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

Talhenbont Hall has added an outdoor terrace to the rear of the property

Talhenbont Hall is an exclusive-use wedding venue based on the stunning Llyn Peninsula, North Wales. It's most recent addition is a gorgeous outdoor terrace at the rear of the recently-renovated Grade II listed Coach House designed by owners Paul and Alicia and bringing a modern vibe. A perfect space to host your drinks reception and to enjoy in the evening, the terrace boasts enviable, uninterrupted views over the River Dwyfach and ancient woodland thanks to the glass balustrade. The firepit is a focal point in the evening, generating warmth once the sun sets.

Liverpool Lighthouse has restored Gaumont Palace Cinema

Local charity Liverpool Lighthouse, which was established in 1998, has brought community cinema back to Anfield with the opening of the restored Gaumont Palace Cinema, 91 years after its birth. The cinema, also the charity's base, aims to promote wellbeing for the local community, which has the highest levels of deprivation nationally at a time when people are already struggling with the cost of living crisis, bringing people together in positive shared experience and providing creative, cultural opportunities to promote connection and improved mental health and wellbeing.

The most popular 2023 trends according to Pinterest

To provide insight on the most popular wedding trends for spring 2023, the experts at Aura Print compiled a list of 25 popular trends after scouring Pinterest to discover the number of Pins for each. And here are the top 15 most popular spring 2023 wedding trends to be insipired by...First place for the most popular wedding trend for spring 2023 goes to the floral-themed trend. This trend had 22,148 Pins on the image sharing platform. It can include things like floral arches, flower-themed cakes or flower crowns. With a total of 11,765 Pins, the blue-themed wedding trend places second in the study. The trend also appeared on 116 Pinterest boards from 2022 onwards, cementing its popularity for the upcoming season. What is more, there's been a great interest in navy blue wedding invites, which had a whopping 16,725 Pins.

Rowton Hall is a historical Georgian manor house hotel

This historical Georgian manor house hotel is set amidst eight acres of tranquil gardens and grounds making for a beautiful wedding location. There are secret gardens and hideaway settings, rolling lawns, manicured gardens and ornamental pergolas.

Named after its impressive fireplace, The Inglenook is perfect for a winter wedding. Also air-conditioned for summer, and with original 18th- century features, its an elegant and versatile space. The Ballroom can accommodate up to 130 loved ones for the wedding breakfast and up to 200 for the evening. It can be dressed in almost any way you wish. Large doors open out into the cool, relaxed conservatory, and in the fine weather, your guests can enjoy the picturesque privacy of the walled garden.

Fancy a big-day cocktail bar? Check out Whitebox Cocktails

Whitebox Cocktails, the ready-to-serve cocktail specialists, have everything you need to create the ultimate in wedding cocktail offering. From classic cocktails like the Pocket Negroni and Squeezy's Margarita, to unique and refreshing long drinks like Hippy Fizz and Disco Baby, take the hassle out of the perfect pour on your big day with a wide range of ready-to-serve cocktails to suit every taste. Expertly mixed by the award-winning team of bartenders, Whitebox Cocktails' convenient single-serve cans mean there's no need to limit your cocktail menu, as there's no mixing, no mess and no long wait at the bar. For casual weddings, cocktails can be served in ice buckets for guests to help themselves and enjoy straight from the can. Alternately, for a more elevated occasion, simply chill and serve the cocktail in a glass with ice and a garnish of choice.

The best UK cities for a hen do

With Google search volume data revealing a 402% search increase for 'hen party ideas' since December and 2023 wedding season in touching distance, organising a pre-wedding celebration is already on the bridal party to-do list. Getting all of your nearest and dearest pals together for a hen party can be challenging - whether it's catering to availability, budget, activity preferences or dietary requirements. Hen party decoration supplier, Ginger Ray, has done a little digging to find the top 19 UK cities to host your pre-wedding celebrations.

Booker Flowers and Gifts have won the Liverpool Chamber of Commerce Innovation in Business Award

Booker Flowers and Gifts, based in Mossley Hill, Liverpool, is proud to have won the Liverpool Chamber of Commerce Innovation in Business Award for Responsible Business Environment 2022. A recognition of the continued work it's doing to reduce the environmental impact of its business.

The florist was also awarded the Environmental and Climate award in 2021. To have won for a second year recognises the work the team are doing from year to year, examining each area of the business to make continued improvements. Owner Gemma Wakerley says, "We've been on a journey since 2015 to work in the most sustainable way possible, taking into account environmental and socio-economic factors. I'm pleased to see that such awards are now commonplace in the business community. This can only serve to increase what we're all doing to help preserve the world we live in. At Booker Flowers and Gifts being eco-friendly, community-minded and buying responsibly is part of what we do, and to be recognised for this fills us with pride."

New book launch: The modern couple's guide to wedding speeches

The Modern Couple's Guide to Wedding Speeches is for grooms and brides who want their wedding speeches to be memorable for the right reasons and to kick off their marriage with a bang. This book is intended to benefit you whether you are straight or gay, whatever your religious beliefs are, or where you live. Heidi encourages us to reconsider old traditions, and tear up the outdated rulebook to create a modern wedding guide. Because speeches are such an important part of the day, she encourages couples to think about who they want to give speeches and what they want from the speeches.

County Wedding Magazines' competition winner!

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 the Autumn of 2022, CWM ran a competition, 'Win a two-night stay in the heart of The Lakes!' and the winners were nearlyweds Steph and Michael! The lucky pair enjoyed a stay, with dinner, bed and breakfast at The Wild Boar Inn a traditional Lakeland inn with oak beams, log fires, an in-house microbrewery and smokehouse all in the rolling countryside of the Gilpin Valley.

