Your Cheshire and Merseyside Wedding news and ideas from around the area

The Speech Surgery part three - the father-of-the-bride gets the spotlight

The Speech Surgery part three, Heidi Ellert McDermott shares her tips for the father of the bride and how to delivery the ultimate speech. The wedding speech tradition is as prevalent as ever and is still very much one of the key parts of the day. For some, public speaking comes quite naturally, and they wouldn't think twice about standing up and 'performing' on cue, while for others it may cause sleepless nights and anxiety but the pressure of pleasing a loved one means you can't say no! Fear not, whether you're a pro and want to heighten your speech, or a novice and you need some advice on how to settle those nerves, Heidi is here to answer your all-important questions...

Cottons Hotel & Spa announces arrival of the Caudalie Reservatrol Facial

Cottons Hotel & Spa in Knutsford is excited to announce the arrival of the innovative Caudalie Resveratrol Facial (£78 for 50 minutes), featuring the newly reformulated Caudalie Resveratrol skincare products. The Facial introduces an exceptional breakthrough in skincare: 100 per cent vegan collagen that mimics the skin's own collagen, setting the stage for the future of skin care. The results are astonishing, as the Resveratrol Patent stimulates the skin to produce 5 times more collagen and 2 times more hyaluronic acid. The new Vegan Collagen 1 strengthens the collagen fibres by 237 per cent delivering firmer skin in just 18 days!

Planning an engagement party? Here’s a 6-step-guide from a party planner

So you've said the easiest yes of your life and now is the time to celebrate your new status with an engagement party, but where do you even start? From budget to dates to invites, the list can seem endless and overwhelming at first, but there are a few simple considerations that can ease the process from the offset, making this exciting phase of your life enjoyable, memorable and personal to you both. To help with your engagement party checklist, party planning expert at Ginger Ray, Jess Martin, shares six fool-proof etiquette tips to avoid those stressful preparations:

Bride & Me: The new podcast from the team behind My Funny Valentine

The team at My Funny Valentine Bridal in Chester have been hard at work behind the scenes recently creating their very own podcast. Home to all things bridal, Bride & Me is your go-to podcast to help you out on your bridal journey. Each week the boutique's Hanni and Abi will be sharing their top tips as bridal stylists, and answering all your need-to-know questions as you search for your dream dress. Whether you're currently engaged, or just love weddings, this podcast is well worth a listen. The ladies would love to hear from you too. So, if you have any dress-related queries that you'd like to hear discussed, do pop them them a DM via Instagram (www.instagram.com/myfunnyvalentinebridal).

Love letters are all but lost

Once the staple currency of every romance, the simple art of writing a love letter has been all but lost, in an age of Snapchat and WhatsApp. A new study has revealed that nearly half of young Brits in relationships (45 percent) aged between 18 and 35, have never written their sweetheart a love letter, while 71 percent say they would rather send a romantic WhatsApp, DM or Snap. In fact, 88 percent say that traditional displays of affection such as love letters and flowers are old fashioned. Young lovers admit that they wouldn't know what to say in a letter (37 percent), with a third (29 percent) confessing they would feel silly, according to the poll by Bird & Blend Tea Co. who have created a Swizzels Love Hearts Tea.

Lab-grown diamonds dominating the market in 2024

In 2023, rather than reassessing their budget, many couples have started to become more conscious of their spending habits and switching to gemstones rather than diamonds and opting for lab-grown diamonds. According to exclusive internal data from Queensmith, lab-grown diamonds have continued to dominate the market due to their lower cost per carat, resulting in more affordable prices. These highly sought-after diamonds have enabled couples to still find the perfect engagement ring, without inflating their budget. The affordable option, at 60-80% cheaper than natural diamonds, accounted for nearly 80% of Queensmith's diamond engagement rings sold in 2023. Not only can consumers expect larger carat weights and higher quality diamonds, but also a more environmentally friendly and sustainably sourced alternative to mined diamonds.

