Your South Wales Wedding news and ideas from around the area

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!

The Spa at St. David’s has re-opened following a £300K investment

Following a recent £300K investment, The Spa at St. David's, located within voco St. David's, Cardiff, has re-opened. With a new sauna, revitalised pool, shower area and changing rooms, the renovation project also includes the introduction of new, premium treatment house, OSKIA. The British multi-award-winning brand, which has its manufacturing and skincare laboratory in Monmouth, has exclusively collaborated with the Spa at St. David's to offer a range of bespoke treatments for guests in the first partnership of its kind with a Welsh hotel and spa.

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

Caer Llan is an 18th-century wedding venue boasting mountain views

Situated in more than 25 acres of glorious countryside, Caer Llan is an 18th-century wedding venue boasting mountain views. Family-run, the property has an outdoor swimming pool, an original Victorian greenhouse and 16 en-suite bedrooms available exclusively for wedding guests.

Full of charming details, such as large Chesterfield sofas and armchairs, there are plenty of places to explore and take photographs, including next to the oak fireplaces and recycled-oak picture frames.

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.

Wishbone & Comb is offering one lucky reader a free hair and make-up trial

Wishbone & Comb are mobile hair and make-up specialists based in Cardiff and throughout South Wales. Made up of 10 artists qualified to the highest standard, the team work perfectly together for large bookings, events, and bridal parties.

The company was founded by head stylist Laura Glanville, who has been a hairdresser and beautician for 18 years and for the past eight of those, she's worked exclusively with brides, specialising in creative hair and make-up artistry.

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.

Craig Y Nos Castle is a fairytale venue located in the upper Swansea Valley

Craig Y Nos Castle is a fairytale venue located in the upper Swansea Valley on the edge of the Brecon Beacons. Boasting 36 en suite bedrooms, an on-site gym with high-quality apparatus, a private lounge and a hot tub, the property is surrounded by breathtaking grounds with plenty of places for you and your guests to explore and take those all-important photographs.

If you're looking for a grand setting for your big day, you'll love The Theatre. It's one of only eight Grade I listed opera houses in the UK and boasts a 125-year-old curtain depicting Madame Patti on a chariot in Rossini's last Italian opera. Able to hold 120 of your friends and family, there are plenty of details to admire, including the walls, which are decorated with the names of Patti's favourite composers.

How to throw a Barbie-themed hen party this summer

With the launch of the new Barbie movie, searches for "barbie party" on Pinterest have seen a 121% increase in the last six months as people look for inspiration on how to throw their own, pink-themed parties. As the wedding season is in full swing, thortful.com has teamed up with Pippa Masson, party planning expert at Hen Party Company Fizzbox, to compile top tips on how to throw a Barbie-themed hen party this summer. From Barbie themed cocktails to choosing the perfect venue, this is how to have the ultimate bachelorette Barbie herself would even love.

Fun and luxe wedding gifts

Attending a wedding this summer? Looking for the ultimate addition to your wedding day gift list? Look no further, Who Icons, seamlessly combines refined luxury with a touch of casual elegance, creating the ultimate personalised wedding gift. Who Icons understands that love stories are unique, and so should be the gifts that commemorate them. Its exquisite collection of handcrafted treasures is meticulously designed to captivate the hearts of discerning couples. From The Royals to the Beckhams, Anna Wintour to Karl Largerfield, the debut collection featuring the world's most influential fashion icons - and here at County Wedding Magazines HQ we're finding it hard to pick our favourite, we'll just have to collect them all.

Take a break from the wed-min - 30 things which bring happiness

Although joyous occasions, planning a wedding can be stressful with money worries and family politics all thrown into the mix. If you feel like this is your situation right now, grab yourself a brew and a biscuit and read this heartfelt study by Samsung: a definitive list of 30 things which bring us pure moments of happiness! An optimistic 94 percent of those surveyed, agree that joy is all around us, we just have to choose to see it.

