Your South Wales Wedding news and ideas from around the area

From casual to formal, here’s how to plan your picture-perfect engagement party

Firsty, congratulations! You're getting married! After a proposal, there are so many things to think about, but before preparing for the big day itself, an engagement party is a great way to share your exciting news and get your nearest and dearest together to celebrate. Pinterest trends1 revealed the largest peak in searches for 'engagement party ideas' were in January last year, now is the time to get the ball rolling and start planning for the prelude of the main event. Whether you're planning an intimate gathering or a lavish affair, party planning expert at Ginger Ray, Jess Martin, shares 10 tips for your celebration, no matter how big or small:

We’ve teamed up with Holiday Inn Cardiff to offer one lucky reader an overnight break

We've teamed up with Holiday Inn Cardiff to offer one lucky reader an overnight break. The winner and their guest will enjoy a night's stay with dinner and breakfast at the hotel.

The Holiday Inn Cardiff has undergone a major refurbishment to transform its public spaces and showcase a new open lobby concept on the ground floor. The new space includes free high-speed Wi-Fi, an all-day dining menu that can be enjoyed in a versatile dining space, and a living-room-style media lounge with comfy seating, games, magazines and an E-Bar.

The wedding gifts couples in 2024 really want...

When it comes to wedding planning, there is so much to think about, the same goes for wedding gift lists & etiquette. Gifting Guru at The Wedding Shop, Liza Baucher, answers you everything you need to know about wedding registries... In short, we advise adding 2-3 gifts per wedding guest invited. Adding a variety of gifts to your wedding list caters to the differing budgets and preferences of your guests. It's a thoughtful approach to include a wide range of items, from smaller, more affordable pieces to a few higher-end gifts. The key is balance and variety. Typically, having slightly more gifts than the number of guests or households invited allows for enough choice without overwhelming your guests.

Heritage Park Hotel is a charming venue nestled on the edge of the Rhonda Valleys

Heritage Park Hotel is nestled on the edge of the Rhonda Valleys, sitting on the grounds of an old coal mine, and is steeped in years of rich Welsh heritage and history. With a contemporary décor and beautiful grounds, here you can expect a warm welcome with attentive service, ensuring all aspects of your big day are tailored to you and your partner.

With excellent transport links to Cardiff, Swansea and beyond, Heritage Park Hotel is a perfect base for exploring South Wales and the many local attractions. There are 43 modern and contemporary en-suite bedrooms to choose from that feature luxurious furnishings, designed and styled with your comfort in mind. You can also experience the fully- equipped gym and leisure facilities, which are the perfect place to relax and unwind before the big day.

Wedding ring trends 2024 according to Queensmith

Symbolising unconditional love, devotion and commitment, wedding rings represent the union of marriage between two people and unlike engagement rings, they are worn by both. Often, wedding rings tend to be more simple and minimalist, but there are still so many different choices you can make from the metal colour, style and bandwidth. As such, experts at engagement and wedding ring jeweller, Queensmith, have released exclusive internal data to help guide couples on what wedding rings will be popular in 2024.

2024 wedding trend: cocktails to serve at 70s-inspired weddings!

Pinterest has launched its Pinterest Predicts report and '70s-inspired weddings are set to be huge in 2024, with searches for 'groovy wedding' increasing 170% and 'retro wedding theme' spiking 80%. Experts at NIO Cocktails have shared popular cocktails from the 1970s that you should serve at your retro wedding: "The era that brought us the rise of disco music, retro prints and bell bottom trousers also brought us a resurgence in classic cocktails and new ones, too! There were many cocktails that were popular in the 1970s and if you're wanting to throw the perfect '70s-inspired wedding, we'd definitely advise including our top three '70s cocktail picks in your wedding."

Morgans Hotel in Swansea has launched its wedding packages for 2024

Morgans Hotel in Swansea has launched its wedding packages for 2024. A short drive from the Mumbles and Gower coastline, this Grade II* listed boutique venue has 42 individual bedrooms, a restaurant situated on the first floor with access via a champagne bar, and several beautiful ceremony spaces to choose from.

