Your Kent Wedding news and ideas from around the county

Come and meet Sandra and Paul, an instrumental duo on violin and guitar

In the last ten years Sandra & Paul, with the violin and a guitar, have made hundreds of events memorable and will be showcasing their musical repertoire at County Wedding Events' Signature Wedding Show at Mercedes-Benz World on April 28th. What makes them stand out is their imaginative, tasteful arrangements and synergic, communicative playing. Their repertoire spans many genres and styles covering songs from every decade from the 1920s till today.Whether you're after an elegant and refined duo at the reception, an upbeat and wild country folk barn dance, or DJ freestyle violin impro, Sandra and Paul are able to enhance and excite your event with music and make it memorable.

Find your big-day bake at Mercedes-Benz World

Irresistible Cakes by Michelle specialises in crafting modern wedding cakes. With more than 14 years of experience in cake crafting and training from the esteemed culinary school Le Cordon Bleu, Michelle is committed to making your dream wedding cake a reality. Join her at the Signature Show at Mercedes-Benz World, where you can experience her unique creativity firsthand, seek answers to all your cake-related queries, and receive a complimentary wedding cake checklist to ensure seamless planning for your special day.

Find out more about Surrey’s licensed wedding venues with County Wedding Events

Find out more about Surrey's licensed wedding venues and have your questions answered by the Ceremonies Team at Surrey County Council's Registration and Nationality Service who are very excited to be exhibiting at the Mercedes-Benz World Signature Wedding Show in April 2024. "Our experienced team of Registrars will be available to discuss your ceremony queries and questions. We'll also be on hand to show you all of the beautiful, licensed venues Surrey has to offer, including our three fantastic Register Offices in Leatherhead, Guildford and Weybridge.

Check out Sight 'n' Sounds' set up at Mercedes-Benz World

The award-winning Sight 'n' Sound is one of the leading mobile discotheques in the Southeast of England, and will be exhibiting at County Wedding Events' Signature Wedding Show at Mercedes-Benz World on 28th April. "Once again Sight 'n' Sound will be exhibiting our 'white wedding disco' along with our exclusive LOVE letters and uplights," shares owner Harvey. "We will be on hand to explain how we can make your function special and unique, plus answer your questions. We also have a white sparkly LED dancefloor and low-smoke dry ice effect machine."

GiGi Events' new wow-factor chandeliers

GiGi Events specialises in wedding design, event styling and hiring for celebrations of all sizes, and has expanded its offering to chandeliers and lighting. Georgie Porter, event stylist, planner and founder says, "The new selection of chandeliers and lights are there to transform an already existing space into something spectacular. The hanging chandeliers are perfect for a stunning marquee, dropping perfectly for the ceiling. "Alongside the chandeliers, GiGi Events also has new custom-made stands. These stands have been precisely designed by a local blacksmith to allow the perfect curve over your table. The stands have also been designed so that your florist can decorate them to fit with the rest of your centrepiece design."

Looking for a calm, friendly, down to earth wedding photographer?

Myriame Lawley Photography is an award-winning Surrey-based photographer exhibiting at County Wedding Events' Signature Wedding Show at Mercedes-Benz World on April 28th. Myriame's adds, "Based in Surrey and covering the south of England I am dedicated to delivering you beautiful and timeless memories of your wedding day, so if you think we would be a good match, then pop by my stand at Mercedes- Benz Signature Wedding Show - I would love to meet you, hear your plans and ensure you remember your wedding day! "I shall be offering a £200 discount off any of my three collections if booked on the day, or 10% off any collection if booked within two weeks of the show."

Pop along to the Mercedes-Benz World wedding fair to see HayLee Duo perform live

Looking for mesmerising, emotive and memorable musicians for your wedding day? Meet HayLee Duo and watch them perform live at the Mercedes-Benz Signature Wedding Show, on April 28th hosted by County Wedding Events. HayLee are an elegant, female, acoustic duo who always strive to ensure they deliver beautiful, heartwarming and harmonious music to your wedding tailored to your own personal unique taste. The combination of Hayley's warm and soulful voice along with Lee's harmonies and guitar or piano backing makes this joyful duo a complete must-have on your special day - creating beautiful memories and a day you and your guests will never forget!

