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

Berkshire-based bridal boutique buzzing after big award win

Pangbourne-based wedding business Queen Bee Bridalin Berkshire has scooped an impressive wedding industry award presented at the popular wedding venue Silchester Farm after launching their successful bridal business in 2021. Kate Taylor-Norris, the owner and founder of the successful bridal business tells us how she felt when they won Best Bridal Retailer at the glittering party; "We were thrilled, it means so so much to us! We're genuinely so passionate about delivering a high level of customer service and winning this award, which is based on customer votes and customer feedback, is a testament to how hard we work to ensure that our customers enjoy a special shopping experience with us."

Experience Frosted Romance and Timeless Elegance at The Post Barn this Winter

Set against 120 acres of Berkshire countryside, The Post Barn is a contemporary wedding venue that transforms seasonal romance into unforgettable celebrations, offering couples the perfect blend of modern elegance and timeless charm. This winter, The Post Barn emerges as the ultimate destination for couples seeking a flawless winter wedding experience. Daisy Bradley, venue director at The Post Barn, comments: "At The Post Barn, we understand that every love story is unique and doesn't have to fit into a traditional 'package'. Our winter weddings are more than celebrations, but narratives created with care, where every detail is designed to capture the romance of the season. From the moment couples arrive to the last dance, we transform individual love stories into an unforgettable winter wonderland experience."

Pantone Introduces Color of the Year 2025: Mocha Mousse

Wedding moodboards at the ready; Pantone, the global colour authority and provider of professional colour language standards and digital solutions for the design community, today introduced PANTONE 17-1230 Mocha Mousse. An evocative soft brown that transports our senses into the pleasure and deliciousness it inspires: cacao, chocolate and coffee, appealing to our desire for comfort. "Underpinned by our desire for every day pleasures, PANTONE 17-1230 Mocha Mousse expresses a level of thoughtful indulgence" says Leatrice Eiseman, Executive Director Pantone Color Institute.

Start Your Forever journey at Wasing Park’s January Showcase

Award-winning barn venue Wasing Park invites couples to a January Showcase from the 5th until the 26th of January 2025. The venue will be transformed for this year's theme - Forever. Wasing is proud to spotlight sustainability, with expert suppliers showcasing their eco-conscious services and products. From florals to sustainably sourced wedding décor, couples can discover how to create a beautiful, timeless celebration that's also kind to the planet. Talented florists will display stunning arrangements made from locally grown seasonal flowers plus flora and foliage foraged from Wasing's gardens and woodlands, offering inspiration on how to incorporate conscious choices into their wedding day. The venue will be adorned with exquisite designs, combining natural elegance with a commitment to the environment.

Enjoy Christmas lunch at The Compleat Angler in Marlow this festive season

The Compleat Angler, part of the Macdonald Hotels group, has reported a remarkable rise in bookings for Christmas lunch, highlighting a growing trend of families seeking the magic of dining out this festive season. The Marlow venue already has more than 200 bookings for its Christmas lunch, with limited availability remaining for its two- and three-night Christmas packages. Guests at The Compleat Angler can look forward to an unforgettable Christmas dining experience. The hotel's festive menu features a selection of traditional dishes with a twist, including succulent roast turkey with all the trimmings and rich Christmas pudding with brandy sauce. Diners will enjoy a glass of sparkling wine on arrival, a cosy festive atmosphere, and perhaps even a visit from Santa himself for younger guests.

Celebrate New Year's Eve at The Loch & The Tyne in Old Windsor

Celebrate New Year's Eve in style this year with the Adam Handling Collection. The team has created an unforgettable experience at The Loch and the Tyne by Adam Handling in Old Windsor, Berkshire. The Loch & the Tyne is ringing in the New Year in a relaxed and cosy environment with roaring fires and an enchanting Winter Garden. Guests can expect live music and a luxurious tasting menu including dishes such as Adam's famous crab and prawn raviolo served with ginger and brown butter and duck served with sour plum, beetroot. The popular King's trifle will be the icing on the cake as dessert. Prices start from £100 per person from 5 pm until 8 pm and £125 per person from 8 pm until close.

Hottest hen do Trends for 2025 revealed by GoHen

Well, GoHen.com, the UK's leading hen party provider, have just dropped a hitlist of the hottest hen do themes for 2025 with some absolutely iconic trends."2025 is going to be the most Instagrammable era for hen weekends, for sure," said Ellie Silk, Head of Events at GoHen.com. "The themes that are on-trend are absolutely iconic and there is something for every bride and every vibe. From chaos to cute, outdoors to outrageous, you're bound to find something for your group in that list. "A hen do theme helps elevate a weekend from average to unforgettable because it's the tiny details and extra thought that really make your celebration special.

