Your Berks, Bucks and Oxon Wedding news and ideas from around the county

How I Planned My Wedding Without Losing My Mind (or My Fiancé)

With a whopping 84% admitting they felt overwhelmed in the run-up to the big day, and over a quarter calling it the most stressful time of their lives, it's no wonder many brides hit breaking point before they even walk down the aisle. But help is at hand! Jewellery brand Abbott Lyon spoke to real brides Jacky and Annabelle, who share the wedding day hacks that helped them stay cool, calm, and collected through meltdowns, menu dramas, and mother-in-law madness—proving that bridal bliss is possible, even when the pressure's on.

A New Era of Luxury: Crazy Bear Launches Elevated Wellness Offering

Known for its bold design, indulgent experiences and distinctive approach to hospitality, Crazy Bear is entering a new chapter – one that places health, nourishment, and performance at its heart. The launch of a new on-site gym and dedicated wellness space at The Crazy Bear Beaconsfield marks the group's first step into the world of holistic wellbeing. Plans are already underway to introduce a similar offering at The Crazy Bear Stadhampton. Available exclusively to guests, members, and those booking advance health checks, the new wellness space features a state-of-the-art gym equipped with Technogym equipment, bespoke personal training sessions with award-winning trainers, immersive fitness classes, authentic Thai massages, an outdoor swimming pool and a tailored approach to health.

Warning to Hen and Stag Parties: Avoid These Common Mistakes

Your wedding is one of the most important days of your life, that's why The Wedding Travel Company has partnered with a former BA flight attendant to give their top tips on travelling for your destination wedding this summer. "Destination weddings are continuing to grow in popularity, with more and more people looking to escape the UK for weddings abroad in areas such as Greece, Italy, Spain and Cyprus. Though planning your wedding can sometimes be demanding, you should be able to enjoy the lead up, feeling as stress-free as possible", explains Kim Deller, Concierge Executive at The Wedding Travel Company.

Enjoy a Royal Afternoon Tea at The Castle Hotel in Windsor

With Afternoon Tea Week fast approaching from the 12th until the 18th of August 2025, enjoy a Royal Afternoon Tea at The Castle Hotel in Windsor. Crafted by executive head chef Suraj Lokhande and pastry chef Suhas, The Castle Hotel's stunning afternoon tea offers a creative twist on the traditional quintessentially English experience. Diners can savour inventive sandwiches like Coronation chicken pinwheel wraps and honey roast ham brioche buns, followed by fruit and plain scones with Dorset clotted cream and homemade strawberry conserve. The finale is a showstopping array of sweets, from British strawberry mousse with vanilla shortbread to lavender and honey macarons.

HOW MUCH SHOULD YOU REALLY GIFT AT WEDDINGS IN 2025?

Wedding season is fast approaching – and while many Brits are busy outfit-hunting or booking hotels, there's one part of the big day that continues to cause confusion - how much money should you actually spend on the happy couple? It's a question thousands of guests are turning to the internet for. In fact, Google searches for 'how much money should you give for a wedding gift' have soared by a whopping 5,000% over the past month*, proving just how panicked Brits are about getting it right.

County Wedding Events comes to Chenies Manor, Buckinghamshire

If you're newlyweds-to-be embarking on your wedding planning journey, pop along to the County Wedding Events wedding show at Chenies Manor in Rickmansworth, for inspiration on Sunday 14th September 2025! Sister company to County Wedding Magazines, the event brings couples 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.

Buckinghamshire-based YATTA Studios boasts experts in pilates

Founded with the vision of providing a boutique reformer pilates experience that's welcoming and inclusive, YATTA Studios is dedicated to helping individuals sculpt and stretch. With Buckinghamshire-based locations in Amersham and Beaconsfield (and Berkhamsted in Hertfordshire), YATTA Studios offers a diverse range of classes taught by highly qualified instructors. YATTA Studios specialises in small group reformer pilates classes that focus on core-strengthening, muscle-lengthening, and body-sculpting workouts. Each studio is designed to offer a serene environment where clients can engage in fine-tuned exercises for an effective full-body workout. Catering to all fitness levels and abilities, YATTA Studios offers classes such as Form & Flow, Strength & Core and Dynamic Sculpt.

