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

Newquay Rotary Club announces Christmas Eve Extravaganza on Bank Street

The Rotary Club of Newquay warmly invites the entire town to a magical Christmas Eve celebration on Bank Street. Visitors can come along at 10 am and see Titan the Robot in his special Christmas show, right next to the Rotary Club's spectacular Christmas tree that's generously donated each year to the people of Newquay. Santa will also be there for festive photos, and at 10:30 am, a selection of ponies will be in pens beside the tree for children to enjoy. At 12:30 pm, the Newquay Band will be performing festive music and additional festivities include interactive games like Splat the Rat and mulled wine will be served from the Clover Club. All proceeds will go to the Newquay Food Bank.

What are Prenup and Postnup Agreements?

Nuptial agreements have seen a rise in popularity in the UK, with high profile divorces highlighting the risks of not having a prenup or postnup in place. In addition, people now tend to get married later in life when they have accumulated more wealth and therefore have more assets to protect. Claire Porter, partner within the family team at leading Cheshire-based law firm SAS Daniels, discusses nuptial agreements for pre and post-marriage...

New wedding venue Bow Grange offers a deal before end of 2025

Bow Grange, a stunning new DIY wedding venue in Totnes, is running an opening offer of 20% off venue hire for the next 10 couples who secure their date with a deposit before the end of 2025. This offer applies to weddings taking place in 2026 or 2027. Set in the heart of the South Devon countryside, the venue, nestled in 30 acres of farmland, offers a selection of beautifully restored spaces, including the main barn, featuring statement chandeliers, a bar, and a dancefloor, as well as the courtyard with an outdoor bar. There's also a firepit, ideal for summer celebrations, and a camping field for guests to stay overnight.

Be inspired by Pantone's Colour of the Year 2026 for your nuptials

Pantone, the global colour authority and provider of professional colour language standards and digital solutions for the design community, today introduced PANTONE 11-4201 Cloud Dancer, a billowy white imbued with a feeling of serenity as the Pantone Colour of the Year selection for 2026. An ethereal white hue, PANTONE 11-4201 Cloud Dancer serves as a symbol of calming influence in a frenetic society rediscovering the value of measured consideration and quiet reflection. At first, you'd be forgiven for thinking 'well it's a white tone, and there is a lot of white at a wedding already - so what's new?'.

Newquay Community Invited to Festive Evening of Music and Celebration this weekend

St. Michael & Towan Masonic Lodges are delighted to announce their annual Christmas Carol Concert, set to take place at St Michael's Church, Newquay, Cornwall this wekend on Sunday the 7th of December at 18:30. This much-anticipated event promises an enchanting evening of festive music and seasonal joy, welcoming residents and visitors alike to celebrate the spirit of Christmas in the heart of Newquay. Guests will be treated to a spectacular line-up, featuring the celebrated Newquay Town Band alongside the energetic Hitchhikers. Together, they will perform beloved Christmas carols and festive holiday favourites, creating a magical atmosphere for all ages.

Expert Reveals: The Biggest Wedding Trends for 2026

You've found the love of your life, and you're happily engaged. It's finally time for your main-character moment, your wedding, and we're here for it. Whether you're just getting started on planning or you've been swimming in tulle for months, one thing's clear: 2026 is the year of "I do, my way." According to Nick Bramer, Co-owner & Marketing Director at Country House Weddings, "2026 is shaping up to be the year of personality-driven weddings. Couples are blending tradition with innovation to create days that feel unapologetically 'them'." Below, Nick shares the biggest wedding trends set to define 2026.

Enjoy New Year's Eve with the Adam Handling Collection

Enjoy New Year's Eve with the Adam Handling Collection at The Tartan Fox and Ugly Butterfly 2.0 in Cornwall, and The Loch & the Tyne in Old Windsor. To mark Hogmanay in style, chef Adam Handling MBE has embraced his Scottish roots to create a series of unforgettable New Year's experiences for guests. Those seeking an indulgent family-friendly dining experience need look no further than Ugly Butterfly 2.0 - the Collection's latest opening, set in the iconic five-star hotel, The Headland, overlooking dramatic coastal views of Fistral Beach. Innovative menus transform local Cornish ingredients into extraordinary dishes at this beautiful location, with an exclusive New Year's Eve tasting menu serving as the perfect way to bid farewell to 2025.

