Your Yorkshire Wedding news and ideas from around the county

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.

Phenomenal Fireworks Ltd create spectacular fireworks displays

Phenomenal Fireworks Ltd. provides spectacular fireworks displays that create unforgettable moments for couples and their guests. With years of experience and expertise, the company curate bespoke firework displays that reflect each couple's unique love story.

"Whether it's an intimate gathering or a grand affair, we ensure a mesmerising experience that will leave a lasting impression," says Andrew Slinn, the operations and displays director. "Our commitment to safety, quality, and innovation sets us apart. We adhere to the highest industry standards and regulations, delivering flawlessly executed displays with the utmost care. Using state-of-the-art fireworks and cutting-edge technology, we create breathtaking visual effects and synchronised musical displays, immersing guests in a truly magical experience."

York's Bradley’s Jewellers launches new collection

Independent award-winning jewellery retail business Bradley's Jewellers York has updated its Eco Rocks brand with the new Eco Rocks Colour Editions Collection of fine jewellery set with synthetic coloured stones and laboratory-grown diamonds. Following the success of its first foray into laboratory-grown diamond jewellery, Bradley's Jewellers York has created a debut line of three-stone rings, each one set with a laboratory-created coloured stone solitaire flanked by two laboratory-grown diamonds.

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.

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'.

Spread joy with the Leeds-based Biskery

The Biskery is a Leeds-based bespoke biscuit company created by two co-founders, Lisa and Saskia. Inspired by a traditional Austrian Christmas biscuit called Linzer cookie, when you bite into a The Biskery biscuit you're met with a shortbread-like texture and a rich vanilla flavour. Using a secret recipe passed down through generations to design branded and personalised biscuits for a range of occasions - perfect for wedding day gifting or on-the-day favours! The Affirmations Biscuit Box contains a wonderful bouquet of treats impressed and decorated with positive affirmations, beautifully presented in letterbox-friendly packaging making it an ideal pre-wedding gift for the bridal party!

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.

New name and logo for Yorkshire hair stylist

Kay Binnersley Hair, based near Pontefract, West Yorkshire, has announced a new name change and new logo! Kay adds, "This year has seen my bridal business grow, I'm very honoured to be part of my couples' very magical days and I've achieved some wonderful awards and accolades too. "I felt my business has elevated to such a level that the logo needed to say that as well in today's visually-driven world - a significant step towards positioning my business for greater success. What's more, I'm super-excited to be attending this illustrious award ceremony in November at the Hilton, Manchester - I'm very honoured and humbled to be a finalist, to be recognised in the industry for the creativity and my professionalism is such a honour."

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.

New bridal boutique in the heart of Selby, Yorkshire

Abbey Bridal is a new bridal boutique in the heart of Selby, North Yorkshire. Launched and run by husband and wife team Luke and Jessica earlier this year, the team has always had a passion for all things wedding having worked in the bridal industry before, Jessica also has a degree in textile design from The Arts University, Bournemouth. Opening officially on September 9th, early exclusive appointments are available from August 26th! What's more, to celebrate the start of summer, the boutique is running a discount offer: £100 off your dream dress for all teachers and school workers who book an appointment between august 26th and september 2nd.

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!

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

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.

Wedding coordinator of The Grand, York reveals top trends

Wedding season is in full swing, with happy couples tying the knot up and down the country. To inspire brides and grooms-to-be, Gail Bradley, Wedding Coordinator at the five-star hotel and Yorkshire wedding venue The Grand, York, reveals some of the biggest wedding trends seen right now. As 2023 fashion trends continue to embrace the 'mermaidcore' aesthetic, it's not surprising that Google data shows a 43% increase in searches for "mermaid wedding dresses" compared to the next most popular style, A-line. Mermaid wedding dresses are not a new style, with their history dating back to the 1930s, however, they've recently seen a resurge in popularity, benefiting from the recent sea-themed trend. Gail says, "We see a variety of wedding dress shapes, styles and sometimes even colours, here at The Grand, but the elegant mermaid silhouette has remained a popular choice over the last few years. The brides that choose this style look simply beautiful and are always turning heads."

The 'anti-wedding' wedding trends making their mark in 2023

'Anti-wedding' is the hottest new wedding trend this summer, from ditching tradition with bridal pant suits, short wedding dresses and mismatched bridesmaid dresses - get ready to see these trends everywhere this wedding season. Wedding supply experts at Aura Print have scoped out TikTok to serve up the top 10 anti-wedding wedding trends to look out for this summer. More people are ditching traditional for unconventional, allowing for their special day to be even more unique to the couple.

The Wensleydale Creamery's new celebration cake

Cheese lovers rejoice – cakes are no longer just for those with a sweet tooth! The Wensleydale Creamery, based in Hawes in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales, has launched a brand-new range of Celebration Cheese Cakes. Made from a specially selected range of Wensleydale Creamery's cheeses, the new cakes create a centrepiece as delicious as they are spectacular, making them the perfect addition to your wedding. Whether you favour savoury over sweet or are looking for a twist on a traditional wedding cake, Wensleydale Creamery has the Celebration Cheese Cake to suit your needs. Lovingly created using some of the finest ingredients in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales, each cake features layers of delicious Yorkshire Wensleydale cheeses, which can be interchanged to suit your specific tastes. Available in two different sizes, they can cater for between 50 – 100 guests, depending on the size of your gathering.