Your Midlands Wedding news and ideas from around the region

Karma Salford Hall is a Grade I listed manor house in Warwickshire

Karma Salford Hall is a Grade I listed manor house that has retained its Tudor charm, boasting stained-glass windows, a bell tower, and engraving into Cotswold stone. Set in manicured gardens and nestled amid rolling hills and farmland, the property has a quintessentially English feel, with new and period furnishings creating a traditional yet contemporary setting.

Once the guest home for the monks of Evesham Abbey and later owned by King Henry VIII, the building is steeped in history and old-world charm with grand fireplaces, wood panelling, and oil paintings.

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.

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.

Blackbrook Barn is set to be a new wedding venue

Plans to transform a former antiques centre into an exciting new luxury wedding venue in the West Midlands have been unveiled by property consultants Burley Browne. Blackbrook Barns, prominently located between Lichfield and Sutton Coldfield, is set to be re-imagined by its new owners as a high-class wedding venue set within beautiful rural surroundings against the backdrop of a Grade-II-listed hall and outbuildings.

The venue will be able to accommodate wedding ceremonies and all the subsequent celebrations. The development will also boast eight retail units, which are ideally suited to retailers and businesses associated with the wedding and wider hospitality sectors.

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.

Stratford Manor Hotel is a spacious venue located in the Warwickshire countryside

Stratford Manor Hotel is a spacious 104-bedroom venue with newly refurbished rooms in the peaceful Warwickshire countryside. The modern retreat in the heart of Shakespeare Country is just three miles from Stratford-upon-Avon and boasts modern surroundings, extensive facilities, and an expert team who care passionately about planning your occasion perfectly from start to finish.

The contemporary design and facilities at the Stratford Manor Hotel make it a fantastic place for unforgettable celebrations. From romantic and intimate to large and contemporary, the hotel has three rooms for you to choose from.

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.

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.

How to create an authentic 70's inspired tablescape

Tablescaping can help create the perfect ambiance on your wedding day. Here, Amy Harvey from Burleigh Pottery shares her tips for putting together a retro display:

When it comes to wedding aesthetics, the 1970s offer a captivating blend of nostalgia and style. Whether you're having a 70s-themed wedding or just want a nod to the era, why not consider putting together an authentic tablescape to infuse your celebration with a touch of retro charm?

Here, I'll guide you through the process of creating a sophisticated table setting, harmonising the rich cultural tapestry of the 1970s with the luxury of a wedding day.

That's so Fetch: 10 Ideas for the ultimate Mean Girls-themed hen party

It's time to channel your inner Regina George and party like it's October 3rd! To celebrate the release of the new Mean Girls movie on 19th January 2024, Fizzbox has the rundown on Mean Girls themed hen party ideas that are so fetch! In a world where wearing pink on Wednesdays isn't just a choice but a lifestyle, this is the ultimate way to celebrate your upcoming nuptials in style, whether you're an aspiring Spring Fling Queen or a Mathlete. So break out the Burn Book and dust off your Plastics-approved heels. Get in loser, we're going on a hen do!

From casual to formal, here’s how to plan your picture-perfect engagement party

Firsty, congratulations! You're getting married! After a proposal, there are so many things to think about, but before preparing for the big day itself, an engagement party is a great way to share your exciting news and get your nearest and dearest together to celebrate. Pinterest trends1 revealed the largest peak in searches for 'engagement party ideas' were in January last year, now is the time to get the ball rolling and start planning for the prelude of the main event. Whether you're planning an intimate gathering or a lavish affair, party planning expert at Ginger Ray, Jess Martin, shares 10 tips for your celebration, no matter how big or small:

Hagley Hall has partnered with Fews to create a new orangery

Often described as one of Worcestershire's best-kept secrets, Hagley Hall has recently partnered with Fews, an award-winning marquee company, to launch its new breathtaking structure for Summer 2024 and 2025 called The Orangery.

Set within 350 acres of breathtaking parkland, the Hall itself dates back to the 18th century and is considered to be one of the last great Palladian mansion houses, steeped in history and supreme architecture.

The wedding gifts couples in 2024 really want...

When it comes to wedding planning, there is so much to think about, the same goes for wedding gift lists & etiquette. Gifting Guru at The Wedding Shop, Liza Baucher, answers you everything you need to know about wedding registries... In short, we advise adding 2-3 gifts per wedding guest invited. Adding a variety of gifts to your wedding list caters to the differing budgets and preferences of your guests. It's a thoughtful approach to include a wide range of items, from smaller, more affordable pieces to a few higher-end gifts. The key is balance and variety. Typically, having slightly more gifts than the number of guests or households invited allows for enough choice without overwhelming your guests.

Safari Venues is home to three gorgeous wedding venues

Safari Venues is situated within the grounds of West Midland Safari Park and is home to three gorgeous wedding venues. Couples can expect a grand and special setting with a team that is passionate about making celebrations unforgettable.

Set within the scenic grounds, Spring Grove House is a Georgian manor that has built its well-deserved reputation on impeccable service, luxury menu selections, and attention to detail.

For large wedding celebrations, Treetops Pavilion is big and bold. Its vast proportions and capacity make it one of the largest entertainment facilities in the county, perfect for civil ceremonies, wedding breakfasts, and evening receptions.

Wedding ring trends 2024 according to Queensmith

Symbolising unconditional love, devotion and commitment, wedding rings represent the union of marriage between two people and unlike engagement rings, they are worn by both. Often, wedding rings tend to be more simple and minimalist, but there are still so many different choices you can make from the metal colour, style and bandwidth. As such, experts at engagement and wedding ring jeweller, Queensmith, have released exclusive internal data to help guide couples on what wedding rings will be popular in 2024.

2024 wedding trend: cocktails to serve at 70s-inspired weddings!

Pinterest has launched its Pinterest Predicts report and '70s-inspired weddings are set to be huge in 2024, with searches for 'groovy wedding' increasing 170% and 'retro wedding theme' spiking 80%. Experts at NIO Cocktails have shared popular cocktails from the 1970s that you should serve at your retro wedding: "The era that brought us the rise of disco music, retro prints and bell bottom trousers also brought us a resurgence in classic cocktails and new ones, too! There were many cocktails that were popular in the 1970s and if you're wanting to throw the perfect '70s-inspired wedding, we'd definitely advise including our top three '70s cocktail picks in your wedding."

PURE Spa and Beauty is now open at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole

PURE Spa and Beauty is now open at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole. For Hilton guests looking to unwind or add a splash of luxury to their stay, PURE Spa boasts luxurious treatment rooms, a nail bar, a sauna, an indoor Jacuzzi, 24-hour fitness facilities, and a steam room. Guests can indulge in a comprehensive suite of essential beauty and relaxing spa treatments – the perfect pairing for a stay at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole. All of PURE's indulgent spa treatments use PURE Spa Skincare, their own line of 100 per cent natural, oil-based, vegan skincare, ideal for lovers of safe, sustainable products. From express beauty treatments to an indulgent spa day, you're in safe hands with the friendly therapists. PURE Spa will take care of your wellbeing needs as you drift into a state of relaxation, far away from the stresses of wedding planning.

2024 food and drink trends predicted by the experts

From flexitarianism and the rise of sharing plates, to higher demand for whiskies and the rise in under-loved species of fish; here, renowned chefs and drink experts predict what will be the food and drink trends to take 2024 by storm - inspiration for your big-day catering too, with so much choice it will be hard to pick your favourite trend!