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

We spoke to Tannith Perry from Easton Social Dancing about the company

Easton Social Dancing offers a free, zero obligation, 45-minute wedding dance consultation. Keen to know more, we chatted to experienced teacher Tannith Perry...We'll discuss the various things you need to consider: music, style of dance, how your dress could impact your dance, the venue and more. Then, based on these factors we'll start learning one or more styles of dance.

There are many different approaches to the first dance. Some of my past clients wanted to wow their guests by performing a choreographed routine, others wanted the ability to dance to their favourite song with a simple grace and ease. Learning some basic patterns and lead and follow techniques takes a huge amount of stress off of both partners so you can enjoy your special moment without anxiety as well as leaving a lasting impression on your family and friends.

UK wedding catering trends 2023

Restaurant Associates reveals new data shows a definitive shift in style and substance at UK weddings post-Covid. Now that the dust has settled, and government mandated guest list limits are all but a thing of the past, the UK wedding scene has seen a definitive shift. New data from Restaurant Associates shows a preference to an informal style, plant-forward menus and reception only guests - so what does a 'normal' wedding look like, post-covid?

Little Quarme is located in the heart of Exmoor National Park

Little Quarme is located in the heart of Exmoor National Park and boasts spectacular views from the outdoor wedding gazebo. The grounds too are particularly photogenic with their ornamental lily pond. The giant barbecue, indoor barn and six cosy cottages ready to sleep 22 guests are ready and waiting for you too. There's also a sheltered and fairly flat camping lawn, which can host up to seven tents on the night of the wedding.

The venue offers exclusive use with the freedom and flexibility to design your perfect wedding day. There are no packages as every big day is bespoke – DIY or organised. Many previous couples have been looking for a relaxed and informal day; some embrace the festival vibe with fi re pits, flags and florals; others go vintage with retro props and styling. The choice is yours!

Wedding favours that make a difference

Parkinson's UK has launched a new collection of wedding and celebration favours and place cards, meaning couples can rest assured with their ethical wedding choices. From old favourites to stunning new designs, there's something for everyone, and even better, with every purchase they're helping someone living with Parkinson's and their family, friends and carers. Parkinson's is the fastest-growing neurological condition in the world, and currently there is no cure. It affects around 145,000 people in the UK and every hour two more people are diagnosed with more than 40 symptoms, from tremor and pain to anxiety.

How to announce your wedding and involve your WIPs (Wedding Important People)

There are various levels of Wedding Important People (WIPs), which Rachel from The Wedding Party (TWP) says should govern how you tell them. "Significant WIPs, such as parents or guardians, should be face-to-face wherever possible. Getting families together to announce can kill two birds with one stone, but if your families have not met yet this can produce more nerves. If there are likely to be any reservations, then perhaps speak to your WIPs separately to allow for this. In the same breath, if parents are separated (yours or your partners), arrange to visit them separately but on the same day if possible. Finally, remember that using the video software available to you can ensure that you do this face-to-face no matter the circumstances.

As Bristol marks its 650th anniversary of becoming a city, we've rounded up some events to look out for

As Bristol marks its 650th anniversary of becoming a city and county in 2023 with major celebrations in the pipeline, this year sees a whole host of vibrant, world-renowned festivals and events. Here are some of our highlights to look out for: We the Curious science museum and wedding venue was forced to close in April 2022 following a devastating fire on its roof. Repairs to resulting water damage are under way and the plan is to reopen in 2023. Brimming with exhibits to inspire and home to the UK's only 3D planetarium, this is the place to ask questions and get creative.

How to manage financial anxiety when planning a wedding

Anita Naik, Savings Expert at VoucherCodes.co.uk, provides her top tips on how to manage financial anxiety when planning a wedding: "Understanding and managing your finances is never an easy task at the best of the times, however, throwing in a big goal, such as saving for a wedding, can lead to feelings of stress and anxiety. Wedding planning should be fun, not daunting, therefore this Stress Awareness Month, I've pulled together my top tips to help reduce financial anxiety and make the process as enjoyable as possible.

