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

Let's talk about sleep - the importance of rest

A new nationwide study has revealed as many as 86 percent of us now regularly struggle to drift off - not good if you're wanting to look and feel your best physically and mentally in the run up to your wedding day and on-the-day itself! Research has revealed the top 20 natural sleep inducers in the modern age – and counting sheep or mugs of Horlicks did not make the cut. In fact, modern Brits are more likely to get intimate with their other half, listen to a true crime podcast, watch a comedy show, tidy their room from top to bottom, or cuddle up with their pet. But the survey shows, simply reading a book is the number one snooze inducing activity (23 percent), followed by scrolling through social media (22 percent), despite the consensus that looking at phones is bad for our sleep patterns.

Calling all newlyweds and nearlyweds - County Wedding Magazines need you!

Here at County Wedding Magazines HQ, there's nothing we love more than our real wedding features - and we couldn't do them without you! If you would like to see your wedding grace the pages of one of our County Wedding Magazine titles, then please do get in touch! Grand and big-budget extravaganzas, to small and intimate I dos, themed from beginning to end, or personalised with a sentimental touch - we want to hear about them all!

Make a date to visit Doubletree by Hilton Chester

Doubletree by Hilton Chester is conveniently situated between the M53 and the city centre. It lies within a 40-minute drive of both Manchester and Liverpool international airports, and Chester mainline railway station is just a two-mile drive away. With a stunning and lovingly restored 18th-century manor house, Grade II English Heritage conservatory and a converted stable barn, you're ensured a magical and memorable special day here. You can check the venue out for yourselves at its wedding fair due to take place on Sunday 29th October, 11am-3pm. Head over and discover this stunning venue, meet with top local suppliers, and begin your planning journey. The dedicated wedding specialists here will be on hand to answer your questions and guide you through everything you need to know.

INNSiDE Liverpool to host an exclusive Charlotte Tilbury beauty event

Contemporary lifestyle hotel, INNSiDE Liverpool, has announced an exclusive beauty event in collaboration with Charlotte Tilbury, set to take place on Thursday 5th October at the Gino D'Acampo 360 Sky Bar. Located on the 18th floor of INNSiDE Liverpool, Gino D'Acampo 360 Sky Bar is one of the city's most coveted venues, with unrivaled panoramic views of Liverpool and beyond. Open to hotel guests and local residents, the Charlotte Tilbury masterclass, paired with delicious food and drink from Gino's, is the perfect treat ahead of the Christmas rush. As the big day is getting closer, it's time to start thinking about Christmas makeup ideas.

Manor House Alsager introduces limited edition autumnal glow spa day

As the vibrant hues of autumn paint the landscape, East Cheshire's family-owned, English country Manor House Hotel invites guests to embrace the golden season with its limited edition Autumnal Glow Spa Day. This newly launched Spa Day offers guests an holistic experience indoors and out that beats off the summer holiday blues and captures the beauty of the season.Guests arrive at the spa where they are given their fluffy robes and towels, as well as bespoke tote bag and flip flops which they can take home with them following their visit. Using the aesthetic and top-class changing rooms, guests can slip into their spa attire and head to the Pool House where they are greeted with a delicious seasonal mocktail.

The Swettenham Arms is a characterful venue nestled in the heart of the Cheshire countryside

The Swettenham Arms is a characterful venue nestled in the heart of the Cheshire countryside. The stylish Lovell Suite is surrounded by beautiful gardens, idyllic woodlands and open landscape, and during the summer months the lavender is in full bloom. This beautifully refurbished inn in the heart of the Dane Valley, offers superb food, stunning settings, impeccable service and unrivalled attention to every detail. From the decorations to catering, the team will tailor its services to meet your needs and create wedding that's unforgettable just for you. Licensed for civil weddings and partnership ceremonies it's the ultimate venue if you want to celebrate among picturesque surroundings.

LYRA Swim and The Spa at Carden collaborate on an inclusive modest swimwear event

Leading modest swimwear fashion brand LYRA Swim recently held its first-ever corporate brand trip with a UK hotel, bringing together 15 esteemed female Muslim influencers and the LYRA team members for an unforgettable two-day event at Carden Park Estate, shattering the taboo that modest swimwear isn't accepted in the spa environment. Welcoming guests with rose and elderflower drinks, the event started with a Twilight session at The Spa at Carden, where guests had the extraordinary chance to bask in the award-winning spa facilities under the starlit sky, perfectly encapsulating the essence of LYRA Swimwear against the breathtaking backdrop.

