wales

Our editor Victoria Galligan headed off to Wales for a fairytale weekend where guests are treated like royalty…

If your idea of getting married involves images of a handsome prince sweeping you off your feet to a traditional countryside wedding, where the views are breathtaking and the building is steeped in history, then Caer Rhun Hall can make your dreams come true.* This venue on the banks of the River Conwy is secluded enough to provide a cosy little bubble around your wedding, which only the lucky invited can enter, yet easily accessible for guests – just an hour’s drive from the M6 at Cheshire and a short journey from Conwy. 

Our editor Victoria Galligan checks into a modernised wedding venue with plenty of history behind it…

Nestled in the Welsh countryside, a stone’s throw from the seaside town of Aberystwyth, lies a Georgian manor house with a history as rich as its owners The Powells were in the 1700s.

Thomas Powell and his descendants were Welsh Conservative politicians and military men, and upon his father’s death in 1730 he rebuilt the mansion to the glorious standard it maintains today – although the family had their ups and downs over the years, not least when Thomas died of an “apoplectic fit” on a London street in 1752. The mansion passed from family ownership in 1962 and has been operating as a luxury hotel since 2004.

Hen and stag do’s have come a long way since the days of binge drinking and strippers, with healthy and active hen and stag do’s becoming increasingly more popular. A weekend of debauchery isn’t always everyone’s cup of tea, so with this in mind here is group activity and experiences specialist Fizzbox.coms pick of healthy hen and stag do ideas:

North Wales’ newest luxury wedding venue and accommodation, Caer Rhun Hall, has reopened after undergoing an extensive, multi-million pound refurbishment.

The Grade-II listed building now boasts a lavish event space plus 32 bedrooms in exclusive surroundings. The hotel, a three-storey, late-Victorian mansion with a private house atmosphere, will add further rooms in the grounds, growing to 76 by the end of 2019.

Nestled in the heart of the Conwy Valley, the hotel is surrounded by magnificent countryside, with uninterrupted views of the mountains of North Wales and bordering Snowdonia National Park – yet just 15 minutes from Llandudno Junction railway station for travelling guests.

Choosing a wedding venue is arguably, one of the biggest choices a couple can make when it comes to planning their big day, and the chance of finding one which meets every expectation is a tall order.

Karen James-Watkins of Amgueddfa Cymru - National Museum Wales, shares with us her observations over the last couple of years, reflecting on the notable rise in couples wanting the ability to “build their own” wedding, ensuring their day is unique and personal to them.  

A study conducted by an online voucher code website has found that 44% of couples do not want to have a traditional ‘white wedding*’ with just 20% wanting one.

In addition only one in three people in England and Wales have a religious ceremony**. So we ask; are we seeing the end of traditional weddings?

Are we seeing an end to the traditional White Wedding in the UK? According to research, just 1 in 5 couples want to have a formal wedding, something that is traditional. In addition 30% of couples would rather get married in a hotel compared to just 9% who would opt for a church service.

An extensive restoration project lasting six months has transformed a fading Georgian country family home in Powys into Wales' newest, exclusive wedding venue. 

In excess of 500 people visited the official launch weekend, which proved a great success for all involved. The beautiful sunshine and live music added to the magical atmosphere for visitors to soak up as they wandered through the grounds. Visitors could see firsthand the work done to-date and the exciting future plans for the walled garden.

Love Habibi have researched and found the weirdest and most unusual dating rituals from around the world, from placing apples under your armpits to making wooden spoons for your new date...

Austria

In 19th Century Austria, women used to plant slices of apple under their bare armpits at social gatherings. Should a man take their fancy, they would remove the apple in order to present him with it - fruity!

Ireland