Your Bristol and Somerset Wedding news and ideas from around the county

The Botanist in Bath unveils summer menu packed with vegan options

Award-winning bar and restaurant The Botanist in Bath has announced its offering for the summer season with a new food and drink menu. You can expect fresh seasonal flavours, lighter and brighter dishes, reviving botany-inspired cocktails as well as major updates to its signature (and fan favourite) hanging kebabs. What's more, vegetarian and vegan diners can choose from a growing menu of options, with almost half (46%) of dishes being vegetarian and a third (30%) now suitable for vegan diners. Options include the vegan meatball kebab roasted with marinara sauce, katsu curry with coconut rice and pickled ginger, and the roast cauliflower and onion bhaji burger, complete with mango sauce and mint raita.

Pinterest’s wedding trends we love this summer

Wedding supply experts at Aura Print have served up the top 10 summer wedding trends we need to know about, as loved by Pinterest. From disco balls, to Barbie-core, upcycling to anti-bridal - get ready to see these wedding trends everywhere! You can never have too much sparkle at your wedding, and we love the playful, retro feel to it. The trend started to pick up steam in 2020, when glitter balls and 80s playlists became a great DIY option to add some retro-meets-modern fabulousness to the big day. The trend is going nowhere this summer, with over 32k Pinterest pins and a 7400% global increase in searches since January. So get your groove on and be ready to dance the night away!

Save Your Spending as a Wedding Guest!

Weddings are one of the most joyous occasions to attend, however the cost of simply being a guest can add up quickly. Here are NetVoucherCodes' top tips to save money when attending a wedding.

Here’s how to include your dog in your big day

Wedding days are often filled with celebrations with the ones you love the most, so it's understandable that for many people it simply wouldn't feel right to celebrate their special day without their faithful furry companion. "From a 'dog of honour' to a ring bearer, the possibilities of including your pet at your wedding are endless," explains PDSA Vet Nurse Nina Downing. "While bringing your dog along to your wedding can be rewarding, it can also add some complexity so there's lots to think about to make it work." Nina has pulled together her top tips and some things to consider before saying yes to involving your pet on your big day!

Walk in the footsteps of Austen at the Bath Assembly Rooms

As the care of the Bath Assembly Rooms returns to the National Trust, visitors can look forward to an exciting programme of events. During the next three years, the Assembly Rooms will remain open as much as possible for visitors while developing the new Georgian experience, currently due to open in 2026. This experience is being developed in partnership with other organisations in the city such as universities, local museums and other institutions across Bath and beyond. The project will create and experience complementary to the existing Georgian offers in the city. Behind-the-scenes tours will be available later in the year, allowing you to see under the skin of this historical building.

7 wedding moments to capture in photos

Wedding photographers will have their own photos they will capture on the day with important ones including the first kiss, first dance and the bride walking down the aisle. However, couples should also have an idea of the kinds of photos they'd like to have and suggest these to their photographer if they haven't discussed them already. Matt Dahan from ParrotPrint.com says, "Your wedding happens once and you want to capture as much as you can so you have some really lovely memories to look back on. As a couple it's always a good idea to sit down with your wedding photographer and talk about how you want your pictures to look and the kinds of images you want captured.

Keep your wedding scheme alive at home

It's no surprise couples often suffer from the wedding blues after their nuptials, but with peak wedding season around the corner, to help those wondering how they can relive their special day, Stephanie King, Colour Expert & Creative Lead at Dulux, is sharing her savvy tips to help. Stephanie says, "Not only will utilising elements from your wedding help you save money when re-decorating, but recreating your wedding theme at home can help couples create a more meaningful space that brings personality and happy memories into the home. Weddings are full of sentimental value, so creating a space which reflects a shared experience and sense of nostalgia will act as a constant reminder of your beautiful moment and love for each other every day."

Say I do with these 5 tips on saving for a wedding

Your wedding is likely to be one of the most important days of your life. While the day itself should be as relaxed as possible, a lot of time, money and effort goes in to making sure that is possible. The cost of living is impacting prices across the board, and wedding suppliers are no exception. For those gearing up for their wedding day, Emma Watson, Head of Financial Planning at Rathbones Group Plc, shares her top tips for anyone putting a budget together for that important day.

Brits are spending nearly £1k attending a friend's hen party!

It's always exciting news when you find out your close friend is getting married, but have you ever stopped to consider how much the wedding is going to cost you? Life insurance broker, Reassured polled 1,500 people to reveal the costs of attending a hen party. To be exact, you'll be out of pocket by nearly £979 for attending the hen party!

Pre-wedding wellbeing

Lovendu was created to help people improve their mental wellbeing and become the best version of themselves. In the lead up to a wedding, it's also important to manage your wellbeing. The brand's new Romanticising Your Life Journal provides daily gratitude reminders, mindfulness activities and motivational quotes, you will be encouraged to live in the present moment and notice the beauty in life. With the Romanticising Your Life Journal, you will have space for 14 weeks of daily journalling- your perfect accompaniment for pre-wedding preparations.

