Your South Wales Wedding news and ideas from around the area

The Good Hotel Guide has revealed its list of Welsh winners

The Good Hotel Guide has revealed its annual list of César winners. The 20 Césars are given to the hotels, inns and B&Bs considered outstanding in their particular category. The latest version of The Good Hotel Guide: Great Britain & Ireland is now live online, featuring more than 700 hotels, including 76 new entries.

Ty Mawr Country Hotel has been named Best Country House Hotel. Located in the charming village of Brechfa, just outside Carmarthenshire, Ty Mawr Country Hotel's fast-growing reputation for fabulous food stretches far and wide. Voted for the second year running for the Editor's Choice Award for the Best Country House Hotel, it's not hard to work out why.

Money and Matrimony: Mastering finances together

Managing money as a married couple can greatly differ from managing your own money as a single person. Where you previously only had to budget and save for one, and think about your own needs and wants, there is another person to think about, including their life goals and financial habits. For National Marriage Week, Olly Cheng, Financial Planning Director at Rathbones, shared his top tips on how to manage finances as a married couple.

Bryngarw House in Bridgend is a wedding venue that dates back to the 15th century

Dating back to the 15th century, Bryngarw House is believed to have been presented by a gentleman named John Popkin to his sister Frances as a wedding present in 1775. A symbol of love from the very start, the owners are proud to have transformed Bryngarw House into a stunning wedding venue almost 250 years later.

Located in the heart of Bryngarw Country Park, there are an array of photo opportunities available, including the golden meadows, the woodland and the iconic ornamental bridge in the oriental garden.

Moonpig reveal the most trending hen party and wedding themes of 2024

New data from Moonpig has revealed the top wedding and hen party trends over the last 12 months based on Google search volumes and social media data. Last Rodeo-themed hen parties were the most popular with a 69% increase in Google search volume. The way we celebrate is constantly evolving. A recent Pinterest report found a shift in consumer behaviour with more people opting for intimate gatherings and celebrating old traditions with a modern twist. .

Known for helping people celebrate the moments that matter, leading online greeting card and gift experts, Moonpig, has revealed the top hen party and wedding trends of 2024. By analysing Google searches and data from TikTok, Pinterest and YouTube, Moonpig shares expert commentary on why these trends are so popular...

National Marriage Week 2025

Wedding celebrations take place year-round. And with all the costs associated, it's little surprise that so many couples prioritise all the required bills and outgoings for their big day, rather than their combined financial future. With National Marriage Week upon us (7th to 14th February), it's a good reminder to add a fundamental money conversation to your to-do list before getting married. Whether it's buying your marital home, getting ready for your newlywed trip of a lifetime, or starting to combine your finances and savings goals - there are some important steps to take before your nuptials to ensure money doesn't become a source of stress for you both.

Mamta Shanbhag, Borrow Director at Tesco Bank, offers five money tips for anyone set to marry this year:

Craig Y Nos Castle has won an award

Craig Y Nos Castle has won the National Wedding Award for Wedding Venue of the Year.

Michael Ludwig, the business systems and procedures manager at Craig Y Nos Castle, tells us: "I am like a proud father and would like to congratulate the whole team at Craig Y Nos Castle, the wedding team, kitchen, front of house, reception, housekeeping, maintenance and builders for the great job you are doing and have done over the past 12 months. If you want to get married, why not contact us and see how we can make your day magical?"

The Celtic Lodge is a stunning Victorian house in Neath

The Celtic Lodge is a stunning Victorian house in Neath just off the M4. Licensed to hold indoor and outdoor civil ceremonies, the property offers a range of wedding packages, which include welcome drinks, Chiavari chairs, drapes, table linen, centrepieces, a three-course wedding breakfast and an evening buffet.

The team has a wide range of menus and prices available to suit every budget with a choice of a traditional wedding breakfast, sizzling barbecue, traditional fish 'n' chips, or pie and chips. They will work with you to meet your every need, and you can even go exclusive and hire the whole venue for the day.

New vases from BHS to elevate big-day styling

BHS is delighted to present its newest offering, a collection of glass vases in an array of beautiful styles, shades and sizes. The extensive and diverse range caters to all interior schemes, revitalising the home with a fusion of modern sophistication and timeless charm that redefines home decor - making them perfect for big-day gift lists or thank you gifts. Alternatively, the range would also make gorgeous vessels for table centrepieces for your wedding blooms, which you can the recycle after the day and use for years to come.

WoodWick® new Vapour Trails collection for the big day and beyond

Introducing the Vapour Trails Collection from Woodwick which celebrates the subtle beauty in everyday movement. There are fewer greater life moments than your wedding day, and whether it's to scent the big day itself or to give a gorgeous gift to loved ones, the new Woodwick Vapour Trails Collection would be ideal. Terra Haze: Petrichor, the refreshingly vivid scent of rain on soil, evokes the sense of nature being stripped down to its molecules. Notes of aldehydes, cedarwood, and mossy earth climb toward the sky, dancing back into the atmosphere like mist.

