Your Kent Wedding news and ideas from around the county

The groom's guide to wedding planning

Matthew Shaw is founder and creative director at sauveur. a renowned event planning and management company based in London. Here, Matthew shares his groom's guide to wedding planning...

More often than not, the bulk of wedding planning lands up being the work of the bride with the groom being delegated select tasks but, wedding planning should be the work of a team and there may also be two grooms involved in the planning. Today's grooms are often much more involved with all aspects of the planning, something we very much encourage!

Giftlist predictions for 2024

As 2023 is drawing to a close, wedding gift list company Prezola, has pulled together their best-selling wedding gifts of 2023, whilst looking at predictions for 2024. Despite being in a cost-of-living crisis, it appears people are getting MORE generous when it comes to weddings. In a recent survey*, 99% of guests confirmed they would give a wedding gift, with 93% saying they find having a list to choose from helpful. Experiences continue to be front of mind for the adventurous Prezola couple, but they are also combining this with big home upgrades, including coffee machines, pizza ovens and more. The likes of Airbnb, Mr & Mrs Smith and Lastminute.com are extremely popular, alongside honeymoon funds, with 59% of guests giving cash for honeymoons and 39% of them donating towards a honeymoon through a fund like Prezola.

Christmas gifts for the bride to be

The Christmas countdown is on – and if this isn't the only big day on the horizon, it's the perfect excuse to pull out all the stops If you're got a friend, sister or loved one who's about to celebrate their last Christmas as a Miss, mark it in style with a thoughtful and stylish gift from Team Hen. Responsible for giving hen parties across the world a serious glow-up, Team Hen is the ultimate go-to destination for fabulous accessories that are modern hen party goals. Forget the tacky L-plates or garish flashing tiaras, Team Hen is doing things differently – and in style. From fun festive goodies to super-stylish accessories, Team Hen has got all of your nearly-wed Christmas gifting sorted this year. The bride is going to love you for it!

Unwrap the magic of Willy Wonka with Haute Dolci

This Christmas, Haute Dolci introduces their delicious Belgian milk chocolate Dolci Bar, that's not just a delectable sweet treat but also a golden opportunity! Inspired by the whimsical world of Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory and timed perfectly with the release of the much-anticipated WONKA film, Haute Dolci is excited to bring the enchantment of golden tickets to life...Recreating the magic of this Roald Dahl children's classic, each Dolci Bar comes with the exciting opportunity of discovering a Golden Ticket concealed inside and winning one of their fantastic prizes. Not every customer will discover one, but those who do will be in for a delightful surprise. Prizes range from free teasers of Dolci's finest creations to tickle your taste buds, a free drink to quench your thirst, a free dessert from their exquisite range, to charms which will give you from anything from 5% - 40% discount off purchases for an entire year, or the ultimate exclusive key, which will grant a year of free desserts.

Fit for a Royal Wedding: Starring role for The Guildhall, Rochester in Netflix series The Crown

Fit for a Royal Wedding: Starring role for The Guildhall, Rochester in Netflix series The Crown as Prince Charles marries Camilla Parker Bowles. The wedding of Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles, described at the time as 'A Fairytale for Grown Ups,' took place in a civil ceremony at Windsor Guildhall at 12.30pm on 9 April 2005. Eighteen years later, the events of that day will be streamed around the globe as fans of the acclaimed Netflix TV show 'The Crown' bring out the union flags for the final six episodes of the award-winning series, available to view from today. But look closely as the Royal couple, played by actors Dominic West and Olivia Williams, exchange their vows and you may just notice historic Rochester in Medway, Kent, rather than Windsor, taking centre stage for the big occasion.

Top trend revealed by Wild Daisy Florist

We love sharing a top trend tip and this issue Luisa from Wild Daisy Florist in Herne Bay has the inside track for us: "Dried flowers have become increasingly popular over the last few years with couples choosing to combine them with fresh flowers or simply going for a dried bouquet. Pampas grasses are a great dried flower for large arrangements and add a wow factor on wedding arches, entrances, tall table arrangements and more. I love them! Top tip: spray them with hairspray to control the shedding. With wedding locations now being so varied, a wonderful way to create focus in your ceremony space is to have an arch dressed with a bespoke arrangement. There are so many different styles, shapes and designs of these now, so have a think about what might suit you."

