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

Offers from St Michaels Resort in Gyllyngvase Beach, Cornwall

St Michaels Resort is one of Cornwall's leading independent hotels, offering an unparalleled wellness retreat right next to the shores of Gyllyngvase Beach and the South West Coastal Path. It's home to a luxury spa featuring the largest hydrothermal pool in the southwest, a state-of-the-art health club and an exciting programme of events that celebrates the local community in Falmouth and the Cornish identity. Led by executive chef Darren Millgate, the AA rosette-winning Brasserie on the Bay serves up the best of Cornwall's farms, fields and waters, while more laid-back dining with sparkling sea views can be found at their second eatery, the Garden Kitchen.

2024 wedding trends from the experts

Emma Gold, founder of GSP Events, an events production agency responsible for some of the most iconic weddings of the last 27 years, unveils the 2024 wedding trends along with other experts in the industry..."Another trend we are seeing more and more of – the hotel buyout; guests are keen for total exclusivity and privacy for their guests. It is no longer enough to simply take a few rooms or the events spaces for the day or the weekend. Going forward, guests are taking over entire hotels. Clients of ours this year had the Maybourne Riviera for the weekend. One event was hosted there, with best friends and family all accommodated in the hotel. It means the celebrations never stop, and it allows guests to spend good quality down time together too. From a logistical perspective, it's hugely helpful in ensuring guests are at the right place at the right time; but also, what a dream to be able to have all your loved ones in one place."

20 things to get us through January according to Brits

With Christmas over, and the most depressing month of the year in full swing researchers asked Brits to vote for the things which we love about the colder months, with snuggling up with a blanket the top choice! The research, conducted by luxury ski resorts Club Med, also revealed a Sunday roast helps us get through the chilliest days, as over a quarter (27 per cent) love the smell of a roast dinner wafting through the house.

The best alcohol-free drinks to serve at weddings?

Discover the delightful range of award-winning non-alcoholic beverages from Mocktails which will make the perfect accompaniment to alcohol-free weddings and hen/stag dos! The ready-to-drink beverages are perfect for those looking to embrace the benefits of alcohol-free without compromising on flavour. Mocktails offer a delectable collection of flavours, each carefully crafted with the finest ingredients, spices, and botanicals sourced from around the world. Mixology-inspired and uniquely crafted, drinks include Mockarita, Sansgria, Mockscow Mule, Mockapolitan and Espress0% Martini. Mocktails' beverages are made with real fruit juices, exotic and natural flavours, and pure cane sugar.

Sustainable wedding wrapping paper from Curlicue

Curlicue, a British-made, female-founded company, has a delightful range of love-themed gift wrap - perfect for wedding gifting or Valentine's Day! All wrap is on 100% FSC-certified recycled and recyclable paper, plastic-free, and made with vegetable-based ink. The company uses a waterless and chemical-free printing process to be kinder to the environment, and use a UK printer for its paper to keep its carbon footprint as low as possible - from making to shipping its plastic-free!

1 in 7 couples buy wedding insurance at short notice

Christmas and New Year is the most popular time to get engaged* but research from wedding insurance specialist, CoverMyWedding.co.uk, reveals that couples might not be financially protecting all their purchases. One in seven (16%)** couples buy wedding insurance within 100 days of their wedding, according to CoverMyWedding.co.uk, leaving them potentially missing out on protection if they have already started putting down deposits and making payments. Wedding insurance often only covers items booked and bought after it is purchased, so it is important to buy it as soon as possible and before any big bookings or purchases are made, as depending on your insurer, they may not be included.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.