The Roman Baths & Pump Room is located at the heart of a World Heritage Site

Located at the heart of the World Heritage Site, the Roman Baths & Pump Room is without doubt one of the most distinctive buildings in the country. The award-winning complex is steeped in history, with its origins dating back 2,000 years. The hot baths, which yield around 1,200,000 litres of water daily at a constant 46 degrees are surrounded by the original ancient paving and it's here that sunrise and sunset ceremonies take place, overlooked by the beautiful Bath Abbey.

The Great Bath area is part of the vast ancient monument; while the adjoining Georgian Pump Room, an elegant building with tall windows and Corinthian columns, frequented by Jane Austen, is accessed from the Abbey churchyard.

The number one cause of wedding planning stress and how to reduce it!

What causes stress in wedding planning is something that is individual to each couple, but where does it mainly come from? Friends? Family? Finances? "A staggering 92% of our couples planning a wedding are feeling the pressure financially and it is causing overwhelm", says Rachel Allen, the CEO of The Wedding Party (TWP)." This was the reason that Rachel formulated The Overwhelm Button® to help couples to get good support. Rachel continues, "Being stressed over finances can take several different forms, the main three being as follows...

The Holcombe is a beautiful new wedding reception venue

Located in the heart of Somerset, just 30 minutes from Bath, The Holcombe is a beautiful new wedding reception venue, overlooking rolling countryside. The 17th-century restaurant with 11 contemporary guest rooms is set on the highest point of a small parish in the north east of the Mendip Hills with views across to Downside Abbey.

Hiring The Holcombe for a wedding celebration includes exclusive use of all 11 bedrooms, the bar, restaurant, snug and grounds – including the gorgeous new Mediterranean garden. The venue is now taking bookings for 2023 and offers a blank canvas for couples looking to tailor their special day from scratch.

Sustainable wedding table ideas from LIGA

Known for their love of nature's wonder material - cork, LIGA's sustainable tableware collections are a stylish and unique wedding dining-setting choice. With their extensive collection of placemats, coasters, trays and candle holders, all made from eco-frendly and recycled materials, LIGA create clean and contemporary pieces, bringing a naturally beautiful element to the tablescape. Each with a unique grain and pattern, the organic cork selected by LIGA is lightweight and soft to touch, a wonderful raw material which is naturally water resistant and easy to clean. Sourced from the Montado Forests in Portugal, LIGA's cork is hand harvested using age-old skills without damaging the trees or the delicate eco-systems which thrive in the forests. Once cork has been made into a LIGA product it continues to absorb CO2, so a living and breathing piece of homeware.

St Audries Park is a hidden gem near the glorious Somerset coastline

St Audries Park is a hidden gem nestled between the rolling Quantock Hills and the glorious Somerset coastline. An elegant retreat for those those wanting to tie the knot in Somerset, there's a 100-acre deer park enveloping the grounds, breath-taking views and well-manicured gardens maintained all year round. The panoramic views stretch as far as the Bristol Channel.

This exclusive-use wedding venue boasts a rich history, which is evident as you walk around, with a winding driveway that leads to the dramatic Gothic entrance. Inside, you'll fi nd an imposing feature fi replace, ornate solid-oak, hand-carved dining table, a gilded drawing room with baby grand piano and ornate ceiling.

Team Hen's new Jelly Bag has landed

Meet the jelly bag that every bride tribe wants their hen party favours to arrive in 2023. Landing in three gram-worthy hues (off-white for the bride, dusky pink for the bridesmaids and maid-of-honour and pink for the hens). These reusable beauties are perfect for filling with Team Hen's latest array of coveted hen party favours and gifts whilst flaunting a cool, retro vibe. Plus, each comes tied with a matching ribbon, professionally printed in a luxe puffed design to create a slightly raised font effect. Not only are they the gift that keeps on giving (post-hen recipients can use them from beach to bar) but at £3.99 they're a steal!

Bailbrook House in Bath has announced the 2023 prices for its Royal Package

The wonderful Bailbrook House in Bath has announced the 2023 prices for its Royal Package. It promises an occasion like no other, with every part of your wedding held at the beautiful, historical mansion house.