Jewellery expert debunks the most common engagement myths

When it comes to engagements, traditions run deep – but not all of them hold up today. From outdated rules about who should propose to the history behind getting down on one knee, there are plenty of myths which may not reflect how couples approach engagements today. Lorna Haddon, Head of Diamonds and Jewellery at Beaverbrooks, said: "Getting engaged can be one of the most exciting life experiences for those in love – but it can sometimes be a nervous experience for those doing the proposing, with so many traditions to remember.

Danesfield House Announces Exclusive Guest Chef Night with Paul Welburn

Danesfield House Hotel and Spa in Marlow announces an exclusive guest chef night with Paul Welburn on 15th August 2025. After a successful collaboration with 2025 Great British Menu Champion of Champions, chef Amber Francis, Danesfield House Hotel and Spa is delighted to welcome Michelin-starred chef Paul Welburn for the next highly anticipated Guest Chef Night offering an exclusive evening of culinary creativity presented in collaboration with Danesfield's own executive chef, Matthew Edmonds. Paul Welburn, known for his gently nostalgic British cuisine with a modern twist, brings an exceptional pedigree to the table. Trained by industry icons including Gary Rhodes, Richard Corrigan, and Andrew Pern, Paul has held Michelin Stars and 3 AA Rosettes at two different restaurants.

The 2025 Hen Party Trends - According to TikTok

Whether you're jetting off to Mykonos, booking out a villa in Spain, or hosting a garden party at home, 2025's hen dos are all about creating unforgettable moments — and capturing them in style. With TikTok leading the charge in how Gen Z and Millennials plan pre-wedding celebration and searches for 'hen party' up +118%, jewellery brand Abbott Lyon scrolled through the feeds, trends and reels to bring you the ultimate hen party playbook. From must-have themes to viral activities, this is your go-to guide for planning a hen party that you'll never forget.

The Vineyard Hotel & Spa Debuts Lobster on the Lawn and Immersive Extended Stay Offer

The Vineyard Hotel & Spa elevates summer dining with the debut of Lobster on the Lawn, an enchanting outdoor experience. The Michelin Guide One Key holder and proud member of Relais & Châteaux and PoB Hotels combines this exciting al fresco experience with its exclusive 'Stay Longer, Discover More' offering guests three nights for the price of two, creating the ultimate summer escape. Set against Berkshire's rolling countryside, Lobster on the Lawn offers a sociable dining experience that invites guests to relax with chilled drinks and plates of fresh Cornish lobster served with garlic and herb butter. Heritage breed 10oz sirloin steak on the bone with bois boudran sauce and seasonal maitake mushroom tacos with black beans, sheepdrove leaves, and avocado are other options.

Escape to The Relais Henley’s new Riverside Retreat: The Henley Hideaway Oasis

Just in time for the Henley's iconic summer events season, The Relais Henley is proud to share their best-kept secret: the launch of The Henley Hideaway Oasis - a chic new riverside retreat blending laid-back luxury with seasonal, mezze-style dining, local wines and expertly curated cocktails. Positioned on the banks of the River Thames in a prime location for soaking up the town's summer buzz, The Henley Hideaway offers locals and visitors alike an exclusive setting in which to socialise - a stunning hidden venue tucked right in the heart of Henley, designed for relaxed convivial gathering and al fresco celebrations.

Nearly half of newlyweds will experience post-wedding blues this year

As we quickly approach the start of wedding season, many brides and grooms will be amping up for the best day of their lives. While the happiness of wedding days is well explored, the lull that comes afterwards is barely spoken about and not a feeling newlyweds are warned of, leading to potential feelings of isolation. Exclusive data from engagement and wedding ring experts at Queensmith has revealed that 40% of recently married couples experience some form of post-wedding blues. An experience of sadness, letdown, or emptiness that is often the first thing to hit couples after their honeymoon - a hangover from the heady highs of wedding planning.

Unique wedding trends 2025: Film photography surges 50%

Three in five couples plan to incorporate unique elements into their wedding, and with the world of choice at the end of our fingertips, inspiration is flying in from all angles. But which of the net's most loved delights have seen the most significant interest surges since last summer? To find out, the team at Aura Print scoured social media platforms to discover what's been hot, and gathered Pinterest and Google Trends data to reveal their most adored trends that have shot up since last summer.

