Your Sussex Wedding news and ideas from around the area

Southend Barns announces the launch of new accommodation offering

The team at Southend Barns is excited to announce the launch of a new accommodation offering with six luxury bell tents. Nestled in a picturesque meadow, the bell tents are furnished with everything needed for an unforgettable and comfortable stay. Available from May to September, they're exclusively for those getting married at the award-winning venue, based in Chichester, West Sussex. Each tent accommodates up to two adults and comes equipped with lighting and charging points as well as double beds with Egyptian cotton bedding. They also have exclusive access to bathroom facilities including showers and WC, with a range of decadent Cowshed toiletries and soft towels available.

A new name for a Great venue

Sullington Tithe Barn has new name: Sullington Great Barn. The timbers of the Barn were recently dated to the 14th century when it would have been known as the Great Barn. Appropriate, as the barn is one of the largest in Sussex and is widely acknowledged to look great too! Its beautiful honey-coloured timbers radiate history and warmth, so the structure's new name is truly reflective of its character and past. What's more, a new wedding package is available here. Celebrating its 10th anniversary as a wedding venue the team decided to extend the offering for its couples.

Labour's plan to legalise humanist weddings

We are deep in the midst of wedding season. Whether you're attending as a guest, or planning your own, you will probably be taking note of the special moments, and how each couple make their wedding truly their own, and reflective of their relationship. Joanna Newton is a Partner at Stowe Family Law and explains what the proposal in law changes could mean... Over the past two decades, humanist wedding ceremonies (which is a wedding that is non-religious ceremony) have soared in popularity. The most recent statistics from 2020 are from Humanists UK and reveal that humanist weddings have increased by a huge 266% since 2004.

From big celebrations to budget savvy: the changing face of UK weddings

At a time of rising costs and changing perspectives, is the sound of wedding bells as tempting as it once was? To find out, Legal & General polled more than 2,000 married and engaged couples to see if they opted for a big wedding – or a big rethink. A 2024 survey revealed the average cost of a UK wedding has risen to £20,700, marking a 12.5% increase from £18,400 in 2022. Despite this, our survey found that couples typically budget much less, with the average amount set aside being just under £9,000 (£8,997.32). There was also a stark difference in wedding budgets across generations. Younger couples, particularly those aged 16-24, budget an average of £14,937 for their special day, while those over 55 set aside £4,614.