Expert reveals her ultimate tips on how to have a hen party on a budget

Getting married is an exciting time in your life, however, sometimes it can cost a small fortune. You might even be feeling the guilt of your loved ones having to fund their attendance to your events, during a cost of living crisis. Life insurance broker, Reassured polled 1,500 people to reveal the costs behind attending a hen party. To be exact, you'll be out of pocket by £979 for attending the hen party. From a boozy weekend staycation in a local city or jetting off to somewhere sunnier, the costs clearly build up more than you first imagined. However, some brides seem to have no regrets with over two-thirds (68%) being glad to have had a hen party, with 65% having high expectations and expecting their bridesmaid to organise the party for them as a surprise!

Chapel House Estate earns prestigious recognition

Chapel House Estate, a luxury wedding and events wedding venue in Minster, Thanet, is proud to announce its recent accolade as the recipient of the Best Startup Business Award at the esteemed Canterbury Business Awards ceremony held on 29th November 2023. The Kent Business Awards, renowned for celebrating outstanding businesses across various sectors, recognised Chapel House Estate for its exceptional performance, innovative approach, and remarkable growth since its inception in July 2022. The award highlights the company's dedication, entrepreneurial spirit, and commitment to delivering high-quality services within the local community.

How to plan a wedding speech

Matthew Shaw, a leading wedding and events planner and founder of sauveur. - a superb events and creative studio - reveals his top tips to help you plan your big-day speech. Speeches can sprawl quite easily when you're trying to cover so much and this makes them difficult to follow. When you first start planning your speech it's definitely helpful to throw lots of ideas around but then try to focus on an overall theme or approach. This could be a personality trait, great jokes, or a more heartfelt approach, but it will help you, and the guests, if there is a clear angle to follow. In turn, this will help your guests follow along and you will be gifted with a better response from the room.

Fever-Tree's new cocktail mixers: the ultimate hosting hack

With Christmas and New Year being the key season for popping the question, there's double the amount of celebrations at this time of year! Get ready to elevate your festive hosting with Fever-Tree's innovative cocktail mixers, new for winter 2023. In a year where approximately 100,000 proposals will happen from Christmas to New Year, and 64% of consumers enjoy cocktails at home, busy hosts can now have it all serving Mojitos, Margaritas, and Espresso Martinis. The line-up: Fever-Tree Classic Mojito Mixer: Fresh Mexican Limes meet Moroccan Mint for a zesty, refreshing twist. Just add rum and ice, stir, and craft a Mojito masterpiece.

Feeling peachy with Pantone's Colour of the Year 2024 announcement

It's here, Pantone's Colour of the Year announcement for 2024 is... Peach Fuzz! We take a look at what this means for weddings! "A cozy peach hue softly nestled between pink and orange, PANTONE 13-1023 Peach Fuzz brings belonging, inspires recalibration, and an opportunity for nurturing, conjuring up an air of calm, offering us a space to be, feel, and heal and to flourish from whether spending time with others or taking the time me to enjoy a moment by ourselves," says Leatrice Eiseman, executive director, Pantone Color Institute. "Drawing comfort from PANTONE 13-1023 Peach Fuzz, we can find peace from within, impacting our wellbeing. An idea as much as a feeling, PANTONE 13-1023 Peach Fuzz awakens our senses to the comforting presence of tactility and cocooned warmth."

Mercure Tunbridge Wells has announced new launch

Mercure Tunbridge Wells has announced the launch of four fabulous new theme-based wedding packages. With space for up to 150 guests in its largest events room, a beautiful courtyard and pond for picture-perfect wedding photos, parking for 200 cars, and 84 comfortable bedrooms, the venue has everything you need to ensure your wedding day goes off without a hitch. The Classic Wedding package holds a high standard of excellence and tradition. With this option, you'll be able to enjoy your fairytale wedding in timeless fashion. The Winter Wonderland Wedding package offers you a fabulous white wedding with the added detail of romantic fairylights, cosy candles and seasonal florals.

Why are prenups no longer the reserve of the wealthy?

Wenup, a collaborative online provider of relationship agreements, conducted a comprehensive analysis of its first 120 customers. This data offers valuable insights into the changing landscape of prenuptial agreements, capturing shifting trends among couples from diverse backgrounds and providing a glimpse into the evolving dynamics of modern relationships. Recent celebrity divorces, involving well-known personalities such as Britney Spears, Sophie Turner, and Joe Jonas have cast a spotlight on prenuptial agreements. Despite their often sensationalised portrayal in the media, prenups are no longer the exclusive domain of the rich and famous.