The Signature Wedding Package includes everything you need to create the perfect wedding, from room hire and wedding breakfast catering to décor options, a master of ceremonies, and overnight accommodation.

Alternatively, the Luxury Signature Wedding Package includes everything that's in the Signature Wedding Package plus a five-course meal and luxury decorations.

2024 food and drink trends predicted by the experts

From flexitarianism and the rise of sharing plates, to higher demand for whiskies and the rise in under-loved species of fish; here, renowned chefs and drink experts predict what will be the food and drink trends to take 2024 by storm - inspiration for your big-day catering too, with so much choice it will be hard to pick your favourite trend!

Caer Llan is an 18th-century country house wedding venue

Situated in more than 25 acres of glorious countryside, Caer Llan is an 18th-century country house wedding venue boasting far-reaching views of the distant Welsh mountains. Family-run by owners Vicky and Jake Carpenter, the property has idyllic grounds and gardens with a network of paths and an adjacent bluebell woodland to explore. Various features, such as an outdoor swimming pool and an original Victorian greenhouse, are also located within the grounds. The house itself has been lovingly refurbished by the owners and has 16 en-suite bedrooms available exclusively for your wedding guests.

Celebrate your wedding day with Niche Cocktails

If you want to serve amazing cocktails on the big day, then Niche Cocktails has you covered with its premium ready-to-drink canned cocktails. Perfect for kick-starting the celebrations, Niche Cocktails' range of all-natural cocktails taste just as good (if not better) than the ones you'd make from scratch, meaning that cocktail-loving couples can serve their favourite combos on their wedding day - why not enjoy your favourite tipples on your hen/stag or sten do too! Pre-mixed to ensure there's one less thing to worry about, you and your guests can enjoy a tasty tipple with Niche's delicious range that is so simple to serve. Each can can be poured straight into a glass or into a shaker with ice, allowing your guests more time for mingling.

Should I get a prenup ahead of my wedding?

Should I get a prenup ahead of my wedding? If you're planning your wedding, it's likely you're experiencing a whole mix of emotions! On the one hand, you'll be on cloud nine and feeling so excited. On the other, the stress can often get the better of you, no matter how in love you are. The planning, the preparation and the pressure can be overwhelming at times. In amongst all of this, you may not be thinking about putting measures in place to protect yourself in the event of the relationship one day breaking down. Whilst not the most romantic of things to be thinking about, an ever-growing number of couples are turning to prenuptial agreements ('prenups') to safeguard their money and assets before they begin their marriage and post nuptial agreements thereafter. At Stowe Family Law, we have seen enquiries for prenups increase by a quarter in the last year.

Fraser Hart has launched its new lab-grown diamond collection in its Cardiff Grand store

Fraser Hart has launched its new lab-grown diamond collection in its Cardiff Grand store. Optically, physically, and chemically identical to an earth-grown diamond, cutting-edge technology has been used to create timeless diamonds in a laboratory setting. Blending craftsmanship with innovation, the 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 a wide choice of cuts, carat sizes and settings.

Most popular day for marriage proposals revealed

New research has revealed the most common dates for marriage proposals in the UK, with Christmas Day, New Year's Eve and Valentine's Day taking the top three spots. In order to delve into engagement trends, a UK wedding venue has conducted a survey of married, engaged and single people... More than 2,700 people aged 18 and over took part in the research, 76% of whom were married or engaged and 24% of whom had not been engaged yet. Respondents answered questions about their past proposals, or what they would want from a proposal in future. Wedding venue Hensol Castle first of all asked what date of the year anyone who was or had been engaged was asked for their hand in marriage (or did the asking), which revealed the following top five dates to be the most popular of the year:

The King Arthur Hotel is a hidden gem nestled in the Gower Peninsula

A hidden gem nestled in the Gower Peninsula, the King Arthur Hotel is an award-winning wedding venue comprising of 18 en-suite bedrooms, an 18th-century cottage, and luxury self-catering apartments.