Vote for your favourite suppliers for The Welsh National Wedding Awards

The Welsh National Wedding Awards, now in its 12th year, recognises the very best wedding businesses in Wales. Every year thousands of votes are cast and from these votes shortlists are created with the winners announced at the prestigious 'Welsh National Wedding Awards' ceremony, with 600 guests in attendance each year. We're delighted to announce that Your South Wales Wedding are media partners with The Welsh National Wedding Awards and we cannot wait to celebrate the event with all of this year's nominees.

Voting for the awards is now open. Any bride or groom whose wedding took place or is taking place between 1st September 2022 and 31st August 2023, can vote for a wedding supplier who went above and beyond and made their special day so wonderful. If you'd like to register your business, click here or if you'd like to nominate a supplier, click here.

How to choose the perfect wedding ring

Often overlooked, there's a big difference between platinum, gold and white gold rings, even though they look very similar. Despite gold rings being the traditional choice platinum wedding bands have over 6.1k searches and platinum wedding rings 3.3k in the UK each month. Whilst gold wedding bands have only 1k searches and gold wedding rings 5.4k, this suggests that in 2023 the most popular choice may be a platinum band. But with more 15k searches for 'Wedding Bands' in the UK every month - the decision may not be as simple as what's on trend. Here, jewellery expert Sach Kukadia at 7879 recommends how to choose the perfect wedding ring a purchase far more more important than your regular jewellery! Find out the difference between platinum vs golds, delving into everything, including their pros and cons, through to how well they'll fare in the long run...

Voco St. David’s, Cardiff is a luxury hotel and spa with truly breathtaking views of Cardiff Bay

Voco St. David's, Cardiff is a luxury hotel and spa with truly breathtaking views of Cardiff Bay and Penarth Marina. The landmark location makes a luxurious and romantic waterfront setting in which to say 'I do'.

Featuring a stylish, contemporary and elegant design – reminiscent of a boat's sail – from the moment you enter this beautiful venue, you will be amazed.

All of the 142 bedrooms have fl oor-to-ceiling windows and balconies, offering unimpeded, idyllic views over Cardiff and the bay.

How to nail your bridesmaid gifts

Finding that perfect thank you gift for your bridesmaids can be a mind boggling task. How can you truly thank them for supporting you on your big day? New research* from gifting experts at Getting Personal shows that apart from our parents, friends are the hardest people to shop for with one in seven (15%) admitting they struggle. To help brides give envy-inducing thank you gifts gifting expert at Getting Personal, Tara Butler, shares eight tips for figuring out what they really want... without having to ask.

The perfect wedding gift that couples will love

Wedding season is upon us and picking out the perfect wedding gift that is personal, but also has character and a luxe feel to celebrate the couple's big day can be a daunting task. However look no further, whether it's to say thanks to your bridesmaids, or to celebrate the happy couple, Yvonne Ellen, a home and interiors designer who specialises in hand-painted home gifts, has picked out some of her top gift ideas to suit all types of couples including gifts for loved ones and the bridal party.

10 things wedding guests really care

Whether it's an open bar, live band or fireworks, choosing the best elements to add to your wedding day could really make or break your big day, new research reveals. Wedding experts Queensmith analysed thousands of comments from Reddit to reveal the things that really matter to guests when attending a wedding. Unsurprisingly, an open bar is a consistent success with guests at a wedding, however, it seems seating charts and a late-night snack are just as important.

Your wedding playlist, according to DJ experts

Now that we have entered peak wedding season, (May-October), DJing experts from CD Pool have provided the ultimate wedding playlists for your reception that is guaranteed to keep the dance floor hopping with happy guests. CD Pool analysed Spotify API data, exploring 2117 playlists with the keyword "wedding" to compile four playlists that reflect the atmosphere at different stages of the wedding reception. The suggested No. 1 song to include in your wedding playlist is I Wanna Dance With Somebody by Whitney Houston, a guaranteed floorfiller that appeared in over 320 playlists on Spotify, making it the most popular wedding-related track.