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

Harefield Barn in Devon reveals Big Open Event this February

Grab your diary - let's make a date! The team at Harefield Barn in Crediton, Devon are delighted to announce that they will be holding their annual Big Open Event on Saturday the 17th of February from 3 pm until 8 pm. Couples will get the opportunity to see what this beautiful venue is all about, and how it could work for their special day. There will be live music from the fabulous Conscious Club and a stunning display from Sonic Fireworks. The in-house team will be joined by a selection of their favourite local suppliers, providing visitors with a whole barn full of inspiration!

Wedding gifting etiquette - your guide from the experts

When it comes to wedding planning, there is so much to think about, the same goes for wedding gift lists! That's why we are here to help with your guide to wedding gift list etiquette! We have spoken to The Wedding Shop, the UK's leading gift list provider to bring you everything you need to know about wedding registries. In short, we advise adding 2-3 gifts per wedding guest invited. Adding a variety of gifts to your wedding list caters to the differing budgets and preferences of your guests. It's a thoughtful approach to include a wide range of items, from smaller, more affordable pieces to a few higher-end gifts. The key is balance and variety. Typically, having slightly more gifts than the number of guests or households invited allows for enough choice without overwhelming your guests.

Luscombe Passionate Ginger Beer named Drink Product of the Year

Luscombe has always been known for its outstanding ginger beers and the Luscombe Passionate Ginger Beer has recently been named Food Drink Devon's 'Drink Product of the Year' in the 2023 awards. Luscombe Passionate Ginger Beer is crafted using only the finest organic Peruvian fresh root ginger, milled on-site at Luscombe's farm. Blended with organic Sicilian lemons, carbonated Dartmoor spring water and organic passion fruit juice, it is perfect for those looking for something a little different. It sits alongside the world-famous Luscombe Hot Ginger Beer and Cool Ginger Beer. Founder and owner, Gabriel David, is renowned for his pursuit of perfection and no-compromise approach to creating an elegant and multi-award-winning range of drinks that use the very finest organic ingredients and Dartmoor spring water.

Win a wedding at The Barn at Pengelly

Launching the 1st January, The Barn at Pengelly is looking to honour an unsung hero within the community. The team firmly believe in giving back to the community and recognising those individuals who have been through a challenging ordeal or have made a significant impact that often goes unnoticed. As part of its commitment to this cause, they have collaborated with some local suppliers to put together and host a free wedding for an unsung hero. The campaign is seeking nominations to identify individuals through its social platforms, people can nominate others or self-nominate, by writing 500 words, why they deserve to win a free wedding - the winner will be announced on the 14th February!

Big-day gifting ideas from Yvonne Ellen

With careful eyes on tight-budgets, it's easy to forget the charm of gift-giving but with careful planning and your eye in the right place you can still find wedding gifts for loved ones. Based in London, Yvonne Ellen is an independent British home and lifestyle brand specialising in home and giftware that is quirky yet timeless. Bringing her passion for home design to life in 2017, award-winning designer Yvonne Ellen hand paints her illustrations on a wide range of fine china home and lifestyle products that's inspired by her love of travelling, fashion and London, bringing a colourful and bold statement either on its own or as part of an eclectic assortment of goodies.

2024's biggest gifting wedding trends revealed with The Wedding Shop

Gifting Guru, Liza Baucher from The Wedding Shop, reveals the 2024 wedding gifting trends that are set to be huge next year. According to The Wedding Shop's recent gifting survey, 99% of wedding guests will still give a gift in 2024 and the average price of a gift is higher. Which means, despite the cost of living - people are still spending more on wedding gifts. Liza adds, "In an era of rising costs, it's inspiring to see wedding guests prioritise the joy of giving. The significance of being part of someone's special day hasn't diminished, in fact it has grown stronger!

The Idle Rocks wins three AA Rosettes

Thinking of booking a coastal getaway this January? The Idle Rocks, the luxury boutique hotel located in St Mawes, Cornwall was recently awarded the prestigious Three AA Rosette award as well as the AA Breakfast Award for 2023. The long-established AA Rosettes scheme celebrates successful cooking. Graduating from its Two AA Rosette Award, Three AA Rosettes are given to restaurants that inspectors deem to have 'achieved culinary standards that demand national recognition well beyond their local area', highlighting the hard work and talent of the culinary team at The Idle Rocks led by head chef Matt Haggath. The chic and contemporary coastal retreat boasts a stylish and relaxed restaurant that showcases a delectable array of dishes, thoughtfully crafted with the finest Cornish ingredients.

