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

The therapeutic power of music on Mental Health Awareness Day

The issue of mental health has never been more important, three in five people in the UK suffer from some form of anxiety, but almost half of those people keep it a secret as they worry about being judged by others. And around one in six of the British population also suffers from moderate to severe depressive symptoms. Those shocking statistics show that the issue is still not spoken about enough, which means that sufferers feel excluded. But music can make a big difference! Making or playing music has been proven to deliver many mental health benefits.

Make the most of October half term at Bedruthan in Cornwall

With just a couple of weeks to go until the October half term, it's not too late to book a family getaway and take a well-earned holiday in Cornwall. Escape to the coastal Bedruthan Hotel & Spa for a crafting getaway that caters for all the family. Bedruthan Hotel & Spa's new Family Crafting Break includes experiences for parents and kids, with a surprise gift for each child under nine years on arrival. Crafting workshops at Bedruthan's on-site creative space Create Cornwall include everything from Indigo Dye lessons to Lino Printing, Creative Paper Marbling and Scallop Shell Decoupage. Food and beverages are included, with fresh pastries available each morning from the hotel's artisan bakery and a three-course menu served each evening in the child-friendly Wild Café. The package includes the use of Bedruthan's spa facilities (sea-view hydro pool, sauna, steam room, indoor and outdoor pool) and access to well-being classes for parents who need a moment of zen.

UK's 15 most Instagrammed venues to get hitched

As UK searches for "wedding venues" skyrocketed by 110%* over the past months, the wedding experts at Aura Print scoured social media for the most popular autumn/winter wedding venues nationwide, and tallied Instagram hashtag numbers to reveal which venue stands out as the most memorable for weddings this season. Top 15 most Instagrammed wedding venues for autumn/winter 2023 to be inspired by...

Save money on wedding party gifts

With more and more couples choosing to thank their bridesmaids and groomsman with presents, Anita Naik, savings expert at the UK's most trusted savings site VoucherCodes.co.uk, has some great tips on how to save money on your wedding party gifts, without sparing the sentiment: Spend within your budget: Set a budget and stick to it. Often people can go down a rabbit hole when browsing for gifts, looking at items that are way over budget. It's important to set yourself a strict budget and spend an amount that you're comfortable with.

Spooky Newquay set to transform this half term for Halloween

With summer festivals and beach days already a distant memory, the team behind Love Newquay, a part of Newquay Business Improvement District (BID), have announced that the holiday resort will be THE place for the whole family to visit this coming October half-term. Over the past few years, Halloween lovers have made their way to the Cornish destination for the crazy Zombie Crawl. For 2023, the Love Newquay team have crafted a week-long itinerary across the town. The Headland Hotel, a grand yet imposing Victorian building that looks proudly over the north Cornish coast, returns to its former situation as the home of The Witches. The hotel became the location for the 1990 film adaptation of the classic novel written in 1983 by children's author Roald Dahl.

St Michaels Resort sponsors Falmouth Oyster Festival for its 25th anniversary

Proudly Cornish in its aesthetic and outlook, St Michaels Resort, Falmouth is delighted to support exciting local festivals and events this autumn, encouraging off-season travel to Falmouth for visitors keen to experience the charming region, away from the summer crowds. Falmouth Oyster Festival is back for its 25th year, and as long-term advocates of this local gourmet event, the St Michaels Resort is supporting as the lead sponsor for 2023. The hotel's AA Rosette-awarded hotel restaurant, Brasserie on the Bay, boasts a menu using the premium Cornish seafood and as the principal sponsor at this year's Falmouth Oyster Festival, the resort will be running its own Seafood and Champagne Bar over the course of the event, offering a blend of brasserie and street food-style dishes, showcasing locally sourced crab, squid and oysters.

County Wedding Magazines launch new websites!

Here at County Wedding Magazines HQ the office is abuzz with excitement at the launch of our new websites – I'm sure you can hear the *collective oohs and ahhs* from where you are! So yes, it's here, after months of hard work, sweat and tears (maybe less tears but more cheers!), our shiny, new, glorious websites are ready to be viewed by our much-loved readers – we really hope you like them as much as we do! Wedding planning at your fingertips - What's new, we hear you ask? Well, everything! The County names are as important as ever, it's our ethos after all, but we have a lush new font and modern colour scheme that really makes our County Wedding Magazine titles jump off the page.

