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

AI creates the ultimate first dance song

There are over 217,000 first dances in the UK every year (1,950,000 in the US) yet couples usually pick the same handful of songs. Have you ever wondered why tracks like Etta James' At Last and Just You And I by Tom Walker are so popular at weddings? And what makes them so timeless? Function Central, a platform for finding and hiring musicians and bands for events, have answered exactly that! By analysing the most popular first dance songs to find the top 10 that couples choose, they have used AI to create the world's ultimate first dance song based on their findings, showing couples that they can have a timeless first dance song that is unique to their wedding.

Sutton Hotel Collection offers Black Friday deals

The Sutton Hotel Collection which includes The Castle Hotel Windsor in Berkshire has announced Black Friday deals. The Sutton Hotel Collection represents three boutique hotels residing in the heart of some of England's best-loved towns and cities where guests will be welcomed warmly, served delicious food and create captivating memories that last a lifetime. This Black Friday, guests can enjoy a luxurious stay at either The Francis Hotel Bath, The Queens Hotel Cheltenham or The Castle Hotel Windsor at unmissable discounts. For those seeking a quintessentially British experience, The Castle Hotel Windsor offers a boutique gem dating back to 1528 and invites guests to relive history in its 108 uniquely appointed rooms. Positioned opposite Windsor Castle and the Windsor and Royal Borough Museum, it's a prime location for an enchanting escape.

How to make your engagement ring shine for wedding day

Between shampoo, hairspray, moisturiser and hand cream – we can all agree that our beautiful engagement rings go through a lot on a daily basis. After all, many of us wear them every day without ever taking them off! But if your big day is just around the corner, it's crucial to keep your ring looking its best for those all-important wedding photos and to ensure your nearest and dearest see it in all its glory. With this in mind, experts at family-owned jewellers and diamond merchants, Chisholm Hunter, offer their specialist advice on how to get your ring gleaming before your big day... Max Brown, Retail Director at Chisholm Hunter, shares their top tips for ensuring your engagement ring is sparkling ahead of your wedding day: "If you want your precious jewellery to look its best on the big day, we recommend taking your ring to a professional jewellers for both ultrasonic and steam cleaning and using fine emery paper followed by a full polish to remove any surface scratching.

Venues for the perfect autumnal ceremony

New research conducted by ethical jewellery brand Sacet has revealed the top country wedding venues across the UK that would make the perfect location for an autumnal ceremony. By analysing a number of factors (including guest capacity, number of reviews, professionalism, quality of service and value for money) of over 30 wedding venues that offer barn, country and forest-style weddings in the UK, the top 10 were revealed. Brinsop Court Manor House and Barn, in Hereford, has been crowned the overall winner, with top ratings across all factors (quality of service, response time, professionalism, value for money flexibility and average rating). It also had the most number of reviews and can hold between 30 to 250 guests.

Enjoy the festive season with alcohol-free samples at Westgate, Oxford

Whether you're new to the world of alcohol-free alternatives or a connoisseur of the brands you know and love, House of 0.0% is offering you the chance to try their drinks this festive season at select locations up and down the country, kicking off with Westgate, Oxford on the 18th November. The festive season is known for being a sociable time so House of 0.0% are offering new ways to enjoy the season, with the chance to sample the range and find new favourites that you can bring to any occasion. Whether it's the familiar flavours of Tanqueray, the exceptional botanicals found in Seedlip or the juniper accents of Gordon's or Captain Morgan, there's a House of 0.0% product tailored to your preferences.

Are these popular 2023 wedding song cursed?

Research from wedding entertainment providers Function Central shows couples are taking risks choosing songs for their weddings with shockingly high divorce rates. Function Central used existing data on the songs most likely to end in divorce to see whether couples were still taking risks by adding these songs to their upcoming nuptials. This data was then cross-referenced against existing wedding playlists of engaged couples to see whether couples were still choosing these songs for their weddings. The results were concerning for any superstitious couples worried about whether certain tracks were deemed bad luck for long lasting marriages.

Love & Loved Bridal and Eden Keshia announce three-week residency

Buckinghamshire-based Love and Loved Bridal and Eden Keshia are excited to announce a three-week residency from the 17th of November until the 9th of December 2023. Fashion-conscious, vintage-loving eco-brides can shop a carefully curated edit of the Heirloom Collection. Love & Loved will also have exclusive access to favourite pieces from Eden's made-to-order Stellify Collection. The collaboration between Eden Keshia and Love & Loved Bridal is a match made in heaven, each with a vision to bring contemporary wedding wear to brides seeking originality and sustainable, luxury bridal fashion. Love & Loved Bridal houses some of the best British, indie bridal labels, each with their own distinct style and are proud to support brands that operate with purpose.

