Your Midlands Wedding news and ideas from around the region

Discover The Belfry Hotel & Resort's current renovations

A significant £80 million expansion and renovation initiative is underway at The Belfry Hotel & Resort, a renowned establishment with multiple awards. The ambitious project is scheduled for completion by Autumn 2025. It will introduce a state-of-the-art 852 sqm event space known as The Masters Suite, designed to accommodate up to 648 guests for banquets with a maximum capacity of 920. The interior aesthetic of The Masters Suite is inspired by the Resort's lush green surroundings, featuring soft green hues complemented by elegant gold accents and expansive floor-to-ceiling windows. Furthermore, the space can be partitioned into smaller sections to provide flexibility and versatility. It also includes a spacious pre-function area, a mezzanine level and an outdoor terrace.

The Speech Surgery: modern day etiquette with Heidi Ellert McDermott, founder of Speechy

The Speech Surgery: modern day etiquette with Heidi Ellert McDermott, founder of Speechy, and author of The Modern Couple's Guide to Wedding Speeches: Some say addressing guests as 'ladies and gentlemen' is a mistake these days... what is the Modern newlywed speech etiquette? Let's start by saying (again) there are no wedding speech rules. When it comes to etiquette, it's simply a case of common sense and being polite. Honestly, that's it. When it comes to addressing your audience, 'Ladies and gentlemen' is becoming less common for two reasons.

Exchange vows in New Hall Hotel & Spa

A fine example of late Medieval architecture, New Hall Hotel & Spa in Sutton Coldfield began life as a manor house, built by the Earl of Warwick as a hunting lodge in the 13th century, but today it stands proudly as one of England's oldest listed moated houses. At 800 years old, this luxurious property is regarded as one of Birmingham's finest hotels, boasting 60 elegant bedrooms and 26 acres of luscious pastures. When guests enter The Great Chamber, they'll be blown away by the craftsmanship that gives this room such character. The oak-panelled walls, intricately painted ceiling, and pretty leaded windows showcase every bit of this venue's period history, with space for 75 guests.

Creative ways to preserve and display your wedding bouquet

Your wedding day is one of the most magical days of your life, so you'll no doubt want to hold onto your memories for as long as possible. Here, Clare Price from framing specialists Wall Space shares their tips for preserving your wedding bouquet for years to come. Preserving your wedding bouquet can be a wonderful way to keep the memories of your special day alive. Techniques like drying and pressing are some of the best methods of flower preservation, and there are countless ways to show off your preserved blooms in your home once you're done. With the tips and ideas below, you can create lasting reminders of your cherished moments and remember your special day for years to come.

Discover Lamport Hall in Northamptonshire

Lamport Hall is an idyllic venue in the heart of the Northamptonshire countryside. It's available for exclusive use at weddings to ensure special, intimate, and private events.  The team has recently expanded their wedding licensing, meaning lovebirds can now have legal ceremonies in the Walled Garden or the Edwardian Carriage House as well as the more traditional country house weddings. To celebrate, they have launched wedding packages for the first time, including elopement and micro-wedding packages, plus options for larger weddings. These are designed to make planning as easy as possible and can all be adapted to create bespoke and unique events to remember.

Experts reveal five wedding trends set to be huge this Summer

With the new season comes new colours and trends, and with that being said, experts at Diamonds Factory have predicted five wedding trends that are set to be big this Summer. Couples will step away from the traditional colour scheme "Stepping away from the traditional black and white formal attire, we expect to see many wedding parties embrace colour this Summer. We saw the mismatched bridesmaid dresses trend resurge in popularity in late 2023, and predict this trend will take off even further this Summer, especially now it's getting warmer and with people experimenting with colour more.

The Speech Surgery: how long is too long?

The Speech Surgery: how long is too long? Heidi Ellert McDermott, founder of Speechy explores this. My groom says he's finished his speech and he's really happy with it but it's almost 2,000 words long. Is that too much? Yes. All speeches should be under ten minutes long. It seems obvious but I've seen several speeches (generally the best men) go well over half an hour, oblivious to the yawns or heckling. That's no more than 1,300 words maximum, allowing for pauses or laughter on the day. Remind your fiancé that his first draft is just the start of the writing process.

