Your Sussex Wedding news and ideas from around the area

Brighton business serves afternoon tea at 10 Downing Street

The founder of a Brighton based business recently served her own tea brand at 10 Downing Street at a special event held in honour of female entrepreneurs. OMGTea founder Katherine Swift travelled to 10 Downing Street to make her organic matcha green tea for Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's wife, Akshata Murty and guests. Swift said: "I wasn't quite sure what to expect going to Downing Street for the first time but it was a really warm and friendly and informal atmosphere from the moment we arrived. "We set up an OMGTea table with our product. The team at Downing Street thoughtfully specifically selected a green tablecloth for us - that was a nice touch.

New Smeg products ideal for wedding gifting this season

Whether you're compiling your big-day gift list and looking for inspiration, or you're a guest attending a wedding in the coming months, these new items from Smeg makes wedding gifting easy! Adding to its of portfolio cooking essentials, Smeg has introduced its first countertop scales. The KSC01 Kitchen Scales are a welcome addition for both budding bakers and professionals in the kitchen. Joining the likes of stand mixers and cookware in Smeg's portfolio, the brand's all-new digital scales are both outstanding in design and packed with its advanced technology.

New cake stands launched in Spring pastel shades

Innovative UK cake stand brand, Prop Options has launched a new, sophisticated range of interchangeable pastel-coloured cake stands, giving couples and cake designers bountiful colourful options when it comes to displaying their wedding cakes. Known as the Reeded Stand, these pastel-toned contemporary cake plinths have removable top plates, allowing designers and couples to mix and match colourways for a truly unique, fun, yet elegant, design. Prop Options is bringing out six colourways in its Pastel Reeded Stand collection, namely pink, lavender, green, yellow, blue and 2024 colour of the year, Pantone Peach Fuzz. The stands are also available in white, black, and gold.

A welcome return for The Dome in Worthing

Here at Your Sussex Wedding, we're delighted to report that The Dome in Worthing has now reopened its doors and is taking wedding bookings for its event space upstairs! The venue is a 1911 Edwardian south-facing cinema, boasting two function spaces both with running bars and incredible sea views. Maintaining the original decor throughout, a building this eyecatching should be visited at least once in your lifetime! The venue is licensed to hold weddings in both rooms and is available to be booked for a whole range of events. Featured on both film and television on Netflix, BBC's Ultimate Wedding Planner, and cinematic classic Wish You Were Here, The Dome has built up a great reputation.

7 top tips for including your pooch in your wedding

Considering including your pooch at your wedding? Here are 7 top tips from Petpals. With 57% of UK households boasting a furry friend, it is no wonder many couples dream of having their beloved dog join them on their special day. In fact, a whopping eight in 10 Brits say they would want their four-legged companion to be part of their wedding festivities. But before you entrust your pooch with the role of ring bearer, it is essential to be well prepared to ensure that your big day is nothing short of paw-some for both you and your pup. Here, Kevin Thackrah, Director of Petpals, the UK's longest-established pet-care franchise, shares some top tips on how to seamlessly incorporate your canine companion into your wedding day.

How to avoid guests over indulging on alcoholic drinks on the big day

One in six (16 per cent) wedding guests admit to driving home the morning after a wedding, when they could still be over the alcohol limit, reveals new research1 from Direct Line Motor Insurance. In a bid to remind drivers about the risks of getting behind the wheel after celebratory drinking, a car was crashed into a three-metre-high wedding cake outside Blenheim Palace2, one of the UK's most instagramable wedding venues.

With one in five (20 per cent) guests saying they have been driven home by someone they thought was over the drink drive limit, the morning after celebrating nuptials, the smashed wedding cake highlights the risks involved with driving the morning after.

6 Star Wars cocktails for the ultimate Star Wars hen do

Calling all brides-to-be and their intergalactic squadrons! Prepare to elevate your hen party to new heights as leading hen party company Fizzbox teams up with magical tavern, The Cauldron, to concoct a range of Star Wars cocktails, perfect for celebrating the bride's journey to the galaxy of marriage! Set your blasters to fun as The Cauldron's mixologists transport you to a galaxy far, far away with their selection of otherworldly drinks inspired by the iconic saga. From Darth Vader-inspired concoctions to drinks that will have you feeling like you're partying on the Millennium Falcon, there's something to delight every Jedi bride and her entourage.

The most popular wedding cars of 2024 and how much they will cost

As we head into the Spring/Summer wedding season, many couples will be tying up the last elements of their weddings before the big day. Often left to the last minute is transport, with many couples wanting to arrive and leave their wedding venues in style. Nationwide Vehicle Contracts decided to investigate which cars are the most popular when it comes to wedding hire, and also how much hiring one will set you back. To work out the most popular wedding car of 2024, Nationwide Vehicle Contracts has analysed Google search volumes, Google search trends and TikTok data including the number of posts per model, monthly searches and the YoY search trend.

Wedding homeware from Addison Ross

The heart and soul of British luxury Addison Ross, is a family owned British brand started in 1978; from a small business, it has now grown into a global sensation with a vast offering including an exquisite range of luxury homeware essentials that create the ideal wedding tablescape or wedding gift. A recent collaboration with India Hicks, saw the launch of a beautiful new photo frame collection, which India (King Charles' Goddaughter) used for her own wedding photos. These wonderful frames can also be used to create special moments at weddings including framing seating charts or cocktail menus!