The Speech Surgery part two - icebreakers and tips for the best man

The Speech Surgery part two, Heidi Ellert McDermott shares her tips on icebreakers and advice for the best man. The wedding speech tradition is as prevalent as ever and is still very much one of the key parts of the day. For some, public speaking comes quite naturally, and they wouldn't think twice about standing up and 'performing' on cue, while for others it may cause sleepless nights and anxiety but the pressure of pleasing a loved one means you can't say no! Fear not, whether you're a pro and want to heighten your speech, or a novice and you need some advice on how to settle those nerves, Heidi is here to answer your all-important questions...

Liverpool's unbridled passion for bridal

Unbridled Studio was founded in Liverpool by creative director Anna Vesty who has drawn upon her extensive experience designing for luxury ready-to-wear and bridal brands. Seeing a gap in the market for a contemporary, multifunctional and versatile bridal collection, Unbridled Studio launched in 2023. Anna is joined by commercial director Ruth Malton who has more than 20 years experience in buying and merchandising of premium women's fashion and has worked with several world-renowned brands including Harrods, Harvey Nichols and Christian Louboutin. It was at iconic British brand Amanda Wakeley where Anna and Ruth first met, and having celebrated their engagements at the same time, they both set about planning their weddings within months of each other.

The worst Valentine’s Day presents ever gifted

With Valentine's Day fast approaching, many people in relationships will be facing one of the toughest questions of the year - "What do I buy my other half?". There have already been 43,000 online searches for "Valentine's Day gifts" as people look for inspiration and whilst some people might receive extravagant and romantic presents, some people are less fortunate. With this in mind, Ninja surveyed the nation to find out what the worst presents people had been given for Valentine's Day, and between a bag of crisps and cat food, the results will shock you

Hen do and stag party tips 2024

Anita Naik, Savings Expert at VoucherCodes.co.uk provides her top tips on reducing the cost of a hen or stag do: "Many bridal and groom parties begin planning their respective hen and stag dos throughout the months of January and February. Taking the time to plan carefully is crucial, especially if you are planning on jetting off somewhere. "But, with rising living costs and foreign destinations being more expensive than ever, I've put together my top tips to help you have some pre-wedding fun without breaking the bank - either domestically, or abroad.

2024 is here and it's time to get organised with a new wedding planner

Whether it's a new year's resolution to get more organised, or you're feeling overwhelmed with the wedding planning, use the new Our Wedding Planner to keeping track of your dreams and decisions for a stress-free wedding planning experience - allowing you to focus on enjoying day! Our Wedding Planner will not only organise your big day, but also create treasured memories for years to come. Every detail of your wedding, including hen and stag parties and the honeymoon are covered, allowing you to create your perfect wedding and keep that all-important budget on track along the way. Bursting with easy to follow advice, and space to record details of every conceivable aspect of planning the big day, this new book offers a one stop depository for ideas, prices, venues, suppliers and guests.

Who you can expect to see at The Liverpool Wedding Show…

The dynamic duo behind the upcoming Liverpool Wedding Show, Vikki Sweeney & Lindsey Devlin, have unveiled their full list of exhibitors today. The show, which is set to be the biggest of its kind in the region has attracted over 75 of the wedding industry's most sought-after suppliers including leading lights from the world of event décor, fashion, beauty, and entertainment as well as a host of exceptional venues. Whether you are planning a glow-up, dreaming about a luxury honeymoon, looking for your perfect outfit or just need some much-needed inspiration for the most important day of your life, The Liverpool Wedding Show has everything you need (and a bit more!) all under one roof.

The Speech Surgery - How many speeches are too many?

The Speech Surgery with Heidi Ellert McDermott, founder of Speechy and author of The Modern Couple's Guide to Wedding Speeches: The wedding speech tradition is as prevalent as ever and is still very much one of the key parts of the day. For some, public speaking comes quite naturally, and they wouldn't think twice about standing up and 'performing' on cue, while for others it may cause sleepless nights and anxiety but the pressure of pleasing a loved one means you can't say no! Fear not, whether you're a pro and want to heighten your speech, or a novice and you need some advice on how to settle those nerves, Heidi is here to answer your all-important questions...