Wedding favours for Kids: ToyChoc Box

PLAYin CHOC's ToyChoc boxes are a fantastic choice for entertaining kids at weddings. These eco-friendly, vegan, and allergen-free treats come in 100% recyclable packaging. Each box contains two creamy chocolate bars wrapped in compostable packaging, along with a 3D card puzzle toy featuring animals like endangered species, sea creatures, or dinosaurs - there's also a fun animal fact inside. At just £2.25 each on Amazon, these boxes are a budget-friendly addition to your wedding plans.

Your ultimate guide to wedding gift etiquette

It's that time of year again where our inboxes and mailboxes are full of beautifully designed wedding invitations, we're scouring the web for the perfect outfit and excitedly researching accommodation and travel. Being invited to a wedding is a gift and it is tradition to provide a gift to the happy couple. But, where to begin? Luckily we've sat down with Georgie Mitchell, Wedding Planner, Coordinator and Wedding Expert, at online fashion destination SilkFred, who has shared her ultimate guide to wedding gift giving from how much to spend to how to make your gift stand out on the present table.

Green I dos: How to plan a sustainable wedding

The carbon footprint of a wedding in the UK is equivalent to driving a car around the world twice – both create 14.5 tonnes of carbon dioxide. Ahead of wedding season, sustainability experts from BusinessWaste.co.uk teamed up with leading wedding planner Georgie Mitchel from Georgina Rose Events to share the best ways to make a wedding more sustainable, while also saving some money. Georgie says: "Having been involved in hundreds of weddings, it's hard to see the amount of waste that is produced from that one day. However, it's so good to hear that couples are looking at ways to be more green! Here are my tips for having a sustainable wedding day."

The Speech Surgery: too many thank yous? Heidi Ellert McDermott, founder of Speechy explores this

The Speech Surgery: too many thank yous? Heidi Ellert McDermott, founder of Speechy explores this here, ready now...I've written my bride speech but almost three quarters of it is 'thank yous'. Is that right? The thank yous are obviously very important but you also need to be wary of turning your speech into one long tedious list. For guests, thank yous are really only interesting if 1) they're personally getting thanked or 2) the thank yous are entertaining, from-the-heart and feel more than a cut and paste job...

Five ways to beat a wedding hangover

Weddings are notorious for booze with 50% of people admitting they wouldn't be happy to attend a wedding without alcohol. With an expectation for heavy drinking at most celebrations, lots of dancing and a late night, wedding guests often wake up feeling worse for wear. Those suffering the morning after a wedding can ease the pain with simple hacks, including drinking a pint of water before bed and sleeping on their left side. Nausea, thirst and aches can also be alleviated by having a lie-in, which helps to limit fatigue and irritation the next day.

UK vs US Brides: Wedding expert reveals 5 ways we differ

It's time to settle the score: do UK brides really do it better, or are our American cousins stealing the show? Let's dive into the wedding warzone and explore five spicy differences that set us apart! According to a survey conducted by the UK's largest wedding venue collection, the Gilchrist Collection, there are some key differences in the ways Brits plan their big day, compared to that of Americans. Samantha Gilchrist, the owner of the Gilchrist Collection, has had the pleasure of helping thousands of engaged couples with their wedding, across 12 venues, both in the UK and US.

Here are 10 must-have items to include in a wedding bathroom basket

Luxury bathroom experts at Posh.co.uk have shared ten must-have items to provide to make sure guests are well taken care of. Wedding bathroom baskets can be a really nice touch for couples to show their guests they care by providing them with everything they need for a comfortable evening. Including items like safety pins, deodorant, body tape and antihistamines will mean that guests won't have to worry about a thing. Andy Ellis from Posh.co.uk said: "Wedding bathroom baskets can be a really lovely touch at a reception by providing guests with all of those small but important items that they may not necessarily be able to bring with them.