Launch of SpeechyAI - a new wedding speech writing tool

SpeechyAI, the first (genuinely decent) wedding speech writing tool has launched, giving you plenty of help and inspiration for planning your big-day speech whether you're the bride, groom, bestman or any member of the bridal party that's volunteered or this all-important role. Heidi, the founder of Speechy (the wedding speech ghostwriting team who were featured on The Drew Barrymore Show & The New York Times), has spent the last nine months working with an innovation company and, using Speechy's speechwriting techniques and tips, has developed something they're now proud to launch. As writers themselves, the team were very sceptical that AI would ever be able to produce a witty, coherent, and original speech, but through extensive testing we realised the AI, despite ongoing rumours to the contrary, can be very funny. Heidi adds, "So, with our 'secret Speechy recipe' we've now developed SpeechyAI and we hope the speeches created will surprise the majority of people who are still sceptical about AI's ability!"

Celebrate New Year's Eve at the Boom Battle Bar in Exeter

Calling all Barbies and Kens! Celebrate the year of pink in style at Boom Battle Bar in Exeter this New Year's Eve. The popular venue located in the Guildhall Shopping Centre is hosting a New Year's Eve Party to remember. Boom Battle Bar is transforming into a PINK UTOPIA! On the night, expect to step into a fully decorated venue, and sip on a pink-themed menu with specials including a strawberry-flavoured Barbie Dream Margarita and a Cloud Nine cocktail featuring pink gin topped with cotton candy. Dance the night away with the resident DJ playing until late. If that's not enough; partygoers can get unlimited gaming is included in the price of the ticket!

Get an extra night’s sleep with Young’s rooms this January

Two nights are always better than one, and with 1,000 nights to giveaway, cosy up in the comfort of the pub with Young's Rooms this winter. To redeem, simply book your two-night stay online between 3rd January – 15th February 2024 (for stays up to 29th February 2024) and use the code ONEMORESLEEP to receive 50% off your booking.Whether you fancy a city break in the capital, a getaway in the glorious British countryside or a seaside escape, make your stay count with 42 pubs with rooms in London and in the South of England to choose from. Ranging from snug stays for solo travellers to family bedrooms and one-of-a-kind feature rooms, complete with plush furnishings, uber-comfy Hypnos beds and Bramley toiletries, there is no better place to unwind than the cosy surrounds of the great British pub this winter.

Tips for keeping your 2024 New Year’s Resolutions

As 2024 approaches, many of our thoughts will turn to self-improvement and how we make the New Year as successful, satisfying, and productive as possible. Whether it's improving our health, focusing on professional advancement, learning a new skill, or exploring something totally unique, we typically create our list of goals during this time of year. To help ensure that 2024 is the year that your resolutions are kept, Toastmasters International offers these 8 tips that will help you to achieve your goals. Be realistic. Having lofty goals is commendable, however, it's important to make sure they are realistic, or you may end up feeling frustrated that they are too difficult to achieve.

Intimate Weddings are in for 2024: Venue expert offers tips

Micro weddings are on the rise, with a 100% increase in searches for 'intimate wedding venues' recorded in the past 12 months alone worldwide. In the UK specifically, searches for 'micro wedding venues near me' have risen by 100% in the past two years, and searches for 'intimate wedding venues UK' by 50% in the past 12 months. Forced small gatherings as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic have clearly rubbed off as scaled-back nuptials have stuck around, offering couples the opportunity to be in the moment, create memories with their closest loved ones, and eliminate the feeling for couples that they may need to gain approval from or impress guests on their big day.

Devon's Sharpham Dairy offers tips for building the perfect cheeseboard

Devon's Sharpham Dairy offers tips for building the perfect festive cheeseboard and drink pairings for New Year's Eve. Dairy owners, Greg and Nicky Parsons suggest the oozy crowd-pleaser which is Sharpham Dairy's Camembert, £6.50 / 280g. This is a moist, soft, creamy, surface-ripened cow's milk variety made in individual rounds that make it perfect for baking. When heated, Sharpham Camembert becomes yielding, oozing and perfect for dipping. The talking point cheese is Sharpham Dairy's Rushmore, £5.50 / 230g. Rushmore is rich and creamy with a subtle floral sweetness and a lingering finish. It has won the hearts of guests at various food shows.

