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

A matchmade in heaven for wedding gifting

Habulous is excited to reveal the latest addition to their range of personalised products, the perfect match striker pot. Handmade in the UK these personalised ceramic match striker pots look at home in your living room. The wheel-thrown pot is carefully glazed with a choice of personalisation inside the heart - reminiscent of those retro love doodles! Filled with pastel matches in complementary shades, the jars come in five signature colours: Cornflower Blue, Mint Green, Off White, Pale Pink, Light Yellow.

The Speech Surgery - How many speeches are too many?

The Speech Surgery with Heidi Ellert McDermott, founder of Speechy and author of The Modern Couple's Guide to Wedding Speeches: The wedding speech tradition is as prevalent as ever and is still very much one of the key parts of the day. For some, public speaking comes quite naturally, and they wouldn't think twice about standing up and 'performing' on cue, while for others it may cause sleepless nights and anxiety but the pressure of pleasing a loved one means you can't say no! Fear not, whether you're a pro and want to heighten your speech, or a novice and you need some advice on how to settle those nerves, Heidi is here to answer your all-important questions...

See the signs of spring in National Trust gardens

Spring is on the way at many National Trust places across the South West, including in Devon and Cornwall, with snowdrops being spotted at many places. These dainty white flowers tend to bloom in January and February and pave the way for the crocuses and daffodils, which are a common sight in springtime. This pretty little flower has been the top choice of bloom to spot by National Trust visitors over the years with more than 72% of people looking forward to seeing them in their local National Trust Garden. At Newark Park in the Cotswolds, plenty of snowdrops can be spotted. For those who'd like to explore more of Newark Park beyond the gardens, there are estate walks to enjoy.

HARIBO giving free wedding cake to Gummy Ring proposals this Valentine's

From lockdown couples to celebrities, the last few years has seen the nation embrace their inner child by getting engaged with HARIBO's iconic Friendship Ring. To mark this Valentine's Day, HARIBO, the UK's number one sweets manufacturer, is delighted to declare that lovebirds ready to unleash their inner child and dive into marital bliss with its iconic gummy ring will get the sweetest reward – the chance to win their very own HARIBO Heart Throb Wedding Cake for their big day.

TikTok’s wedding trends - what we can expect in 2024

TikTok has become the best place to source beautiful wedding inspiration, from wedding dress fashion to food. But what were the biggest TikTok wedding trends of 2023, and what can we expect to see in 2024? By analysing TikTok hashtags, ethical jewellery brand Sacet provides insights into the most influential trends of 2023, the wedding trends on the decline, and predictions for the upcoming year.

Cornwall's St Moritz hotel unveils child-friendly package for half term

Cornwall's stunning St Moritz Hotel & Cowshed Spa, in Trebetherick, near Rock and Polzeath, has announced the Children Should Be Seen (And Not Paid For) package. The hotel has a dedicated kids club with its unique Mini Moritz programme of daily activities. This package offers no cost for children under 12 when staying in an End King Room during the February half-term holiday from February 9th until the 25th 2023, saving up to £80 per night. There's plenty to do including movie nights, outdoor games (weather allowing), surf lessons, scavenger hunts, board games, football and cricket, beach cleans and conservation talks. There are also Mini Moritz mindfulness sessions, wild rock pooling lessons, pizza parties and biscuit decorating along with Mini Moritz explorer sessions.

Inside the UK’s most ‘Traitorous’ castle

The Traitors is Britain's hottest new reality competition, where a group of twenty strangers come together for the investigation of their life: to find and stop the Traitors from stealing the ultimate prize pot! It's a show full of mind-games, backstabbing and trust, and its second series proves to be gripping the nation once again. And the setting of this treacherous game makes it all the more entertaining: a beautiful castle in the Scottish highlands. In fact, enquiries about this castle have shot up since the show first aired in 2022.

