Your Herts and Beds Wedding news and ideas from around the area

Introducing Cake Spiral™ - the next evolution in cake displays by Prop Options

Prop Options, the UK-based innovators setting the standard for modern cake styling, has launched Cake Spiral – the industry's first fully flat-pack spiral cake support to hit the professional market. Made from high-quality, food-safe acrylic, Cake Spiral transforms from flat to full-height spiral in seconds – no tools, no bending, no shaping required. The structure simply pulls into place, locks securely between tiers, and can be styled and set up in moments. It is the only spiral cake stand on the market to combine fold-flat portability with genuine structural support.

Modern day hen do ideas - time to celebrate

The hen do is the perfect opportunity to shower your bridesmaids with love before the big day. It's all about celebrating your friendship, laughing until your cheeks hurt and making the most of your time together. If you're looking for unique and fun ways to honour your girlies, here are some ideas from hen experts, bookaparty.com. Treat your bridal crew to a bottomless brunch where the prosecco and pancakes keep coming. Head to the city centre of your choice and enjoy a fun atmosphere, good music and tasty food to suit a range of tastes. Whether it's a full English breakfast, avocado toast, fluffy waffles or pizza, your taste buds will be in heaven, and unlimited drinks help you to kick off your day in style. Sip on free-flowing glasses of fizz, cocktails, beer, cider or soft drinks as you let your hair down and even enjoy some live entertainment from DJs to cabaret shows.

2025 wedding wine trends unveiled by Laithwaites

Laithwaites, the UK's leading online wine merchant, has revealed the top five wedding wine trends of 2025. Created by experts from Laithwaites' wedding wine service, this list reflects the current vogue for unique, cost-conscious wedding celebrations that leave a lasting impression on guests. "Couples are coming to us looking to create experiences that focus on value, showcase their personalities and give their guests a great time. It's so often the food and drink that makes a great wedding stand out," says Greg Roberts, Wine Educator at Laithwaites. Wedding wine trends for 2025.

The Eve Appeal: The UK’s Leading Gynae Cancer Charity’s Get Lippy Campaign

The Eve Appeal is on a mission is to save lives by focusing on preventing and improving the early diagnosis of the five gynaecological cancers. Throughout May, they are encouraging everyone to Get Lippy alongside some of the leadingnames and brands in beauty. The campaign raises awareness of the five gynae cancers: womb, ovarian, cervical, vulval andvaginal through a series of fundraising, education, and awareness initiatives to prevent these cancers before they start.

Brits are calling for an end to ‘rowdy’ stag and hen celebrations

Gone are the days when stag and hens revolved around a simple send-off - with costs spiralling out of control, Brits are calling for an end to 'rowdy' stag and hen celebrations. The study by the UK's most-trusted discount site, VoucherCodes.co.uk, reveals Brits are forking out £1,000 more than they'd like to celebrate their friends' and families' upcoming nuptials, with the average person willing to spend just £214. With many celebrations now lasting several days and requiring trips abroad, the average stag and hen now costs an eye-watering £1,208. It's therefore no surprise that a whopping 71% of people say costs have gotten out of control.

8 Tips To Avoid Wedding Guest Burnout This Wedding Season

As peak wedding season rolls in, it's not just brides and grooms who are feeling the pressure. New research reveals a growing trend of wedding burnout, and it's hitting guests just as hard. From back-to-back hen-dos and stag weekends to pricey gifts and cross-country travel, the cost and commitment of attending multiple weddings have left many guests feeling emotionally and financially drained. To help guests avoid burnout this wedding season, the experts at Queensmith have shared their 8 top tips to beat the 'wedding guest hangover', from setting a budget to knowing when to say no.

Hotpod Yoga Takes on Mental Health Week

Mental health awareness week (12th – 18th May) is upon us and it's time we get serious about our feelings. With the constant rise in social media consumption and the cruelty of the media, it's vita we understand how we can support our mental health. Hotpod Yoga in Birmingham are facing the week head on and, in collaboration with CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably), are helping locals support the worthy cause.