Sweet-scented celebrations

After a wedding, creating a calming atmosphere is important to beginning a new chapter in your lives. A Yankee candle provides the perfect mood for unforgettable moments. The wide range of soft, bright, cool and warm tones fit into any colour scheme, while the hand-drawn illustrations effortlessly enhance a room. There is a candle for each unique taste, whether you like fruity and floral, or earthy and spicy notes, each candle holds a long-lasting scent that can be enjoyed time and time again.

Spabreaks.com reveal 10% discount for all things wedding

Whether it's a hen do, mini moon, wedding gift or honeymoon, there's lots of reasons to visit the spa in and around your wedding day and Spabreaks.com have you covered. Spabreaks.com, Europe's leading spa booking and experience agency, is offering 10% discount on gift vouchers between the 26th and 30th June using code WEDDING. Whether you need some time out from wedding planning or simply want to get away before the big day, Spabreaks.com have a range of bridal spa packages bookable instantly for the perfect pre-wedding pamper.

The Ethicurean reflects the best of British

Set within the rolling hills of the Mendips in the Bristol countryside, the Michelin Green starred The Ethicurean, co-owned by Matthew Pennington and Mark McCabe as head chef is one of the most picturesque and tranquil dining experiences you could hope to find. It's a love letter to nature, the British countryside and the wilds. Here, you can re-connect with your surroundings, as well as encounter new tastes, flavours and textures.

Make way for the Barbie-themed hen party

Following the upcoming release of new movie Barbie, 21st July 2023, featuring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling - match made in Barbie heaven - unsurprisingly it's all about the Barbie hen party theme right now! Step forward, Team Hen, we're talking hot pink accessories as far as the eye can see. Luckily, for all the bride tribes out there looking to nail the trend these bride-worthy accessories and decor details will be an instagram hit channeling the coveted barbie-inspired vibe!

Think pink ring shot glasses, hot pink bride squad t-shirts, handbag-sized lip balms, balloon arch kits and sunglasses-shaped balloons - all Barbie style.

Scarlett Rose Events is an award-winning early success story

Somerset-based event planning and styling business Scarlett Rose Events was one of the final three businesses vying for the title of Start-up of the Year at the Somerset Business Awards 2023 recently. This success recognises the growth of the business, which in the last year has only gone from strength to strength. Founded by Georgina Fisher in April 2021, Scarlett Rose Events was established following 15 years experience gained in the events industry in the UK and Australia. Georgina says, "Starting a business during the pandemic could have been seen as a risky move, but I saw the potential for events to blossom in a new era. I seized the opportunity to bring a fresh perspective to the event scene of rural Somerset, embracing the beautiful scenery to create unique celebrations.

Cakes and gifts for summer wedding season

French pâtissier Ladurée, expert in providing luxury macarons and table favours, has a gorgeous selection of sweet gifts, cakes and macaron towers that would make the most gorgeous addition to any wedding celebration this summer. The story of the Ladurée macaron starts in the middle of the 20th century with Pierre Desfontaines , who had the idea of sticking two macaron shells together and filling them with a delicious ganache. Since then, the recipe remains unchanged.

How to plan your finances for marriage

Wedding season is now in full swing as couples prepare for their big day. For those planning to tie the knot, wedding preparations are not the only things that need careful planning. Taking the right steps to prepare financially for marriage can help to prevent unexpected surprises as couples embark on their new life together. Weddings are magical moments but they also require a level of practicality, to ensure that you get your partnership off to the right start. So, what can couples do to make sure they are perfectly aligned before they say their vows?

The 10 most popular first dance songs for 2023

Over the past year, UK searches for 'first dance songs 2023' have increased by +4,700%, whilst searches for 'fun first dance ideas' have increased by +100% showing that more couples are looking for inspiration. The first dance is likely to be one of the most memorable moments of your wedding, so naturally, newlyweds are determined to pick the most suitable song. A decision needs to be made whether to choose an old classic or maybe the new love song that's currently on the charts.

Pennard House launches new in-house catering services

Pennard House is a family-owned, exclusive-use wedding venue located in a small village near Shepton Mallet in Somerset. The venue boasts a relaxed, family home vibe with 10 comfortable bedrooms, plus large reception and dining rooms to enjoy and make your preparations in. Surrounded by large, lush gardens, the House offers endless photo opportunities and space for drinks receptions. The venue has recently moved all of its catering in-house, meaning all catering from the night-before supper to the wedding breakfast and evening food is provided via the expert team at The Pennard Kitchen.

How to make your wedding day dog-friendly

For many, dogs are considered to be a key member of the family, so when it comes to one of the most important days of a couple's lives, their wedding day, it's only natural that they want their four-legged friends to be involved in the celebrations. That being said, lots of strangers, loud noises and the unfamiliar location of a wedding can prove quite overwhelming for our canine companions, so if you want to include your dog in your big day, there are a couple of things you need to be aware of. Below, Carolyn Menteith, Behaviourist at tails.com has offered her top tips and advice on how to throw the 'paw-fect' wedding that will ensure both humans and dogs remain happy at all times.