Your Devon and Cornwall Wedding news and ideas from around the area

Adam Handling MBE’s The Tartan Fox launches masterclass series with head chef Andi Tuck

Ever wondered how to roll and trim a ewe? Master a chicken terrine? Grill the perfect lobster? Guests will be welcomed at The Tartan Fox, chef Adam Handling MBE's luxury pub located in the picturesque countryside between Truro and Newquay, for a series of themed masterclasses in which they can learn how to butcher and cook dishes just like those found in the pub itself. Head chef Andi Tuck will be hosting the events, the first three of which will be focused on lamb (on the 29th of May 2025), seafood (on the 26th of June 2025) and chicken (on the 24th of July 2025).

Everything you need to know about pre-nups

While pre-nups were once seen as only for the wealthy, they are becoming increasingly popular as a way to provide financial clarity and peace of mind, especially if you are a business owner, have inheritance or assets acquired prior to the marriage. In my view, prenuptial agreements should be seen like car or wedding insurance, arranged in the event that something should happen, but not with the expectation that it is needed.

Couples seek help with their Wedding Checklist

With the average 2025 wedding costing £20,822, it's understandable that couples are feeling the pressure to ensure their special day runs smoothly. Wedding costs have more than doubled since the pandemic and with higher budgets often comes increased planning and the need for checklists. Last year "wedding checklist" received 6,600 average monthly searches online as UK couples turned to Google for guidance, to make sure nothing was missed. As your 2025 wedding day approaches and the big elements are secured, from venue and dress to guest list, there will still be a number of important details to manage in those final weeks.

The Wave Project Newquay Shop Reopens

The Wave Project is thrilled to announce the grand reopening of its Newquay-based shop this week following a major refurbishment that will allow the team to expand their pre-loved Wetsuit Scheme. Thanks to the generosity of their partners, especially the Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly Good Growth Programme and SUEZ, the space has been transformed to tackle neoprene waste while supporting young people's mental health through Surf Therapy. All profits from the shop directly fund the charity's life-changing Surf Therapy programmes, which help children and young people build confidence, resilience and improved mental wellbeing through the power of the ocean and other blue spaces.

Devon's Tavistock Town Hall offers iconic wedding venue

Devon's Tavistock Town Hall, located in Bedford Square, is an iconic venue offering exclusive use of its facilities for weddings and events. The historic stone building boasts elegant Gothic windows and dark wood panelling, perfect for year-round weddings, and the venue provides an extremely flexible space for couples to style to suit their big-day theme, plus there's seating for up to 190 guests or 400 loved ones standing. There's a large staging area for wedding entertainment and performances from live bands and musicians, plus up-to-date kitchen facilities including the use of crockery and cutlery available for any catering supplier of the couple's choice.

From smart invites to livestreams: the tech-savvy wedding trends of 2025

Like the tides of fashion, wedding trends come and go; however, the coming online age of nuptials is coming in fast and causing quite the wave. From AI-generated floor layouts and digital invites, modern couples are finding new ways of broadcasting their love. Here are some of the biggest trends in technology that will shape weddings in 2025, and how the industry is adapting to meet couples' expectations.

Spring into Easter with PoB Hotels at The Headland Hotel

Spring into Easter with PoB Hotels' Seasonal Escapes at The Headland Hotel & Spa in Newquay, Cornwall. Uncover an extraordinary spring sanctuary at this delightful property where Cornwall's dramatic coastline becomes a haven of rejuvenation. This retreat offers a two-night experience that blends natural wonder with luxurious comfort. Direct access to the Southwest Coast Path invites guests to explore clifftop walks and golden beaches, with each step revealing the beauty of Cornwall's seascape. The journey includes a sumptuous breakfast, dinner at RenMor restaurant showcasing local culinary excellence, and a restorative spa treatment that promises complete relaxation. Whether wandering windswept coastal trails or unwinding in beautifully appointed rooms and cottages, The Headland offers an immersive escape that celebrates the untamed spirit of spring by the sea.

David Alpert named British Underwater Photographer of the Year 2025 with photo from Lundy Island

David Alpert is named British Underwater Photographer of the Year 2025 with 'The Curious Seal' photo from Lundy Island in North Devon, a remote and unique spot for honeymooners to explore. The award-winning underwater and wildlife photographer and co-founder and managing director of International Institute for Active Ageing (iiaa) has won the highly prestigious title in the global photography contest, which attracted 6750 underwater pictures. Being regularly based in Devon, his image 'The Curious Seal' was taken from Lundy Island and challenges the misconceptions that British waters are murky and lifeless. It was selected from thousands of entries with the international winners announced in an awards ceremony in central London.

Say I Do with Chelsea Peers

Chelsea Peers have made the morning of the wedding even more stylish than before. You and your bridal party can now get ready in soft satin and lace trimmed nightwear, bringing together the joys of wedding morning excitement and the wow factor for your photo album. Why not have your bridesmaids in matching pyjamas? The bridal collection caters to the whole wedding party and would make those getting ready photos all that more special.

Cornish brand Helen Round unveil Mother's Day gift sets

Sustainable Cornish brand Helen Round have unveiled their most sought-after items to create lovely, themed, boxed gifts, perfect for Mother's Day. Beautifully packed in bee tissue paper and protected in a recyclable cardboard box, these sustainable gifts are all made in Cornwall. Three bestsellers include the eco cleansing gift set, £32, which offers three presents in one with a handy bamboo headband, ten soft bamboo make-up pads and a fragrant citrus and sea salt soap packed neatly in a recyclable box. This is a plastic-free, soft and sustainable approach to cleansing. Another bestseller is the brand's linen make-up bag gift set and the eco hair care gift set.

Three cheers for mum!