Four tips for storing your wedding dress after the big day

With September tipped to be the most popular month for weddings, when the big day is done deciding what to do with a wedding dress can be tricky. Whilst some people sell them or donate them so future brides can use them, others prefer to keep hold of them and preserve the memory of their wedding day. If you're looking to preserve your wedding dress after the big day, or pass it down to future generations, proper storage is essential in maintaining its pristine condition. With this in mind, Vlatka Lake, storage expert at Space Station shares four tips for storing your wedding dress to keep it in pristine condition. Vlatka adds: "Before putting your dress into storage, make sure you have it cleaned to remove any stains or marks that may have appeared from your wedding day. The most important thing to remember when putting your wedding gown into storage is that it shouldn't be stored in a plastic bag or hung on a hanger. "Plastic covers don't allow for humidity changes and can often let light in that will fade the material of your dress. Hanging your dress can also affect its shape by adding unnecessary stress on the seams or the fabric."

Unique gifts couples give each other on their wedding day

The team at hampers.com recently surveyed UK adults who have gotten married or attended a wedding in the past five years, with the goal of determining what the gifting landscape looks like for wedding season. In doing so, they spoke to almost 800 newlyweds from across the UK and a further 1,400 UK adults who have attended a wedding in the same time frame. Firstly, the study found that it's common for brides and grooms to buy each other a gift for the wedding day itself, with 65% stating they did this for their own wedding day. The average spend was found to be £115, with women most likely to purchase a pocket watch (24%) or a vintage bottle of alcohol (22%) and men most likely to purchase jewellery (37%) or personalised 'Mrs' clothing (19%)...

Big-day gifting ideas from Don't Buy Her Flowers

Gift company, Don't Buy Her Flowers, prides itself for having thoughtfulness at its core, with customers able to create a bespoke gift box that perfectly suits the person and occasion. Whether it's to celebrate, commiserate or offer someone some TLC during a tough time, Don't Buy Her Flowers offers a range of luxury British products from delicious treats, cashmere socks and bubble bath to the perfect G&T and a selection of great books. Each gift box is beautifully gift wrapped with the customer's personalised message handwritten on the gift tag, making it the perfect package for everyone from mothers, newlyweds, teachers and employees.

Hand Picked Hotels launches special autumn package for the ultimate getaway

Luxury hotel brand Hand Picked Hotels is launching its Glorious Autumn Getaway package for the most colourful season of the year – the perfect antidote to Britain's grey summer. Choose a country or coastal getaway this autumn and enjoy laid-back luxury with endless outdoor adventures and cosy nights in to warm the soul this season. Make the most of spacious bedrooms for a great night's sleep, sparkling wine by a roaring fire, woodland walks or seaside strolls and stargazing beneath an uninterrupted sky. The longer you stay, the more you can enjoy! Guests staying one night will be treated to a complimentary bedroom upgrade for ultimate comfort and relaxation.

Event Cheshire tells us what's hot in the world of venue styling

The team at Event Cheshire, helmed by Emma Smith, love to keep couples up to date with what's on trend in the world of all things wedding, and have kindly put together their key trends for 2023 and 2024 that are making the headlines here in the UK. With the wedding season in full swing, Emma has already had the priviledge of using her floralscaping skills to explore, design and enhace some of the hottest styling trends in demand among her gorgeous clients. We hand over to Emma to tell us more... Our passion for florals has never been more apparent than it is now.

Five reasons why Champagne is the pinnacle of sparkling wine

The Champagne Bureau UK* have rounded up five reasons why Champagne is the long-standing pinnacle of sparkling wine. Firstly, Champagne only comes from Champagne. Champagne is a 100% French product - the Champagne region is located in France, approximately 90 miles east of Paris. It is a protected appellation (AOC). From 816 to 1825, France's royalty was crowned in Champagne's Reims Cathedral, where Champagne was said to flow freely at all the coronation banquets. Soon, highly prized for their taste and finesse, it became customary to gift these wines to any royalty visiting the region. This is how the Champagne came to be known as the wine of coronation and known in France as "the wine of Kings and the King of wines".

