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

Doubletree by Hilton Oxford Belfry home to an on-site spa

The Double Tree by Hilton Oxford Belfry, part of The Q Hotels Collection is the perfect place to hold a wedding. Surrounded by the gorgeous Oxfordshire countryside, the charming courtyard and pagoda provide the perfect backdrop for an outdoor ceremony and some truly spectacular photos. Inside, there's a choice of rooms to cater for celebrations of different sizes including the Trinity Suite with its private bar.

How Brits are spending and saving on weddings in 2023

New data from Barclays reveals how macro trends such as the cost-of-living crisis, inflation, and social media pressures are impacting weddings in 2023. The report combines proprietary spending data with a survey of 1,000 newlyweds and people engaged to be married to determine this year's top wedding trends and cost-saving behaviours. Two fifths (38 per cent) of newlyweds, and brides- and grooms-to-be are going over budget on their special day, with most of these couples citing the rising cost-of-living (51 per cent) and suppliers being more expensive than they anticipated (44 per cent) as the reasons for this increased spend.

A stunning new collection of wedding cakes from Lola's cupcakes

Lola's Wedding Cake Collection features an array of stunning confections that combine Lola's famous cake flavours with irresistible designs, suitable for any wedding theme or colour palette. The cakes can be adorned with delightful macaroons, fresh fruit, romantic rose petals or a glimmer of gold dust. With prices starting from just £90, the handcrafted one or two-tiered cakes are designed to serve up to 70 guests, making them the perfect fit for budget conscious brides and grooms enjoying a more intimate reception or post-registry office gathering prior to the big day.

The Castle Hotel Windsor hires new Pastry Chef to elevate Royal Afternoon Tea

The hugely talented Suhas Lokhande has been appointed the new pastry chef at The Castle Hotel in Windsor to elevate their exquisite Royal Afternoon Tea offering. Located near Windsor Castle, The Castle Hotel knows how to create an exquisite afternoon tea fit for royalty and the delicate new handmade patisseries and touches added by Suhas have created a truly indulgent experience.

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.

Oxford's Vanbrugh House Hotel launches two new wedding packages

Vanbrugh House Hotel in Oxford has launched two bespoke luxury packages to make getting married even more special. The boutique 22-bedroom hotel nestled in Oxford's bustling centre now offers the Bride & Bridal Party Package and The Wedding Night Package – perfect for those getting married in one of Oxford's many quirky city-centre locations. Whether it's a bride and her crew wanting to get ready, a romantic spot for the first night of married life, or a base before saying I do, the two deluxe suites with secluded gardens and a private entrance offer a separate, pampered space to kick-start married life in – complete with four-poster beds, lavish Mr and Mrs bathtubs, luxury touches like slippers and The White Company toiletries and a digital concierge for guests to make use of during their stay.

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'.

Holy Grail tapestries loaned to Kelmscott Manor in rural Oxfordshire

Kelmscott Manor in rural Oxfordshire is famed as the country retreat of Victorian polymath William Morris who was one of the great re-inventors of ancient and disregarded crafts, rejuvenating amongst other things historic embroidery, early printing techniques, vegetable dyeing, calligraphy and tapestry weaving. Visitors to Kelmscott Manor this season can see stunning examples of his enthusiasm for this technically challenging craft.

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.

Unity Sky Lounge rooftop venue to open at Unity Place in Milton Keynes

September 2023 will see the eagerly awaited opening of Unity Place – a multi-purpose destination in Milton Keynes bringing together community, business and leisure, championing social connectedness and environmental consciousness. The new vibrant visitor attraction will be home to Unity Sky Lounge, an expansive rooftop bar and restaurant. Boasting an al fresco terrace nestled amongst the greenery and beautiful views of the city, the menu will feature the finest dishes and a selection of signature drinks, including seasonal cocktails and English wine.

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.

Tips for tying the knot while it’s hot

With Summer wedding season in full-swing and the English weather as unpredictable as ever, happy couples across the country may get more than what they bargained for when it comes to wishing for a sunny day. As temperatures across the UK already reaching highs of 30C and the Met Office predicting even hotter temperatures expected ahead, Samantha Gilchrist, former wedding photographer turned cofounder and CEO of The Gilchrist Collection, the UK's largest wedding venue collection, gives her expert advice gathered from over 15 years in the industry.

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!

Waddesdon Manor voted one of Buckinghamshire's top 10 accessible UK attractions

With the summer holidays in full swing and plenty of people opting for a UK staycation this year, Oak Tree Mobility has taken a deep dive into the UK's most well-known attractions to reveal the list of the top 30 most accessible attractions to enjoy this summer. This was accomplished using Trip Advisor reviews, Euan's Guide reviews and data from the Revitalize Access Survey to compile a list of the top attractions. Whilst uncovering the top 30 most accessible attractions in the UK, this study was also able to reveal that Waddesdon Manor in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire came in at number four.

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

Frankie and Benny's launch summer fun in the sun campaign

Italian American restaurant Frankie & Benny's with restaurants in Devon, Oxford and Wiltshire (as well as nationwide) has launched weekly £250 cash prize giveaways for families looking to enjoy the great outdoors this summer, just in time for the holidays. Frankie & Benny's are on a mission to help families facing the cost of living crisis buy their kids leisure equipment so they can have fun in the sun. Every week there's a chance to win a £250 prize for the kids - all you have to do is sign up to the mailing list and enter each week. You don't even need to buy a meal, it's FREE and that simple!

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.