Your Yorkshire Wedding news and ideas from around the county

New bridal boutique in the heart of Selby, Yorkshire

Abbey Bridal is a new bridal boutique in the heart of Selby, North Yorkshire. Launched and run by husband and wife team Luke and Jessica earlier this year, the team has always had a passion for all things wedding having worked in the bridal industry before, Jessica also has a degree in textile design from The Arts University, Bournemouth. Opening officially on September 9th, early exclusive appointments are available from August 26th! What's more, to celebrate the start of summer, the boutique is running a discount offer: £100 off your dream dress for all teachers and school workers who book an appointment between august 26th and september 2nd.

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!

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

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.

Wedding coordinator of The Grand, York reveals top trends

Wedding season is in full swing, with happy couples tying the knot up and down the country. To inspire brides and grooms-to-be, Gail Bradley, Wedding Coordinator at the five-star hotel and Yorkshire wedding venue The Grand, York, reveals some of the biggest wedding trends seen right now. As 2023 fashion trends continue to embrace the 'mermaidcore' aesthetic, it's not surprising that Google data shows a 43% increase in searches for "mermaid wedding dresses" compared to the next most popular style, A-line. Mermaid wedding dresses are not a new style, with their history dating back to the 1930s, however, they've recently seen a resurge in popularity, benefiting from the recent sea-themed trend. Gail says, "We see a variety of wedding dress shapes, styles and sometimes even colours, here at The Grand, but the elegant mermaid silhouette has remained a popular choice over the last few years. The brides that choose this style look simply beautiful and are always turning heads."

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.

The Wensleydale Creamery's new celebration cake

Cheese lovers rejoice – cakes are no longer just for those with a sweet tooth! The Wensleydale Creamery, based in Hawes in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales, has launched a brand-new range of Celebration Cheese Cakes. Made from a specially selected range of Wensleydale Creamery's cheeses, the new cakes create a centrepiece as delicious as they are spectacular, making them the perfect addition to your wedding. Whether you favour savoury over sweet or are looking for a twist on a traditional wedding cake, Wensleydale Creamery has the Celebration Cheese Cake to suit your needs. Lovingly created using some of the finest ingredients in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales, each cake features layers of delicious Yorkshire Wensleydale cheeses, which can be interchanged to suit your specific tastes. Available in two different sizes, they can cater for between 50 – 100 guests, depending on the size of your gathering.

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.

Mappin & Webb's new York showroom

Luxury jewellers, Mappin & Webb, part of the Watches of Switzerland Group, has unveiled its new-look showroom located on Davy Gate, in York. The new larger boutique replaces their previous location on Coney Street, having taken over the old Fraser Hart Jewellers back in 2020. Mappin & Webb is a true British treasure with more than 245 years of tradition and historical significance in the world of silver and fine jewellery. It's a story that began in 1775, when Jonathan Mappin opened a workshop in Sheffield, with a mission to create the most beautifully crafted silverware for British society. Over the immediate years that followed this would see the company expand internationally, receive Royal Warrants and commissions from Monarchs around the world, and become synonymous with excellence, craftsmanship and all things truly British

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...

Quintessentially British winter wedding location

A luxurious boutique hotel in the Yorkshire Dales. Grantley Hall offers an unrivalled setting for the most decadent and memorable wedding celebration combining a rich heritage, exquisite décor and stunning formal gardens. Whether an elaborate affair or intimate ceremony, Grantley Hall caters for celebrations of every size. Ceremonies can be held in a range of magical spaces, which include, Grantley Suite: Located in the Garden Pavilion, the Grantley Suite offers an elegant and contemporary setting, accommodating up to 180 people for a wedding breakfast.

How to nail your bridesmaid gifts

Finding that perfect thank you gift for your bridesmaids can be a mind boggling task. How can you truly thank them for supporting you on your big day? New research* from gifting experts at Getting Personal shows that apart from our parents, friends are the hardest people to shop for with one in seven (15%) admitting they struggle. To help brides give envy-inducing thank you gifts gifting expert at Getting Personal, Tara Butler, shares eight tips for figuring out what they really want... without having to ask.

The perfect wedding gift that couples will love

Wedding season is upon us and picking out the perfect wedding gift that is personal, but also has character and a luxe feel to celebrate the couple's big day can be a daunting task. However look no further, whether it's to say thanks to your bridesmaids, or to celebrate the happy couple, Yvonne Ellen, a home and interiors designer who specialises in hand-painted home gifts, has picked out some of her top gift ideas to suit all types of couples including gifts for loved ones and the bridal party.

10 things wedding guests really care

Whether it's an open bar, live band or fireworks, choosing the best elements to add to your wedding day could really make or break your big day, new research reveals. Wedding experts Queensmith analysed thousands of comments from Reddit to reveal the things that really matter to guests when attending a wedding. Unsurprisingly, an open bar is a consistent success with guests at a wedding, however, it seems seating charts and a late-night snack are just as important.

Your wedding playlist, according to DJ experts

Now that we have entered peak wedding season, (May-October), DJing experts from CD Pool have provided the ultimate wedding playlists for your reception that is guaranteed to keep the dance floor hopping with happy guests. CD Pool analysed Spotify API data, exploring 2117 playlists with the keyword "wedding" to compile four playlists that reflect the atmosphere at different stages of the wedding reception. The suggested No. 1 song to include in your wedding playlist is I Wanna Dance With Somebody by Whitney Houston, a guaranteed floorfiller that appeared in over 320 playlists on Spotify, making it the most popular wedding-related track.

Latest 2023 designs from Yorkshire designer

Looking for the latest bridal jewellery and accessories made in Yorkshire? Say hello to The Bobby Pin's 2023 bridal range, including angel influences, ethereal pieces and statement earrings. Included in the line-up are two stunning headbands – big in bridal news right now – as well as some new jewellery designs. Your Yorkshire Wedding loves the coordinating hairpin and earring sets, Neve and Nina, ideal for brides wanting to twin with their flowergirl.

Top wedding travel tips for big-day guests

Anita Naik, Savings Expert at VoucherCodes.co.uk provides her top tips on how to manage journey costs, when travelling to attend a wedding. "Wedding ceremonies are well known for placing financial strain upon guests, ranging from the cost associated with your gift, to a new outfit, and even – your transport. Whether the ceremony is being held in the UK, or further afield, consumers will likely have to travel to attend a loved one's big day. I've pulled together my top tips to help you cut costs and ensure you can enjoy your family and friend's nuptials without worrying about your finances.