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

The Mole Resort in Devon announces Winter Wonderland Festivities

Santa is coming to North Devon along with cocktail and wreath-making workshops, Christmas carols, festive cheese and wine tasting, Yuletide campfires and more! Christmas has arrived at The Mole Resort Devon, with the announcement of a jam-packed season of festive fun, food and frolics for families, friends and couples to enjoy. From now until the 26th of December, the luxury resort destination will be transformed into a countryside wonderland for guests burrowing down for a one-of-a-kind Christmas experience. Festive-themed additions and activities included in breaks at The Mole Resort include cocktail and wreath-making workshops, festive quiz night, local carol singing with mulled wine, festive entertainment, magician and a disco for the little ones, a beautifully decorated Christmas trees inside all lodges and Christmas story time orchestrated by local theatre company, Rattlebox Theatre. Plus, there's a fully-stocked chestnut cart!

AI creates the ultimate first dance song

There are over 217,000 first dances in the UK every year (1,950,000 in the US) yet couples usually pick the same handful of songs. Have you ever wondered why tracks like Etta James' At Last and Just You And I by Tom Walker are so popular at weddings? And what makes them so timeless? Function Central, a platform for finding and hiring musicians and bands for events, have answered exactly that! By analysing the most popular first dance songs to find the top 10 that couples choose, they have used AI to create the world's ultimate first dance song based on their findings, showing couples that they can have a timeless first dance song that is unique to their wedding.

PoB Hotels unveil Black Friday Special Offers with luxury stays

PoB Hotels unveil Black Friday Special Offers with luxury stays in their exquisite properties in Gloucestershire, Wiltshire, Devon and Cornwall. The finest collection of independent hotels across the British Isles unveils an exclusive special offer. Running from now until the 2nd of December, any guest purchasing a PoB gift voucher exceeding £250 will be gifted a Gusbourne Estate voucher worth £100. PoB Hotels' Gift Vouchers are available to buy online and can be personalised as part of a luxury gift pack including a reusable travel bag, a copy of The Handle – PoB Hotels' elegant print magazine - and a stylish gift wallet. The voucher can be sent digitally to guests getting to embark on a staycation, dining experience, or spa retreat.

How to make your engagement ring shine for wedding day

Between shampoo, hairspray, moisturiser and hand cream – we can all agree that our beautiful engagement rings go through a lot on a daily basis. After all, many of us wear them every day without ever taking them off! But if your big day is just around the corner, it's crucial to keep your ring looking its best for those all-important wedding photos and to ensure your nearest and dearest see it in all its glory. With this in mind, experts at family-owned jewellers and diamond merchants, Chisholm Hunter, offer their specialist advice on how to get your ring gleaming before your big day... Max Brown, Retail Director at Chisholm Hunter, shares their top tips for ensuring your engagement ring is sparkling ahead of your wedding day: "If you want your precious jewellery to look its best on the big day, we recommend taking your ring to a professional jewellers for both ultrasonic and steam cleaning and using fine emery paper followed by a full polish to remove any surface scratching.

Venues for the perfect autumnal ceremony

New research conducted by ethical jewellery brand Sacet has revealed the top country wedding venues across the UK that would make the perfect location for an autumnal ceremony. By analysing a number of factors (including guest capacity, number of reviews, professionalism, quality of service and value for money) of over 30 wedding venues that offer barn, country and forest-style weddings in the UK, the top 10 were revealed. Brinsop Court Manor House and Barn, in Hereford, has been crowned the overall winner, with top ratings across all factors (quality of service, response time, professionalism, value for money flexibility and average rating). It also had the most number of reviews and can hold between 30 to 250 guests.

Bedruthan in Cornwall reveals coastal Christmas Breaks

Escape to the enchanting Cornish coastline this festive season for a relaxing getaway. Bedruthan's curated Christmas Breaks offer the perfect cosy time out, including delicious dinners, artisan bakery breakfasts and time to unwind in the Atlantic-view spa. Guests can choose between a three or four-night Family Christmas Break, and for couples looking to spend a romantic festive season together, there's a three or four-night Grown-Up Christmas break. Dining options include the recently launched Ogo restaurant or the Wild Café, both featuring menus using locally sourced produce. The Cornish delicacies continue at breakfast, with pastries and savoury treats freshly made by head pastry chef Georgia Mugford. There's also an exclusive festive experience with Father Christmas, making the stay even more special for the younger guests!