The best of English sparkling wine, with Amelia Singer this National Champagne Week (1-7th October)

There's the New World of wine, and then the New New World: English Sparkling Wine is on the rise. This National Champagne Week, wine expert, Amelia Singer selects her favourite bubbles from our own green pastures... Which country comes to mind if you think of "wine"? For most, I imagine France, Italy, or perhaps even the USA these days, probably dominates. We all know, however, that the world is a-changing and so should our concept of wine and where it comes from. English wines are on the rise, and it's my opinion, along with a fair few of the worlds top wine experts, that they are the new frontier of wine making – even beating out top champagne houses in sparkling wine competitions.

Personalised wedding gifts from Pen Heaven

Find beautifully crafted, meaningful, and personalised wedding gifts to cherish forever with Pen Heaven. A master of exquisite stationary design, Pen Heaven was founded in 2008 and offer a comprehensive range of luxury writing instruments, leather journals and gifts. Specialists in classic brands such as Parker, Cross and Lamy, Pen Heaven also boast some more unusual and hard-to-find items such as the Japanese hand painted Platinum range, Italian calligraphy sets and the design focused Worther brand. Offering an in-house, by-hand engraving and embossing service, Pen Heaven are the ultimate destination for meaningful gifts with a personal touch perfect for big-day gifting.

PoB Hotels unveils collaboration with Madeleine Shaw

PoB Hotels unveils a new collaboration with Madeleine Shaw for a new wellness experience dedicated to skin health that's taking place across the portfolio of properties, including at Bovey Castle in Devon, Barnsley House in Gloucestershire and The Vineyard in Berkshire. This partnership offers guests an exclusive opportunity to glow, both inside and out through indulgent treatments and delectably nutritious dishes, all expertly crafted with fresh, seasonal ingredients to enhance overall skin health and well-being. Madeleine Shaw's exceptional expertise certifies these extraordinary treatments and delightful dishes, available at select PoB Hotels from September 2023 to March 2024. Madeleine has proudly partnered with PoB Hotels, sharing her 'Get the Glow' Philosophy. Madeleine Shaw boasts over a decade of unparalleled experience in the wellness industry.

County Wedding Magazines' readers share their prize win story!

Here at County Wedding Magazines HQ, we love nothing more than to hear from the winners of our competitions. In the crazy world of wedding planning, it's exciting for us to be able to offer our lovely readers some exciting giveaways and competitions which will hopefully give you a much-needed pick-me-up during on the countdown to your wedding day. In March 2023, CWM ran a competition, 'Win a minimoon in Northern Ireland!' and the winners were nearlyweds Jennifer and her partner.

Plymouth rounds off summer of fun along King Charles III England Coast Path

Two days of events at Plymouth Sound Marine Park will round off a summer of fun this weekend to celebrate some of England's most iconic scenery along the recently renamed King Charles III England Coast Path. Organised by Natural England, the Marine Park will host fun-packed activities from 10 am to 4 pm on Friday, 29 and Saturday, 30 September and are free for all to enjoy, enabling individuals and community groups to connect with nature and the King Charles III England Coast Path through a variety of activities. Some activities must be booked in advance. Taking in locations including Jennycliff, Mount Batten, The Barbican and Plymouth Hoe, day one will feature guided walks along the coast path, opportunities to learn about the history of areas around the path and to discover the city's wildlife.

Halloween hen party ideas for 2023

If you're looking to throw a hen party that's nothing short of magical, mysterious and oh-so-memorable, then you're in for a treat, not a trick, with a Halloween hen party! This bewitching night is filled with laughter, eerie enchantment and spine-tingling surprises. Halloween, with its unique blend of the spooky and the playful, makes for a perfect theme that'll have everyone howling with delight. And just think of the costumes! Leading hen party company, Fizzbox is our guide as we embark on a haunted journey through the land of Halloween hen party ideas that will make your last night of freedom the talk of the town.

Wedding day aesthetic according to your star sign

Jewellery brand Diamonds Factory, has spoken exclusively to celebrity psychic and astrologer Inbaal Honigman, who has shared her top tips on how to plan your wedding according to your zodiac. Vibrant Colours for Aries, known for their fiery and youthful nature, embrace the vibrant energy of red. This intense hue symbolises their passion and dynamism. To capture their directness, a bow and arrow motif, reminiscent of Greek deity Eros, perfectly embodies Aries' spirit on their special day.