"Having a theme doesn't have to equate to spending loads more money, either. You can lean into your chosen theme as little or as much as you want. From outfits to decorations to the activities you choose to do, there are plenty of ways to make it your own."

Enjoy pampering treatments and afternoon tea at Windsor's Cecily Spa

Enjoy pampering treatments and a delicious afternoon tea at Windsor's Cecily Spa located in the heart of this historic town. Haylee Benton is the CEO and founder of the recently opened Cecily Spa Windsor, the third of the Cecily group which has award-winning spas in Marlow and Berkhamsted. This new concept spa boasting views of Windsor Castle has been designed to offer guests a private experience – it's the perfect place to escape for a girlie weekend, couples retreat, hen party or to enjoy some solo downtime. It also makes a fabulous gift for a friend or loved one.

Embrace the Holiday Spirit with an Advent Countdown from Gifts Instead of Flowers

Advent calendars began in the 19th century in Germany, where families marked the days to Christmas with chalk lines. The tradition evolved, and by the early 1900s, printed calendars with small doors revealing Bible verses or images became popular. Gerhard Lang created the first printed advent calendar with doors in 1908, sparking widespread popularity. Modern advent calendars come in various forms, filled with chocolates, toys, or treats, delighting people as they count down to Christmas. Today, advent calendars symbolise anticipation and joy, cherished in holiday celebrations worldwide. Explore our selection of modern-day advent calendars, each offering a unique way to count down the days to Christmas with delightful surprises and festive joy.

Gladi-Waiter in the Buff – hen do firm offer

One of the UK's leading hen party planning companies is now offering Gladi-Waiters in the Buff in honour of the new Gladiator film hitting the big screen on the 14th of November. Butlers in the Buff are a hugely popular addition to hen weekends and are often scantily clad in just a small apron and a bow tie. However, GoHen are now offering buff butlers adored in gladiator helmets, shoulder pads and gladiatorial skirts. "Buff butlers are the modern-day gladiator," said GoHen's Head of Events, Ellie Silk. "They're performers, they're in great shape and they're often forced to entertain a rowdy crowd – what's the difference, really?

Coppa Club Launches New Winter Igloos, in partnership with Aperol

This winter season, Coppa Club has collaborated with Aperol to introduce a fresh alpine theme to its iconic winter igloos, available to book for four to 10 people. All five Coppa locations with igloos have been transformed to capture the festive spirit, celebrate the magic of the winter season and provide the ultimate winter destination. The igloos and terraces are beautifully adorned with lush seasonal foliage, twinkling fairylights, and cosy faux fur blankets and furnishings, creating a warm, inviting atmosphere, perfect for winter gatherings, similar to that of The Alps. Whether diners are sipping an Aperol Spritz or simply soaking in the festive ambiance, every detail has been designed to make this winter at Coppa Club an unforgettable one.

The ultimate gifting experience your friends, family - and you - will love

In today's busy world, it's not always possible to be there for every birthday, housewarming, or special occasion, but that doesn't mean you can't send a heartfelt message. That's where gift box specialist, Parcel London, comes in. Parcel London is here to offer the ultimate gifting experience - believing that the best gifts are about more than just the item – they're about the connection they represent. They're there for when you can't be. Working with a number of well-known and newly emerging independent brands, Parcel London connects you to the people who matter most through beautiful, useful, and memorable gifts. Every one of their Parcels is lovingly handpicked and carefully hand-wrapped, ensuring that each recipient feels cherished and valued. Whether you need a single gift for a special someone or thousands for a corporate event, they've got you covered

The Loch & the Tyne announces its next Top 100 Gastropubs Collaborative Dinner with Brook House

The Loch & the Tyne, chef Adam Handling MBE's celebrated Michelin Bib-awarded pub in Old Windsor, continues its exclusive guest series this November, partnering with Brook House, one of West London's most renowned gastropubs. On Tuesday 19th November, guests will enjoy a collaborative dining experience led by co-chef proprietors Steven Kerr and Jonathan McNeil of The Loch & the Tyne, alongside the talented team from Brook House. It's a vibrant and community-focused gastropub, known for its exceptional hospitality and award-winning team. Recently listed at number 71 in the Top 100 Gastropubs and awarded the 2023 Front of House Team of the Year, Brook House is celebrated for its seasonal British menu and commitment to sustainable cooking.