Newquay to enjoy three-day Christmas celebration with lights switch on

Newquay is set to sparkle this festive season as Newquay Town Council, Newquay BID and Cornwall Shop Small come together to host a spectacular three-day Christmas celebration from 28th to 30th November 2025 on the historic Killacourt. The free event will feature the town's Christmas lights switch on, a bustling Christmas market, live music performances, and family entertainment. The festivities commence on Friday 28th November with Newquay's traditional Christmas lights switch on ceremony at 6:45 pm accompanied by a dazzling fireworks display over the bay. The celebrations start at 3:00 pm with the opening of the Christmas market and bar featuring carol singing by Oll an Gwella, performances from Wicked Tribute and Bubbles the Pixie, finishing with an evening show by Forever Swift.

Legal experts warn couples not to change wedding plans amid wedding law reforms

Proposed changes to 19th Century weddings laws could be about to change everything for couples, but one legal expert has urged wedding planners to hang fire before making any changes to their big day. Legal experts from The University of Law say: "While there have been various updates to wedding laws in recent years, such as legalising same-sex marriage and changing the legal age requirement for marriage, nothing has changed the laws that govern marriage to this extent since the 1800s. "The main thing couples need to know now, is that nothing is going to change in the immediate future. The reforms still need public consultation, then the usual Parliamentary processes before implementation, all of which could take many years.

ST MORITZ HOTEL & COWSHED SPA UNVEILS A SERENE TWIXMAS

After the fanfare of Christmas Day, St Moritz Hotel & Cowshed Spa in Polzeath, Cornwall invites guests to slow down, breathe out, and embrace the restorative calm of the north Cornish coastline with its blissful Twixmas Break. Wrapped up in signature St Moritz luxury, this indulgent dinner, bed and breakfast escape is the perfect antidote to the Christmas chaos, gifting a mid-season pause designed for rest, reconnection, and revitalisation. More of an extensive transatlantic resort than a 'normal' hotel, with acres of space and purposefully designed facilities to satisfy every modern day lifestyler, St Moritz has everything that festive short-breakers or extended holiday makers could need.

Cornwall's Firebrand Wins Double Gold for Shorebreak at International Non-Alcoholic Competition

Firebrand Brewing Co. recently announce its non-alcoholic hazy pale, Shorebreak, won Double Gold at the International Non-Alcoholic Drinks Competition. This follows on from being named Britain's Best Non-Alcoholic Pale Ale at the World Beer Awards. Co-owner and head brewer at Firebrand Brewing Co., Joe Thomson says: "Winning Double Gold at the International Non-Alcoholic Competition is a huge moment for us. Shorebreak was created to give drinkers a full-flavoured, hop-forward beer without compromise, and to see it recognised by such a respected panel of judges is incredible.The awards were held in New York and we were up against beers from across the globe so this is a huge international accolade. The non-alcoholic category is growing fast and to be leading the way with one of our core beers is something we're really proud of."

7 Ways Marriage Celebrations Will Change By 2035

Planning a wedding used to follow a predictable script – white dress, church ceremony, big reception with 150+ guests. But it seems those days are numbered. According to this expert, the next decade promises to completely reshape how couples say "I do," driven by technology advances, environmental concerns, and evolving social attitudes. Wedding expert Nick Bramer from Country House Weddings, a family-run business specialising in exclusive-use venues across the UK, has witnessed these changes first-hand at their castle and country estate locations. "We're seeing couples make bold choices that would have seemed impossible just five years ago," says Bramer. "The traditional wedding playbook is being rewritten entirely."

Lympstone Manor to host watercolour workshop, brass band and vineyard tours

December at Lympstone Manor is vibrant, with a watercolour workshop, Michelin-starred dining, brass bands, vineyard tours and tasting sessions to be hosted. The festive season starts on 2nd December with a watercolour workshop and lunch with Rachel Toll, learning the techniques to paint a Christmas tree and winter landscape. Throughout the month, a festive afternoon teas and variety of seasonal dining experiences can also be enjoyed. A three-night Christmas package that commences on Christmas Eve witha festive brass band performance playung traditional carols includes mince pies and mulled wine. This is to be ollowed by an eight-course tasting menu by Michael Caines MBE. Optional transport is available to midnight mass at Exeter Cathedral. Christmas Day starts with a champagne breakfast followed by a five-course Christmas tasting menu served either as lunch or dinner.

