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

Devon's Gidleigh Park retains its Michelin star

The team at Gidleigh Park and executive head chef Chris Eden are celebrating the news that Gidleigh Park has retained its Michelin star, following the release of the Michelin Guide 2024. Executive head chef Chris Eden commented, "We've had a great year at Gidleigh Park and we are all delighted to have retained our Michelin star. I'm continually proud to head up Gidleigh Park's kitchen and to work with such a brilliant team. We're incredibly lucky that each day we get to showcase the beautiful produce we have in the west country, and I'm delighted that the great feedback we've received from guests this year has been followed by this news tonight."

These are the UK’s most popular manor house wedding venues for Bridgerton-inspired ceremonies!

As we all wait in anticipation for tonight's first episode of season three of Bridgerton to hit our screens, we're ready to immerse ourselves in Regency splendour once again. If you're engaged, in the throws of wedding planning, there's so much to be inspired by when watching this hit series. New data collected by ethical jewellery brand Sacet has revealed the top manor house wedding venues across the UK that would make the perfect location for a Bridgerton-inspired ceremony. By analysing a number of factors, including number of reviews, professionalism, quality of service and value for money, of over 230 wedding venues that offer manor house weddings in the UK, the top 20 were revealed.

Make sure your big day is protected

A wedding is a special day for a couple, but it can also be an expensive one. Between venues, caterers, photographers, dresses, and entertainment, the costs can add up. For those planning a wedding, it's important you insure yourself against anything that could go awry just before, or on the big day. For those aiming to tie the knot this year, Alex Cross, Insurance Director at Tesco Bank shares his top tips on things to consider for your wedding day to make sure you're covered so things can run as smoothly as possible.

Double Gold Tourism Awards Win for Kilminorth

Kilminorth, situated in Looe, Cornwall has recently won Double Gold in the 2023/2024 Cornwall Tourism Awards. This award-winning business has scooped up Gold for Dog-Friendly Business of the Year, alongside Wedding Venue of the Year. 2023 marked 10 years of weddings hosted at Kilminorth, and the first year nominated within the Wedding Venue of the Year category. For couples tying the knot at Kilminorth, they are offered full venue exclusivity if they wish, and the choice of a three-day extravaganza, a one-day celebration, or a small intimate elopement. Events manager, Cassie, encourages all couples to get creative, and have the day of their dreams - the options are truly limitless.

WoodWick® reveals its latest collections

WoodWick® reveals its latest collection designed to effortlessly elevate the home with its unique fragrances and contemporary designs - perfect for big-day gifting. What's more, the gorgeous colour palettes would also suit spring and summer wedding themes adding aroma to your ceremony or reception, evoking memories of your wedding day for years to come. Created to make a statement with its one-of-a-kind multi-sensory experience, the WoodWick® Spring/Summer 2024 range re-energises the home and adds an extra layer of sophistication. With the soothing sound of the crackling wicks, and trend forward scents evocative of the brighter days ahead, this collection is sure to add a bold, yet stylish, touch to the home.

Discover nature on your doorstep with this year’s National Nature Reserves Week

Later this month the beauty and variety of English landscapes and the wildlife they support will be celebrated through National Nature Reserves Week and everyone will be encouraged to get outdoors and find inspiration through nature. And in Cornwall and Devon, there will be a whole host of free activities, from bat walks to craft days, being held during the 12-day festival. Organised by Natural England, National Nature Reserves Week runs from 20 to 31 May, with some events being run by the National Trust and, in Devon, the Pebblebed Heaths Conservation Trust National Nature Reserves (NNRs) are for everybody, whatever your connection with nature is.

