Your Devon and Cornwall Wedding news and ideas from around the area

Two Cornish Parkdean Resorts holiday parks celebrate Tripadvisor Travellers’ Choice Award

Two Parkdean Resorts holiday parks in Cornwall – Sea Acres and St Minver – are celebrating winning prestigious awards after both earned TripAdvisor Travellers' Choice Awards 2024. The TripAdvisor Travellers' Choice Awards recognise businesses that earn consistently great reviews, and honour select accommodations, attractions and restaurants in the top 10% of listings which consistently demonstrate a commitment to hospitality excellence. Parkdean Resorts is the UK's leading holiday park operator, and 2024 marks the company's best-ever performance in the awards, with 23 of its holiday parks receiving awards from the world's largest travel guidance platform. This is the second time that St Minver has won the award, while Sea Acres celebrates its third consecutive award.

From big celebrations to budget savvy: the changing face of UK weddings

At a time of rising costs and changing perspectives, is the sound of wedding bells as tempting as it once was? To find out, Legal & General polled more than 2,000 married and engaged couples to see if they opted for a big wedding – or a big rethink. A 2024 survey revealed the average cost of a UK wedding has risen to £20,700, marking a 12.5% increase from £18,400 in 2022. Despite this, our survey found that couples typically budget much less, with the average amount set aside being just under £9,000 (£8,997.32). There was also a stark difference in wedding budgets across generations. Younger couples, particularly those aged 16-24, budget an average of £14,937 for their special day, while those over 55 set aside £4,614.

Top tips to get to sleep before your wedding

Pre-wedding jitters cause a large number of brides and grooms to struggle to get to sleep. Upcoming nuptials, even if a positive stress, can be a leading cause of sleepless nights. Sleep expert Dr Deborah Lee gives advice to those Brides- to- be who are struggling in the lead- up to their big day, and gives top tips on how to improve their sleep. As a bride, you face an immense amount of stress, especially in the final days that countdown to your wedding. With plenty of last minute preparations that are trying to please everyone, it's easy to let yourself get swept up and forget to prioritise your sleep. Sleep expert Dr Deborah Lee from Doctor Fox, has partnered with Get Laid Beds to share FIVE expert tips to ensure you wake up on your wedding day like a princess, feeling refreshed and radiant, and not like a bridezilla.

The Leaping Trout is now a boutique private-hire holiday home

The Leaping Trout in Bickleigh, Tiverton is a spacious former pub steeped in history, with white-washed stone walls and a thatched roof, that has been transformed into a boutique private hire holiday home, ideal for wedding guests and hen and stag get-togethers. Sleeping up to 32 guests in 12 beautifully furnished bedrooms, the property is divided into five separate two to three-bedroom areas so that individual groups can be private. There are fully equipped kitchens and large dining areas available, plus a vintage-inspired, 20-seater cinema with a popcorn machine and authentic pub bar with beer pumps and a pool table as well as cosy lounge areas with inglenook fireplaces.

Alcohol-free options for weddings with Mocktails

For those looking for booze-free options this wedding season, Mocktails Uniquely Crafted, is the non-alcoholic premium cocktail brand perfect for big-day guests! The alcohol-free, ready-to-drink beverages are perfect for those looking to offer a range of beverages at their wedding. Mocktails showcase a delectable collection of flavours, each carefully crafted with the finest ingredients, spices, and botanicals sourced from around the world. Mockarita - A zesty twist on the classic Margarita. Notes of lime, quinine and acacia flower with a refreshingly tart finish. Here at County Wedding Magazines HQ we're finding it hard to choose our favourite... Mocksow Mule anyone?

Newquay Harbour Festival returns for its third year on Saturday the 7th of September

The Boathouse Newquay is teaming up with Newquay BID, Cornwall Shop Small, and Newquay Farmers Market for the Newquay Harbour Festival taking place on Saturday the 7th of September. This festival isn't just about entertainment; it's a celebration of community spirit and local enterprise showcasing the best that Newquay has to offer. The Boathouse is incredibly proud to be part of such a great community event. The Newquay Harbour Festival is all about coming together to enjoy the unique charm of the harbour and celebrate the local talent and produce that make the town special. It's set to be a fun-filled day out that the whole family can enjoy.

