Your Sussex Wedding news and ideas from around the area

The Top 10 Instagrammable Spas in the UK

With National Spa Week taking place between the 4th and 10th of November this year, it is time to book your favourite location to totally relax! Whether with the girls, in a couple, or even on your own, treating yourself to a weekend away at a spa can revive you. Maddie, Senior Marketing Exec at Pink Boutique, says: "Reset the everyday stress with a weekend away at a luxurious spa and hotel. From acres of woodland setting the picture-perfect backdrop to dipping into a pool worthy of Aphrodite, you deserve to look as good as you feel, and with these spas, there's no doubt your followers will be that little bit jealous."

Spellbinding tips for a Halloween wedding

Halloween comes with a spooky aesthetic that captures the attention of many nearlyweds. However, how do you make sure your autumnal big day is more Wednesday Adams than horror show? There's no need to rely on terrorising tacky touches to add ghostly charm to your wedding, there are plenty of ways to ensure a hauntingly beautiful experience no one will forget. In order to avoid a scream-worthy error when decorating your wedding, Samantha Gilchrist, former wedding photographer turned founder and CEO of The Gilchrist Collection, gives her expert advice gathered from more than 15 years in the wedding industry.

5 engagement ring trends for 2024

With the festive season being the most popular time of year that couples choose to pop the question, it's no surprise that internet searches for 'engagement ring' have been steadily increasing the last six months as we head towards the new year. Luxury diamond jewellers, Diamonds Factory, have used Pinterest Trends data from the last six months (4th April 23' - 26th September 23') to find out which engagement ring styles are set to be big in 2024...

The secrets to a happy relationship

Researchers surveyed 2,000 British couples who have been together for ten years or longer, and it revealed a host of secrets to a happy, long-term relationship, according to those who have achieved it - including having no secrets (43 percent), a similar sense of humour (41 percent), never going to sleep on an argument (31 percent) and regular sex (32 percent.) Over a quarter (26 percent) of the long-term couples polled, said a 50/50 division of household labour was essential to keeping things amicable. Being able to laugh at each other (42 percent), not trying to change each other (36 percent) and having an open phone policy (10 percent) all featured in the list. Almost half (44 percent) of the British couples surveyed, claim they are very happy in their relationship, while a further 29 percent said they were generally happy.

The top autumn and winter wedding trends for 2023

An expert has forecast the wedding trends we can expect to see in the remainder of 2023. Wedding-goers in autumn and winter can expect to see a large emphasis on sustainability, DIY and an ode to all things vintage, according to Rachael Kiss from Alliance Online. She commented: "Wedding trends change seasonally, so it's crucial wedding hosts stay ahead of the curve. Efficient spending, sustainability and a vintage feel are key focuses this season, and rightly so. Wedding hosts no longer have to feel obliged to over-indulge in their big day and can instead, save money."

Frost Point Production is exhibiting at County Wedding Events

Cotswold-based Frost Point Production is exhibiting at County Wedding Events' Signature Wedding Show at Mercedes-Benz World on 29th October 2023. Sam says "With a strong background in sound recording, I decided to further my passion to videography. I have gained a great level of experience in the field and am excited to share my passion for storytelling through video with the world. "Starting the business has allowed me to combine my love of videography and my desire to run my own business". "I am an extremely motivated, personable, hardworking individual, with a sharp eye for detail. With a genuine love for the industry, I am thrilled to be able to work closely with clients to bring their visions to life."

Maplehurst Farm offers a peaceful waterside setting on a working deer farm

Fiesta Fields is an outdoor wedding and events company, repesenting a range of gorgeous outdoor venues including Maplehurst Farm near Horsham. It offers a beautiful and peaceful waterside setting on a working deer farm. The farm creates a relaxed and tranquil vibe, perfect for celebrating your wedding surrounded by idyllic countryside. The venue offers an idyllic blank canvas if you're looking to celebrate in a way that's unique to you. The team at Fiesta Fields brings a wealth of event and project management experience, along with creativity, attention to detail and a knowledge of local suppliers. You're offered full or partial coordination, or an essentials package that includes land hire, power, loos, security and on-the-day coordination.

Sentimental wedding bands with Atelier VM

Fine Italian jewellery maker Atelier VM has just launched its beautiful new Impronta wedding bands, whereby brides and grooms can customise their special ring with their loved one's fingerprint. Each 18K ring is a unique piece made using the lost wax casting technique, of multiple finger prints layered, to create a beautifully personalised ring that makes a marriage of everlasting love extra special.

Award-winning company working with County Wedding Events

Meon Face an award-winning medical aesthetics beauty clinic which specialises in skin, face and body, is exhibiting at County Wedding Events' Signature Wedding Show at Mercedes-Benz World on 29th October, 2023. "We offer 10+ years of experience, the latest technologies and techniques performed by our experienced and dedicated team. Come meet us at the show! Receive some amazing on-the-day discounts on our skincare products and treatments or book yourself in for a free consultation!"

Jewellery designer exhibiting with County Wedding Events

Hampshire-based jewellery designer and creator Sarah Ralph, of Sarah Ralph Designs, is showcasing her work at County Wedding Events' Signature Wedding Show at Mercedes-Benz World on Sunday 29th September 2023. Sarah says, "I've been designing and handmaking jewellery from solid recycled sterling silver for the past 10 years. I absolutely love working with silver as it's such a great material to work with and it has such a lustre all of its own. "I love crafting jewellery that makes you smile and that you truly enjoy wearing, from either small piece for that understated look or statement one-off pieces that have that wow factor. All of my jewellery is crafted from solid recycled sterling silver. Being as environmentally friendly as possible is very important to me and it is a strong ethos within my work. I'm based in Winchester, Hampshire where all of my designs are crafted."

