Your West Midlands Wedding news and ideas from around the region

Plan your wedding at The National Wedding Show

Planning a wedding is one of the most exciting times of your life and what better way to celebrate than a day out with your partner or wedding party. County Wedding Magazines has teamed up as media partners with The National Wedding Show which returns to Birmingham (NEC) between 22-24 September, and to London (ExCeL) 14-15 October, for two full weekends of unbridled wedding inspiration. Chat to hundreds of local and national suppliers, try on dreamy dresses, get the scoop at insider talks and make the most of some unique discounts too. After all, when it comes to planning the biggest day of your lives, every little helps.

Wedding speech pressure: top tips to nail it!

Whether the best man, the bride or a family member, giving a speech at a wedding naturally comes with pressure to perform. In fact Dr Chris Hartley, a sport and performance psychologist working with Insure4Sport, has likened it to the pressure faced by professional sportspeople in a major event like a penalty kick or break point. Here, he shares top tips on how to cope with the weight of expectation, fear of failure when giving a wedding speech, using sport psychology techniques he employs when working with top athletes.

Should more women taking the wedding speech spotlight

More women should be taking the spotlight at big events, according to new research from learning and development company Good Shout. However, according to a new poll, conducted in partnership with YouGov, the very prospect fills two thirds of women (67%) with dread. Of those women in the UK who would refuse to give speeches at a wedding, 50% said that it was the "cringe factor" that held them back, i.e. being too self-conscious or feeling too awkward or uncomfortable in the situation.

Alrewas Hayes is a Grade II listed quintessential English country estate

Alrewas Hayes is a Grade II listed quintessential English country estate. Situated on the outskirts of Fradley Village, the property dates back to 1066 and is believed to be the extensive Staffordshire woodland noted in the Doomsday Book. This large 100 acre estate comprises of a central courtyard, landscaped gardens, woodlands and rural countryside. The venue fuses historical charm with a contemporary aesthetic, with each ceremony space offering a different style. There are also 11 bedrooms to choose from and impressive architecture throughout.

Tips for tying the knot while it’s hot

With Summer wedding season in full-swing and the English weather as unpredictable as ever, happy couples across the country may get more than what they bargained for when it comes to wishing for a sunny day. As temperatures across the UK already reaching highs of 30C and the Met Office predicting even hotter temperatures expected ahead, Samantha Gilchrist, former wedding photographer turned cofounder and CEO of The Gilchrist Collection, the UK's largest wedding venue collection, gives her expert advice gathered from over 15 years in the industry.

Hen parties in UK more popular now

Hen parties on UK soil are the number one choice for Brits, according to new research from Butlin's Big Weekenders. According to a study commissioned to mark the reopening of Butlin's Big Weekenders breaks in September, over half of Brits (53%) say a hen do in the UK is more appealing than one abroad and almost the same (54%) say a hen do is better on one resort where all the facilities are in one place. On a Butlin's Big Weekender guests can enjoy accommodation, food, drink entertainment, and activities all in one place. The adult-only weekends are available at all three resorts - Bognor Regis, Minehead and Skegness. What's more, organisation is key for British hens, as data reveals the most common time to plan a hen do is 3-4 months in advance, in stark comparison to men, who are most likely to plan a stag do just 2-3 days in advance!

Castle Bromwich Hall Gardens is now registered to hold legal ceremonies anywhere in its grounds

Castle Bromwich Hall Gardens is now registered to hold legal ceremonies anywhere in its grounds. Once part of the Earl of Bradford's estate, the property is an early 18th century formal garden design rescued, nurtured and now owned by an independent Charitable Trust. Keeping largely to a period-relevant style with plant species and heritage fruit from 1680-1760, it's like visiting the Baroque countryside in the middle of a 21st century city.

Most Instagrammable beach wedding venues in the UK

Wedding invitation company, Aura Print, analysed 70 of the most sought-after beach wedding destinations and discovered the UK's most Instagrammable coastal wedding venues. The stunning spot of Tunnels Beaches in Ilfracombe, Devon boasts over 13k hashtags on Instagram, making this the study's number one pick. Located on the beautiful North Devon coast, Tunnels Beaches is situated on a cliff top with hand carved tunnels down to a secluded private beach. The venue provides a thatched roof gazebo which overlooks the breathtaking Devon coastline for a picture-perfect backdrop

Stanbrook Abbey Hotel is a former Grade II listed monastery dating back to the early 16th century

Dating back to the early 16th century, Stanbrook Abbey Hotel is a former Grade II listed monastery which has retained many of its original features, including dramatic stone cloisters, Gothic stained-glass windows and a 100ft bell tower. Standing at the foot of the Malvern Hills, the property is located within a magnificent 26-acre estate with beautifully kept walled gardens and a path lined with weeping willows, leading to a tranquil and secluded lake that's perfect for outdoor weddings.

The hotel recently underwent a multi-million-pound renovation which introduced The Refectory restaurant and eight new bedrooms on the second floor and a further seven in the original schoolhouse bringing the grand hotel to 70 bedrooms.

Brits feel judged on wedding gifts

Almost one in five (20%) Brits feel judged by friends and family when they cannot afford wedding gifts and 14% say they feel judged when they can't afford to attend a wedding, stag or hen party. 81% are depending on a form of finance other than their main income to provide for their family New research has revealed that almost one in five Brits (20%) feel judged by friends and family when they cannot afford wedding gifts. A further 14% say they feel judged when they can't afford to attend a wedding, stag or hen party.