Historic Sussex Hotels welcomes new venue into the fold

Independent, family-owned hotel collection Historic Sussex Hotels has recently welcomed a new venue into the fold with the opening of The Black Horse, a Grade II listed pub with rooms in Climping, West Sussex. As part of the careful and considered renovation, the existing downstairs bar area has been stripped back and the parquet wooden floor restored to its former glory. The Ryebank, a stunning oak frame extension filled with light and height with views over the fields has also been added. Completing the offering is a gloriously pink private room, perfect for cosy celebrations, a fun family lunch or a noisy dinner party.

Young Brits looking to get hitched face saving for 30 Months

Young couples are faced with saving for over 30 months to reach their wedding savings goals, according to new research from Nationwide that charts what Brits are saving for in 2024.One in six young people are currently putting money away for their dream wedding. On average, these love birds are aiming to save £17,000 in preparation for their wedding – although the costs will likely be higher as many will also benefit from contributions from family and friends. Based on average monthly individual savings of £282, it would take a typical couple saving a combined £564 around 31 months to reach their target.*

Spring Bank Holiday weekend is set to host second highest number of weddings for 2024

The team at hampers.com, who strive to bring joy and wholehearted togetherness through gifting, recently undertook a study to determine the most popular dates for weddings in 2024, surveying almost 2,300 UK adults who were set to get married this year. When asked what date they were getting married on, the most popular dates were found to be were these here...

Tottington Manor upgrades its fabulous Champagne Tent

Tottington Manor in West Sussex has had its fabulous Champagne Tent upgraded to become the perfect area for pre- and postwedding drinks receptions. With an uninterrupted view of the South Downs, the addition of comfortable rattan furniture, plus feature bar and decking makes it a wonderful place to relax and enjoy your big day. Having been awarded bronze in the Wedding Venue of the Year category by Visit England Tourism South East, the Tottington team are committed to continual investment and make guest comfort and service their top priority.

Need a helping hand with your groom's speech? Check out these top tips from Speechy

'The Speech Surgery' with Heidi Ellert McDermott, founder of Speechy & author of The Modern Couple's Guide to Wedding Speeches'. My groom isn't naturally romantic. How can I help him with his speech without actually writing it for him? Well, no one will be expecting him to be reciting sonnets and he doesn't need to have a personality transplant, but it would be nice if he managed to deliver at least a few suitably sweet lines in his speech! Send him a few good blog posts (including this one) and encourage him to get the advice & feedback from his friends (ideally, married ones who have been through the speechwriting process before).

Indulge in Vera Wang x Chopin vodka this wedding season

With the 2024 wedding season fast approaching, brides and grooms-to-be are looking for ways to impart luxury to their special day. From elevating their drink offering with expertly crafted cocktails to creating a sophisticated monochrome look, the Vera Wang x Chopin vodka has all the assets to make one's celebration stylish and memorable. Vera Wang x Chopin vodka comes from a unique partnership blending the refined style of iconic fashion designer Vera Wang with the unparalleled craftsmanship of Chopin.

The UK’s top stately homes for Bridgerton-themed weddings

A recent study has revealed the UK's highest-rated stately homes for Bridgerton-themed weddings, with Pembroke Lodge, Surrey named the best. The research, conducted by photo wall art creator StoryBoards, analysed user-generated review data from a popular wedding planning site to identify the UK regions with the highest quantity of top-rated stately homes by creating an overall rating score. The study has revealed that Pembroke Lodge is the nation's most highly rated stately home. Located in Surrey, the grand wedding venue has over 1,100 five-star ratings and an overall perfect score of 10 out of 10.

Find out more about Marisska Couture Bespoke and Couture Tailoring

As a personal stylist, my passion for design runs deep. Growing up surrounded by beautiful dresses made by my grandmother and my father's exquisite cabinet design, creativity has always been the driving force behind my work. For me, fabric isn't just material; it's a canvas brimming with potential. I draw endless inspiration from the rich palette of colors and textures they offer. At Marisska Couture Bespoke and Couture Tailoring, we don't just make garments; we're crafting unforgettable experiences. From our initial consultation to the final fitting, each step of our process is tailored to you, ensuring that your unique vision comes to life with meticulous attention to detail.

Restaurant Interlude at Leonardslee awarded Michelin Green Star

Restaurant Interlude at historical Leonardslee Lakes and Gardens has been awarded a Michelin Green Star, the first restaurant in West Sussex to receive this accolade. It recognises Interlude's outstanding sustainable practices and ethically-sourced seasonal cuisine crafted by executive chef Jean Delport. The Michelin Star award organisers commented, "It's quite an achievement to hold both a Michelin Star and a Michelin Green Star, but that's exactly what the team at Interlude have managed thanks to their continued efforts towards sustainable gastronomy.

New research reveals biggest wedding trends of 2024, and some will surprise you

The wedding themes of 2024? Expect them to be smaller and more intimate, more informal and just generally more fun! That's according to a new study which was commissioned by high street jewellers, F.Hinds. They asked 2,000 UK couples for their thoughts on which wedding traditions are still important (and which aren't), and what new trends will be incorporated into wedding day plans for 2024. They also spoke to a wedding expert for her views. Their research revealed that the 'big day' traditions that remain in favour include the bride walking walked down the aisle (53%), having wedding rings (52%), cutting the cake (49%), having a best man (44%), and the bride being given away by a family member (43%).

County Wedding Events comes to Selden Barns, Worthing, Sussex

If you're newlyweds-to-be embarking on your wedding planning journey, pop along to the County Wedding Events wedding show at Selden Barns, Worthing, Sussex for some much-needed inspiration on Sunday 28th April, 2023! Sister company to County Wedding Magazines; the event brings couples that are desperate for face-to-face wedding planning in touch with local professionals who are on hand to help plan the wedding day.  From photographers to cake makers, musicians to florists you're sure to tick a lot off of your to-do list by attending one of our County Wedding Events.