5 reasons couples fail at sticking to their wedding budget

With the cost of living on everyone's minds, budget expert Isabel Smith, offers some insight into how couples can set (and stick to!) their wedding budget. The number of couples who are going overbudget on their wedding is dropping, from around 2/3 in 2018 to somewhere around 50% this year. This may be due to savvier couples setting more realistic budgets, or people simply refusing spend a penny more than planned owing to future financial uncertainty, but either way, I am all for it! I've never been an advocate for getting in debt over your big day, no matter how special you want it to be.

The perfect couples advent calendar

Couples looking for that x-factor idea to get them in the Christmassy mood this festive season need look no further than A Twist Of Date's personalised couples' advent calendar. This personalised QR-code collection of romantic, fun and creative couples' activities adds a spark of magic that is sure to make 2023 a December to remember. Perfect for long-term busy couples looking to reconnect through heart-warming moments, it's a no-brainer alternative to the typical chocolate-filled Christmas countdown. Whether it's an impromptu trip to your local ice rink, engaging in an act of kindness together or writing each other a romantic letter to be opened on Christmas, each day brings something new and exciting to share together.

How to master taking the perfect engagement ring photo

Proposals are often one of the most memorable, special and magical moments in a couples life, so it's only natural they want to share this joyous news with their friends, family and colleagues. In 2023, one of the most common ways for couples to share the news of their engagement is through social media. Couples often post gorgeous pictures in real time of themselves along with the dazzling engagement ring. Sharing the news via social media is a quick and easy way of telling your loved ones the news without having to individually call everyone, which can be overwhelming and time consuming. However, taking the perfect photo can be a bit of a challenge. Whilst it's not a competition to see who has the biggest ring and whose ring sparkles the most, a lot of people want their ring to look as desirable and shimmering as possible.

Enjoy magical Christmas show Miki in Maidenhead this November

Enjoy the magical, family-friendly Christmas show Miki in Maidenhead, Berkshire this November at Norden Farm. Based on the highly acclaimed book by children's author Stephen Mackey, Miki is an inspiring story about friendship, courage, and adventure. It will hit Norden Farm's stage from the 28th of November until the 30th of December on selected dates. It was created by Slot Machine and co-produced by Norden Farm. The show features amazing underwater creatures, enchanting music, and extraordinary puppetry and is suitable for children aged three years and over. Miki, Polar Bear and Penguin live in a very faraway place. It's an icy world where nothing ever grows. One midwinter eve, they make a wish and Miki embarks on a magical adventure searching for a star...

Sober hen parties are on the rise

While hen parties are often characterised by celebratory cocktails, drinking games and wild night outs, the hen-do could soon be shrugging off its booze-fueled persona. Global searches for 'sober hen do ideas' have doubled over the past year while 'sober bachelorette party games' has also seen a 50% increase. On TikTok, #soberliving has seen a surge in popularity, with videos including the hashtag boasting over 650 million views. If you're a bride-to-be looking to celebrate your 'last night of freedom' tee-total-style, party planning expert, Amy Greenshields at cardfactory has shared her four top tips.

Ashmolean Museum wedding venue opens new rooftop dining room

The Ashmolean Museum in Oxford has recently opened a new rooftop dining room and outdoor terrace. This hidden gem is an oasis of calm high above the busy city centre of Oxford. It's bathed in natural daylight that pours through the floor-to-ceiling windows and reflects the glittering lights of the city by night. It's the perfect choice for a morning ceremony, wedding breakfast or anniversary celebration. The Terrace offers an elegant outdoor space where couples can mingle with their guests and admire the magical view while enjoying champagne and canapés. Guests can then take their seats for a fine dining experience, followed by dancing with a late bar in the vaulted downstairs area. The Ashmolean team believes that weddings can be kinder to the planet without compromising on style or quality, suppliers are chosen carefully, and local, seasonal produce and wines are used where possible.

Is lasting love magic, logic or luck?

