Co-founder of Togather.com, Hugo Campbell, unveils garden wedding ideas for the big day. As wedding trends evolve, couples may be seeking unique ways to celebrate their special day. For those looking to embrace a laid-back atmosphere and the shabby chic aesthetic, from Ottolenghi-style dining and Aperol carts, to enchanting fairylights and the perfect venue.
A festival theme Many couples are looking for maximum flexibility and the ability to perfectly match their food to the vibe of the day. This summer Togather.com is seeing many couples opting for a festival feel for their food, hiring multiple different street food trucks and allowing their guests a choice of handheld food rather than a sit-down meal. This means they can cater to all sorts of dietary requirements and preferences as well as give their guests a more relaxed feel.
Venue If you aren't able to hire a big piece of land or don't have a family member or distant relative with an unfeasibly large garden, don't worry, you can still have an outdoor wedding! Many wedding venues, especially rural ones and local pubs, will let you jazz up their beer garden for your wedding. If you've found the outdoor space, why not stretch your nuptials over a weekend and have your guests camp on site, dancing around their yurts until the sun comes up.
Ottolenghi style dining Couples this summer are also looking for big sharing-style plates with plenty of fresh produce and bright colours. Salads are taking centre stage, and even when couples are opting for meat dishes, they are still looking to serve them "family style" alongside plenty of vibrant sides.
Custom menu items Couples have been looking for very specific menu items that are personal to their relationships - for example, Togather.com had one couple looking for an orange and rosemary sorbet as it's a special flavour combo for them from the day they got engaged. The great thing about booking via Togather is that customers can chat directly with suppliers before booking to ensure that these requests are possible, unlike booking via a preferred supplier at a venue.
Aperol carts Move over champagne trays: Aperol carts are taking over. They make a great option for drinks receptions as they double as a photo opp, and that distinctive orange provides a perfect pop of colour for a summer wedding.
Decor If you're working with a big space, then hiring tents, tipis and marquees is a great idea and offers the perfect place for speeches, meals and your first dance, not to mention somewhere for your guests to take shelter should the heavens open. Once you've got these structures set up, it's really easy to decorate and make them totally your own. For a shabby chic festival wedding, think oversized pastel coloured balloons, bunting, bright ribbons tied into trees, festival flags, enormous wooden lettering for your guests to take photos in front of, and lots and lots of flowers! Lighting is the absolute key and bad lighting will really make itself known when the evening comes. It needs to be moody and atmospheric, created using fairy lights and lanterns... no industrial lighting allowed.
Yankee Candle® launches limited-edition The Traitors collection
Fans of the BBC's hit reality show The Traitors can bring a little intrigue into their homes this autumn with a limited-edition candle collection from Yankee Candle. Inspired by the BAFTA-winning series, the new collection features two Signature Large Jar Candles: Faithful and Traitor. Each fragrance represents a different side of the game, inviting fans to choose their allegiance while settling in for the latest round of suspicion, secrets and unexpected reveals. Faithful is designed to evoke comfort and calm, blending cashmere vanilla and rose with a warm amber base. Its soft, powdery fragrance is ideal for cosy evenings spent analysing clues and debating who can be trusted.
READ ARTICLE
Traitors, Bake Off and Strictly: the TV-inspired hen dos you can actually book
With The Traitors, Strictly Come Dancing and The Great British Bake Off all back on our screens, hen and stag parties can take inspiration from some of the nation's favourite TV shows. Chillisauce is offering groups the chance to recreate the drama, dancing and baking challenges for themselves, with experiences designed to bring a little competitive spirit to pre-wedding celebrations. Whether you fancy uncovering a secret traitor, putting your baking skills to the test or learning a new dance routine, there are options to suit a range of groups and locations across the UK. Discover three TV-inspired hen and stag party ideas, from murder mystery experiences in 26 locations to baking challenges and themed dance classes....
READ ARTICLE
ALDI launches new wick-ed £4.99 confetti Halloween candles
Aldi is getting into the Halloween spirit with its new Hotel Collection Halloween Confetti Candles, priced at just £4.99 each. The 180g candles feature colourful confetti patterns and come in three designs: Ghost, Pumpkin and Black Cat. Each candle offers an approximate burn time of 34 hours, making them an affordable way to add an autumnal touch to the home. Shoppers can choose from three seasonal fragrances, each with its own distinctive blend of notes.
READ ARTICLE
Looking ahead to wedding trends for hens and stags in 2027
Hen Dos Stay Home While Stags Head Abroad, Chillisauce Data Reveals: Hen parties are increasingly choosing UK destinations, while stag groups are becoming more likely to head overseas, according to booking data from Chillisauce, which suggests the divide could widen further in 2027. The company's figures show that the proportion of hen bookings taking place in the UK rose from 69% in 2024 to 76% in 2026. Over the same period, the share of stag dos abroad increased from 59% to 68%. Robyn Davis, Head of Stag and Hen at Chillisauce, says affordability and accessibility are helping to shape hen party plans.