New cake stands launched in Spring pastel shades

Innovative UK cake stand brand, Prop Options has launched a new, sophisticated range of interchangeable pastel-coloured cake stands, giving couples and cake designers bountiful colourful options when it comes to displaying their wedding cakes. Known as the Reeded Stand, these pastel-toned contemporary cake plinths have removable top plates, allowing designers and couples to mix and match colourways for a truly unique, fun, yet elegant, design. Prop Options is bringing out six colourways in its Pastel Reeded Stand collection, namely pink, lavender, green, yellow, blue and 2024 colour of the year, Pantone Peach Fuzz. The stands are also available in white, black, and gold.

New Smeg products ideal for wedding gifting this season

Whether you're compiling your big-day gift list and looking for inspiration, or you're a guest attending a wedding in the coming months, these new items from Smeg makes wedding gifting easy! Adding to its of portfolio cooking essentials, Smeg has introduced its first countertop scales. The KSC01 Kitchen Scales are a welcome addition for both budding bakers and professionals in the kitchen. Joining the likes of stand mixers and cookware in Smeg's portfolio, the brand's all-new digital scales are both outstanding in design and packed with its advanced technology.

Go Quest Adventures launches new immersive City Trail in Plymouth

Self-guided city trail company, Go Quest Adventures has announced the launch of its latest Quest in Plymouth, joining the existing 23 Go Quest Adventure locations across the UK. With its popular secret city trails already live in the likes of Oxford, Manchester, Glasgow, Cardiff, York and Chester, the immersive treasure hunt-style 'Quest' unlocks a hidden trail through the city with clues, puzzles and challenges along the way, the perfect day out for a mini-moon or Maycation in the region. Go Quest Adventures encourages outdoor teamwork for groups of all sizes; a great day out for tourists, but also for locals to explore their hometown to reveal its hidden heritage and interesting facts.

7 top tips for including your pooch in your wedding

Considering including your pooch at your wedding? Here are 7 top tips from Petpals. With 57% of UK households boasting a furry friend, it is no wonder many couples dream of having their beloved dog join them on their special day. In fact, a whopping eight in 10 Brits say they would want their four-legged companion to be part of their wedding festivities. But before you entrust your pooch with the role of ring bearer, it is essential to be well prepared to ensure that your big day is nothing short of paw-some for both you and your pup. Here, Kevin Thackrah, Director of Petpals, the UK's longest-established pet-care franchise, shares some top tips on how to seamlessly incorporate your canine companion into your wedding day.

How to avoid guests over indulging on alcoholic drinks on the big day

One in six (16 per cent) wedding guests admit to driving home the morning after a wedding, when they could still be over the alcohol limit, reveals new research1 from Direct Line Motor Insurance. In a bid to remind drivers about the risks of getting behind the wheel after celebratory drinking, a car was crashed into a three-metre-high wedding cake outside Blenheim Palace2, one of the UK's most instagramable wedding venues.

With one in five (20 per cent) guests saying they have been driven home by someone they thought was over the drink drive limit, the morning after celebrating nuptials, the smashed wedding cake highlights the risks involved with driving the morning after.

6 Star Wars cocktails for the ultimate Star Wars hen do

Calling all brides-to-be and their intergalactic squadrons! Prepare to elevate your hen party to new heights as leading hen party company Fizzbox teams up with magical tavern, The Cauldron, to concoct a range of Star Wars cocktails, perfect for celebrating the bride's journey to the galaxy of marriage! Set your blasters to fun as The Cauldron's mixologists transport you to a galaxy far, far away with their selection of otherworldly drinks inspired by the iconic saga. From Darth Vader-inspired concoctions to drinks that will have you feeling like you're partying on the Millennium Falcon, there's something to delight every Jedi bride and her entourage.

The most popular wedding cars of 2024 and how much they will cost

As we head into the Spring/Summer wedding season, many couples will be tying up the last elements of their weddings before the big day. Often left to the last minute is transport, with many couples wanting to arrive and leave their wedding venues in style. Nationwide Vehicle Contracts decided to investigate which cars are the most popular when it comes to wedding hire, and also how much hiring one will set you back. To work out the most popular wedding car of 2024, Nationwide Vehicle Contracts has analysed Google search volumes, Google search trends and TikTok data including the number of posts per model, monthly searches and the YoY search trend.

