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The Solent Hotel and Spa is delighted to announce it has won ‘Best Wedding Venue’ at the Hampshire Wedding Supplier Awards 2018. 

The awards recognise those companies throughout Hampshire that have led from the front when it comes to categories such as customer service, product or service offering and generally going over and above as standard for weddings. 

The hotel, located between Portsmouth and Southampton, has hosted many happy couples on their big day over the past 30 years and is constantly evolving its wedding packages to ensure it exceeds the expectations of every bride and groom.

MY BAKER, the cake concierge has come up with a unique and fun way to say thank you to guests for attending your wedding & being part of your big day. 

A bride is always on the lookout for the unusual and unique to add that special “wow” touch to herday. Brides like to hear a compliment or chatter of appreciation from their guests.  Having spent a year preparing for your wedding, it’s the small things that you will remember and the finishing touches that really make it. 

After a long hot summer in the capital, the big freeze is finally upon us. While some may complain about the start of the cold season, we see it as a fantastic reason to celebrate the season and create a wedding winter wonderland! 

Winter weddings should channel all the best parts of the season; from log fires and crisp white snow, to cosy colours and comfort food. To help couples make the most of the winter months, we’ve put together a list of a few things to consider including in your big day celebrations.

Colours that compliment and contrast

When it comes to winter, silvers and golds work really well and can add a subtle touch of elegance. Compliment this with a few dashes of greenery to really bring the sparkle to life.

Nobody wants to be a bridezilla, or a groomzilla, yet so often, the mammoth task of organising the perfect wedding day can get the better of even the most cool-headed couple. 

Perhaps it’s the event being called ‘the big day’, the knowledge that all eyes will be on you, or the idea of your in-laws dissecting each aspect of your hospitality that makes you want to hide under the duvet/elope/eat a tub of ice cream (delete as appropriate!). 

The tips below, compiled by wedding venue Newbury Racecourse, will help de-stress in the run up to the big day, making the countdown till you cut the cake, a piece of cake!

Party paradise island Ibiza has one more reason to celebrate – it’s just been named as the most Instagrammable destination for hens.

The sun-soaked resort is famous for world class nightlife and big-name DJs, but its stunning scenery also makes it a massive hit on social media for brides-to-be.

The results are part of new research which reveals Ibiza as the location with the most hen-related hashtags on Insta.

The Balaeric island came out on top with 6,431 hen-related hashtags, followed by the less exotic, but always exciting London on 2,623, while Bali, in Indonesia, was rated third with 1,961 hashtags.

The analysis was conducted by hen and stag party experts Red7 who report a rise in hen party bookings for warmer climes each winter.

A Gateshead couple are on cloud nine after winning a competition of a lifetime, where the stunning star prize was an exclusive all-expenses paid wedding day at Kirkley Hall near Ponteland in Northumberland.

The lucky names of Chris Laws and Gemma Wilson were drawn from a hat during a special ceremony hosted at the rural 17th-century Grade II building. 

Chris, aged 32, works as a courier and Gemma, aged 30, is a stay at home mum. They unknowingly grew up together and attended the same secondary school.  Their relationship has blossomed over the past eight years ever since they got chatting over a drink in a local pub.  Chris popped the question last Christmas by jokingly going down on one knee and proposing using a Haribo wedding ring.

During World Vegan Month, we take a look at vegan wedding trends with Whirlowbrook Hall, a premier wedding venue in South Yourkshire…

What’s not to love about the quintessential British tradition of afternoon tea? Combine that with a vegan wedding and you’ve got the wedding breakfast of dreams.  As more and more couples are looking for something a little bit different for their wedding catering an afternoon tea inspired menu fits the bill perfectly. Add to that a choice of vegan only sandwiches and cakes then you’ve really got a beautiful wedding that suits all tastes and food preferences.

When putting on a wedding breakfast, the layout and décor must be every bit as memorable as the food itself. From taking things al fresco to getting imaginative with table shapes and layouts, there are plenty of options to wow your guests aside from just the menu. 

Our variety of historic spaces (including the Tower of London, Hampton Court Palace, Kensington Palace, Kew Palace and Banqueting House) leave plenty of scope for creative concepts, and our teams are well-versed in delivering wow-factor receptions guaranteed to stand out in guests’ memories. So whether you’re planning for a heritage space or pared-back blank canvas setting, here are our top tips to help you deliver awe-inspiring, quirky dining…

Take things outside 

Debbie Gillespie Cake Design (formerly Farnley Fayre) was established in 2014 in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire.  Comprising of just its founder, Debbie Gillespie, the company aims to provide unique and innovative wedding cake designs for creative couples.  

Inspiration for her designs are taken from her beautiful Yorkshire surroundings so woodland influences with natural textures and bold sugar florals feature heavily.   There is also a strong use of art and sculpture, using watercolour-style handpainting, modelling and different stacking techniques to build alternative design ideas.