Are these popular 2023 wedding song cursed?

Research from wedding entertainment providers Function Central shows couples are taking risks choosing songs for their weddings with shockingly high divorce rates. Function Central used existing data on the songs most likely to end in divorce to see whether couples were still taking risks by adding these songs to their upcoming nuptials. This data was then cross-referenced against existing wedding playlists of engaged couples to see whether couples were still choosing these songs for their weddings. The results were concerning for any superstitious couples worried about whether certain tracks were deemed bad luck for long lasting marriages.

Luxury Lodges offer Christmas availability and Black Friday deals

This Black Friday, guests are invited to secure a last-minute stay across Luxury Lodges locations by making the most of their irresistible Black Friday deals running from the 20th until the 27th of November 2023. Escape to a world of ultimate, cosy relaxation at one of the five-star self-catering properties across Britain's most loved holiday destinations including Cornwall. Each lodge provides stylish, beautifully designed and comfortable self-catering accommodation including Clowance Estate and Bude Coastal Resort both in Cornwall. Each resort offers guests the opportunity to take part in a range of wellness-boosting activities from surfing on spectacular beaches to coastal walks.

5 reasons couples fail at sticking to their wedding budget

With the cost of living on everyone's minds, budget expert Isabel Smith, offers some insight into how couples can set (and stick to!) their wedding budget. The number of couples who are going overbudget on their wedding is dropping, from around 2/3 in 2018 to somewhere around 50% this year. This may be due to savvier couples setting more realistic budgets, or people simply refusing spend a penny more than planned owing to future financial uncertainty, but either way, I am all for it! I've never been an advocate for getting in debt over your big day, no matter how special you want it to be.

The perfect couples advent calendar

Couples looking for that x-factor idea to get them in the Christmassy mood this festive season need look no further than A Twist Of Date's personalised couples' advent calendar. This personalised QR-code collection of romantic, fun and creative couples' activities adds a spark of magic that is sure to make 2023 a December to remember. Perfect for long-term busy couples looking to reconnect through heart-warming moments, it's a no-brainer alternative to the typical chocolate-filled Christmas countdown. Whether it's an impromptu trip to your local ice rink, engaging in an act of kindness together or writing each other a romantic letter to be opened on Christmas, each day brings something new and exciting to share together.

How to master taking the perfect engagement ring photo

Proposals are often one of the most memorable, special and magical moments in a couples life, so it's only natural they want to share this joyous news with their friends, family and colleagues. In 2023, one of the most common ways for couples to share the news of their engagement is through social media. Couples often post gorgeous pictures in real time of themselves along with the dazzling engagement ring. Sharing the news via social media is a quick and easy way of telling your loved ones the news without having to individually call everyone, which can be overwhelming and time consuming. However, taking the perfect photo can be a bit of a challenge. Whilst it's not a competition to see who has the biggest ring and whose ring sparkles the most, a lot of people want their ring to look as desirable and shimmering as possible.

Cornwall's St Moritz Hotel announces new Wild Spa in December

Cornwall's St Moritz Hotel + Cowshed Spa has announced a new hot and cold contrast therapy 'Wild Spa' which will open on 1st December 2023. The luxury inside/outside elemental spa, set in Trebetherick, between Rock and Polzeath, will provide the invigorating, energising benefits of cold water exposure alongside the restorative, warming effects of heat therapy. Nestled into the secluded North Cornwall cliffside, with fire pits and a full rejuvenation programme, hotel and day guests will find there's no better way to embrace the elements this winter. The St Moritz Wild Spa is an exciting collaboration with Cornwall-based Water and Stone - the leading experts in hot and cold contrast therapy in the South West. Together the team has designed an original Nordic outdoor spa, all within the beautifully landscaped gardens at the hotel.

Sober hen parties are on the rise

While hen parties are often characterised by celebratory cocktails, drinking games and wild night outs, the hen-do could soon be shrugging off its booze-fueled persona. Global searches for 'sober hen do ideas' have doubled over the past year while 'sober bachelorette party games' has also seen a 50% increase. On TikTok, #soberliving has seen a surge in popularity, with videos including the hashtag boasting over 650 million views. If you're a bride-to-be looking to celebrate your 'last night of freedom' tee-total-style, party planning expert, Amy Greenshields at cardfactory has shared her four top tips.