Wedding floral trends for 2024

Bloom & Wild florist, Emma Forsey, presents a vision of floral enchantment that goes beyond the ordinary. From local blooms and wild meadows to bold colour clashes and the evolution of AI, here's what to come in 2024 for wedding blooms. Local flowers have been getting the love they deserve in the wedding scene, and it looks like they're going to be the go-to choice for UK weddings in 2024. More and more couples are valuing the eco-friendly element of homegrown blooms, appreciating the chance to support local flower growers. British flowers aren't just a trendy word anymore; they're becoming a significant and lasting part of the wedding flower industry.

From casual to formal, here’s how to plan your picture-perfect engagement party

Firsty, congratulations! You're getting married! After a proposal, there are so many things to think about, but before preparing for the big day itself, an engagement party is a great way to share your exciting news and get your nearest and dearest together to celebrate. Pinterest trends1 revealed the largest peak in searches for 'engagement party ideas' were in January last year, now is the time to get the ball rolling and start planning for the prelude of the main event. Whether you're planning an intimate gathering or a lavish affair, party planning expert at Ginger Ray, Jess Martin, shares 10 tips for your celebration, no matter how big or small:

That's so Fetch: 10 Ideas for the ultimate Mean Girls-themed hen party

It's time to channel your inner Regina George and party like it's October 3rd! To celebrate the release of the new Mean Girls movie on 19th January 2024, Fizzbox has the rundown on Mean Girls themed hen party ideas that are so fetch! In a world where wearing pink on Wednesdays isn't just a choice but a lifestyle, this is the ultimate way to celebrate your upcoming nuptials in style, whether you're an aspiring Spring Fling Queen or a Mathlete. So break out the Burn Book and dust off your Plastics-approved heels. Get in loser, we're going on a hen do!

Escape this Valentine's Day to the Scarlet Hotel in Cornwall

Escape this Valentine's Day to the adult-only Scarlet Hotel, set within the rugged Cornish clifftops of Mawgan Porth. This romantic hotel seamlessly brings the outdoors in with a simple design aesthetic and tall glass walls showcasing the wild natural surroundings. Scarlet's "Two Night Spend Time Together" package is the perfect pick this Valentine's Day. Guests can choose between the iconic cliff-top hot tub, the calming seaweed copper tub and a seasonal scrub or a hammam with coffee scrub. Scarlet's "Seasonal Wine Down Two-Night Break" is the perfect solution for couples looking to learn something new. The package includes a seven-course taster menu with five paired wines and a one-hour wine-tasting session with the in-house sommelier, as well as a 30-minute cliff-top hot tub session.

The wedding gifts couples in 2024 really want...

When it comes to wedding planning, there is so much to think about, the same goes for wedding gift lists & etiquette. Gifting Guru at The Wedding Shop, Liza Baucher, answers 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.

Send 'I love You' flapjacks this Valentine's Day with Flapjackery

Famous for its gluten-free flapjacks, West Devon-based Flapjackery has a standout collection this Valentine's Day iced with I Love You. Created by Flapjackery in their kitchens on the edge of Dartmoor, these mouth-watering, gluten-free treats are laden in golden syrup and packed full of the finest British oats. With a shelf life of up to two months and packed in a recyclable box to pop through the letterbox, these are the perfect gift for your loved one. The personalised 'Love You' and 'Be My Valentine's' flapjacks come in boxes of eight or 12 giant flapjacks priced from £34 per box.

Wedding ring trends 2024 according to Queensmith

Symbolising unconditional love, devotion and commitment, wedding rings represent the union of marriage between two people and unlike engagement rings, they are worn by both. Often, wedding rings tend to be more simple and minimalist, but there are still so many different choices you can make from the metal colour, style and bandwidth. As such, experts at engagement and wedding ring jeweller, Queensmith, have released exclusive internal data to help guide couples on what wedding rings will be popular in 2024.

2024 wedding trend: cocktails to serve at 70s-inspired weddings!

