Review

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. 

Vows & Venues editor Victoria Galligan headed off to Leeds to review a wedding venue but soon felt she was holidaying on the Med…

If you live in or around Leeds you’ll know what a bustling, vibrant and cultural city it is. For shopping, meals and a good night out, it’s the perfect location. Situated just outside the thriving city, close to the M1 and easily accessible from the north, lies Thorpe Park hotel – and it’s here where the pace of life slows down a little.

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.

Here at Vows and Venues we were lucky enough to review a pair of Havaianas You Riviera Crystal sandals. We know that wearing them killer heals at a wedding can really start to hurt your feet, for both bride and guest when you’ve been stood up for most of the day. Which is why we think Havaianas sandals are a good solution to ease the pain heals can cause. 

Feel stunning with Havaianas sandals without the strain on your feet. 

Natalie from Vows and Venues had this to say about the Havaianas sandals:

Roomzzz Aparthotels are situated in two fantastic locations right in the heart of Manchester ideal for stag or hen party weekends, says Vows & Venues' Wendy Allen-Smith. Read on for her review…

We travelled by train and stayed at the Manchester Corn Exchange, which is located close to Manchester Victoria train station, for an overnight break to wine and dine in the city.

If you’re looking to get fit whilst preparing for your wedding, and you also own a pup, then read the review below on the wonderful PitPat. 

I’ve been lucky enough to get my hands on a product that I never even knew existed until now. The Pitpat is a health monitor for your pup, which tracks how much exercise they’re getting each day, giving owners and their dogs a chance to win prizes with the points they collect. It’s a great way to make sure you and your dog are staying fit and healthy. If you're struggling to find that perfect thing to kick off your fitness routine in preparation for your wedding, then this is the perfect way to start it off.

Planning for your big day can take a lot of work, from the guest list to the dress. There are lots of things to remember and some days your going to be in a rush to get out the door for the next appointment and you don’t want to be spending those precious extra minutes to dry your hair.

Vows and Venues have been lucky enough to be able to try a new product to the market PowerDry.ME, that is said to cut the time it takes to dry your hair to half the time. I wondered whether it was too good to be true? 

If you’re planning a smaller ceremony or vow renewal, this quaint Cheshire venue is a great choice. Victoria Galligan visited The Bridge Prestbury and found the 16th-century venue may have changed over the years, but its tradition of offering excellent service and quality ingredients is far from outdated…

Couples planning an intimate ceremony with a carefully selected guest list will love The Bridge in Prestbury. Situated in the centre of the charmingly antiquated village which is renowned for its famous inhabitants, you can expect to see the likes of sporting favourites Andrew Flintoff or Wayne Rooney running their weekend errands in this delightful part of the country.

All rise for the Courthouse – a converted public building in Knutsford which is as unique as it is charming. Our editor Victoria Galligan stayed at the wedding venue and did not feel “guilty” about indulging in a four-course feast. Read her review here…

It’s hard to believe when sitting in the restaurant at The Courthouse that as recently as 2010, the judge was banging the gavel and the defendants were being grilled in the dock. The court lay empty until Flat Cap Hotels restored it and it was relaunched as a venue in summer 2017. Thanks to a sensitively planned refurb, the original fixtures and fittings you’d expect to see in a courtroom are still there and give you the feeling you’re right in the middle of a courtroom drama.

Veganism. Whether you love it, or hate it, becoming vegan is very popular right now. Food brands all over the world are adding more and more vegan products to their ranges and Vegan weddings are becoming the norm. We all know that the food you serve at your wedding is extremely important, so if you’re opting for a vegan menu why not also opt for vegan wine?

Proudly Vegan are on a mission to prove that delicious wine doesn’t require any animal products, and that wine can be accessible to everyone no matter what their dietry preferences. 

The staff at Vows & Venues were recently given the fantastic opportunity to try some of the new Proudly Vegan wine range, and we were really impressed! 

Proudly Vegan currently have three wines available: 

Vows & Venues' managing editor Emma Hatherall took a trip to historic Chester for a relaxing spa weekend in a romantic setting. Read her review here…

Crabwall Manor is located a short taxi ride from the historic city of Chester and has a lot to offer whether you're looking for a wedding venue, a hen do or even just a chilled out spa weekend. Set in Mollington, it’s a stone's throw from all that Chester has to offer – the shopping, the horse racing, the history – Crabwall Manor still has that lovely country house feel to it. I took my Mum for an overnight spa break and we loved it

A hotel and golf club which offers choice and flexibility against a stunning countryside backdrop – what more could you want in a venue? Our editor Victoria Galligan stayed the night to experience the relaxing vibe at Wychwood Park…

Imagine getting married in lush green surroundings, with the rolling countryside peering up above the sprawling golf course in front of you and your guests as you gather in the sun on a beautiful veranda. You’d be forgiven for thinking you were in Florida at one of Tiger Woods’s old haunts – but this is the reality of a wedding at Wychwood Park Hotel & Golf Club, right here in the north west of England.  

Hotel review: Macdonald Leeming House, Ullswater, Penrith – by Editor Victoria Galligan

If, like me, you live relatively close to the Lake District but don’t get the chance to visit often, then stop. Drop everything. And go! As we drove up through Cumbria and along the winding roads approaching Ullswater, I was reminded of previous visits filled with pottering around lakesides, visiting tea shops and feasting in country pubs. I also found myself wondering why we don’t visit more often.

Macdonald Hotels invited Vows & Venues to review one of their prime wedding venues, which has seen a surge in wedding bookings over the last year. The luxury four-star Linden Hall is one of the North East’s most prestigious country house wedding destinations, catering for weddings with up to 200 guests in idyllic countryside surroundings. Here’s how our journalist Victoria Galligan found her stay and why she thinks it's ideal for a winter wedding...

The last thing you need after a hard morning's dressing, stressing in hair & make-up, pledging your love for another in front of everyone you know, eating, drinking and generally being centre of attention is a stinky whiff following you around the room like, well, a bad smell. 

So if you're looking for a great scent which won't let you down on the biggest day of your life, read this product review by Vows and Venues' Rachel Morton…

Here at Vows and Venues we were lucky enough to try this fragrance.

If you are looking for a great gift for your bridesmaids or a fragrance for yourself for that special day, then look no further than Jo Malone Peony and Suede Blush.