This new cleaning trend is ruining your engagement ring!

The newest trend to clean engagement rings with a coffee steamer, whilst entertaining to watch, is a sure-fire way to ruin your precious ring! We have to be very careful about our jewels and must not forget that it is four simple prongs that hold in our sparkling beauties. To educate us as to why this hack should get the sack is Neil Dutta, managing director of the engagement ring specialists, Angelic Diamonds

B Calm Introduces a Personalised Body and Face Care Set

Born from Becky's personal journey of healing, B Calm offers beautifully designed, organic products to support modern women in finding daily balance and calm. In May 2025 they will proudly unveils their latest innovation – the Personalised Body + Face Care Set. Designed to empower individuals to create a unique self-care ritual, this customisable trio features a hydrating mist, nourishing carrier oil, and pure essential oil blend to support radiant skin and holistic well-being.

New Study Reveals the Best Places in England to Get Married

With wedding season fast approaching, the wedding experts at F.Hinds have analysed hundreds of the best wedding venues that England has to offer, to uncover where nearly-weds should be adding to their shortlist this summer. The study considered several factors such as popularity, reviews and weather predictions and awarded bonus points for how "Instagrammable" the aesthetic is. The systematic scoring system has revealed the "best of the best" English wedding venues for couples planning a wedding in 2025.

From Flavours to Florals – Cakes as Unique as Your Day

To bring visions to life, Blooms Balloons and Bakes offers a personalised service for couples looking to create their dream wedding cake. The team takes the time to sit down with each couple, discussing their design preferences and flavour choices. They understand the importance of tasting before deciding, so they provide a delightful session to find the perfect flavours. What sets Blooms Balloons and Bakes apart is the love and care infused into every design, along with their keen attention to detail, ensuring each cake is right for the couple's special day. They offer various flavours, including classics like vanilla, chocolate, and fruitcake, as well as some delightful new favourites such as lemon, coffee, apple, carrot, Biscoff, red velvet and coconut. They also cater to various dietary needs, accommodating vegan options, nut allergies, and gluten-free requests.

Wedding expert reveals the top 2025 trends

With weddings becoming more personalised than ever, many couples are rethinking the traditional elements of their big day. In 2025, couples are all about individuality and creating an experience that truly reflects them. For those looking for inspiration on what's 'in' and what's 'out' for weddings this year; Jeremy Hinds, Wedding and Engagement Ring expert at F.Hinds, shares his top tips for planning a celebration that feels both modern and timeless.

Warren James: Brilliantly Crafted, Consciously Chosen

This Spring, Warren James is thrilled to showcase its stunning lab-grown diamond collection, the ideal choice for extraordinary gifting. The response to this new collection has been remarkable, reflecting Warren James' firm belief that a diamond is a diamond. Lab-grown diamonds are identical to mined diamonds – physically, optically, thermally, and chemically. Every piece in this collection has been carefully handpicked to ensure optimum clarity, featuring sparkling F-G rare white colour diamonds that shine with mesmerising brilliance and lustre. Choosing lab-grown diamonds doesn't mean compromising quality or beauty; it's an extraordinary option that showcases elegance and sophistication. What's more, lab-grown diamonds are a more sustainable choice, requiring significantly less energy and producing minimal waste. This makes them a thoughtful, ethical alternative to traditional mined diamonds.

Tabi Cakes: Creating Moments, One Slice at a Time

The hardworking team at Tabi Cakes is all about turning visions into reality with showstopping, delicious cakes that taste just as good as they look! What sets them apart? Every cake they create is a masterpiece, carefully handcrafted with love, attention to detail and only the finest ingredients. Whether someone is looking for an elegant wedding cake, a quirky design or a fun celebration cake, the team brings that vision to life with style and flair. They offer an exciting range of flavours, from classic vanilla and rich Belgian chocolate to indulgent red velvet, zingy lemon drizzle, and even some unique twists for the more adventurous cake lovers. Their designs span from timelessly and elegant to bold and fun— whatever the style, they make it happen.

Celebrate National Tea Day with the Nation’s Best Tasting Tea!

