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

The Speech Surgery: modern day etiquette with Heidi Ellert McDermott, founder of Speechy

The Speech Surgery: modern day etiquette with Heidi Ellert McDermott, founder of Speechy, and author of The Modern Couple's Guide to Wedding Speeches: Some say addressing guests as 'ladies and gentlemen' is a mistake these days... what is the Modern newlywed speech etiquette? Let's start by saying (again) there are no wedding speech rules. When it comes to etiquette, it's simply a case of common sense and being polite. Honestly, that's it. When it comes to addressing your audience, 'Ladies and gentlemen' is becoming less common for two reasons.

Caerhays recently unveiled a third licensed site, Beach Meadow

Cornwall's Caerhays estate has opened a third fully licensed wedding site, Beach Meadow, located a stone's throw from the sea. Lucinda Rimmington, marketing manager at Caerhays Estate commented, "We feel proud to be unveiling Beach Meadow as our third fully licensed site in which couples can say their vows at Caerhays. It does have the wow factor, and is the closest licensed wedding venue to the sea on the South Coast of Cornwall - it's hard to beat that!" With only a handful of beach-front locations in Cornwall where you can officially say 'I do', Caerhays also boasts Coastguards Lookout, The Vean as well as Beach Meadow where couples can marry next to the ocean and enjoy barefoot beach strolls and majestic castle views.

Creative ways to preserve and display your wedding bouquet

Your wedding day is one of the most magical days of your life, so you'll no doubt want to hold onto your memories for as long as possible. Here, Clare Price from framing specialists Wall Space shares their tips for preserving your wedding bouquet for years to come. Preserving your wedding bouquet can be a wonderful way to keep the memories of your special day alive. Techniques like drying and pressing are some of the best methods of flower preservation, and there are countless ways to show off your preserved blooms in your home once you're done. With the tips and ideas below, you can create lasting reminders of your cherished moments and remember your special day for years to come.

TRENANCE HERITAGE COTTAGES SET TO LIGHT UP WINTER

The trustees of Trenance Heritage Cottages and the café owners at The Garden Café are excited to announce that following an infrastructure grant from Experience Newquay there will be three new experiences of 'Trees and Tales' based at The Cottages. The light displays will add something special for Halloween, Christmas and St.Pirans Week and will be accompanied by various events and performances. The cottages worked with the café to put forward a plan for lighting up the trees surrounding The Heritage Cottages to the Experience Newquay panel. Last year saw additional lights added to the cottages already beautiful large Christmas tree and the public gave a huge positive response.

Experts reveal five wedding trends set to be huge this Summer

With the new season comes new colours and trends, and with that being said, experts at Diamonds Factory have predicted five wedding trends that are set to be big this Summer. Couples will step away from the traditional colour scheme "Stepping away from the traditional black and white formal attire, we expect to see many wedding parties embrace colour this Summer. We saw the mismatched bridesmaid dresses trend resurge in popularity in late 2023, and predict this trend will take off even further this Summer, especially now it's getting warmer and with people experimenting with colour more.

The Speech Surgery: how long is too long?

The Speech Surgery: how long is too long? Heidi Ellert McDermott, founder of Speechy explores this. My groom says he's finished his speech and he's really happy with it but it's almost 2,000 words long. Is that too much? Yes. All speeches should be under ten minutes long. It seems obvious but I've seen several speeches (generally the best men) go well over half an hour, oblivious to the yawns or heckling. That's no more than 1,300 words maximum, allowing for pauses or laughter on the day. Remind your fiancé that his first draft is just the start of the writing process.

Wedding favours for Kids: ToyChoc Box

PLAYin CHOC's ToyChoc boxes are a fantastic choice for entertaining kids at weddings. These eco-friendly, vegan, and allergen-free treats come in 100% recyclable packaging. Each box contains two creamy chocolate bars wrapped in compostable packaging, along with a 3D card puzzle toy featuring animals like endangered species, sea creatures, or dinosaurs - there's also a fun animal fact inside. At just £2.25 each on Amazon, these boxes are a budget-friendly addition to your wedding plans.