Harbour House Cornish pub serving food has opened

Jeffrey Robinson, one of the UK's first chefs to have attained a green Michelin star, is heading up the new Cornish pub with food – Harbour House. Set on the waterfront in the historic village of Flushing, on the South Cornish coast, Harbour House heralds a core determination to create and achieve new levels of sustainability in the UK pub trade. The village of Flushing is set on the Penryn River, directly across from Falmouth. The idyllic location offers the perfect home for a sourcing system where an all-day pub business can thrive but be underpinned with not only environmental but social accountability. This is a foundation Jeffrey Robinson believes is essential if you wish to market yourself as 'sustainable'.

Let's talk about sleep - the importance of rest

A new nationwide study has revealed as many as 86 percent of us now regularly struggle to drift off - not good if you're wanting to look and feel your best physically and mentally in the run up to your wedding day and on-the-day itself! Research has revealed the top 20 natural sleep inducers in the modern age – and counting sheep or mugs of Horlicks did not make the cut. In fact, modern Brits are more likely to get intimate with their other half, listen to a true crime podcast, watch a comedy show, tidy their room from top to bottom, or cuddle up with their pet. But the survey shows, simply reading a book is the number one snooze inducing activity (23 percent), followed by scrolling through social media (22 percent), despite the consensus that looking at phones is bad for our sleep patterns.

Calling all newlyweds and nearlyweds - County Wedding Magazines need you!

Here at County Wedding Magazines HQ, there's nothing we love more than our real wedding features - and we couldn't do them without you! If you would like to see your wedding grace the pages of one of our County Wedding Magazine titles, then please do get in touch! Grand and big-budget extravaganzas, to small and intimate I dos, themed from beginning to end, or personalised with a sentimental touch - we want to hear about them all!

The Scarlet Hotel Launches Four Ayurvedic Journeys Inspired By The Cornish Coast

The Scarlet Hotel, an eco-inspired sanctuary nestled on the clifftops of Cornwall's Mawgan Porth, has launched four new well-being journeys inspired by Ayurvedic wellness principles. Each journey focuses on balance and rejuvenation, drawing from ancient practices to promote deep relaxation and healing. Available from two-, three- and four-night packages, and for solo travellers and couples alike, guests will be treated to a programme of whole-body therapies and rejuvenating treatments, complete with the Scarlet's nourishing seasonally inspired cuisine and sea-view accommodation. Inspired by its natural coastal setting, the Spa at Scarlet Hotel draws on the ancient healing power of Ayurveda – a 5,000-year-old natural science that offers pathways towards health and harmony. Set on the Cornish clifftops exposed to the five elements: fire (sun), water (Atlantic Ocean), air (sea-breeze), ether (great expanse of sky) and earth (dramatic clifftops), the Scarlet Spa expresses the wisdom of Ayurveda.

Enjoy fine dining at Da Kona at Wyndham Trenython Manor

Luxury hotel and lodge resort Wyndham Trenython Manor (part of IDILIQ Hotels & Resorts) recently elevated its dining offering with the opening of a fine dining restaurant, Da Kona. Set in a grand, characterful room panelled with carved oak walls said to date back to the 16th century, the ornate decor of the Da Kona restaurant immerses guests in history and sets the scene for a night of indulgence. The menu consists of locally sourced, fresh Cornish ingredients including crab, sea bass and Cornish-bred beef. Head chef Mauricio Zambrano is passionate about working with the best local suppliers, fishermen and farmers to provide the highest quality ingredients and dishes possible. Serving extensive breakfast, dinner and Sunday lunch menus, guests can enjoy a full Cornish-cooked breakfast paired with a Buck's Fizz, and there are also continental and children's breakfasts available.

Lympstone Manor unveils its first Classic Cuvée, harvested from its vineyard

Luxury Devon country house hotel Lympstone Manor is thrilled to announce the launch of its 2020 Classic Cuvée under its "Lympstone Manor Estate" label. Five years after chef and owner Michael Caines planted 17,500 vines in 2018, the long-anticipated launch marks the first sparkling wine produced from the hotel's vineyard, to sit alongside its award-winning 2020 Triassic Pinot Noir, launched in 2022. The estate will also launch a still Rosé Wine in addition to the Classic Cuvée, to be named "Isabeau" after Michael's daughter. This will be followed by further releases of wine including a barrel-aged Chardonnay next year to mark the 7th anniversary of the opening of the hotel.