CWM partnership with Maya Deluxe and Dower & Hall for an exciting prize giveaway!

County Wedding Magazines has teamed up with Maya Deluxe and Dower & Hall for an exciting prize giveaway for our reader and social media followers! If you like or follow all three brands on either Facebook or Instagram, you'll be in with a chance of winning a £350 Dower & Hall gift voucher which can be redeemed online, as well as a £250 gift voucher for Maya Deluxe – that's jewellery and bridesmaids sorted for your wedding day leaving you more time and more budget to crack on with the rest of the wedding planning. Read on to find out more details about the brands and how to enter!

Autumnal fragrances from Woodwick and Yankee Candle

Connect to nature with scents and colours drawn from the breathtaking outdoors with the cosy new Autumn collection from Yankee Candle®, Cottage Getaway. Inspired by the nostalgic roots of outdoor adventures, and the natural beauty of our world, the collection seeks to spark creativity and inspiration, whilst bringing family and friends together. Launching in August 2024, the collection includes three warming fragrances, Woodland Weekend Memories, Pumpkin Cinnamon Swirl, and Afternoon Scrapbooking. This comforting selection of candles is perfect for reliving cherished moments at home as the late summer falls away and the new season settles n. Relax into Autumn with fragrances that ignite the senses, whilst the bright greens fade from the leaves and dusk draws in earlier by the day.

Bedruthan offers an exciting new package, The Gathering

Overlooking the Cornish Bay of Mawgan Porth, Bedruthan promises an unforgettable summer this year with a diverse program of live entertainment, music, and culinary delights for the whole family. Highlights of the calendar include open-air theatre performances on their clifftop meadow, unforgettable summer musical sessions with folk duo Our Atlantic Roots and a seafood feast by campfire, complete with toasted marshmallows. Additionally, Bedruthan offers an exciting new package, The Gathering, perfect for multigenerational families looking for a memorable seaside retreat. These new two- and three-night breaks are designed to provide an intimate, home-from-home experience with exclusive access to the hotel's private facilities.

Newquay Wellbeing Club Announces Free Latin Dance Classes to Boost Women’s Mental Health

Newquay Wellbeing Club is thrilled to announce new dates for their free Latin dance classes, designed to improve women's mental health and promote social connections. It's also a great way to learn to dance ahead of a wedding! Relaxed, closed two-hour Latin dance classes in a safe space with security on the door include breaks and social time. The classes are led by a female instructor and are staffed by women, with female attendees only. They are taking place this Sunday the 11th of August from 1-3 pm and next Saturday the 17th of August, from 6:30 pm until 8:30 pm.

The international make-up artist bringing New York to Newquay

NYC-based Angie Parker has more than 25 years' experience working with some of the world's biggest celebrities and for international and US publications such as i-D, Vogue, Dazed and Confused, Teen Vogue, Harper's Bazaar and Vanity Fair. Now, the renowned make-up artist and clean beauty expert is bringing her talent to Cornwall in the form of a Shop Parker pop-up, the first of its kind to be held outside of New York or London. Shop Parker will be on-site at the luxury fashion and lifestyle store MMW, founded by Michelle and Perry Walsh, friends of Meg Matthews, who introduced Angie to the couple. The pop-up runs from the 1st to the 10th of August, offering make-up consultations by appointment.

Instant photos make for lasting memories!

poignant keepsake for guests or a photo album. Instant photos make for lasting memories! The INSTAX mini 12 (£79.99) is the perfect product for guest use. Place on tables or dot them around the venue to allow for guests to personalise their memories, and most importantly, take them home. The INSTAX mini Evo (£174.99) is another great option for capturing what's important. The retro-themed exterior is fitting for those vintage-themed weddings – place next to the guest book so photos can be added straight in. The INSTAX SQUARE (£129.99) is a modern option for those photographic keepsakes. Connect the devise to phones and print polaroid straight from the camera roll. Instant photos are irreplaceable.