A Wine Tasting Collaboration Brings New Tasting Notes to The Cornish Culinary Scene

The Atlantic Vineyard, a young family-run vineyard in Newquay, has collaborated with the Griffin Newquay on an evening of wine tasting on 11th July to allow attendees to taste and buy wines from a Cornwall-hardy variety of grapes, known as Earth-Friendly Vines. Alongside an informal and informative introduction to wine tasting, there will be an interactive talk about Cornish winemaking and the ethical approach adopted by the Atlantic Vineyard to produce eco-friendly wines right here in Newquay. With innovative viticulture, the Atlantic Vineyard hopes to sustainably produce Cornwall's first Earth-Friendly wines by Autumn 2025, a project that is already several years in the making. Meanwhile, and in great anticipation of the first Atlantic Vineyard-produced wine, the Griffin Newquay are hosting this first-of-a-kind wine-tasting event with Earth-Friendly wines.

Your ultimate guide to wedding gift etiquette

It's that time of year again where our inboxes and mailboxes are full of beautifully designed wedding invitations, we're scouring the web for the perfect outfit and excitedly researching accommodation and travel. Being invited to a wedding is a gift and it is tradition to provide a gift to the happy couple. But, where to begin? Luckily we've sat down with Georgie Mitchell, Wedding Planner, Coordinator and Wedding Expert, at online fashion destination SilkFred, who has shared her ultimate guide to wedding gift giving from how much to spend to how to make your gift stand out on the present table.

Less than two weeks until The Falmouth Cringe Comedy Festival opens its doors

In just under two weeks, Cornwall's The Falmouth Cringe Comedy Festival kicks off its biggest programme line-up with 40 comedy performances that will take place from the 4th until the 7th of July across seven venues in Falmouth. With shows already starting to sell out, The Falmouth Cringe, now in its third year, promises to deliver on a jam-packed schedule with diverse comedic styles and voices, designed to ensure something for everyone. Kiri Pritchard-McLean, a popular highlight of last year's festival is coming back with the 'best tour she's ever written' and there are also stand-up performances from the likes of Nabil Abdulrashid, Christopher Hall, Olga Koch, Chloe Petts, and Jordan Brooks (Edinburgh comedy award winner 2019).

Green I dos: How to plan a sustainable wedding

The carbon footprint of a wedding in the UK is equivalent to driving a car around the world twice – both create 14.5 tonnes of carbon dioxide. Ahead of wedding season, sustainability experts from BusinessWaste.co.uk teamed up with leading wedding planner Georgie Mitchel from Georgina Rose Events to share the best ways to make a wedding more sustainable, while also saving some money. Georgie says: "Having been involved in hundreds of weddings, it's hard to see the amount of waste that is produced from that one day. However, it's so good to hear that couples are looking at ways to be more green! Here are my tips for having a sustainable wedding day."

The Speech Surgery: too many thank yous? Heidi Ellert McDermott, founder of Speechy explores this

The Speech Surgery: too many thank yous? Heidi Ellert McDermott, founder of Speechy explores this here, ready now...I've written my bride speech but almost three quarters of it is 'thank yous'. Is that right? The thank yous are obviously very important but you also need to be wary of turning your speech into one long tedious list. For guests, thank yous are really only interesting if 1) they're personally getting thanked or 2) the thank yous are entertaining, from-the-heart and feel more than a cut and paste job...

Five ways to beat a wedding hangover

Weddings are notorious for booze with 50% of people admitting they wouldn't be happy to attend a wedding without alcohol. With an expectation for heavy drinking at most celebrations, lots of dancing and a late night, wedding guests often wake up feeling worse for wear. Those suffering the morning after a wedding can ease the pain with simple hacks, including drinking a pint of water before bed and sleeping on their left side. Nausea, thirst and aches can also be alleviated by having a lie-in, which helps to limit fatigue and irritation the next day.