Experts share 5 tips on accommodating deaf guests at your wedding

Planning a wedding can be challenging, especially when there are so many decisions to be made and so many things to be considered. Whilst this is your big day, considering your guests can go a long way, especially for those who have disabilities or are hard of hearing. In the UK, one in five adults is deaf, has hearing loss or tinnitus, so the likelihood of having someone who may need additional help when it comes to hearing in attendance is quite likely. Ashish Shah, Audiologist at The Hearing Care Partnership has offered his expert advice on how you can better accommodate your deaf and hard-of-hearing guests.

A one night only collaboration at The Dog at Wingham, Kent

It's official! The Middle East is making its way to Wingham. For one night only, Executive Chef and Owner of Queen of Cups, Ayesha Kalaji, of MasterChef: The Professionals fame will be collaborating with Head Chef of the much-loved and award-winning The Dog at Wingham, Robert Mantegna.This incredibly exciting celebration dinner will be taking place on April 25th, where these two incredibly talented chefs will be joining forces to create a truly special and exclusive menu.

County Wedding Events coming to Vaulty Manor, Essex!

If you're newlyweds-to-be embarking on your wedding planning journey, pop along to the County Wedding Events wedding show at Vaulty Manor, Essex, for inspiration on Sunday 24th March 2024! Sister company to County Wedding Magazines, the event brings couples that are desperate for face-to-face wedding planning in touch with local professionals who are on hand to help plan the wedding day. From photographers to cake makers, musicians to florists you're sure to tick a lot off of your to-do list by attending one of our County Wedding Events. Vaulty Manor is a beautiful country wedding venue, a wedding there is a very special day and it could be yours. You will have exclusive-use of a beautiful light oak Essex barn with the oldest part dating back to the early 1600s. From there, you can move on to their amazing Baronial Hall for your wedding breakfast. Outside, there are acres of picturesque grounds to enjoy and a terrace area where you could enjoy an evening barbeque or hog roast.

These daily habits are ruining your wedding ring

If you've been the lucky recipient of a diamond ring or a piece of jewellery, Nilesh Rakholia, jewellery expert and founder of Abelini, has shared exactly how to care for your precious diamonds to ensure they last a lifetime... Nilesh says: "While it can be tempting to wear precious items such as an engagement ring all the time, daily habits such as cooking and cleaning can damage your jewellery. To avoid this, we always recommend removing jewellery before showering or washing up because the soap can cause a film to form, which can leave rings and bracelets looking dull.

Wedding traditions which are falling out of favour with younger generations

Researchers surveyed Gen Z couples and found many traditional wedding and proposal traditions which are falling out of favour with younger generations. But it's good news for the father-of-the-bride, as 54 percent said expecting parents to cough up for the big day was no longer necessary. Other things which are likely to fall out of favour are asking the bride's father for permission to propose (43 percent), sleeping apart the night before the wedding (38 percent) and the bride taking their partner's name (35 percent).

Of the 2,000 18- to 27-year-olds, surveyed by Churchill, as many as 86 percent believe the traditional stereotype of men proposing to women is old hat – and women should be able to pop the question too.

A third (29 percent) think that being given away is no longer necessary, while 27 percent say that tossing the bouquet is out of style. Being carried over the threshold (26 percent), promising to obey in the vows (25 percent) and wearing a veil (19 percent) are also falling out of favour.

A third of Brits decline wedding invites due to cost Klarna finds

The wedding season is just around the corner! What is normally a cause for joy can often become a financial strain for guests. Travel, outfits, gifts – the costs can quickly soar to unexpected heights. This is also confirmed by a recent survey by Klarna*, the flexible choice for smart, secure payments: One third (36.4%) of those surveyed said they had declined wedding invitations in the past due to associated costs. Moreover, 30.2% of respondents said they have not attended a Stag or Hen party due to the expenses involved.