Avalen Country Weddings in Lanivet set to host a Summer Wedding Fair

Avalen Country Weddings in Lanivet, Cornwall is set to host a Summer Wedding Fair on Sunday August the 11th 2024. This collection of traditional barns centred around a courtyard is located in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Four generations of a local farming family have been involved in the two-year project to transform the historic barns, which were formerly part of the Lanhydrock estate, into an unforgettable family-run wedding venue. On Sunday the 11th of August, the talented team are hosting a Summer Wedding Fair where couples looking to get married at the venue can see it beautifully styled and meet a selection of local wedding suppliers.

Elope in style - expert advice

Couples are rewriting the script on what it means to say "I do". Over the past 12 months, searches for 'elopement weddings UK' are up +83%, 'elopement wedding packages UK' increased by +85%, and 'intimate weddings UK' have grown by +89%¹. This has highlighted a clear demand amongst couples for intimate weddings. To find out what has motivated this trend, wedding decoration experts at Ginger Ray have conducted a survey of those engaged and in the midst of planning an elopement to see what their special day will look like. Why are elopements becoming more popular? Topping the list of factors driving couples towards intimate weddings is the quest to manage expenses. More than a third (32%) of respondents highlighted financial constraints as the primary factor influencing their decision to opt for a smaller celebration.

Say yes to saving for the big day - Top tips from Rathbones

Top tips from Kindar Brown, Senior Financial Planner at Rathbones Group Plc on budgeting together for the important day. A wedding is the beginning of a new chapter and likely one of the most important days of your life. While the day itself should be full of joy and stress free, a lot of our time and money goes into pre-wedding planning, to make sure this is the case. The cost of living crisis and sticky inflation are impacting prices across the board and wedding suppliers are no exception. For those gearing up for their wedding day, Kindar shares her top tips for anyone putting a budget together for that important day.

The Ultimate Seaside Gathering For Friends and Family at Bedruthan Hotel & Spa, Cornwall

A Scandi-inspired retreat on the picturesque Cornish cliff tops, Bedruthan Hotel & Spa has been bringing people together since 1959, with a history of making memories for generations. The hotel's new two- and three-night break, 'The Gathering, is designed for unforgettable seaside experiences and creating lasting memories with loved ones. Catering to both groups of friends and families of up to 16 people, guests are invited to escape to the Cornish coastline with access to the hotel's exclusive and private facilities for an intimate home-from-home experience. Bedruthan is designed with its environment in mind, featuring a Sensory Spa Garden that reconnects guests with nature, relaxation lounges, and swimming pools. Bedruthan also boasts two dining venues: Ogo and Wild Café.

Most popular TikTok wedding car revealed

Gone are the days of a horse-drawn carriage or a Rolls Royce pulling up to the wedding chapel, now it's all about modern cars! Couples across the UK are planning their dream weddings, with a twist. Searches for 'modern wedding cars' have surged by 60% in the last month according to Google Trends, signalling a shift from traditional vintage choices to sleek, contemporary vehicles that add a touch of modern elegance to the special day. ATS Euromaster, the tyre, MOT and vehicle services provider, has analysed TikTok hashtags and trends to reveal the changing popularity of wedding cars, both vintage and modern. Additionally, ATS has estimated rental costs for three-hour periods to help couples choose the perfect car for their special day.

PoB Hotels Presents Get Set, and Go - Tailored Breaks Inspired by Britain’s Favourite Sports

PoB Hotels, with properties in Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Cornwall and Devon presents Get Set, and Go - tailored breaks inspired by Britain's favourite sports. Ahead of an exciting summer of sport, PoB Hotels is encouraging guests to plan their own athletic staycation, pursuing their favourite British sport, or trying their hand at something new. 'Get Set, and Go' from PoB Hotels features a variety of PoB Breaks predominantly centred around Britain's five most-loved sports, inspiring guests to embrace their inner sportsman or woman in idyllic locations across the country, staying at some of the finest independent hotels around the British Isles.

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!