Your Sussex Wedding news and ideas from around the area

Truffle Tablescapes Launches Luxury Tableware Rental Range

Truffle Tablescapes, a leading UK-based online tablescaping boutique, has launched its first range of rental tableware and accessories that is aimed at those wanting to decorate their lunch and supper parties, events or small weddings. Truffle has been helping at-home entertainers elevate their dinner party looks since it launched during the first lockdown in 2020. Founded by tablescaping expert and interiors lover Kate Fairlie, the brand has expanded again by launching an extensive, yet carefully curated, rental collection of luxury table linens and accessories.

The Grand Brighton unveils new stay and afternoon tea package

The original 'Palace By The Sea', The Grand Brighton hotel, has announced its new stay and afternoon tea package to celebrate Afternoon Tea Week, taking place from 7th -13th August. Ideal for a coastal getaway, the new package combines an overnight stay in the historical luxury hotel, inclusive of breakfast, and the signature Grand Afternoon Tea experience. The package is available from August onwards. The sea-facing Victoria Terrace, with a bright and botanical interior, provides the setting for the traditional afternoon tea experience. From the Grand Afternoon Tea menu, guests can enjoy a variety of classic sweet and savoury treats, complemented by the hotel's own blended leaf tea as well as a world-renowned selection of blends and infusions. Adding a touch of theatre to the occasion, a selection of homemade cakes and pastries are presented on a vintage serving trolley. Guests are also able to take the treats home in bespoke boxes.

Sentimental gift ideas from Heads & Tails Jewellery

Heads & Tails Jewellery has been making personalised, beautifully designed jewellery for more than 10 years. The brand's innovative products can be treasured by your loved ones for years to come, making them ideal for wedding day gifting. Every handcrafted gift uses high-quality materials and is presented in a luxury gift bag or luxury gift box and comes with a 12 month warranty. Emma Pearson, owner of Heads & Tails Jewellery, shares her top advice for wedding day gifting.

Weatherproofing your UK Wedding

Outdoor weddings can create truly magical experiences, from fairytale forests to Bridgerton-style countryside escapes, being surrounded by the natural world, the sound of birdsong and a gentle breeze is a perfect day for some. We wish that were always the case, but no matter how meticulously you plan your wedding, the one thing that will always be beyond your control is the notoriously unpredictable Great British weather. Fulton Umbrellas have come up with a handy guide on how you can weatherproof your wedding.

Attending a wedding this summer - save on travel costs

Now that wedding season is upon us, a recent survey by Railcard has revealed that wedding guests spend on average a whopping £402.90 on each wedding they attend. With 31% of Brits having attended between one and three weddings in the past two years, these sometimes-overlooked expenses can quickly rack up. In fact, 59% of those surveyed admit that they would decline a wedding invitation if the costs of attending were too high, showing that cost-savings to any wedding expense can really make the difference for those who RSVP 'Yes' or a regretful 'No'.

Sustainable wedding cake tips with Emily's Mixing Bowl

This issue we asked the county's experts for their top tips on planning a sustainable wedding. Thinking about the big-day bake Emily Fitter of Emily's Mixing Bowl (www.emilysmixingbowl.co.uk) told us...There are many ways in which you can make your wedding cake more sustainable yet still have a gorgeous and of course delicious cake at your wedding. Here's a few of my top tips: Use your wedding cake as pudding to reduce waste and ensure the cake is all eaten. Ask your caterer if they can cut the cake up and serve it with seasonal berries or a coulis. Choose rich flavours that will satisfy even the sweetest tooth such as chocolate and salted caramel, sticky toffee or coffee, hazelnut, and chocolate.

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.

Experience a minimoon in Eastbourne this August

Relax and unwind post-wedding with a stay at Hydro Hotel this August and enjoy the relaxing ambiance, private grounds and expansive sea views. Or if in the area why not drop by and enjoy a drink in one of the lounges or gardens, lunch in the Conservatory Restaurant, enjoy afternoon tea, or dine in the Crystal Restaurant. Why visit Eastbourne? Choose from a bed and breakfast stay or one of Hydro Hotel's summer breaks, with dinner and additional benefits included. Enjoy a pre or post dinner drink on our terrace or one of the benches in the grounds. Take a swim in our sheltered outdoor heated pool and relax on the adjacent sun bathing terrace - now with pool attendant and serving food and drinks. Walk down to the beach and find a spot to relax or have a swim in the sea.

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.

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!

Tie the knot at Southend Barns surrounded by stunning landscaped gardens

Set on a working farm in the beautiful West Sussex Countryside, Southend Barns is surrounded by stunning landscaped gardens and there's ample outdoor space with a picturesque courtyard that lies at the heart of the venue – safe for children and the perfect spot for reception drinks and garden games. As evening falls, the gardens are lit with romantic up-lights that show off the fantastic flint and log walls of the wedding barns. Here guests can gather around the relaxing Collecting Yard with its sumptuous sofas, firepit and al fresco bar to enjoy a truly magical evening setting.

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

Exciting new gourmet food hall set to open in Worthing

Food enthusiasts in Worthing and surrounding areas are in for a treat as a new gourmet food hall is preparing to open its doors in the heart of the town. With an eclectic range of culinary delights from a variety of vendors, this vibrant gastronomic destination promises to delight the taste buds of local residents and visitors alike. Set against the backdrop of the picturesque seaside town of Worthing, the new gourmet food hall aims to revolutionize the dining experience by bringing together a diverse selection of food vendors under one roof. This innovative concept allows visitors to explore a cornucopia of flavors, textures, and aromas, all in a communal and convivial atmosphere.

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.

Style your day to eco perfection with Luna And The Lane

This issue we asked the county's experts for their top tips on planning a sustainable wedding day. Sally Gallis from Luna And The Lane says: Here at Luna And The Lane, one of our main considerations for any wedding is how you can make informed and thoughtful choices about sustainability. Weddings can create waste, something that suppliers must be incredibly mindful about, certainly in the current climate when the focus is so much on our environment. There are many ways you can ensure your wedding involves sustainable choices. Here are just a few:

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.

We head to Brighton to check out the recently refurbished Doubletree by Hilton Brighton Metropole

Editor Kelly Andrews spent the weekend in the recently refurbished Doubletree by Hilton Brighton Metropole, located right in the heart of the action on Brighton's iconic seafront, and fell in love with Brighton all over again. With a varied selection of event spaces, this vast venue can cater for up to 800 guests for a seated wedding breakfast, and as many as 1,000 for an evening bash surrounded by Victorian grandeur. It is however, equally adept at hosting the more intimate celebration, so whatever the size of your guest list, the team will be delighted to help shape the day of your dreams.

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.