Tempting favours with Sweetzboxes

SweetzBoxes is a Berkshire-based company specialising in creating beautiful favours for your special day designed according to your colour theme and style. Pop along to the County Wedding Events' Signature Wedding Show at Ascot Racecourse on Sunday 7th April, and Mercedes-Benz World on 28th April to see what SweetzBoxes can do to make your day one to remember for your guests.

Kent wedding DJs recognised at awards ceremony

The Wedding Chaps, a collective of DJs from across Kent, have been recognised as Highly Commended at The Wedding Industry Awards national finals event, held in London on 24th of January 2024. Commenting on the award, The Wedding Chaps member Iain Baker said, "Winning this award means so much to us, because it's based on the feedback from our amazing couples who work hand in hand with us to create their perfect day." Ben Bell from The Wedding Chaps added, "We are constantly seeking out new ideas to help our couples celebrate their wedding in a way that is all about them. Our mission is to make weddings fun, offering a range of options for couples to consider to make their wedding personalised and enjoyable for them. Seeing the smiles on our couples' faces at the end of their wedding day is how we get our kicks!"

9 in 10 newlyweds say budgeting is the biggest wedding stress

New research of newlyweds has revealed that 9 in 10 newlyweds find budgeting to be the biggest wedding stress. Queensmith's research surveyed 1,000 recently married couples throughout the UK, exploring the most and least enjoyable aspects, as well as the most stressful moments, leading up to their weddings and during the day itself. Weddings take a lot of time to plan in order to make them fabulous, but they also cost a pretty hefty sum of money too. Looking at the most stressful aspects of wedding, a whopping 93% of respondents said budgeting was the most stressful part of planning a wedding.

50% off room hire at The George Vaults, Kent

Discover timeless elegance at The George Vaults, a captivating wedding venue where history meets romance. Nestled in the heart of Rochester, the venue boasts historic charm with a contemporary twist, creating the perfect backdrop for your special day book your wedding now and enjoy an exclusive 50 discount on room hire! Its dedicated team is committed to ensuring every detail is impeccable, from the exquisite décor to the delectable catering. With versatile spaces accommodating both intimate gatherings and memorable celebrations, The George Vaults is the epitome of sophistication.

Must-see refurbishment at Pennyhill Park

Surrey-based Pennyhill Park Hotel & Spa is exhibiting at County Wedding Events' Signature Wedding Show at Ascot Racecourse on Sunday 7th April and Mercedes-Benz World on 28th April; the team will be on hand to discuss your big day, as well highlight the venue's stunning new refurbishment. Newly refurbished and opened in Summer 2023, the venue's Wedding Terrace is a beautiful space offering both indoor and outdoor opportunities for couples. The whole of the terrace wing will be dedicated to you and your wedding, including the newly renovated and refurbished Parkview Suite and Water Lily Suite. Taking your pick of The Library for indoor ceremonies or the Pavilion for outdoor ceremonies, your wedding will flow seamlessly inside and out with the beautiful backdrop of the ivy-clad main house. You'll also have the rooms located in the terrace wing for your wedding party, so there isn't far to go at the end of the celebrations.

Hen party dos and don'ts according to brides

Planning a hen party can be a stressful task, and with more and more brides opting for weekends over one last night of single life, there's even more pressure to get it right. To help you create the perfect celebration, Amy Greenshields, party planning expert at cardfactory spoke to 10 recent brides and bride-to-bes, unveiling their hen party dos and don'ts. Using this insight, Amy shares her top tips for 'kissing the miss goodbye' in style.

A spiritual wedding journey with Connected Collective

Bring the esoteric to your love journey by incorporating tarot in to your wedding day with exhibitor, Claire Laveaux of Connected Collective; showcasing her Psychic, Spiritual and Tarot work at Ascot Racecourse and Mercedes-Benz World Signature Wedding Shows, hosted by County Wedding Events. Intertwine Tarot with your Love story. Gain clarity and calmness during planning your big day. Connect deeply with each other through learning how to read Tarot for each other. A Couple's Journey is tailored to celebrate this magical moment, offering profoundly meaningful connections to the energies that surround you and your partner. Let Tarot reveal the beauty and wisdom that await in your union.