Rich in history, the King Arthur Hotel's wedding venue, Avalon, boasts a high-pitched ceiling with exposed French oak beams, Welsh slate floors, and arched windows overlooking the surrounding landscaped gardens. The venue is licenced for civil ceremonies and can comfortably accommodate 140 seated guests for the wedding breakfast and 200 for the evening celebration.

2024 wedding trends from the experts

Emma Gold, founder of GSP Events, an events production agency responsible for some of the most iconic weddings of the last 27 years, unveils the 2024 wedding trends along with other experts in the industry..."Another trend we are seeing more and more of – the hotel buyout; guests are keen for total exclusivity and privacy for their guests. It is no longer enough to simply take a few rooms or the events spaces for the day or the weekend. Going forward, guests are taking over entire hotels. Clients of ours this year had the Maybourne Riviera for the weekend. One event was hosted there, with best friends and family all accommodated in the hotel. It means the celebrations never stop, and it allows guests to spend good quality down time together too. From a logistical perspective, it's hugely helpful in ensuring guests are at the right place at the right time; but also, what a dream to be able to have all your loved ones in one place."

20 things to get us through January according to Brits

With Christmas over, and the most depressing month of the year in full swing researchers asked Brits to vote for the things which we love about the colder months, with snuggling up with a blanket the top choice! The research, conducted by luxury ski resorts Club Med, also revealed a Sunday roast helps us get through the chilliest days, as over a quarter (27 per cent) love the smell of a roast dinner wafting through the house.

The best alcohol-free drinks to serve at weddings?

Discover the delightful range of award-winning non-alcoholic beverages from Mocktails which will make the perfect accompaniment to alcohol-free weddings and hen/stag dos! The ready-to-drink beverages are perfect for those looking to embrace the benefits of alcohol-free without compromising on flavour. Mocktails offer a delectable collection of flavours, each carefully crafted with the finest ingredients, spices, and botanicals sourced from around the world. Mixology-inspired and uniquely crafted, drinks include Mockarita, Sansgria, Mockscow Mule, Mockapolitan and Espress0% Martini. Mocktails' beverages are made with real fruit juices, exotic and natural flavours, and pure cane sugar.

1 in 7 couples buy wedding insurance at short notice

Christmas and New Year is the most popular time to get engaged* but research from wedding insurance specialist, CoverMyWedding.co.uk, reveals that couples might not be financially protecting all their purchases. One in seven (16%)** couples buy wedding insurance within 100 days of their wedding, according to CoverMyWedding.co.uk, leaving them potentially missing out on protection if they have already started putting down deposits and making payments. Wedding insurance often only covers items booked and bought after it is purchased, so it is important to buy it as soon as possible and before any big bookings or purchases are made, as depending on your insurer, they may not be included.

Sustainable wedding wrapping paper from Curlicue

Curlicue, a British-made, female-founded company, has a delightful range of love-themed gift wrap - perfect for wedding gifting or Valentine's Day! All wrap is on 100% FSC-certified recycled and recyclable paper, plastic-free, and made with vegetable-based ink. The company uses a waterless and chemical-free printing process to be kinder to the environment, and use a UK printer for its paper to keep its carbon footprint as low as possible - from making to shipping its plastic-free!

Northern Star Bespoke Jewellery has won an award

Northern Star Bespoke Jewellery is a multi-award-winning jeweller with stores in Penarth and Swansea. Combining traditional techniques with state-of-the-art technology, the talented team will work with you to create the perfect piece of handmade jewellery.

The jeweller was recently awarded 'Best Wedding Jewellery Designer in Wales for 2023' at the Welsh National Wedding Awards 2023. The team tells us: "We were pleased to attend the Welsh National Wedding Awards that were held in Swansea at the end of 2023. We have been lucky over the years to have won regional and national awards for our designs. The award we won this time was 'Best Wedding Jewellery Designer in Wales for 2023'."