available for today only!

Mini-moon in North Wales armed with these local tips from Quay Hotel and Spa

With spring in full bloom, what better way to spend a mini-moon than exploring the breathtaking landscapes and rich heritage of North Wales? Nestled on the picturesque Conwy Estuary, Quay Hotel and Spa offers the perfect blend of luxury and relaxed comfort. Here are some of the Hotel's suggestions on how to enjoy the region this spring. Experience the great outdoors with an exhilarating hike in Snowdonia National Park, where trails such as Cwm Idwal Aber Falls showcase North Wales' stunning natural beauty. What's more, North Wales is steeped in history, boasting some of the most well-preserved castles in the UK. Conwy Castle, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is just minutes away from the Hotel.