Enjoy a cosy countryside festive afternoon tea at Coworth Park

Dorchester Collection's luxury country house hotel, Coworth Park, offers a magical festive sanctuary, nestled in the picturesque Berkshire countryside just moments from London. From the 24th of November, the hotel will be serving its festive afternoon tea, With twinkling lights, roaring log fires, frost-tipped gardens, and exceptional food and drink,CoworthParkis the perfect place to get into the festive spirit. On weekends, guests can enjoy afternoon tea accompanied by traditional Christmas carols, setting a joyful seasonal atmosphere. Seasonal sandwiches of roast turkey, sage and apple compote;smoked salmon with horseradish crème fraicheandEnglish brie and cranberry, will be served followed bywarm scones with pear and cinnamon compote and clotted cream. To finish,festivepastries includeMont Blanc with chestnut, vanilla and pear; caramelised clementine and almond tart.

Enjoy Autumn dinner inspiration at Orwells Restaurant in Oxfordshire

Enjoy autumn dining with a delicious à la carte menu from £65, or a mouthwatering tasting menu from £120 this season at Orwells Restaurant in Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire. A visit to Orwells Restaurant is like being welcomed into chef couple Ryan and Liam Simpson-Trotman's home. They live upstairs and their allotment, where co-owner Liam produces most of the fruit and vegetables is just a mile down the road. This autumn, the open fire will be burning as they serve up dishes including homegrown tromboncino squash, puffed potatoes, goat's cheese, tomato salsa, girolles, samphire, Cornish turbot, verjus and smoked beef short rib with heritage carrot, crispy potatoes and mustard and gherkin.

Seasonal style

As seasons change, it's important to be aware of how the weather affects the wedding. Editorial Assistant Millicent Garton takes you through some suggestions of how to embrace the chill and celebrate the sun. Much like seasons, it's only natural that weddings and their themes flow and evolve with changing year. From the cake and catering to the dress and décor, all elements of the big day can be influenced by the time of year, so it's only fitting that special attention should be given to those minor details.

Riwaz in Beaconsfield takes part in MasterChef Professional Dinner Series

As part of the MasterChef Professional Dinner Series, chef Atul Kochhar will host a dining experience at Riwaz in Beaconsfield this month on the 27th of November. Atul Kochhar champions the rich traditions of Indian cuisine, inspired by the sub-cultures of Bohri, Ismaili, and Moplah. Expect an adventurous yet authentic menu that honours India's history. On Wednesday 27th November, guests will get to enjoy a five-course tasting menu by top chef Sagar Massey, a 2022 MasterChef finalist and rising star who will serve diners. A highlight of the evening event will be a delicious, bold coffee-glazed masala duck breast dish to enjoy.

The Castle Hotel Windsor Achieves First Gold Green Meetings Award

The Castle Hotel Windsor in Berkshire has achieved a Gold Green Meetings award on its first submission alongside retaining the Gold Green Tourism Award for the second consecutive year. This dual recognition highlights the hotel's commitment to sustainability, particularly in its meeting and event services, offering businesses the opportunity to host eco-conscious meetings in the heart of Windsor. The Green Meetings Award reflects their focused efforts on creating sustainable, environmentally responsible meeting packages. The Castle Hotel excelled in key areas such as greener delegates, local experiences, low carbon activities, and the promotion of destination elements like cultural heritage, events, and supporting local projects, all of which received top scores in their audit.

Mood & Bloom stationery and styling reveals wedding trends for 2025

Mood & Bloom Wedding and Events Stationery & Styling based in Buckinghamshire reveals wedding trends for 2025. Founder Ellie Eastlake says, "Trends I've seen coming through are bows and floral installations. I'm also still seeing a lot of demand for personalised touches, like bouquet ribbons with special quotes of couple names and seat reservation tags for their nearest and dearest." Ellie adds," Couples also seem to be favouring a more relaxed wedding day, with less of the formal traditions. Colours coming through are peach shades for Spring/Summer '25 and taupe tones mixed with emerald green for Autumn/Winter '25. However, you can't escape the classics of whites, ivories and neutrals."

Celebrate Great British Game Week with the Adam Handling Collection

Known for his commitment to sustainability and zero waste, Chef Adam Handling MBE is celebrating Great British Game Week at the Adam Handling Collection by showcasing the most sustainable of game meats, wild venison, at his pubs The Loch & the Tyne, in Old Windsor, and The Tartan Fox, in Newquay. Guests are encouraged to try the traditional dishes with a delicious twist, such as venison scotch egg, tartare sauce, venison and apple croquettes, venison burger, cheddar cheese, caramelised onion, and grilled venison haunch at The Loch and the Tyne in Berkshire. Roast loin of venison, celeriac, girolles, brambles will be served at their latest opening, The Tartan Fox, which launched in June of this year in Cornwall.