Wedding homeware from Addison Ross

The heart and soul of British luxury Addison Ross, is a family owned British brand started in 1978; from a small business, it has now grown into a global sensation with a vast offering including an exquisite range of luxury homeware essentials that create the ideal wedding tablescape or wedding gift. A recent collaboration with India Hicks, saw the launch of a beautiful new photo frame collection, which India (King Charles' Goddaughter) used for her own wedding photos. These wonderful frames can also be used to create special moments at weddings including framing seating charts or cocktail menus!

Rest and renew at Soar Mill Coves' Summer Wellness Retreat

Soar Mill Cove in South Devon is hosting its summer wellness retreat on Sunday 19th May, introducing systematic kinesiologist practitioner Ruth Derry to the event. The new element run by Ruth will allow guests to understand their health through understanding the body's communication. Guests will practice 'habits to create calm' to aid self-awareness and health empowerment through this natural and holistic approach. The day begins with coffee and a chat followed by a team-building session. Focusing on strength and conditioning, Kat Wallace (a personal trainer and fitness instructor) will incorporate a fun and teamwork ethos into her session. After healthy refreshments, there will be a group walk exploring the cove and taking in the breathtaking scenery of this part of South Devon.

Young Brits looking to get hitched face saving for 30 Months

Young couples are faced with saving for over 30 months to reach their wedding savings goals, according to new research from Nationwide that charts what Brits are saving for in 2024.One in six young people are currently putting money away for their dream wedding. On average, these love birds are aiming to save £17,000 in preparation for their wedding – although the costs will likely be higher as many will also benefit from contributions from family and friends. Based on average monthly individual savings of £282, it would take a typical couple saving a combined £564 around 31 months to reach their target.*

Spring Bank Holiday weekend is set to host second highest number of weddings for 2024

The team at hampers.com, who strive to bring joy and wholehearted togetherness through gifting, recently undertook a study to determine the most popular dates for weddings in 2024, surveying almost 2,300 UK adults who were set to get married this year. When asked what date they were getting married on, the most popular dates were found to be were these here...

The Duke of Cornwall hotel offers Perfectly Petite Package

As micro weddings continue to grow in popularity, The Duke of Cornwall hotel has launched the Perfectly Petite Package for up to 15 guests. More and more couples are looking to celebrate with an intimate gathering of guests, typically less than 50. Micro weddings still include a ceremony and reception but on a smaller, more affordable scale so that the couple can focus their budget on the areas most important to them. With its gothic architecture and views stretching over Plymouth Sounds, this hotel offers a choice of stunning rooms to marry in, a master of ceremonies, a three-course meal and overnight accommodation for the newlyweds in a four-poster suite.

Need a helping hand with your groom's speech? Check out these top tips from Speechy

'The Speech Surgery' with Heidi Ellert McDermott, founder of Speechy & author of The Modern Couple's Guide to Wedding Speeches'. My groom isn't naturally romantic. How can I help him with his speech without actually writing it for him? Well, no one will be expecting him to be reciting sonnets and he doesn't need to have a personality transplant, but it would be nice if he managed to deliver at least a few suitably sweet lines in his speech! Send him a few good blog posts (including this one) and encourage him to get the advice & feedback from his friends (ideally, married ones who have been through the speechwriting process before).

Indulge in Vera Wang x Chopin vodka this wedding season

With the 2024 wedding season fast approaching, brides and grooms-to-be are looking for ways to impart luxury to their special day. From elevating their drink offering with expertly crafted cocktails to creating a sophisticated monochrome look, the Vera Wang x Chopin vodka has all the assets to make one's celebration stylish and memorable. Vera Wang x Chopin vodka comes from a unique partnership blending the refined style of iconic fashion designer Vera Wang with the unparalleled craftsmanship of Chopin.