Newquay Lantern Parade lights up Trenance Gardens on 21st November

The annual Newquay Lantern Parade is returning on the 21st of November 2026 to light up the Cornish town. The new home of the Lantern Parade event is down in Trenance Valley, and much the same as last year will be linked in with the Trenance Cottages Light Switch-on event happening on the same night. The lanterns will process from 6 pm through Trenance Valley to the cottages, with viewing points in both Trenance Gardens and the Boating Lake. This year Blystra Arts, who deliver all the creative activity related to the parade, have been able to enhance the event even further by linking the project in with another of their 2025 projects, Stories from the Station.

No ring? No proposal! New study reveals the top reasons for a proposal turn down

A new survey of 2000 UK adults has revealed timing is everything when it comes to a proposal, but so is taste. In an era where perfect proposals are deemed as Instagram-worthy backdrops and a professional photographer, this study reveals that the fundamentals are what couples are really wanting. A new study, commissioned by professional jewellers, F. Hinds, shows nearly 3 in 10 (29%) would be turned off by a public proposal, whilst another 29% would say no if it happens on someone else's special day, such as a birthday or even another person's wedding day. The engagement ring itself still plays a pivotal role. In fact, nearly 1 in 5 (20%) say the ring, or lack of one, can make or break the moment, proving that in an era of bigger is better, the perfect ring is still the ultimate "yes" factor.

Chunk of Devon Strikes Gold (and Platinum) at the Food Drink Devon Awards

Chunk of Devon is celebrating after collecting an impressive 15 awards at this year's Food Drink Devon Awards, including eight for its gluten-full range and seven for its gluten-free bakes. The standout win of the evening went to the Butter Chicken Pasty, which took home both Platinum and the coveted title of Product of the Year. Six further products from Chunk's traditional range earned gold and silver awards, while the company's gluten-free creations were also recognised across both savoury and sweet categories. "We're absolutely thrilled," said Chunk founder Simon Bryon-Edmond. "It's fantastic to see our gluten-free range receiving the same recognition as our traditional favourites."

Legal officiants vs legal venues

The wedding industry in the UK is worth £14.7billion, and the average cost of a wedding is over £20,000. With not only the cost, but the time and effort put into your wedding and making it one of the most special days of your life, you want to make sure that the event does actually legally marry you and your partner! Joanna Newton, a partner at Stowe Family Law, advises on the changes, and what couples need to consider.... In England and Wales, for your marriage to be legally binding, your ceremony venue needs to be a registered location. For more and more people, this is their local registry office, as they are choosing to have their wedding in venues that, whilst special to the couple, are unlicensed. In many cases, this means couples are having two weddings – one for the legal bit and one for the fun!

Whistlefish- Affordable, eco-conscious wedding stationery & gifts

When it comes to planning a wedding, organising a hen party or finding thoughtful gifts, Whistlefish makes it simple with its beautifully designed wedding collection. Whistlefish offers affordable, design-led products that make every moment of the celebration feel special. Crafted by their in-house artists in Cornwall, the range blends timeless style with eco-conscious values, proving you don't need to spend a fortune to achieve a polished, personal wedding look. Whistlefish offers a range of chic, budget-friendly pieces to help bring a couple's vision to life.

Valleyside Barn named finalist for Wedding Venue of the Year at Devon Tourism Awards

Bickleigh-based Valleyside Barn was recently announced as a finalist in the Wedding Venue of the Year category at the Devon Tourism awards. The venue will receive a Gold, Silver or Bronze award on November 27th. This marks the second year running that Valleyside Barn has been recognised, following a Highly Commended award in the Barn/Country Venue category at the South West Wedding Awards in 2024. Emma Wright, co-owner, said, "This is the first time we have entered the awards in this category, and we're so happy to be a finalist. It is a rigorous process - not only do you have to submit a supporting application, but you also have a judge come and visit the venue."

‘Til death us do part: making plans for beyond your future.

On 16th May 2025 the Law Commission published its recommendations on wills and proposed a new statute. This is the first significant reconsideration since the Wills Act 1837 which is still effective today. Life was quite different in 1837. Queen Victoria ascended the throne aged 18 years old. Any property owned by a women on marriage was transferred automatically to her husband. It would be 40 years before Thomas Edison lit up the first electric lightbulb.