Mother's Day is fast approaching, and with this comes the worry of buying the right present. Mum does so much, how can we possibly repay her? For many mothers, they'll be sat there thinking they don't want the fuss, maybe just a cup of tea and a lay in. However, it's important we show them that they're worth the extra day of love and affection. The mother of the bride is a special role, and I'm sure one all mums look forward to. The extra support we get from our mums on our wedding day is three-fold, so let's unpack them and remind ourselves why we should be treating them on the 30th of Mach 2025.

Caerhays Estate Weddings launches new, immersive elopement experience

Cornwall has always been a popular destination for couples wanting to marry somewhere magical, and Caerhays Estate Weddings has responded to the rising interest in elopements by launching a new immersive wedding experience at The Vean, a beautifully restored Georgian country house on the estate, which has been tailored specifically for smaller elopement and micro weddings. Jen Polkinghorn, wedding Co-ordinator at Caerhays Estate Weddings, says, "We're noticing increasingly that couples are placing a higher value on privacy, personalisation and breaking away from norms and expectations on their special day, and this is making elopement and micro weddings a more appealing option for many newly engaged couples". Censuswide research conducted for Ginger Ray in 2024 reported that Google searches for Elopement Weddings increased by 83%.

The Most popular Wedding Gifts and Their Impact Post-Wedding

You've received your invitation, you've picked out your outfit, now you just need to select your gift! A simple task that can bring reality crashing in "what on earth can I get them?" Here's Not on the Highstreets most popular wedding gifts, along with expert insights from their exclusive interview with multi-award-winning relationship coach Gemma Nice on how these gifts can strengthen relationships and keep the connection alive long after the wedding day.

Celebrate Mother's Day with the Adam Handling Group at The Tartan Fox

Treat the mother figure in your life to Sunday lunch this Mother's Day with the Adam Handling Collection, at Newquay's The Tartan Fox. There is also a range of gifts on offer for mums, including gift vouchers, Adam's Limited Edition Boxset of cookbooks, and a selection of Adam Handling Own Label English Sparkling Wines. For pre-Mother's Day delivery of these gifts, please order before 26th March and gift vouchers by 23rd March. Nestled in the picturesque countryside between Newquay and Truro is the enchanting Tartan Fox, chef Adam's first Cornish pub venture, which will be serving up a selection of outstanding pub roasts including a half-roast chicken with lemon thyme, hot smoked wagyu sirloin and BBQ cauliflower with beans, capers.

The Ultimate Mother’s Day Gift Guide!

It's time to get our purses out and to spoil mum. Rituals is a luxurious brand that offers gorgeous gifts for affordable prices, which is one of the many reasons why they are a great place to start for Mother's Day. Rituals recognises that maternal love manifests in various forms and can come from unexpected sources, such as a caring neighbour or a trusted babysitter. Rituals' goal is to honour and celebrate all forms of love.

Celebrate Mother's Day at Ugly Butterfly by Adam Handling

Treat the mother figure in your life to a delicious afternoon tea this Mother's Day with the Adam Handling Collection, at Ugly Butterfly in Cornwall. Experience a Cornish dining experience with the wow factor, with seal and dolphin spotting opportunities at this chic seaside restaurant and bar with its floor-to-ceiling windows displaying panoramic views of the coastline. The Mother's Day Afternoon Tea and tasting menu uses the finest local and seasonal produce. The Afternoon Tea menu is priced at £45pp or £55pp with fizz and includes savouries such as Phillip Warren beef with horseradish and St. Ives smokehouse salmon with cream cheese. Desserts include Victoria sponge cake and Cornish scones with traditional Rodda's clotted cream and homemade jams, alongside eight varieties of local Tregothnan teas.

Quality Over Quantity: The Surge of Micro Weddings

The modern couple are ditching large lavish weddings and choosing a more intimate affair. A micro wedding is a wedding that has less than 50 guests and focuses more on the meaningfulness of the day rather than the spectacle. Diamonds Factory Ireland with expert wedding planner Akilah Atiba-Davies from With Akilah & Co, unpacks the surge of this trend and why more couples are leaning towards smaller events.

Make Mother’s Day extra sweet with a gift from Devon-based Flapjackery

This Mother's Day, Flapjackery, the artisan bakery located on the edge of Dartmoor, is helping people celebrate the incredible mums and mother figures in their lives with a gift that's as thoughtful, indulgent, and utterly delicious as they are. Known for their luxurious, gluten-free flapjacks and sweet treats, all handmade with love in Devon, Flapjackery is the go-to destination for a truly special Mother's Day gift. These aren't your average flapjacks. Flapjackery's creations are thick, buttery, and packed with British oats, each one handmade and bursting with deliciously decadent flavours whether the mother figure in your life loves rich chocolate, fruity bursts, or classic combinations.

Shetland Ponies To Steal the Show at Exeter Racecourse’s Family Raceday

Exeter Racecourse is set to host a day of action-packed family fun on Sunday 23 March as the pint-sized powerhouses of the equine world - Shetland ponies - take centre stage. These spirited little racers, born and bred in the rugged landscapes of the Shetland and Orkney Isles, are a true testament to their ancient heritage. Shetland ponies are one of the oldest and purest breeds in the world, dating back over 2000 years and they will steal the show as they storm up Haldon Hill in front of a packed grandstand. Twelve of these ponies will thunder down the home straight, ridden by future champion jockeys aged between eight and 13.

How to avoid overspending on your wedding budget

It is a special time for you and your partner, planning the perfect event to celebrate your love with friends and family. However, it can often become stressful as people try to fit such a big event into their budgets. With the average wedding for 2025 coming to a total of £20,822, getting everything from drinks to décor can be a chore. Lake District Country Hotels, providers of wedding venues in the Lake District, pair with James Beckett, financial coach and founder of MoneyStocker.com, to help you budget your way to your big day.