The Tytherington is in the heart of Cheshire

Located in the heart of Cheshire, The Tytherington boasts views of the golf course. Inside the Dorchester Suite there's a private function bar, dancefloor, cloakrooms and access to a private patio area, plus the classic, simple, modern décor offers the ideal backdrop to any theme.

Say "I do" in Dorchester 3 as 80 loved ones look on and the venue's wedding dresser offers a range of packages to turn it into your dream space.

10 Most Instagrammed UK Wedding Venues

With over 278,000 UK weddings expected to take place in 2023, there's no doubt that couples across the country are already scrolling through Instagram in search of inspiration! With this in mind, Aura Print has discovered the most Insta-worthy and beautiful wedding venues of the UK. Analysing over 200 venues around the UK, they searched Instagram to discover which venue was being talked about most, narrowing it down to the 10 most desirable wedding venue locations in the UK.

How to save money on your next wedding gift

Receiving an invitation to a wedding is always an exciting time. However, deciding what gift to buy the couple, and especially how much to spend, can be daunting - now more so than ever due to the increased cost of living. Data from VoucherCodes.co.uk reveals guests will spend an average of £113.39 for each gift they buy when attending a wedding which, for many of us, is a hefty amount. 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 upcoming wedding gifts without skimping on the sentiment:

Craxton Wood Hotel & Spa opens its doors to nearlyweds

Wedding experts believe there is no better way to fall in love with a wedding venue than to visit first hand, that's why Chester's Craxton Wood Hotel & Spa is inviting newly engaged couples to experience the magic for themselves at its wedding showcase. Taking place at 3pm on the 26th March, couples can tour the wedding venue, view multiple room setups and meet with the venue's expert wedding team to discuss possibilities for their big day. Selected open days also include local recommended suppliers to spark inspiration as wedding planning begins, from florists and wedding cake makers to entertainment providers and more.

Unique theatre venues for your vows and and bows!

Finding the wedding venue of your dreams can be a difficult task, especially if you're looking for something with a little less traditional with a little more drama. According to Google trend data, searches for 'unique wedding venues' have seen an uplift of 769% in the last month, and more specifically, searches for 'theatre weddings' have risen by an enormous 1250%. SeatPlan reveal the most unique, musical, dramatic, and theatrical wedding venues around the UK, so you can be centre stage and in the spotlight on your big day.

The Plough Inn dates back more than 500 years

Dating back more than 500 years, The Plough Inn began life as a small farm and coaching inn. The history of the Oak Barn meanwhile can be traced back as far as the 13th century and was moved to its current site from Wales. The Barn has been beautifully restored throughout the years to create an idyllic ambience, excellent catering and a great mix of space.

Ceremonies take place in the Old Oak Barn with space for 85 loved ones. The original oak beams offer the perfect frame for such a special moment.

Weddings don't need to cost the earth

With nearlyweds looking to opt for more sustainable choices when planning their nuptials, Talking Tables' new wedding rental scheme ensures this special occasion will look beautiful, without costing the earth. Would be spouses can choose from its best-selling tall glass candle holders in a variety of colours to suit every theme, both clear and brightly coloured bud vases, and handmade silver stainless steel plates and bowls. Tables can be exquisitely dressed for a fraction of the cost to buy and be happy knowing the items will bring more joy to others rather than sitting in the back of your cupboard - a sustainable solution!

A must see wedding show at Halliwell Jones Stadium

By Fairydust Events & Easy Tiger Events NW are hosting a must-see wedding fair on Sunday 12th March, 2023, at Halliwell Jones Stadium.

Come and see over 50 exhibitors at this stunning venue. Entry is free and includes a bridal catwalk, canapés, a free bridal magazine, complimentary fizz on arrival, a goody bag, exclusive competitions, amazing live entertainment and a surprise guest!

No matter what stage of wedding planning you're at, there will be something to suit with a host of venue dressers, photographers, videographers, jewelers, photo booths, wedding cars, stationery and much more.

5 songs to avoid on your big day

On top of organising flowers, dresses, venues and speeches, choosing the music for your wedding is yet another decision to make. But where do you even begin? The options are seemingly endless and the song you do pick will be the one that you define as 'yours' for the rest of your lives together. Wedding decor specialists Ginger Ray have crunched the numbers to reveal which songs and artists have made it onto the most Spotify wedding playlists and could be, dare we say it... overdone. So, whether you want to embrace the most popular choices (they are favourites for good reason after all) or whether you want to know which songs to avoid if you are looking to create a more unique soundtrack for your big day, here is Wedding Spotify, Wrapped.

The Spa at Carden has launched its new Private Spa Package

The award-winning Spa at Carden has launched its new Private Spa Package, allowing you to feel like the ultimate VIP with complete private use of the 4,500 square metre spa and world-class facilities. From elaborate proposals to pamper parties, this package offers exclusive-use of the spa for a twilight session starting at 5.30pm until 9pm. Upon arrival you and your guests will receive a glass of Carden Reserve Sparkling Wine, grown on the estate's very own on-site three- acre vineyard, as well as a delicious hot and cold buffet served in Elements Restaurant overlooking the spa garden.

Sophie Ellis-Bextor’s disco tour coming to a local venue near you!

Sophie Ellis-Bextor's Christmas Kitchen Disco UK Tour begins in November and here at County Wedding Magazines HQ we think it will make a great night out for your hen/stag or sten do! Tickets for shows are on-sale now The shows will feature hits from throughout Sophie's career, as well as some very festive classics, all in Sophie's own seasonal disco style. The tour follows on from the huge success of her 2022 Kitchen Disco Tour in which she brought her lockdown online sensation from her kitchen to sold-out stages across the country, including a sold-out finale at the London Palladium.