Get those dancing shoes on - weddings are restriction free!
The day has finally come – wedding ceremonies and celebrations are restriction free! Grab your dancing shoes and get ready to sing at the top of your voice: "Celebrate good times... come on!"
It's been a long road that many of us have tentatively navigated over the last 16 months; from us here at County Wedding Magzines HQ to suppliers and couples. There's been small highs and many lows, as each glimmer of hope was put out by another government announcement. Lockdown 1.0 turned into 2.0 and then 3.0, wedding guest numbers went from 0 to 12, 15 to 30 and now we can actually invite all of our loved ones, friends and family dear to our hearts to the big day.
There's really been no better time to say 'I do', not only will it be mask free (personal choice), socially distance-free and rule-free; but it will be a true celebration of marriage, a union of friends and family, love and friendship.
There will no longer be limits on the number of people who can attend weddings, civil partnerships, funerals and other life events (including receptions and celebrations). There will be no requirement for table service or restrictions on any other element of the day such as singing or dancing.
By no means are we a country free from Covid, and as restrictions are lifted the government is highlighting the importance that we all use personal judgement to manage our own risk; when it comes to the big day perhaps remind guests that they should feel free to wear masks or keep socially distant as a personal and respected choice.
"I've been inspired by so many couples over the past year, who despite uncertainty and a multitude of hurdles to overcome have never lost sight of why their wedding day was so important to them. Their big days might not have been as big in number as originally planned, but they were certainly big in love and joy. We've all learnt a lot from them."
"I've seen some amazing weddings over the past year that prove you can still have a magical day even with a limited guest list. All the real weddings I've featured in the past year have agreed that although it wasn't the celebration they initially planned, they still had the perfect day and wouldn't change it for the world. I've loved seeing how positive both couples and the wedding industry as a whole have been throughout this difficult year, and it's made me proud to be a part of such a wonderful industry. I can't wait to see even more weddings in the next few months, whether they're small or large, and for people to celebrate their love with all their friends and family."
"The events of the last year have shown us one thing remains true: Love prevails. Over the last 16 months there has been more Google searches for engagement rings and proposals than ever before! This is because, when the world fell around us, it all made us realise what matters: family. "I was in awe of our wonderful NHS, I was in awe of how resilient couples where having their big days postponed time and time again – I hope you now have a date and get the day of your dreams. I was in awe of how wedding suppliers overcame and adapted to the situations they faced; and I can not wait to see the outpouring of love and jubilation at all the weddings taking place in the coming months and years!"
"The feeling on this day? Relieved is an understatement. As a bride-to-be who's suffered multiple postponements along with the rest of our readers, the last 16 months has been hard. But the biggest lesson I'll take from this experience is that health always comes first and love lasts forever. Being able to spend more quality time with the hubby-to-be has been absolutely precious. We've truly been through the highs and the lows together and we are so much closer as a couple for it."
"We've all been holding our breath for this moment for so long, it seems hard to believe that today's the day that restrictions are actually being lifted. I know we'll all be proceeding with caution but one thing that stands out the most for me throughout this pandemic is the resilience of couples patiently waiting - many of whom have had to cancel their weddings two or three times - and those who have chosen to tie the knot regardless of the limitations on many of the things we love about a traditional wedding. It's been a real inspiration and testament to the old adage ' Love wins'. I for one will be raising a glass to that today!"
"I'm amazed at how the wedding industry adapted so quickly during the past year with many local suppliers introducing new ideas and concepts to keep their businesses lucrative. Whether these were venues altering their space to accommodate smaller micro weddings or caterers and cake designers adding at-home delivery boxes to their menu so that guests who couldn't attend weddings could still indulge, wedding suppliers up and down the UK have gone over and above to help couples marrying during a difficult year. I'm excited to see what creative ideas come from this moving forward as we navigate the new normal. I'm excited to be able to feature the larger real weddings throughout my three magazines in the coming months but I also love seeing the smaller celebrations and think these are set to continue."
Wedding gift ideas for newlyweds - what fragrance is for you?
As we're fast approaching wedding season, according to Google trends, 'wedding day gifts' is seeing a 70% increase in searches! Yankee Candle and WoodWick, are the perfect gift for any wedding. Fragrance is the perfect way to add that personal touch and showcase how scent is perfect for making memories, creating a sensory experience that couples and guests can associate with the day long after it's over. Experts from Yankee Candle and WoodWick discuss the power of fragrance for moments like weddings. Jennifer Genson, WoodWick R&D Director of Fragrance & Sensory Science at Newell Brands say...
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House of Janneke, a new lifestyle brand, launches Book of Special Days
The Book of Special Days is a keepsake journal that gives special moments a home. This isn't a diary. There are no rules, no schedules, no need to write in it every day. There is a page for every day of the year, but no printed years. After a special day, you find the date, add the year and write down what made it worth remembering. Over time, this book will become something more: a living archive of your days, a weave of stories across the years, a place for little joys, victories big and small, laughter shared and milestones you cherish. It holds what you don't want to forget, a trove of the ordinary and the extraordinary, all treasured alike.
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Iconic Wedding Gift Ideas from Dualit
Iconic British brand Dualit presents a curated selection of wedding gifts designed to be cherished for years, and in some cases, generations to come. From romantic, café-style mornings to shared moments over hot chocolate, each gift will be enjoyed well beyond the wedding day. A thoughtful gift for couples who love to bake and a must have for every kitchen. The Dualit Hand Mixer is a firm favourite among top chefs and seen on TV, combining high performance and a chic retro design, this versatile tool is available in Copper or Chrome finish.
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Tagvenue Reveals Its 2026 Event Predictions
As the events sector continues to evolve, 2026 is set to mark a clear turning point for UK venues. Leading event booking platform Tagvenue has released its predictions for how the UK events and hospitality sector will evolve in 2026, pointing to a decisive shift away from scale, standardisation and fixed packages, and towards experience-led formats, wellbeing and clearer communication of value. Drawing on booking behaviour across thousands of UK venues, alongside insights from independent hospitality operators, Tagvenue predicts that the most successful event spaces in 2026 will be those that combine strong identity with flexibility, visual appeal and transparency around pricing and experience.