Does it matter how a couple met? Contented Couples, a new guide to long-term relationships, features candid, intimate interviews with eighteen couples, based in the UK and USA. Each pair tell of how they met, how they formed a relationship and how they've thrived to become a truly happy union. One couple met and married within a month, whilst another two were thrown together repeatedly by a matchmaker who refused to give up - and it is not only guy meets girl either. The couples speak from an array of circumstance, culture and sexual orientations, including arranged marriage, friends-to-lovers and dating apps.

The five best weather apps to keep your eye on it leading up to the big day

Wedding jewellery experts Austen & Blake have listed some of the best weather apps to keep an eye on in the lead-up to your big day. The UK weather has been anything but predictable lately, with September set to be a particularly rainy and unsettled month, according to The Met Office. Top-rated apps help to track and plan your wedding day accordingly. Weather apps are invaluable when it comes to planning your nuptials, but sometimes there's no avoiding the inevitable. That's why, along with listing the best apps for tracking grey skies, the jewellery experts have teamed up with a professional wedding photographer to provide tips on how to get the best rainy snaps.

Even when the weather's a washout, it doesn't mean your wedding photos have to be! Here are some of the best weather apps to keep an eye on and how to strike the perfect pose if rain is predicted:

It's fireplace season at Horwood House hotel and spa in Buckinghamshire

As the days get shorter and the temperature plummets, enjoy the autumnal season at the cosy Horwood House manor in Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire. The sound of a crackling fireplace while lounging on a plush sofa with a mug of hot chocolate or a glass of mulled wine is one of the most comforting things about the colder season. Take a seat in front of the beautiful fire installation, or enjoy a late lunch with a loved one in front of the fireplace at the Grade II listed Horwood House hotel, spa and estate set in beautiful Buckinghamshire. countryside.

Don’t like your engagement ring? Relationship experts reveal what you need to do!

A marriage proposal is filled with an overwhelming amount of emotion and is a moment both you and your partner will remember forever. But once the initial rush fades, what if you come to terms with the fact that the ring placed on your finger isn't what you envisioned it to look like? Leading diamond jewellers, Diamonds Factory, teamed up with relationship experts Georgia Sturmer and Sharin Shafer, who have shared their top 3 tips on how to handle this delicate situation in the best way possible.

Castle Fine Art joins Marlow's vibrant art community

Searching for a wow-factor wedding gift? Head to Castle Fine Art which has recently opened a new gallery in Market Square, Marlow. The specially curated collection of both original and limited edition artworks has been selected for the art-loving town. Managing director Ian Weatherby-Blythe said: "We have been looking for a gallery space in Marlow for some time, as we know that it's a location where residents have a particular passion for fine art. We have finally found the perfect location for the new gallery and are really looking forward to becoming part of the community." He adds: "Castle Fine Art is committed to making art accessible to all whilst uniting our collectors, with exciting modern artists. We pride ourselves on both the quality and service we provide to our clients and new collectors."

Buckinghamshire wedding venue has created a signed wedding video tour

Hedsor House, the award-winning country house events venue in Buckinghamshire, has created the UK's first signed wedding video tour so that deaf couples can have the same equal and inclusive experience that hearing couples have. The video has been released as part of a range of steps the venue is taking to increase its accessibility and forms part of its commitment to inclusivity. The venue has hosted several weddings where either guests or the couple themselves have been deaf and this prompted the team to look at how they could improve their inclusivity in this community. The video, which allows a couple to virtually tour the house in preparation for their wedding, was created with the support of one of its grooms, Alim Jadavji, who recently married there,

Fraser Hart launches its stunning lab-grown diamond collection

Fraser Hart, one of the UK's leading purveyors of fine jewellery, is redefining affordable luxury with the launch of its Born Lab Grown Diamonds collection in 10 new stores nationwide. Optically, physically and chemically identical to an earth-grown diamond, here cutting-edge technology is used to create timeless diamonds in a laboratory setting. Blending craftsmanship with innovation, Born Lab Grown Diamonds are breathtaking in their clarity, delivering the same sparkling wow-factor as traditionally mined gems, but with a more accessible price tag. The Born collection includes a stunning choice of "buy now, treasure forever" heirloom jewellery pieces. With exquisite diamond rings starting at just £799, diamond and white gold stud earrings from £799, classic diamond encrusted tennis bracelets from £5,250, and diamond pendant necklaces from £850, investing in luxurious, exceptional quality and utterly timeless diamond jewellery pieces has never been more attractive.