Luscombe Damascene Rose Bubbly now available in the perfect sharing size

Whether you're hosting a celebration, planning a summer picnic or simply enjoying life with family and friends, make sure Luscombe Damascene Rose Bubbly is on your guest list. Available from the end of June in a new sharing 74cl bottle, Luscombe Damascene Rose Bubbly can be purchased in a case of 6 x 74cl bottles, for £24.00 with free UK delivery on all orders over £60. The ultimate summer indulgence, Luscombe Damascene Rose Bubbly adds an extra layer of elegance to any occasion. Recently awarded a Royal Warrant, in recognition of their products which are enjoyed by the Royal Households, Luscombe combines Damascene Rose, Muscat grape juice and Sicilian lemons with sparkling Dartmoor spring water.

UK vs US Brides: Wedding expert reveals 5 ways we differ

It's time to settle the score: do UK brides really do it better, or are our American cousins stealing the show? Let's dive into the wedding warzone and explore five spicy differences that set us apart! According to a survey conducted by the UK's largest wedding venue collection, the Gilchrist Collection, there are some key differences in the ways Brits plan their big day, compared to that of Americans. Samantha Gilchrist, the owner of the Gilchrist Collection, has had the pleasure of helping thousands of engaged couples with their wedding, across 12 venues, both in the UK and US.

Luscombe recently awarded King's Royal Warrant

Luscombe is proud to announce it has recently been awarded the new King's Royal Warrant after holding the Prince of Wales Royal Warrant since May 2021. This esteemed recognition, bestowed by the Royal Households, is a resounding endorsement of Luscombe's unwavering dedication to crafting drinks of exceptional quality. Royal Warrants are awarded to businesses that supply a very high-quality service or product, and one that is enjoyed by the Royal Households. Commenting on this incredible achievement, Luscombe's founder, Gabriel David says: "It's been an honour to hold the Royal Warrant for the supply of soft drinks to the Prince of Wales since 2021. We are thrilled to have this prestigious accolade renewed"

Here are 10 must-have items to include in a wedding bathroom basket

Luxury bathroom experts at Posh.co.uk have shared ten must-have items to provide to make sure guests are well taken care of. Wedding bathroom baskets can be a really nice touch for couples to show their guests they care by providing them with everything they need for a comfortable evening. Including items like safety pins, deodorant, body tape and antihistamines will mean that guests won't have to worry about a thing. Andy Ellis from Posh.co.uk said: "Wedding bathroom baskets can be a really lovely touch at a reception by providing guests with all of those small but important items that they may not necessarily be able to bring with them.

The Speech Surgery: timings!

Unsure of when to have the wedding speeches? Heidi Ellert McDermott, founder of Speechy & author of The Modern Couple's Guide to Wedding Speeches has the answer: In the US, speeches are just as common at the rehearsal dinner (the formal dinner prior to the wedding that the 'top table' are invited to) as the wedding day itself. At many British weddings, the speeches are scheduled before the wedding meal; the idea that everyone is officially welcomed to the wedding and the speakers are quickly able to relax (and tuck into the free wine!).

Wedding day wines from leading English wine producer Gusbourne

English wine producer Gusbourne, has a stunning range of the finest vintage sparkling and still wines to elevate any wedding providing guests with an array of exquisite drinks that complement every element, from the welcome drinks to the wedding breakfast and toasts! With Gusbourne wines, every pour becomes a celebration of love and new beginnings, ensuring your wedding day becomes a truly unforgettable affair, brimming with sophistication, charm, and cherished memories. For a spectacular wedding reception, fill your guests' glasses with the exquisite Gusbourne Blanc de Blancs 2018, a sparkling masterpiece that exudes elegance with its delicate bubbles and refreshing, crisp notes. As guests raise their glasses to toast the happy couple, each sip is vibrant and intense, setting the tone for an evening of celebrations.

St Michaels Resort Opens New Hotel Restaurant, Nourish

Proudly Cornish in aesthetic and outlook, the premium Falmouth-based hotel, St Michaels Resort, has opened the doors to its brand-new all-day dining restaurant, Nourish. Combining fresh, local ingredients, with bold and vibrant flavours, the sharing plates at Nourish celebrate the bounties of Cornwall's land and sea in a relaxed and friendly setting. New head chef, Darren Kerley, showcases the flavours of his home county of Cornwall, making his culinary mark on this luxury seaside hotel. The Nourish team works closely with local farmers, brewers and distillers to showcase the best of Cornish produce and the abundance of Cornwall's land and coast – provenance is king.