Sara Davies, Fred Sirieix and Raj Somaiya revealed as BBC judges

Launching in August, BBC Two's Ultimate Wedding Planner will see eight wedding planners battle it out to prove they are Britain's next best wedding expert as they design spectacular ceremonies for six couples. Dragons' Den star Sara Davies, First Dates favourite Fred Sirieix and wedding industry expert Raj Somaiya will be the judges and mentors - overseeing the planners as they create dream weddings for our couples. Throughout the competition they will send home the weakest planner until just two remain in the final where the planners will face one final challenge to decide who will be crowned the winner.

Royston Blythe and Nick Malenko are taking some time out after celebrating 50 years of hairdressing

Award-winning stylists Royston Blythe and Nick Malenko are taking some time out after celebrating 50 years of hairdressing, spending 34 of those as owners of salons in Wolverhampton, Shrewsbury and London.

For five decades, the duo has tended to the tresses of celebrities and royalty alike; their work has graced the front covers of Vogue, Hello, OK! and countless other magazines, including regular hair columns in national publications. The duo have worked with Hollywood stars, including Melanie Griffiths, Mickey Rourke, Ursula Andress and Katy Perry.

The 'anti-wedding' wedding trends making their mark in 2023

'Anti-wedding' is the hottest new wedding trend this summer, from ditching tradition with bridal pant suits, short wedding dresses and mismatched bridesmaid dresses - get ready to see these trends everywhere this wedding season. Wedding supply experts at Aura Print have scoped out TikTok to serve up the top 10 anti-wedding wedding trends to look out for this summer. More people are ditching traditional for unconventional, allowing for their special day to be even more unique to the couple.

Bilston Brook Wedding Barn Ltd has been a working farm for more than 100 years

Bilston Brook Wedding Barn Ltd has been a working farm for more than 100 years and is located just one mile from the stunning cathedral city of Lichfield.

The barn offers a bespoke wedding experience, with a newly-furnished interior, hand-fired panelled walls, a bar, festoon lighting, a separate ceremony barn, new toilets and a bridal room. The venue has lots of charm and requires very little decoration, however, you can let your imagination run wild and embellish the barn to suit your tastes. There is also a large seating area with benches looking over the open fields, perfect for garden games or a barbecue.

How to throw a Barbie-themed hen party this summer

With the launch of the new Barbie movie, searches for "barbie party" on Pinterest have seen a 121% increase in the last six months as people look for inspiration on how to throw their own, pink-themed parties. As the wedding season is in full swing, thortful.com has teamed up with Pippa Masson, party planning expert at Hen Party Company Fizzbox, to compile top tips on how to throw a Barbie-themed hen party this summer. From Barbie themed cocktails to choosing the perfect venue, this is how to have the ultimate bachelorette Barbie herself would even love.

Fun and luxe wedding gifts

Attending a wedding this summer? Looking for the ultimate addition to your wedding day gift list? Look no further, Who Icons, seamlessly combines refined luxury with a touch of casual elegance, creating the ultimate personalised wedding gift. Who Icons understands that love stories are unique, and so should be the gifts that commemorate them. Its exquisite collection of handcrafted treasures is meticulously designed to captivate the hearts of discerning couples. From The Royals to the Beckhams, Anna Wintour to Karl Largerfield, the debut collection featuring the world's most influential fashion icons - and here at County Wedding Magazines HQ we're finding it hard to pick our favourite, we'll just have to collect them all.

Take a break from the wed-min - 30 things which bring happiness

Although joyous occasions, planning a wedding can be stressful with money worries and family politics all thrown into the mix. If you feel like this is your situation right now, grab yourself a brew and a biscuit and read this heartfelt study by Samsung: a definitive list of 30 things which bring us pure moments of happiness! An optimistic 94 percent of those surveyed, agree that joy is all around us, we just have to choose to see it.

Cheylesmore Manor House has launched two new services

Cheylesmore Manor House in Coventry has launched two new services that are tailored to you and will make a huge difference to your celebration. The Audio-Visual Service includes a live streaming of your service, a 28-day on- demand service, a downloadable keepsake, a vast choice of high-quality music, a single photo tribute and a slideshow. This is perfect for couples who have friends and family that are unable to attend on the big day but still want to be involved.

How to choose the perfect wedding ring

Often overlooked, there's a big difference between platinum, gold and white gold rings, even though they look very similar. Despite gold rings being the traditional choice platinum wedding bands have over 6.1k searches and platinum wedding rings 3.3k in the UK each month. Whilst gold wedding bands have only 1k searches and gold wedding rings 5.4k, this suggests that in 2023 the most popular choice may be a platinum band. But with more 15k searches for 'Wedding Bands' in the UK every month - the decision may not be as simple as what's on trend. Here, jewellery expert Sach Kukadia at 7879 recommends how to choose the perfect wedding ring a purchase far more more important than your regular jewellery! Find out the difference between platinum vs golds, delving into everything, including their pros and cons, through to how well they'll fare in the long run...

Dovecliff Hall Hotel is a Grade II listed property in Staffordshire

The Dovecliff Hall Hotel is a Grade II listed property in Staffordshire. Defined by its eye-catching Georgian architecture, scenic gardens and plush guest rooms, this manor house is ideal for those of you who adore a classic style. Your guests are bound to fall in love with its old English charm, complete with 15 recently refurbished bedrooms, all of which have king-size beds and luxury bed linen.