If your chosen venue doesn't provide the catering then you’ll need to call in the professionals to feed your guests. There's a plethora of options from a formal sit-down dinner comprising of a three-course meal to a variety of fun, informal ways of feeding your guests such as hog roasts and barbecues. Whatever option you choose for your big day make sure you meet with the caterers to discuss your requirements; a reputable supplier will provide a tasting menu so that you can sample your planned dishes making sure they are the perfect choice for your wedding day.
Please mention Your Bristol and Somerset Wedding when contacting wedding service providers.
To help you find inspiration for your big day, take a look at what's caught the eye of our editors.
There are literally hundreds of ideas, products and services from wedding suppliers across the UK along with links to their web sites as pointed out by our ever resourceful team.
Take a look at what our Editors Love!
Five reasons why Champagne is the pinnacle of sparkling wine
The Champagne Bureau UK* have rounded up five reasons why Champagne is the long-standing pinnacle of sparkling wine. Firstly, Champagne only comes from Champagne. Champagne is a 100% French product - the Champagne region is located in France, approximately 90 miles east of Paris. It is a protected appellation (AOC). From 816 to 1825, France's royalty was crowned in Champagne's Reims Cathedral, where Champagne was said to flow freely at all the coronation banquets. Soon, highly prized for their taste and finesse, it became customary to gift these wines to any royalty visiting the region. This is how the Champagne came to be known as the wine of coronation and known in France as "the wine of Kings and the King of wines".
Posted: 28 August 2023
Amathus Drinks introduces new monthly masterclasses
Celebrating its 45th anniversary, family-owned specialist drinks importer, distributor and retailer Amathus Drinks is sharing its knowledge and expertise with its customers through a series of engaging in-store masterclasses. Partnering with the most interesting and innovative wine and spirits producers from all over the globe, Amathus Drinks will be offering tastings for Champagne, Cognac, Calvados, Mezcal, Tequila and more at its Bath store. The masterclasses will give guests the opportunity to learn about selected wines and spirits directly from Amathus Drinks' qualified staff or from expert producers, taste a range of varieties, including rare bottles, and benefit from exclusive offers.
Posted: 18 July 2023
Demand for dry weddings increases
Whether it's teetotallers, the 'sober curious' or simply those wishing to cut back on the amount of alcohol they consume, dry weddings are an emerging growth market according to one leading events planner who has seen a 28% increase in requests for completely alcohol-free weddings, and a notable focus on alcohol free drinks in weddings that aren't forgoing it altogether. Liz Taylor, CEO of leading wedding and events management company, the Taylor Lynn Corporation (TLC), has been at the forefront of the wedding industry for over thirty-five years and has never seen such demand for no or low alcohol weddings, with requests rising nearly a third in the last two years.
Posted: 14 June 2023
Love and gin - matchmade in wedding heaven!
Tied the Knot Wedding Gin by Manchester Gin was crafted by founders Seb and Jen to celebrate their own wedding in 2022. Relaunching in time for wedding season as part of the distillery's core range, Tied the Knot contains 11 botanicals in perfect harmony. Juniper-forward, like most of the Manchester Gin range, this very special edition also celebrates the delicate summer flavours of elderflower and hibiscus, which work beautifully with bright lemon and grapefruit.
Posted: 11 June 2023
It's World Gin Day (10th June) celebrate with seven gin cocktails
World Gin Day on the 10th June is a celebration of all things gin. Here's a selection of amazing gin cocktails originating from different countries for you today and for your hen/stag/sten do and wedding day - well why not on the honeymoon too! There's lots you'll be celebrating! Happy World Gin Day! Ryan Reynolds' Aviation Gin Negroni create at home: 30ml Aviation American Gin, Campari and Sweet Vermouth. Stir all ingredients in a glass, add ice and a fresh twist of orange peel
Posted: 10 June 2023
Why Champagne is the number one choice for weddings and celebrations
Champagne naturally goes hand in hand at weddings and there is no shortage of creative ways to share the pinnacle of sparkling wine. The Champagne Bureau UK*, has included useful tips below on how to best serve Champagne at a wedding and help select the right style for the occasion. Using the correct glassware: whilst trends come and go and flutes have commonly been thought of as the crème de la crème - a tall, rounded, tulip-shaped glass is the perfect choice and expertly shows off your Champagne's aromas and bubbles.
Posted: 8 May 2023
Say ‘I Do’ to a Dry Wedding with Mavrik Alcohol-free Cocktails
With a growing number of people going sober or choosing to moderate their drinking, the traditional wedding 'knees up' may be a thing of the past as today's couples opt for a more sober affair - which everyone can remember! In the past, non-drinkers or designated drivers would be somewhat left out of the celebrations with access to only a sad selection of soft drinks or juices. However, now nearlyweds-to-be are putting as much effort into deciding what alcohol-free drinks to offer as they would apply to sourcing the Champagne for the toasts! Plus, not only are dry weddings a huge money saver, but they also allow guests to enjoy the day with a clear head and leave the event with all those special memories firmly in tact.
Posted: 15 February 2023
How to create a bespoke drinks menu for your wedding
Your wedding should be as personalised, luxurious and enjoyable as possible, and the drinks menu is no exception! Here, Steve King, managing director at the drinks retailer Bottled & Boxed, shows you how to bring together a bespoke drinks menu for your wedding. Organising a wedding is as exciting as it is overwhelming: you'll want your day to be as special as possible, and the drinks menu is no exception to this. It's becoming more and more popular to create your own personalised drinks, with Google searches for 'bespoke drinks menu' increasing 10% since the beginning of 2022.
Posted: 8 February 2023
Introducing online bottle shop, Cave Bristol
Introducing Cave Bristol, founded by hospitality veteran and wine specialist Martin Hagen, it's an online bottle shop specialising in selling a carefully-curated selection of small producer- led, organic, biodynamic and low-intervention wines, mixed discovery cases, premium store cupboard essentials and spirits.
Cave Bristol on Gloucester Road opened two weeks before the first lockdown in 2020, but plans quickly had to pivot. Martin kept the store open, operating under government guidelines, but acted quickly to take the concept online. The online store launched soon after with great success offering a selection of properly sourced wines, local cheese and provisions unlike any available elsewhere in the city. Orders were, and still are, delivered by bike in Bristol using zero-carbon.
Posted: 26 January 2023
How low can you go when it comes to alcohol for summer weddings
With a bumper wedding season ahead in the UK this summer, make sure you cater for all your guests' needs and be sure to offer delicious no and low alcohol options at drinks wedding celebrations. With a range of great wine, cocktail or gin alternatives to stock up on this summer for the designated drivers and sober curious, there's something for all taste buds leaving guests happy, refreshed and clear-headed the next day - hallelujah to that!
Posted: 3 August 2022