Save on your venue hire at The Historic Dockyard Chatham

It's all hands on deck to ensure you have the perfect wedding day at The Historic Dockyard Chatham! After all, where else can you say your wedding vows under sails that have cruised the world's oceans and witnessed timeless stories of love and loyalty; or celebrate in rooms where illustrious heroes have rejoiced in their greatest victories? Set among 400 years of maritime history, this venue provides an iconic backdrop to your day. Say your vows in Commissioner's House, Britain's oldest naval building, or aboard the magnificent sloop HMS Gannet. Meanwhile, Commissioner's Garden provides the perfect setting for drinks receptions and photographs.

Overwhelmed planning a wedding? A leading wedding planner shares top tips

Matthew Shaw, a leading wedding and events planner and founder of sauveur. - a superb events and creative studio - is here to reveal his Top Tips to help you plan and feel calm, confident and importantly, excited for the big day. ASK FOR HELP: I would always advise considering if you would like to engage a planner at the beginning of the process. They are true experts in their field and will help organise, inspire, and de-stress the process for you. There are planners available for varying wedding budgets so do reach out and request more information.

Weddings Wrapped 2023 - wedding special

With Spotify Wrapped 2023 having just dropped, Encore Musicians, the UK's largest musician bookings platform has analysed 2,300 song requests by newlyweds to see the most requested songs and artists for weddings in 2023. They also surveyed 1,000 of its customers and musicians to discover the UK's favourite and least favourite songs to hear at weddings. Although Ed Sheeran's "Perfect" ranked as the most common song for first dances, it also ranked as the second least popular song to hear at weddings with one in seven ranking it as their least favourite.

Could you have to pay inheritance tax on a wedding gift?

Before the big day comes around, whether you are a guest giving a present or contributing to the cost of the honeymoon, or perhaps a relative considering helping towards the cost of the wedding itself, you ought to consider the inheritance tax implications of making such gifts. James Mabey, partner at law firm Winckworth Sherwood advises on the inheritance tax implications of wedding gifts. In the UK, if you die within seven years of making a gift, inheritance tax may be payable on the value of the gift after your death. This is because gifts are considered to be part of your estate for inheritance tax purposes.

Winter wedding package from Mercure Tundbridge Wells

Built around the original Georgian Dower House, Mercure Tunbridge Wells Hotel is a charming four-star hotel offering the perfect combination of traditional and modern to provide a spectacular venue for your wedding day. The Oast house provides a grand entrance for you and your guests whilst the Original Georgian House and terrace provides a warm and welcoming relaxing atmosphere. Its Winter Wonderland Package starts from £6,875 for 2024 and includes the following for 50 guests...

Propress launches the MINI Clothes Steamer - perfecting for wedding dresses!

Professional and long-established British fabric steamer manufacturer, Propress, has unveiled the Propress MINI Handheld Clothes Steamer. A revolutionary product that combines over 40 years of steaming expertise with cutting-edge technology, the MINI allows users to say goodbye to the days of wrestling with an ironing board and hello to the future of garment care with beautifully crease-free clothes, whether at home, in the office, or on-the-go.

The Propress Mini Handheld Clothes Steamer (£110) is available in Arctic Grey, Idol Blue or Vintage Pink from the Propress website. It heats up in under a minute offering the convenience of crease-free clothes with a simple touch of a button. Its efficiency and ease of use make it a must-have for every fashion-savvy individual, plus it is versatile enough to treat various home fabrics from curtains to bedding, and is ideal for weddings or even hoteliers.

Your Kent Wedding paid a visit to Penshurst Place & Gardens

Earlier in the autumn Your Kent Wedding editor Kelly paid a visit to Penshurst Place & Gardens near Tonbridge and was given a tour of the impressive historical venue's wedding spaces by charming hospitality manager George. Click play or scan the QR code to take the tour with her and find discover the options that lie in wait, ready to host your big day. Set in an estate of 2,500 acres, the 14th-century house and formal gardens are steeped in natural splendour and historical architecture. With sandstone walls and an impressive sweeping driveway, Penshurst Place has been described as the perfect combination of an inspiring castle mixed with an intimate country manor house. From the Baron's Hall built in 1341 to Kelly's favourite space, The Sunderland Room, and the star of the venue's al fresco show, The Nut Garden where Kent's famous cobnuts grow, you're spoilt for choice and flexibility.