Your London Wedding news and ideas from around the capital

Discover The Dorchester's latest renovation project

The Dorchester unveils the first glimpse of its newly transformed guest rooms and suites, marking another milestone in the acclaimed hotel's renovation. With its commitment to reinventing traditions for a new era, The Dorchester's renowned interior design firm Pierre-Yves Rochon seamlessly blends the 1930s glamour deep in its DNA with a contemporary edge. The design draws inspiration from the hotel's prized position in Mayfair with Hyde Park on its doorstep, and the hotel's charming eccentricities are reflected through a fresh elixir of colours to enhance the property's heritage. The newly renovated rooms and suites feature state-of-the-art updates that enhance comfort and functionality. These updates include improvements to the hotel's soundproofing, air-conditioning and plumbing systems.

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.

Discover this incredibly popular non-alcoholic option for weddings

Saicho is a luxury, non-alcoholic, single-origin sparkling tea brand with various flavours from India, China, and Japan.

Founders Charlie and Natalie have always had a passion for food and drink. Now, husband and wife, they met whilst studying PhDs in Food Science. Unfortunately, Natalie can't drink alcohol (she turns as red as a tomato with even the smallest sip) and as such, she hasn't been able to fully enjoy the food and wine pairings that Charlie so loves. So, this got them thinking; surely there could be a non-alcoholic drink with ingredients that possessed the same complexity and heritage as wine - the rest is history!

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.

Discover Ruth Tomlinson's new jewellery collection

Hatton Garden-based fine jeweller Ruth Tomlinson has created WondeRings Marine, a new collection of bridal jewellery that's sure to add the wow factor to events. Ruth wanted to represent the journey of the marine diamonds and the water movement in her jewellery designs using Mitsuro Hikime, a lesser-known wax of Japanese origin. The wax has a beautiful sticky yet stretchy quality, which allowed Ruth to create fl owing lines and textures to resemble the waters that carry the diamonds into the ocean. She shares, "We're committed to sourcing our materials ethically and sustainably, exclusively using 100 per cent recycled gold and individually sourced gemstones that are mostly antique or old cut that we can upcycle."

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'.

London's Appleyard Flowers & Blooming Gifts joins One4all Gift Cards

One4all Gift Cards, the leading multi-store gift card in the UK, is thrilled to announce its expanded partnership with two esteemed online florists, Appleyard Flowers providing customers with an even wider array of floral gifting options. Appleyard Flowers is renowned for their commitment to crafting stunning flower arrangements and offering delightful gifts for all occasions. Both florists take pride in using the freshest and most exquisite blooms, ensuring that each gift is truly special.

Plan your wedding at The National Wedding Show

Planning a wedding is one of the most exciting times of your life and what better way to celebrate than a day out with your partner or wedding party. County Wedding Magazines has teamed up as media partners with The National Wedding Show which returns to Birmingham (NEC) between 22-24 September, and to London (ExCeL) 14-15 October, for two full weekends of unbridled wedding inspiration. Chat to hundreds of local and national suppliers, try on dreamy dresses, get the scoop at insider talks and make the most of some unique discounts too. After all, when it comes to planning the biggest day of your lives, every little helps.

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.

Sophie James Mayfair now offering bespoke wedding favours

The luxury fragrance brand Sophie James Mayfair now offers bespoke wedding candles so nearlyweds can find their perfect wedding scent. The team's new private labelling service allows clients to create unique and bespoke candles for their special day. The pieces can be made using any of the eight in-house fragrances, which are then combined with the company's signature toxin-free and vegan wax, along with a bespoke label and vessel of their choosing.

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!

Discover The Amadeus in West London

For the past 30 years, The Amadeus has provided a wide range of dry-hire events. The passionate team understands that every event is special, and they pride themselves on providing excellent service from start to finish with two event spaces. The converted former Welsh Presbyterian chapel in London's Maida Vale is the perfect location for memorable weddings. The Upper Hall's large elegant windows with stained glass borders provide wonderful natural illumination. The original pipe organ, wood-panelled balcony and graceful Victorian architecture complete the impressive effect.

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

New Notting Hill hotel set to open this summer

Introducing Ruby Zoe Hotel & Bar, the new carnival-themed hotel set to open in Summer 2023 in the heart of Notting Hill. Inspired by the annual Notting Hill Carnival, British-Trinidadian visual artist Zak Ové designed the property to celebrate the district's diverse culture and history. St Pancras International is less than 20 minutes away while Heathrow Airport is around half an hour's journey, making it an ideal location for business or leisure travellers. Room rates start at £180 per night, offering visitors a perfect base to explore the lively streets, colourful houses, local businesses and cultural landmarks of Notting Hill. It's the perfect pre-wedding getaway to spend quality time together before the vows.

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.