Discover Lamport Hall's new wedding packages

Lamport Hall is an idyllic venue in the heart of the Northamptonshire countryside. It's available for exclusive use at weddings to ensure special, intimate, and private events.  The team has recently expanded their wedding licensing, meaning lovebirds can now have legal ceremonies in the Walled Garden or the Edwardian Carriage House as well as the more traditional country house weddings. To celebrate, they have launched wedding packages for the first time, including elopement and micro-wedding packages, plus options for larger weddings. These are designed to make planning as easy as possible and can all be adapted to create bespoke and unique events to remember. Prices start from just £3,495 and include award-winning catering, a night's stay in the holiday cottage and drinks packages.

The Speech Surgery: timings!

Unsure of when to have the wedding speeches? Heidi Ellert McDermott, founder of Speechy & author of The Modern Couple's Guide to Wedding Speeches has the answer: In the US, speeches are just as common at the rehearsal dinner (the formal dinner prior to the wedding that the 'top table' are invited to) as the wedding day itself. At many British weddings, the speeches are scheduled before the wedding meal; the idea that everyone is officially welcomed to the wedding and the speakers are quickly able to relax (and tuck into the free wine!).

Wedding day wines from leading English wine producer Gusbourne

English wine producer Gusbourne, has a stunning range of the finest vintage sparkling and still wines to elevate any wedding providing guests with an array of exquisite drinks that complement every element, from the welcome drinks to the wedding breakfast and toasts! With Gusbourne wines, every pour becomes a celebration of love and new beginnings, ensuring your wedding day becomes a truly unforgettable affair, brimming with sophistication, charm, and cherished memories. For a spectacular wedding reception, fill your guests' glasses with the exquisite Gusbourne Blanc de Blancs 2018, a sparkling masterpiece that exudes elegance with its delicate bubbles and refreshing, crisp notes. As guests raise their glasses to toast the happy couple, each sip is vibrant and intense, setting the tone for an evening of celebrations.

Discover Singing Jennie's new wedding service

Experienced singer and pianist Jennie Harwood at Singing Jennie is excited to announce she has added a songwriter service to her wedding packages. The supplier already provides a bespoke alternative and traditional music for wedding ceremonies, drinks receptions and wedding breakfasts, creating setlists of all genres so lovebirds can hear the music they love on their special day. Now, she has also added the option for a personalised song to be written and performed for weddings. Jennie comments, "I could write about your love story as a surprise for your significant other or as an alternative way to thank guests – the possibilities are endless!"

Biggest wedding faux pas to avoid on your big day

With more than half (53%) of married Brits confessing to having wedding day regrets, wedding expert and CEO of the UK's largest collection of wedding venues, The Gilchrist Collection, Samantha Gilchrist shares her thoughts on the biggest wedding faux pas' couple should steer clear of to guarantee wedding day success. "You've planned everything down to the tiniest detail and finally get to enjoy your day, why risk something spoiling it? While some of these things are a little outside your control, it's important to let your wedding planner and venue know what your boundaries are, and the things you would find unacceptable, were they to happen on your big day. They'll be able to support you in handling issues both ahead of time and on the day itself.

Exchange vows at Lower House Farm in Herefordshire

Lower House Farm is a regenerative farm and venue in the Olchon Valley. It's set amongst 70 acres of unspoilt landscapes, with ancient woodlands, narrow streams, wildflower meadows and a waterfall. From the moment you and your guests arrive, the team will help you make the most of your stay. They'll help you plan your itinerary, find opportunities to gather together at a table and reconnect with the outdoors, as well as find time to relax and make memories that will last a lifetime. Lower House Farm recommends using Old Great Marlborough as a base for your stay. The nearby farmhouse accommodation can comfortably sleep up to 22 of your nearest and dearest. While the cosy mountain pub, The Bull's Head, is just down the road from the farm and has four cabins that each sleep two people. It's the ideal place to gather the evening before the main day or to unwind and reconnect with your guests for lunch the day after.