Old Windsor’s The Loch & the Tyne Wins Prestigious Cateys’ Pub and Bar Award

Adam Handling MBE's The Loch & the Tyne in Old Windsor, Berkshire has been crowned winner of this year's Pub & Bar Award at the prestigious The Caterer magazine's 'The Cateys' awards with judges praising the pub and restaurant with rooms as "world class" and citing its commitment to sustainability as a major factor in receiving the award. "I'm super proud that we've won this - it's recognition for the incredible team we have here, led by our chef proprietor, Steven Kerr," said Adam Handling, who heads the Adam Handling Collection of restaurants, pubs, bars and a chocolate shop, which includes The Loch & the Tyne.

Happily ever after - making plans for the future

As nearlyweds, you may not be thinking about what happens beyond the end of your natural lives together - that's not the exciting bit - Katharine Bundell, a barrister at 4PB shares advice in this article that could make your loved ones' lives a lot easier if anything happens to you. Death and taxes remain fairly inevitable. On 16th May 2025 the Law Commission published its recommendations on wills and proposed a new statute. This is the first significant reconsideration since the Wills Act 1837 which is still effective today. Life was quite different in 1837. Queen Victoria ascended the throne aged 18 years old. Any property owned by a women on marriage was transferred automatically to her husband. It would be 40 years before Thomas Edison lit up the first electric lightbulb.

De Vere Wokefield Estate launches ‘Bark-quet Menu’ for dogs

De Vere Wokefield Estate, located near Reading and part of De Vere's collection of historic mansion house estates and contemporary hotels, has launched the Bark-quet Menu for couples who want to include their dogs in their big day. As more couples opt for pet-inclusive weddings, De Vere Wokefield Estate is embracing the trend by offering four-legged friends a seat at the table. The Bark-quet Menu features a curated selection of dog-safe delicacies including a Doggy Daiquiri (a cool blend of watermelon and banana), a Paw-tini (a refreshing blend of chicken broth and fresh herbs), Barkcuterie Boards (carrot sticks, apple slices, and dog biscuits), Canine Comfort (a hearty mix of rice, green beans and grilled chicken), and a scoop of Jude's dog-friendly vanilla ice cream.

Why the bar at your wedding shouldn’t be an afterthought

In the grand orchestration of a wedding, couples often obsess over floral arrangements, lighting design and detailed seating charts. The dress, the photographer, the five-course dinner - each element is painstakingly curated. And yet, one of the most powerful forces behind a wedding's success is consistently left until the eleventh hour: the bar! Let's be honest, it's not often you hear a couple say: "First things first, let's lock in a great bar team." But maybe they should. "You can spend months working on the seating plan or deciding the perfect shade of napkin, but if the bar's giving bored function-room energy, it can all quickly lose its magic," says Luke Shelton-Sharp, co-founder of room two, the London-based cocktail studio and event planner.

The Number Wedding Etiquette Mistakes Guests Make, According To Expert

Picture this: you're scrolling through a friend's wedding photos and spot someone in flip-flops at a black-tie garden party, or worse, a guest in head-to-toe white stealing focus from the bride. Sound familiar? These fashion faux pas happen more often than you'd think at summer weddings. Thanks to outdoor ceremonies and relaxed vibes, many guests assume summer weddings mean anything goes. But according to wedding specialist Nick Bramer from Country House Weddings, a family-run business specialising in exclusive-use wedding venues across the UK, this casual approach often backfires spectacularly.

Hen Party Treats- Big Day Cakes

To begin planning your hen party you need to set a budget first so you can make sure you'll still have enough money to spend on your actual wedding. Once that's decided you need to choose a theme and factor in the cost of the decorations and other things you may buy. You'll also have to create a guest list consisting of only your closest friends before moving onto picking the date, location and some activities to do. In need of some inspiration for what to do at your hen party? There is a variety of options to choose that will fit your fancy venturing from whether you want to do something adventurous like rock climbing or canyoning or perhaps you'd prefer to spend the day calming down and doing something relaxing such as having a spa day or afternoon tea.