Blogs

Rise of the Groom-zilla

• Rise of the groom-zilla, with men more likely to cause havoc at the reception

• Grooms are more likely to resort to extreme weight loss measures than brides

• A third of Brits say losing weight was the most important thing to them before their wedding

Modern grooms are now more likely to display a number of ‘groom-zilla’ behaviours than their future wives. A survey by STRIPPD Lean protein has discovered that modern men are so precious about their big day that they are more likely than their bride to argue with the photographer, fight with their in-laws and re-voke invitations from their guests.

Top 5 Groom-zilla Behaviours –

Perfect Pippa or Bridezilla? How does Pippa Middleton compare to the average British Bride’s behaviour

• Only 1 in 10 agree with Pippa’s ‘no ring, no bring’ rule

• Like Pippa, 25% of recent brides have picked a friend over family as maid of honour or bridesmaid

• A third of brides say losing weight was the most important thing to them before their wedding

• Over a third of women want to lose a stone or more before their big day

Despite coming under much scrutiny for her strict rules at her upcoming wedding this weekend, one in 10 (9.7%) Brits agree with Pippa’s ‘no ring, no bring’ policy, admitting that much like Pippa and Harry’s girlfriend Meghan, they have denied a close friend or family member’s other half an invite to their wedding if they weren’t married.

Vows and Venues: 5 hen party styling tips

In the run-up to the big day, there’s nothing more exciting than getting all the girls together to celebrate your last days of singledom. In recent years, hen parties have become almost as beautiful as the big day itself. Here, Bubblegum Balloons (creators of party perfect décor) share their top tips for making your hen do POP!

Add personality to your venue

Say “I do” overlooking Santorini’s iconic Caldera at this spectacular retreat

EROSANTORINI sits perched on the volcanic cliffs of Santorini overlooking the tranquil Aegean Sea. The two-acre exclusive-use retreat is a calm oasis rarely found on the island that can host enchanting weddings for up to 800 cocktail guests or 350 seated guests, with room for dancing, live music and more among the expansive grounds. Open year-round, it eloquently combines the luxuries of a hotel with a unique home from home feel, hosting bespoke weddings that range from intimate soirees to exquisite banquets.

The premium and contemporary Scottish gin, Caorunn

The premium and contemporary Scottish gin, Caorunn (pronounced ‘ka-roon’) has enlisted the expertise of Masterchef finalist Stacie Stewart to create four tonics that balance perfectly with the refreshing taste of Caorunn gin.

The refreshingly tonics have been inspired by Caorunn’s locally-foraged Celtic botanicals.Harnessing Scotland’s unique natural resources, Gin master Simon Buley forages the botanicals from the hills surrounding the breath-taking setting of Balmenach Distillery in the Cairngorms National Park. Each of the four tonics have been designed exclusively by Stacie who has a passion for using raw, natural ingredients. The home-made ingredients are bursting with health benefits without compromising on taste.

Engagement Etiquette: How to send your congratulations to the happy couple!

Get the basics out of the way first

In any engagement card, you have to remember the reason that you were writing it in the first place, to congratulate your loved one on their recent engagement! Say congratulations first, something simple that gets the message across as to why they are receiving this correspondence.

Make things personal

Hallmark hotel Flitwick Manor launches its ‘flit-nic royal-tea’

Arriving at the Hallmark Hotel Flitwick Manor as newly appointed General Manager, and inspired by the hotel’s picturesque countryside setting, Thomas Burford is delighted to announce the launch of an alfresco twist on the English classic, as the hotel launches its ‘Flit-nic Royal-Tea,’ just in time for summer picnic season and hen summer getaways.

Top tips for planning a honeymoon cruise – what to know before you book!

As such a significant event, a wedding can be stressful to plan, which is why the honeymoon should offer the optimum opportunity to relax, decompress and celebrate your new marriage.

So, what better way to honeymoon than a cruise? After all, what other type of holiday enables you to unpack only once, but wake up in a brand new beautiful destination each day?

CruiseCritic.co.uk, the world’s largest cruise reviews, and planning site (TripAdvisor’s cruise site) shares this advice on planning a honeymoon cruise to remember.

Considerations before you start:

· Travel dates - do your dates coincide with any events, such as school holidays?

Wedding catering from Jimmy Garcia

Jimmy Garcia is a name associated with original, sell-out London pop-ups from the capitals own ski-chalet restaurant The Lodge to the brand new river-side, rooftop BBQ Club coming to the Southbank this summer. Jimmy works on making experiences dynamic but creating delicious food using the finest seasonal ingredients. Couples can bring this innovative dining experience to their wedding guests with JimmyGarcia Catering.

Top 10 wedding venues in Wiltshire

Wiltshire’s one of the most romantic places to tie the knot as it continues to stand the test of time with its never-ending story of its ancient landscape. Why not whisk your partner off in a classic car from Vintage Classics and travel in style through the beautiful Wiltshire countryside including the village of Lover in the New Forest National Park?

So perhaps it’s time for you to write your own chapter and consider VisitWiltshire’s top 10 wedding venues for your special day.

Wedding Venues under £5,000

1. The Bear Hotel, Devizes