The Farmers Arms at The Collective at Woolsery offers new dining concept

If you're dreaming of an autumn or winter staycation filled with country strolls, roaring fires and hearty pub lunches look no further than The Collective at Woolsery. Located off the beaten track in a stunning part of North Devon, this is the perfect place to escape for truly sumptuous and cosy weekends in the country. After a walk along the South West Coast Path or in the surrounding countryside, snuggle up in one of The Collective at Woolsery's design-led rooms or suites, with super soft beds, sofas and soft furnishings. The Collective at Woolsery offers a collection of three cottages, two suites, and two rooms within the village, each showcasing its unique character.

Is lasting love magic, logic or luck?

Does it matter how a couple met? Contented Couples, a new guide to long-term relationships, features candid, intimate interviews with eighteen couples, based in the UK and USA. Each pair tell of how they met, how they formed a relationship and how they've thrived to become a truly happy union. One couple met and married within a month, whilst another two were thrown together repeatedly by a matchmaker who refused to give up - and it is not only guy meets girl either. The couples speak from an array of circumstance, culture and sexual orientations, including arranged marriage, friends-to-lovers and dating apps.

The five best weather apps to keep your eye on it leading up to the big day

Wedding jewellery experts Austen & Blake have listed some of the best weather apps to keep an eye on in the lead-up to your big day. The UK weather has been anything but predictable lately, with September set to be a particularly rainy and unsettled month, according to The Met Office. Top-rated apps help to track and plan your wedding day accordingly. Weather apps are invaluable when it comes to planning your nuptials, but sometimes there's no avoiding the inevitable. That's why, along with listing the best apps for tracking grey skies, the jewellery experts have teamed up with a professional wedding photographer to provide tips on how to get the best rainy snaps.

Even when the weather's a washout, it doesn't mean your wedding photos have to be! Here are some of the best weather apps to keep an eye on and how to strike the perfect pose if rain is predicted:

Harefield Barn launches All Inclusive Package for 2024

The talented team at Devon's Harefield Barn have launched the All Inclusive Package for 2024. They've gathered the key elements of a wedding day and included them in this all-inclusive deal, which offers couples significant savings and gives them a better idea of what the cost will be. The offer can be booked on any available date in 2024 and includes exclusive use of the venue from 8 am on the day of the wedding until half past midnight. Cars may be left overnight and items can be collected the following day. There's access from 1 pm until 5 pm the day before to decorate plus four drinks per adult, a delicious wedding breakfast and evening food.

Don’t like your engagement ring? Relationship experts reveal what you need to do!

A marriage proposal is filled with an overwhelming amount of emotion and is a moment both you and your partner will remember forever. But once the initial rush fades, what if you come to terms with the fact that the ring placed on your finger isn't what you envisioned it to look like? Leading diamond jewellers, Diamonds Factory, teamed up with relationship experts Georgia Sturmer and Sharin Shafer, who have shared their top 3 tips on how to handle this delicate situation in the best way possible.

Enjoy a Time to Golf break at Devon's Bovey Castle

Needing a bit of time out together from all the wedding planning? Then head to Bovey Castle, part of the collection of PoB Hotels this autumn for a 'Time to Golf' break priced from £464 per person, based upon two people sharing a classic room. Set in an unrivalled position within a 275-acre estate on Dartmoor National Park, Bovey Castle is a luxurious retreat of the highest standard. The curated 'Time to Golf' Breaks package includes two rounds of golf per person on a championship golf course; accommodation for two nights and a full English breakfast. Guests can rest and relax between games with the one-night 'Golf and Spa Package' which pairs one round of golf with a special spa treatment and daily breakfast.

Fraser Hart launches its stunning lab-grown diamond collection

Fraser Hart, one of the UK's leading purveyors of fine jewellery, is redefining affordable luxury with the launch of its Born Lab Grown Diamonds collection in 10 new stores nationwide. Optically, physically and chemically identical to an earth-grown diamond, here cutting-edge technology is used to create timeless diamonds in a laboratory setting. Blending craftsmanship with innovation, Born Lab Grown Diamonds are breathtaking in their clarity, delivering the same sparkling wow-factor as traditionally mined gems, but with a more accessible price tag. The Born collection includes a stunning choice of "buy now, treasure forever" heirloom jewellery pieces. With exquisite diamond rings starting at just £799, diamond and white gold stud earrings from £799, classic diamond encrusted tennis bracelets from £5,250, and diamond pendant necklaces from £850, investing in luxurious, exceptional quality and utterly timeless diamond jewellery pieces has never been more attractive.