Pinterest has launched its Pinterest Predicts report and '70s-inspired weddings are set to be huge in 2024, with searches for 'groovy wedding' increasing 170% and 'retro wedding theme' spiking 80%. Experts at NIO Cocktails have shared popular cocktails from the 1970s that you should serve at your retro wedding: "The era that brought us the rise of disco music, retro prints and bell bottom trousers also brought us a resurgence in classic cocktails and new ones, too! There were many cocktails that were popular in the 1970s and if you're wanting to throw the perfect '70s-inspired wedding, we'd definitely advise including our top three '70s cocktail picks in your wedding."

Devon-based Owens Coffee opens Perfect Waves Café

Devon-based coffee roaster Owens Coffee has announced the opening of Perfect Waves Café within The Roastery at Ivybridge which is open from Monday to Friday, 8.30 am until 4 pm and Saturdays from 9 am until 4 pm. Four-legged friends are welcome inside the new café and in the existing outdoor seating area. It's a stylish new space serving sustainably sourced coffee freshly roasted on-site, beautifully brewed tea and delicious local produce. Lorraine Bridden, managing director of Owens Coffee, says: "We've opened Perfect Waves Café to allow our passionate team to showcase everything we do, from our organic and Fairtrade coffee to our expertly brewed teas and locally sourced produce."

2024 food and drink trends predicted by the experts

From flexitarianism and the rise of sharing plates, to higher demand for whiskies and the rise in under-loved species of fish; here, renowned chefs and drink experts predict what will be the food and drink trends to take 2024 by storm - inspiration for your big-day catering too, with so much choice it will be hard to pick your favourite trend!

Al fresco Dome dining experience arrives at Fowey Hall in Cornwall this winter

Until late March, Fowey Hall, the flagship of the Luxury Family Hotel group has recently announced the return of its Domes, positioned on the front terrace overlooking the twinkling lights of the Fowey estuary, with an alpine-inspired dining experience on offer. The four Domes provide an exclusive private dining experience, with heating and cosy blankets. The Fondue-Only menu aims to bring the magic of the Alps to Fowey, with an authentic alpine cheese fondue, served with rustic bread, new potatoes, crudites and a charcuterie board. Fowey Hall's excellent wine selection guarantees guests will find the perfect pairing, with local options from Knightor Winery, including a local Cornish fizz. The delicious menu finishes with an indulgent chocolate fondue dessert, served with marshmallows, fresh fruit and pretzels.

Celebrate your wedding day with Niche Cocktails

If you want to serve amazing cocktails on the big day, then Niche Cocktails has you covered with its premium ready-to-drink canned cocktails. Perfect for kick-starting the celebrations, Niche Cocktails' range of all-natural cocktails taste just as good (if not better) than the ones you'd make from scratch, meaning that cocktail-loving couples can serve their favourite combos on their wedding day - why not enjoy your favourite tipples on your hen/stag or sten do too! Pre-mixed to ensure there's one less thing to worry about, you and your guests can enjoy a tasty tipple with Niche's delicious range that is so simple to serve. Each can can be poured straight into a glass or into a shaker with ice, allowing your guests more time for mingling.

Should I get a prenup ahead of my wedding?

Should I get a prenup ahead of my wedding? If you're planning your wedding, it's likely you're experiencing a whole mix of emotions! On the one hand, you'll be on cloud nine and feeling so excited. On the other, the stress can often get the better of you, no matter how in love you are. The planning, the preparation and the pressure can be overwhelming at times. In amongst all of this, you may not be thinking about putting measures in place to protect yourself in the event of the relationship one day breaking down. Whilst not the most romantic of things to be thinking about, an ever-growing number of couples are turning to prenuptial agreements ('prenups') to safeguard their money and assets before they begin their marriage and post nuptial agreements thereafter. At Stowe Family Law, we have seen enquiries for prenups increase by a quarter in the last year.