Blossoming love on a budget - top tips from YouFloria

Wedding albums can be a garden of memories with the enchanting presence of flowers seen in every snapshot. Flowers can play an integral part of a wedding narrative, adding a tapestry of texture and colour into photos, bringing out personality and creating an overall feel to a wedding. From bouquets to table centres, pew ends and buttonholes, flowers are incorporated into every wedding memory... Creating your own wedding floral displays and bouquets can be an easy way to cut the cost, and the perfect way to make your wedding a little more personal - also, super fun and easy to do! You don't have to have a good track record of keeping house plants alive to be able to throw together a show-worthy, eye-catching floral masterpiece, no matter how big or small.

5 ways to make your bridesmaids feel special

On average, it costs a bridesmaid around £408 to have the privilege to stand by their dearest friend as they tie the knot. In fact, from organising a memorable hen to booking accommodation and buying the right accessories for their dress, the expenses can slowly creep up. But even if the role comes with pressing responsibilities, the reality is that bridesmaids are more than delighted to support you during the preparations and celebrations. As the bride, it's only right to thank your bride tribe for all their dedication, as they are likely to have been through all your highs and lows.

Give the gift of Cornwall this Christmas and New Year with Trewithen Dairy

Famous for its delicious dairy products, family-run Trewithen Dairy has the perfect selection of luxury hampers with exceptional provenance to gift or enjoy this Christmas and New Year's Eve. Made to a traditional Cornish recipe, Trewithen Dairy's Cornish clotted cream is produced using milk from local herds from their farms within a 25-mile radius of the dairy. The milk is then slowly heated to achieve its signature golden crust. With a selection of carefully selected local products to complement their award-winning clotted cream, Trewithen Dairy's range of hampers captures the essence of Cornwall's culinary heritage and makes perfect gifts. All hampers use carefully insulated packaging, to ensure products arrive in perfect condition.

The groom's guide to wedding planning

Matthew Shaw is founder and creative director at sauveur. a renowned event planning and management company based in London. Here, Matthew shares his groom's guide to wedding planning...

More often than not, the bulk of wedding planning lands up being the work of the bride with the groom being delegated select tasks but, wedding planning should be the work of a team and there may also be two grooms involved in the planning. Today's grooms are often much more involved with all aspects of the planning, something we very much encourage!

Giftlist predictions for 2024

As 2023 is drawing to a close, wedding gift list company Prezola, has pulled together their best-selling wedding gifts of 2023, whilst looking at predictions for 2024. Despite being in a cost-of-living crisis, it appears people are getting MORE generous when it comes to weddings. In a recent survey*, 99% of guests confirmed they would give a wedding gift, with 93% saying they find having a list to choose from helpful. Experiences continue to be front of mind for the adventurous Prezola couple, but they are also combining this with big home upgrades, including coffee machines, pizza ovens and more. The likes of Airbnb, Mr & Mrs Smith and Lastminute.com are extremely popular, alongside honeymoon funds, with 59% of guests giving cash for honeymoons and 39% of them donating towards a honeymoon through a fund like Prezola.

Unwrap the magic of Willy Wonka with Haute Dolci

This Christmas, Haute Dolci introduces their delicious Belgian milk chocolate Dolci Bar, that's not just a delectable sweet treat but also a golden opportunity! Inspired by the whimsical world of Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory and timed perfectly with the release of the much-anticipated WONKA film, Haute Dolci is excited to bring the enchantment of golden tickets to life...Recreating the magic of this Roald Dahl children's classic, each Dolci Bar comes with the exciting opportunity of discovering a Golden Ticket concealed inside and winning one of their fantastic prizes. Not every customer will discover one, but those who do will be in for a delightful surprise. Prizes range from free teasers of Dolci's finest creations to tickle your taste buds, a free drink to quench your thirst, a free dessert from their exquisite range, to charms which will give you from anything from 5% - 40% discount off purchases for an entire year, or the ultimate exclusive key, which will grant a year of free desserts.

Christmas gifts for the bride to be

The Christmas countdown is on – and if this isn't the only big day on the horizon, it's the perfect excuse to pull out all the stops If you're got a friend, sister or loved one who's about to celebrate their last Christmas as a Miss, mark it in style with a thoughtful and stylish gift from Team Hen. Responsible for giving hen parties across the world a serious glow-up, Team Hen is the ultimate go-to destination for fabulous accessories that are modern hen party goals. Forget the tacky L-plates or garish flashing tiaras, Team Hen is doing things differently – and in style. From fun festive goodies to super-stylish accessories, Team Hen has got all of your nearly-wed Christmas gifting sorted this year. The bride is going to love you for it!