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

Wedding speech pressure: top tips to nail it!

Whether the best man, the bride or a family member, giving a speech at a wedding naturally comes with pressure to perform. In fact Dr Chris Hartley, a sport and performance psychologist working with Insure4Sport, has likened it to the pressure faced by professional sportspeople in a major event like a penalty kick or break point. Here, he shares top tips on how to cope with the weight of expectation, fear of failure when giving a wedding speech, using sport psychology techniques he employs when working with top athletes.

Should more women taking the wedding speech spotlight

More women should be taking the spotlight at big events, according to new research from learning and development company Good Shout. However, according to a new poll, conducted in partnership with YouGov, the very prospect fills two thirds of women (67%) with dread. Of those women in the UK who would refuse to give speeches at a wedding, 50% said that it was the "cringe factor" that held them back, i.e. being too self-conscious or feeling too awkward or uncomfortable in the situation.

Sharp's Brewery brought Solar Wave beer to the Rock Oyster Festival

North Cornwall-based Sharp's Brewery has been bringing beer, cider and good vibes to its neighbouring Rock Oyster Festival since its rebirth a few years ago. This year, the brewery team was delighted to give a homecoming celebration for its newest hazy IPA beer, Solar Wave, at the event. The beer is already pouring across pubs and bars in Cornwall and the rest of the country. The team also debuted its special Solar Wave CHAT IPA Cornish edition of their legendary Silent Bistro at the festival where many eventgoers enjoyed a unique Cornish beer and food pairing journey. The boutique four-day event took place from 27th – 30th July 2023, on the banks of the Camel Estuary. Scores of festivalgoers enjoyed mouth-watering food from Michelin Star-awarded chefs and music from legends such as Nile Rogers + Chic, Groove Armada and Sophie Ellis-Bexter. The unique festival also hosted a life-enriching adventure and well-being programme.

Tips for tying the knot while it’s hot

With Summer wedding season in full-swing and the English weather as unpredictable as ever, happy couples across the country may get more than what they bargained for when it comes to wishing for a sunny day. As temperatures across the UK already reaching highs of 30C and the Met Office predicting even hotter temperatures expected ahead, Samantha Gilchrist, former wedding photographer turned cofounder and CEO of The Gilchrist Collection, the UK's largest wedding venue collection, gives her expert advice gathered from over 15 years in the industry.

Hen parties in UK more popular now

Hen parties on UK soil are the number one choice for Brits, according to new research from Butlin's Big Weekenders. According to a study commissioned to mark the reopening of Butlin's Big Weekenders breaks in September, over half of Brits (53%) say a hen do in the UK is more appealing than one abroad and almost the same (54%) say a hen do is better on one resort where all the facilities are in one place. On a Butlin's Big Weekender guests can enjoy accommodation, food, drink entertainment, and activities all in one place. The adult-only weekends are available at all three resorts - Bognor Regis, Minehead and Skegness. What's more, organisation is key for British hens, as data reveals the most common time to plan a hen do is 3-4 months in advance, in stark comparison to men, who are most likely to plan a stag do just 2-3 days in advance!

Enjoy a last-minute deal from Harbour Hotels this summer

With the summer holidays in full swing, forget jetting abroad to soaring temperatures and crowds. There's no better time to plan a spontaneous staycation, and Harbour Hotels has properties on the doorstep of Britain's most beautiful, unspoilt beaches. From Devon to Cornwall, here are our top picks for a picture-perfect seaside staycation this August, ideal for travellers of all ages looking to reset, disconnect and spend some much-needed time by the ocean.

Most Instagrammable beach wedding venues in the UK

Wedding invitation company, Aura Print, analysed 70 of the most sought-after beach wedding destinations and discovered the UK's most Instagrammable coastal wedding venues. The stunning spot of Tunnels Beaches in Ilfracombe, Devon boasts over 13k hashtags on Instagram, making this the study's number one pick. Located on the beautiful North Devon coast, Tunnels Beaches is situated on a cliff top with hand carved tunnels down to a secluded private beach. The venue provides a thatched roof gazebo which overlooks the breathtaking Devon coastline for a picture-perfect backdrop

Frankie and Benny's launch summer fun in the sun campaign

Italian American restaurant Frankie & Benny's with restaurants in Devon, Oxford and Wiltshire (as well as nationwide) has launched weekly £250 cash prize giveaways for families looking to enjoy the great outdoors this summer, just in time for the holidays. Frankie & Benny's are on a mission to help families facing the cost of living crisis buy their kids leisure equipment so they can have fun in the sun. Every week there's a chance to win a £250 prize for the kids - all you have to do is sign up to the mailing list and enter each week. You don't even need to buy a meal, it's FREE and that simple!

Brits feel judged on wedding gifts

Almost one in five (20%) Brits feel judged by friends and family when they cannot afford wedding gifts and 14% say they feel judged when they can't afford to attend a wedding, stag or hen party. 81% are depending on a form of finance other than their main income to provide for their family New research has revealed that almost one in five Brits (20%) feel judged by friends and family when they cannot afford wedding gifts. A further 14% say they feel judged when they can't afford to attend a wedding, stag or hen party.

Sara Davies, Fred Sirieix and Raj Somaiya revealed as BBC judges

Launching in August, BBC Two's Ultimate Wedding Planner will see eight wedding planners battle it out to prove they are Britain's next best wedding expert as they design spectacular ceremonies for six couples. Dragons' Den star Sara Davies, First Dates favourite Fred Sirieix and wedding industry expert Raj Somaiya will be the judges and mentors - overseeing the planners as they create dream weddings for our couples. Throughout the competition they will send home the weakest planner until just two remain in the final where the planners will face one final challenge to decide who will be crowned the winner.