Birchall Tea is a family-owned tea company with a heritage dating back to 1872. Known for its exceptional quality and flavour, Birchall Tea sources the finest ingredients to create a wide range of blends enjoyed by tea enthusiasts worldwide. Committed to sustainability and ethical practices, Birchall Tea continually seeks ways to support environmental and social causes. To celebrate National Tea Day 2025, Birchall is giving customers 10% off any online purchase, but hurry as it's available for today only!

Layers & Graces: Where Cake Becomes Art

The team behind Layers & Graces believes cakes should be breathtaking centrepieces that beautifully reflect individual styles and tastes. With a seamless and personalised process, they bring visions to life, creating elegant, one-of-a kind bakes. Taking a highly personalised approach, the team crafts exquisite creations that embody modern elegance and meticulous attention to detail, making the entire experience effortless and enjoyable. Using only the finest ingredients, their cakes are just as delicious as visually stunning, ensuring a lasting impression on clients and guests. Every design showcases the versatility of buttercream, whether it features the smooth, luxurious finish of a fully iced cake or the raw, rustic charm of a naked or semi-naked design. From delicate floral accents to modern, timeless touches, these cakes are crafted to complement every wedding style, perfectly reflecting each couple's unique love story. In addition to cakes, Layers & Graces offers bespoke favours and desserts to enhance the experience for guests.

Sshh... it’s a secret proposal: how ‘ask for harry’ is changing airport security

Queensmith, in partnership with London Luton Airport, has launched "Ask For Harry," a new initiative to help those proposing to navigate airport security without revealing hidden engagement rings. This comes as inquiries about transporting engagement rings through security have surged by 25 per cent over the past year. A survey by Queensmith found that 53 per cent of Brits plan to propose abroad, with many feeling anxious about security checks. While most proposers hide their rings in hand luggage or pockets, many want a discreet way to inform security about their concealed rings. The "Ask for Harry" initiative allows couples to keep their proposals a secret, as airport staff will recognise this signal for careful handling of bags, ensuring a smooth and surprise-filled experience. The aim is to preserve the magic of the moment in a romantic destination, rather than in an airport line.

Couples seek help with their Wedding Checklist

With the average 2025 wedding costing £20,822, it's understandable that couples are feeling the pressure to ensure their special day runs smoothly. Wedding costs have more than doubled since the pandemic and with higher budgets often comes increased planning and the need for checklists. Last year "wedding checklist" received 6,600 average monthly searches online as UK couples turned to Google for guidance, to make sure nothing was missed. As your 2025 wedding day approaches and the big elements are secured, from venue and dress to guest list, there will still be a number of important details to manage in those final weeks.

The Hertfordshire Registration Service has introduced ‘Anywhere’ ceremonies

The Hertfordshire Registration Service is on a mission to help couples celebrate their love stories in unique settings. In England and Wales, venues need to be licensed for legal marriages, which can sometimes limit couples looking for something different for their big day. Recognising this desire for individuality, Hertfordshire Registration Service has introduced 'Anywhere' ceremonies. This innovative option allows couples to have a brief legal ceremony at a register office, followed by a personalised celebration at a venue of their choice. Kimberley and Joshua recently embraced this idea with their 'Anywhere' ceremony at Country Tipis in Codicote. In Kimberley's words, "Our outdoor festival-themed wedding was a dream come true, and the registrars made it even more special by incorporating a military touch for my husband."

Discover the talented team behind Matthew Slater Sketch Artist

As Matthew Slater reflects on the past year, he feels a deep sense of fulfilment in his second year as a wedding sketch artist. It has been a remarkable journey, filled with opportunities to draw in stunning locations and connect with countless joyful couples. His trusty sketchbooks and iPad have accompanied him to nine weddings, a delightful garden party, a wedding awards press launch, and even an Oktoberfest celebration to cap off the year! While he may not capture the thousands of images a photographer would, Matthew has poured his heart into creating more than 450 sketches that bring to life the essence of brides, grooms, cakes, venues, musicians and guests.