Wine and dine with Chapel Down at The Bell in Ticehurst

Set in the heart of the historical village of Ticehurst, The Bell is at once welcoming to you and your guests. Its design is fabulously eclectic and features wallpaper especially designed for the venue by Hastings artist Melissa White. You'll love the illuminated "I Will Always Love You My Friend" sign in the Stable. Plus, the Love Nest, the round bridal suite, comes complete with copper bath, double shower, wood burner and roof terrace. The Bell's gardens were designed by Chelsea Gold Medallist JoThompson. There's also a fabulous double-sided sculpture representing romance and marriage. Why not check it out and enjoy a date night at the same time with the venue's Chapel Down Taster Dinner (£95)?

The therapeutic power of music on Mental Health Awareness Day

The issue of mental health has never been more important, three in five people in the UK suffer from some form of anxiety, but almost half of those people keep it a secret as they worry about being judged by others. And around one in six of the British population also suffers from moderate to severe depressive symptoms. Those shocking statistics show that the issue is still not spoken about enough, which means that sufferers feel excluded. But music can make a big difference! Making or playing music has been proven to deliver many mental health benefits.

UK's 15 most Instagrammed venues to get hitched

As UK searches for "wedding venues" skyrocketed by 110%* over the past months, the wedding experts at Aura Print scoured social media for the most popular autumn/winter wedding venues nationwide, and tallied Instagram hashtag numbers to reveal which venue stands out as the most memorable for weddings this season. Top 15 most Instagrammed wedding venues for autumn/winter 2023 to be inspired by...

Enjoy a charmingly traditional yet stylish Christmas with Elite Hotels

Put the merry into Christmas with Elite Hotels this festive period. With all the hotels positioned in postcard-perfect settings, their atmospheric yet individual characters lend themselves to the Christmases we all long for, filled with sumptuous Christmas cuisine, festive decorations and ribbon-wrapped presents under the tree. All that's left is to hope that our dreams of a white Christmas become a reality... Explore the full range of House Parties taking place this Christmas at Elite Hotels' three charming properties - Ashdown Park Hotel & Country Club in East Sussex, The Grand Hotel in Eastbourne, and Tylney Hall Hotel & Gardens in Hampshire.

Surrey's Simply Laura Calligraphy exhibiting at Mercedes-Benz World's Signature Wedding Show

Surrey's Simply Laura Calligraphy is exhibiting at County Wedding Events' Signature Wedding Show at Mercedes-Benz World on Sunday 29th October 2023. Laura says," If you're recently engaged and planning a wedding, firstly congratulations! When it comes to stationery designs, the possibilities are endless, from save the dates to place cards and on the day signage, Simply Laura Calligraphy helps bring your special day to life through print. Come and Meet me at Mercedes-Benz World Signature Wedding Fair on Sunday 29th October 2023!"

Save money on wedding party gifts

With more and more couples choosing to thank their bridesmaids and groomsman with presents, Anita Naik, savings expert at the UK's most trusted savings site VoucherCodes.co.uk, has some great tips on how to save money on your wedding party gifts, without sparing the sentiment: Spend within your budget: Set a budget and stick to it. Often people can go down a rabbit hole when browsing for gifts, looking at items that are way over budget. It's important to set yourself a strict budget and spend an amount that you're comfortable with.

Combat dehydrated skin with the help of Kate Mitchell Makeup Studio and Academy

Kate Mitchell from Kate Mitchell Makeup Studio and Academy says: The most important thing to remember about skincare before your wedding is time. How long do you have before your big day to start mixing up your usual skin care regime? As we all know, the skin is a temperamental and sensitive organ, which after introducing new skin care can often go through many questionable stages before showing off the flawless, finished results. It's highly recommended that any changes to your skincare routine, including any professional facial treatments are started within six months of your wedding day. This allows for your skin to have time to fully adjust to the changes.

County Wedding Magazines launch new websites!

Here at County Wedding Magazines HQ the office is abuzz with excitement at the launch of our new websites – I'm sure you can hear the *collective oohs and ahhs* from where you are! So yes, it's here, after months of hard work, sweat and tears (maybe less tears but more cheers!), our shiny, new, glorious websites are ready to be viewed by our much-loved readers – we really hope you like them as much as we do! Wedding planning at your fingertips - What's new, we hear you ask? Well, everything! The County names are as important as ever, it's our ethos after all, but we have a lush new font and modern colour scheme that really makes our County Wedding Magazine titles jump off the page.

The best of English sparkling wine, with Amelia Singer this National Champagne Week (1-7th October)

There's the New World of wine, and then the New New World: English Sparkling Wine is on the rise. This National Champagne Week, wine expert, Amelia Singer selects her favourite bubbles from our own green pastures... Which country comes to mind if you think of "wine"? For most, I imagine France, Italy, or perhaps even the USA these days, probably dominates. We all know, however, that the world is a-changing and so should our concept of wine and where it comes from. English wines are on the rise, and it's my opinion, along with a fair few of the worlds top wine experts, that they are the new frontier of wine making – even beating out top champagne houses in sparkling wine competitions.

Personalised wedding gifts from Pen Heaven

Find beautifully crafted, meaningful, and personalised wedding gifts to cherish forever with Pen Heaven. A master of exquisite stationary design, Pen Heaven was founded in 2008 and offer a comprehensive range of luxury writing instruments, leather journals and gifts. Specialists in classic brands such as Parker, Cross and Lamy, Pen Heaven also boast some more unusual and hard-to-find items such as the Japanese hand painted Platinum range, Italian calligraphy sets and the design focused Worther brand. Offering an in-house, by-hand engraving and embossing service, Pen Heaven are the ultimate destination for meaningful gifts with a personal touch perfect for big-day gifting.