Celebrate National Picnic Month in Cornwall

July marks National Picnic Month, a time that's dedicated to encouraging everyone to enjoy the great outdoors and soak up the British summer with friends, family and loved ones while indulging in a picnic. PoB Hotels – the finest collection of independent hotels across the British Isles – invites guests to experience a picnic like no other. Whether enjoying a feast on a wooden yacht or gorging on a delicious Michelin-starred hamper curated by one of the UK's best chefs, it's time to kick back and relax this July with PoB Hotels' picnic offerings...

The 'anti-wedding' wedding trends making their mark in 2023

'Anti-wedding' is the hottest new wedding trend this summer, from ditching tradition with bridal pant suits, short wedding dresses and mismatched bridesmaid dresses - get ready to see these trends everywhere this wedding season. Wedding supply experts at Aura Print have scoped out TikTok to serve up the top 10 anti-wedding wedding trends to look out for this summer. More people are ditching traditional for unconventional, allowing for their special day to be even more unique to the couple.

Luxury Lodge destination launches full resort offering for summer staycations

Honeymooners and holidaymakers can pack their bags and make a beeline for the Devonshire countryside as fun, frolics and a jam-packed itinerary of adventure await at The Mole Resort. Following a hugely successful first stage launch earlier this year, L+R Hotels has announced full completion of the highly-anticipated North Devon destination, which now features 58 premium eco-conscious lodges, 39 hotel rooms, more than 40 adventure activities and an all-new bistro and bar - just in time for summer 2023. Set within 125 acres, The Mole Resort is a countryside lodge destination combining stunning lodge and hotel accommodations, seasonal menus packed with locally-sourced ingredients and dishes for inspired dining - and a myriad of indoor and outdoor activities for both the young and young at heart.

How to throw a Barbie-themed hen party this summer

With the launch of the new Barbie movie, searches for "barbie party" on Pinterest have seen a 121% increase in the last six months as people look for inspiration on how to throw their own, pink-themed parties. As the wedding season is in full swing, thortful.com has teamed up with Pippa Masson, party planning expert at Hen Party Company Fizzbox, to compile top tips on how to throw a Barbie-themed hen party this summer. From Barbie themed cocktails to choosing the perfect venue, this is how to have the ultimate bachelorette Barbie herself would even love.

Fun and luxe wedding gifts

Attending a wedding this summer? Looking for the ultimate addition to your wedding day gift list? Look no further, Who Icons, seamlessly combines refined luxury with a touch of casual elegance, creating the ultimate personalised wedding gift. Who Icons understands that love stories are unique, and so should be the gifts that commemorate them. Its exquisite collection of handcrafted treasures is meticulously designed to captivate the hearts of discerning couples. From The Royals to the Beckhams, Anna Wintour to Karl Largerfield, the debut collection featuring the world's most influential fashion icons - and here at County Wedding Magazines HQ we're finding it hard to pick our favourite, we'll just have to collect them all.

Take a break from the wed-min - 30 things which bring happiness

Although joyous occasions, planning a wedding can be stressful with money worries and family politics all thrown into the mix. If you feel like this is your situation right now, grab yourself a brew and a biscuit and read this heartfelt study by Samsung: a definitive list of 30 things which bring us pure moments of happiness! An optimistic 94 percent of those surveyed, agree that joy is all around us, we just have to choose to see it.

The Botanist launches summer menu packed with vegan options

Award-winning bar and restaurant The Botanist with branches in Exeter, Reading and Gloucestershire has announced its offering for the summer season with a brand-new food and drink menu. Customers can enjoy fresh seasonal flavours, lighter and brighter dishes, reviving botany-inspired cocktails as well as updates to its signature hanging kebabs. What's more, vegetarian and vegan diners can choose from a growing menu of options, with almost half (46%) of dishes being vegetarian and a third (30%) now suitable for vegans. Options include the vegan meatball kebab roasted with marinara sauce, katsu curry with coconut rice and pickled ginger, and the roast cauliflower and onion bhaji burger, complete with mango sauce and mint raita.

How to choose the perfect wedding ring

Often overlooked, there's a big difference between platinum, gold and white gold rings, even though they look very similar. Despite gold rings being the traditional choice platinum wedding bands have over 6.1k searches and platinum wedding rings 3.3k in the UK each month. Whilst gold wedding bands have only 1k searches and gold wedding rings 5.4k, this suggests that in 2023 the most popular choice may be a platinum band. But with more 15k searches for 'Wedding Bands' in the UK every month - the decision may not be as simple as what's on trend. Here, jewellery expert Sach Kukadia at 7879 recommends how to choose the perfect wedding ring a purchase far more more important than your regular jewellery! Find out the difference between platinum vs golds, delving into everything, including their pros and cons, through to how well they'll fare in the long run...

Sharp's Brewery pours extra-special support for Leopallooza festival

Rock-based Sharp's Brewery has been a strong supporter of North Cornwall's Leopallooza festival for more than six years and the team has also sponsored the other epic events that the team at The Wyldes put on in their beautiful Week Saint Mary location, near Bude. As the Leopallooza crew has announced that this year's festival, running from the 21st until the 23rd of July will be their last in this current guise, the Sharp's team are bringing back a festival favourite for everyone heading to the fields.

How to nail your bridesmaid gifts

Finding that perfect thank you gift for your bridesmaids can be a mind boggling task. How can you truly thank them for supporting you on your big day? New research* from gifting experts at Getting Personal shows that apart from our parents, friends are the hardest people to shop for with one in seven (15%) admitting they struggle. To help brides give envy-inducing thank you gifts gifting expert at Getting Personal, Tara Butler, shares eight tips for figuring out what they really want... without having to ask.