7 ways to ask your friends to be bridesmaids

Bridesmaid proposals are a special moment in any friendship so it's natural to want to put some thought behind popping the question. Personalising gifts such as photo frames or pyjamas are a great way to give friends something they can keep forever. The glass experts at MeandMyGlass.co.uk have shared some of the best bridesmaid proposal ideas to make the occasion memorable.John Cutts, founder of MeandMyGlass said, "Asking your friends and family to be bridesmaids is a special moment and should be done in a special way. "You can't go wrong with a personal touch which is why things like photo frames and pyjamas are a great way to show appreciation to your bridesmaids and you know they'll keep their gift.

Check out Cheshire Woodland Weddings for heavenly al fresco nuptials

If you have your sights set on something different for your big day, check out Cheshire Woodland Weddings. Located in the heart of the Cheshire countryside, this 15-acre woodland can host your ceremony in a romantic outdoor cabana for a truly relaxed rustic wedding experience and atmosphere. Alongside use of the fully-licensed venue, including large luxury barn (with outdoor and indoor bars), and waterside gazebo, is a range of fun activities for you and your guests from falconry to Segway, to make your day unforgettable. You have the choice of three spaces in which to tie the knot. The Woodland Ceremony Area is a quaint thatched hut with bench-style seating for 150 guests among the private woodland.

Wedding fragrance suggestions

Floral, citrus, or woody - and everything in between - wedding scents are becoming more popular as couples incorporate them into their day. They can provide an ideal way to remember the occasion, the trigger of a special memory when you come across that fragrance connected to it. What's more, key scents can also help control emotions according to psychologists. Yasmin Sharp, essential oils expert at Nikura, says, "With more than 12 million hashtag views on TikTok, wedding scents (#weddingscent) are becoming more and more popular

My Funny Valentine's biggest ever sample sale comes to Chester!

My Funny Valentine Bridal, based in Chester, will be hosting its biggest ever sample sale the weekend of 1st to 3rd September, 2023. All of the stunning dresses will be priced below £999 and ready to take away that same day, so you're sure to uncover a bargain. The boutique will be including gowns for any and every bride in the sale, from a wealth of incredible designers including Pronovias, Evie Young, Madi Lane, Luna Novias, Madison James and Abella. Don't miss out! Bookings can be made via the boutique's website at www.mfvbridal.com or by emailing the team at hello@mfvbridal.com.

Wedding ring mistakes to avoid!

Aimee Howlett, jewellery expert at Diamonds Factory, has shared how to choose and clean your wedding band. 'When choosing your wedding band, it's important to consider your lifestyle and daily activities. If you're someone with an active lifestyle you might want to go for a more durable material like platinum or tungsten that can withstand potential scratches and avoid a ring that has diamonds. With this in mind, it's worth visiting a jewellery store and trying on different styles of wedding bands, which can be really fun! Pay attention to comfort, fit, and how well it pairs with your engagement ring (if you have one).

Wedding gift inspiration from L'OR

Coffee brand L'OR provides the perfect machine which will ensure you capture the heart of any coffee-loving couple, whilst also providing a useful gift that lasts! With a unique double-spouted design that offers flexibility to adapt to different coffee preferences, the L'OR BARISTA is powered by Phillips technology and has become a much-loved coffee machine since its launch. What's more, the machine is not only compatible with L'OR pods, but also a wide range of alternative branded coffee capsules on the market*, providing maximum flexibility and choice.

L'OR BARISTA Sublime Coffee Machine (£104.99*) is available in Piano Noir, Satin Blanc and Sunset Rubis, while the L'OR BARISTA Original Latte Machines (£164.99*) is available in Piano Noir and includes built-in milk frother.

7 topics all couples should cover in a prenup

While a prenuptial agreement is unlikely to be on many people's wedding checklist, a family lawyer has urged couples who will be tying the knot in the coming months to consider making it a key priority. With research by the law firm revealing that Google searches for terms related to prenups including 'what is a prenup?', 'meaning of prenups' and 'prenups in the UK' have increased by 21% in the last three months compared to the three months previous, it is clear they are growing in popularity.