A matchmade in heaven for wedding gifting

Habulous is excited to reveal the latest addition to their range of personalised products, the perfect match striker pot. Handmade in the UK these personalised ceramic match striker pots look at home in your living room. The wheel-thrown pot is carefully glazed with a choice of personalisation inside the heart - reminiscent of those retro love doodles! Filled with pastel matches in complementary shades, the jars come in five signature colours: Cornflower Blue, Mint Green, Off White, Pale Pink, Light Yellow.

HARIBO giving free wedding cake to Gummy Ring proposals this Valentine's

From lockdown couples to celebrities, the last few years has seen the nation embrace their inner child by getting engaged with HARIBO's iconic Friendship Ring. To mark this Valentine's Day, HARIBO, the UK's number one sweets manufacturer, is delighted to declare that lovebirds ready to unleash their inner child and dive into marital bliss with its iconic gummy ring will get the sweetest reward – the chance to win their very own HARIBO Heart Throb Wedding Cake for their big day.

Find Your Cheshire & Merseyside Wedding magazine at The Wedding Show Liverpool

Your Cheshire & Merseyside Wedding is a media partner with The Wedding Show Liverpool! You can come and pick up a copy of the January/February issue of Your Cheshire & Merseyside Wedding at stand E14 - we can't wait to meet you! The Liverpool Wedding Show takes place on 10th and 11th of February 2024, at the Exhibition Centre Liverpool, and is set to be The Wedding Show's biggest show to date, with more than 70 super talented suppliers and businesses, catwalk shows, demos, live music and so much more.

TikTok’s wedding trends - what we can expect in 2024

TikTok has become the best place to source beautiful wedding inspiration, from wedding dress fashion to food. But what were the biggest TikTok wedding trends of 2023, and what can we expect to see in 2024? By analysing TikTok hashtags, ethical jewellery brand Sacet provides insights into the most influential trends of 2023, the wedding trends on the decline, and predictions for the upcoming year.

Give yourself a boost with Mesoboost at Carden Park

The Spa at Carden, the multi-award-winning destination spa nestled amongst the glorious Cheshire countryside has introduced Germain de Capuccini's groundbreaking Mesoboost treatment to its already extensive menu. It is now one of the first and only spas in the UK to offer this innovation skincare treatment, solidifying its reputation as a leading destination for luxury wellness experiences. The Mesoboost treatment is powered by an Electroporation Transdermal Meso-chip System (ETM) offering a new, results-driven way to administer active skincare ingredients to the skin. This non-invasive therapy combines transcutaneous meso-chip penetration technology with electroporation technology to optimise the skin's absorption rate of active ingredients, ensuring maximum efficacy without the need for needles.

Wedding floral trends for 2024

Bloom & Wild florist, Emma Forsey, presents a vision of floral enchantment that goes beyond the ordinary. From local blooms and wild meadows to bold colour clashes and the evolution of AI, here's what to come in 2024 for wedding blooms. Local flowers have been getting the love they deserve in the wedding scene, and it looks like they're going to be the go-to choice for UK weddings in 2024. More and more couples are valuing the eco-friendly element of homegrown blooms, appreciating the chance to support local flower growers. British flowers aren't just a trendy word anymore; they're becoming a significant and lasting part of the wedding flower industry.

Inside the UK’s most ‘Traitorous’ castle

The Traitors is Britain's hottest new reality competition, where a group of twenty strangers come together for the investigation of their life: to find and stop the Traitors from stealing the ultimate prize pot! It's a show full of mind-games, backstabbing and trust, and its second series proves to be gripping the nation once again. And the setting of this treacherous game makes it all the more entertaining: a beautiful castle in the Scottish highlands. In fact, enquiries about this castle have shot up since the show first aired in 2022.