Planning a wedding can certainly be an exciting time, from picking the cake to choosing the entertainment, it's full of fun tasks to check off a to-do list. However, wedding planning can also come with a host of negativities such as worrying about money and feeling anxiety about family politics on the big day.
Increasing evidence shows that gardens and green spaces are associated with better physical, social and mental health. Cheryl Harper, managing director at Greensleeves, explains how the benefits of gardening stretch far beyond a bit of fresh air and a nice-looking lawn.
Get your workout on Anyone who's done a hard afternoon gardening will tell you it's a full-body workout at times. Who needs a gym when you can get your heart pumping and work several different muscle groups by digging out weeds, watering plants, and mowing the lawn? Regular exercise has been proven to reduce anxiety, stress, and other mental health issues. The physical exertion of gardening can be on par with going on a run or going to the gym. The NHS considers exercise essential to living a healthy and fulfilling life, and it's medically proven that people who do regular physical activity have up to a 30% lower risk of coronary heart disease and stroke.
Gardening helps improve your self-esteem Gardening can seem daunting for beginners, but once you start to see the fruits of your labour, you will fall in love with it in no time. There is a great sense of pride and satisfaction that comes with creating a beautifully landscaped garden. Plus, your garden will become the perfect place for relaxing or hosting friends and family. Gardening can provide a sense of accomplishment, mastery of a new skill, connection to nature, relaxation, and social interaction, all of which can improve your self-esteem and overall wellbeing.
Mow-tivaton As well as enjoying the fresh air and being close to nature, mowing offers additional mental and physical health benefits. It is a great way to promote a sense of well-being and the smell of fresh-cut grass has been shown to have a calming effect on many people. In fact, studies have found that exposure to the scent of freshly cut grass can reduce stress and anxiety and improve your mood. Pushing your lawn mower also acts as an efficient cardiovascular workout and the repetition of going up and down the garden is proven to deliver a serious calorie burn and be a great way to work your entire body and improve your heart health.
Grow together Gardens help us connect. Not just with nature and the outdoors, but with friends and family. It's easy to include the whole family when gardening, so get them all involved and show your kids how seeds develop into fully grown plants. Gardening teaches us patience, perseverance, and creativity – all important skills at any age. Even those of you who don't have your own garden can get started at one of Britain's favourite pastimes. Community gardens are becoming increasingly more common across the UK. They are great for combating loneliness, increasing social interaction, and improving teamwork. When working together for a shared common goal, you can find the role that works for you.
Summer thyme Spending time outdoors in the garden is a great way to get your daily dose of vitamin D, a vital nutrient that promotes strong bones, muscles, and a robust immune system. Plus, it's a perfect excuse to soak up some sun and disconnect from the digital world. Gardening is a creative, enjoyable project that helps us forget about our troubles and focus on something positive.
Take care of your mental health According to the mental health charity Mind, nearly two-thirds of UK adults (63%) say that spending time gardening or in nature helps their mental health, with respondents saying it makes them feel less stressed and that they benefit from taking in the sights, colours, and smells of the outdoors. Gardening is so beneficial that the NHS has even prescribed it as part of their 'Long Term Plan'. So, get your green prescription and start enjoying the mental health benefits of gardening today.
New app launches to simplify one of marriage’s biggest admin headaches
Changing your name after marriage can mean updating details with countless organisations, from banks and subscriptions to official documents and employers. New app Name Change Navigator aims to make the process easier, guiding newlyweds through each step from one platform. Founded by Rebecca Dainton, Head of Product at Flutter UK & Ireland, the app was created to reduce the stress and mental load associated with name changes. It supports a range of naming journeys, including traditional surname changes, double-barrelling, blended surnames and other choices following marriage, civil partnership, divorce or personal identity changes. The launch comes as younger generations increasingly rethink traditional naming conventions, with technology offering a more streamlined approach to this often-overlooked part of newlywed life.
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Something borrowed, something blue’ is out – but 1 in 4 Brits still value wedding cards
New research from Moonpig reveals the top wedding card writing confessions. A whopping 30% of Brits admit to defaulting to a safe "congratulations!" because they simply can't think of anything else to say. This is followed by recycling the same message for different couples (11%) and signing a card without knowing what your partner has written (8%). What's more, when stuck for words, one in 10 (8%) admit to turning to AI for inspiration - this rises to one in seven (14%) among 25–34-year-olds. Brits are not alone in facing this wedding card conundrum. More than half of Brits (55%) admit they have struggled with at least one aspect of wedding message writing. Nearly one in four find wedding cards (23%) or guest-book messages (24%) difficult, while one in five (20%) hit writer's block when preparing the all-important wedding speech.
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The YouGov Big Survey on Weddings
The journey that begins with "will you marry me" and ends with "I do" transforms a couple's lives in multiple ways, but it also involves a huge number of decisions, as planning a wedding is no mean feat. Every guest will have an opinion on what a wedding should be like: from what's classy and tacky, to which traditions should be followed and which can be discarded. To help prospective couples get a grip on what these potential guests hope to see in a wedding, YouGov's new Big Survey on Weddings examines all these key debates about what should and shouldn't feature on the big day, including looking at the decisions that brides and grooms would make themselves. The study is part a Big Surveys project: a series of in-depth surveys on British society. It was conducted between 7-9 August 2026, with a sample of 1,784 adults in the UK aged 18 and above.
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Brits are swapping the 'big day' for the 'right day' as searches for intimate wedding venues soar
Couples are increasingly choosing quality time over large guest lists, with new search data revealing a growing demand for intimate weddings and stylish registry office ceremonies. According to Google search data analysed by Suit Direct, searches for "small intimate wedding venues near me" have increased by 86% year-on-year, while interest in "micro wedding packages" has risen 23% over the past three months, suggesting more couples are opting for meaningful celebrations that prioritise the experience over extravagance. For many, the legal ceremony is no longer just the paperwork before the "real" wedding. Instead, couples are dressing for the occasion, hiring photographers and celebrating afterwards with an intimate meal or party, proving you don't need a 200-person guest list to make the day feel special.