The package includes a wedding suite on the night of the wedding plus 12 bedrooms for your guests, a dedicated wedding coordinator, a master of ceremonies, two arrival reception drinks per person following the "I dos," six canapés per person during the reception drinks, five course wedding breakfast in the Cloisters Restaurant, half a bottle of house wine per person or the equivalent value towards a wine of your choosing, a glass of champagne per person to toast, and evening food served to a private lounge.

Quantock Lakes is an exclusive-use barn wedding venue in Somerset

Quantock Lakes is an exclusive-use barn wedding venue in Somerset, hidden on a 200-acre farm in Nether Stowey close to the Quantock Hills. A family-run, multi award-winning venue with accommodation like no other, it offers a wonderful location for your dream wedding.

As you drive down the tree-lined driveway, you start to feel a whole world away from the hustle and bustle of normal life. Arrive, relax and celebrate with loved ones and take the time over two nights to see everyone who's important to you.

Involving your family pet on the big day? Check out this personalised offering

Involving your four-legged friend on your wedding day? Are they taking a staring role walking down the aisle? If so, then you have to take a look at these smart and stylish personalised leather dog ring bearer pouches (£24) from Create Gift Love. Create Gift Love design and make personalised keepsake gifts and accessories to celebrate all of life's special moments, all handmade to order in its UK workshop from sustainable natural materials.

Angel’s Kitchen recently took part in a Food Network competition

Did you catch Kerry from Cheddar-based Angel's Kitchen on TV recently? She went over to Canada to take part in a Food Network competition, which involved building a 5ft by 4ft cake with dynamic moving elements. She competed with two other talented cake makers from the South West, Dusica Roberts and Verity Malinowska. To see how she and her team got on, head over to www.itv.com for the ITVx player and search: The Big Bake. The episode you're looking for is number seven, Bone Appetit.

The most popular 2023 trends according to Pinterest

To provide insight on the most popular wedding trends for spring 2023, the experts at Aura Print compiled a list of 25 popular trends after scouring Pinterest to discover the number of Pins for each. And here are the top 15 most popular spring 2023 wedding trends to be insipired by...First place for the most popular wedding trend for spring 2023 goes to the floral-themed trend. This trend had 22,148 Pins on the image sharing platform. It can include things like floral arches, flower-themed cakes or flower crowns. With a total of 11,765 Pins, the blue-themed wedding trend places second in the study. The trend also appeared on 116 Pinterest boards from 2022 onwards, cementing its popularity for the upcoming season. What is more, there's been a great interest in navy blue wedding invites, which had a whopping 16,725 Pins.

Crowcombe Court is a Grade I listed squire’s mansion located in Crowcombe

Crowcombe Court is a Grade I listed squire's mansion located in the village of Crowcombe, around eight miles west of Taunton. The magnificent English Baroque-style house was built in the 1730s from beautiful amber-coloured bricks with Bath stone for the pilasters and frontispiece. Set in the foothills of the Quantock Hills, the beautiful grounds boast many a stunning photographic backdrop from the lake to the croquet lawn. There's also a wild woodland and guests are welcome to explore throughout the wedding celebrations.

Fancy a big-day cocktail bar? Check out Whitebox Cocktails

Whitebox Cocktails, the ready-to-serve cocktail specialists, have everything you need to create the ultimate in wedding cocktail offering. From classic cocktails like the Pocket Negroni and Squeezy's Margarita, to unique and refreshing long drinks like Hippy Fizz and Disco Baby, take the hassle out of the perfect pour on your big day with a wide range of ready-to-serve cocktails to suit every taste. Expertly mixed by the award-winning team of bartenders, Whitebox Cocktails' convenient single-serve cans mean there's no need to limit your cocktail menu, as there's no mixing, no mess and no long wait at the bar. For casual weddings, cocktails can be served in ice buckets for guests to help themselves and enjoy straight from the can. Alternately, for a more elevated occasion, simply chill and serve the cocktail in a glass with ice and a garnish of choice.