Newlyweds' home inspiration 2025 trends

With modern day wedding gift lists evolving, the time of asking for a toaster is gone, Jon Flannigan, Head of Product at Crucial Trading shares his insight into the flooring trends set to define 2025 which people tying the knot this year can be inspired by for the guests' contributions. "In 2025, we expect to see a shift towards greater personalisation in home design Naturally, homeowners want their spaces to reflect their individuality and tastes, which can involve moving beyond pre-manufactured products in favour of bespoke options

Demand for Traitors-inspired hen weekends surge following BBC series

Following the nail-biting finale of The Traitors Season 3 on the BBC, requests for Traitors-inspired hen weekends have gone through the roof, according to one of the UK's leading hen party planners. Since the season wrapped up last week, GoHen.com have seen a sharp rise in demand for manor houses, castle stays, and activities designed to let brides-to-be and their squads recreate the show's iconic betrayals, mind games, and nail-biting roundtables. "It's a great addition to a hen party," says Ellie Silk, Head of Events at GoHen.com. "It's the perfect mix of fun, drama, and suspense – everything you want on a weekend away with your best mates!"

Let's talk about the money, money, money

Even the healthiest of relationships can come under strain when couples have to talk about money matters; and this doesn't get any easier when planning a wedding where you'll find yourself discussing expenses and the cost of things more than ever before. If you got engaged over the festive period, then not only are you recovering from the expenses of Christmas and New Year, but you will also now be thinking about a wedding budget. Chris Henderson, Savings and Payments Director at Tesco Bank says: "No matter what time of year it is, having open and clear conversations about the health of your finances is an incredibly important part of any relationship.

Morgans Hotel in Swansea is hosting a wedding fair on Sunday 9th February

Come and see why Morgans Hotel in Swansea was named the 'Best Boutique Wedding Venue in South and Central Wales' at the recent Welsh National Wedding Awards 2024 at its wedding fair. Taking place on Sunday 9th February 2025, the team at Morgans will be opening the hotel's doors between 1pm and 4pm to show prospective brides, grooms and their nearest and dearest the many options for wedding celebrations at Morgans Hotel.

From intimate and romantic wedding ceremonies in their beautiful Sir Galahad function suite to colourful and exciting wedding breakfasts and receptions in the hotel's Banqueting Hall to elaborate and exclusive all- day events with the venue's facilities reserved exclusively for the wedding party, couples can explore the gorgeous options at Morgans and really design the wedding celebration of their dreams.

Elevate your floral designing with an exclusive wedding styling experience

Are you eager to refine your wedding designs, embrace the latest floral techniques, and learn how to create breathtaking designs that exceed expectations? Look no further than this immersive floral workshop.

The Wedding Venue Styling Experience is a two-day workshop dedicated to the art of current wedding floristry. Hosted at the enchanting Berkeley Castle in Gloucester by Ruth Milton-Jones and Sharon Dower, this exclusive event is your gateway to mastering skills that will set you apart in the competitive world of floral design.

Vale Resort is a luxury hotel surrounded by 650 acres of glorious countryside

Located within 650 acres of glorious countryside is the Vale Resort. The luxury hotel is home to 143 on-site bedrooms, two championship golf courses, an award-winning restaurant, sports facilities and Wales' largest spa. Boasting landscaped gardens, gorgeous greenery and well-kept seasonal plants, there are plenty of places for you and your guests to explore and take photos on the big day.

There are nine deluxe suites available for weddings. The Castle Suite is perfect for large celebrations, with high ceilings, grand windows, a private bar and space for 400 guests throughout the special day.

New from Yankee Candles - wedding ideas aplenty

This new candle selection from Yankee Candle features four gorgeous colours which are all perfect for wedding day colour palettes! Transport yourself to an Italian holiday with our latest collection, "Hello Italy!," where every scent captures the essence of Italy's charm and vibrancy. Inspired by the joyful gatherings with loved ones, indulgent feasts, and iconic travel experiences, this collection combines rich earthy tones and warm golden hues reminiscent of Italy's streets and countryside.

Delight in fragrances that evoke the freshness of olive groves, the zest of lemons, and the sea spray of coastal breezes. "Hello Italy!" is more than a collection, it's an invitation to savour life's beautiful moments through the essence of Italy. Bellissima!

55% of couples are together less than a year before getting engaged

British couples are rushing into marriage proposals, according to new data which found that over half (55%) are together less than a year before getting engaged. Modern relationships can come with personal, professional and financial pressures, but according to the study* by jewellery retailer Abelini, Brits are fast-tracking love and moving through milestones at a rapid pace, with a fifth spending less than a week planning the proposal, and 15% even admitting it was a spur of the moment decision. The report delves into the trials and tribulations that come with marriage proposals, considering costs and the engagement ring to proposal traditions and location. When it comes to the engagement ring, one in 10 admitted that it didn't meet their expectations, with the biggest concern (16%) being that they wished they knew their partner's ring size.

Noveltyspirits is offering our readers two amazing discounts

Noveltyspirits offers individually designed and personalised miniature bottles of spirits, which include the couple's picture on the front of the miniature bottle, for guests to remember their special day. The inclusion of a photograph of the couple, with personalised text and date, enables Noveltyspirits to produce wonderful wedding favours, even for smaller nuptials.

Noveltyspirits can produce as little as 30 x 5cl. miniatures as part of a premium service for smaller weddings, without design fees, and a discount structure is in place for larger weddings. These services include liaising with the couple and discussing precisely what they want. Designs are produced, and after "sign off," their order is prepared.

Canada Lodge and Lake is a charming wedding venue tucked away in the lush Welsh countryside

Tucked away in the lush Welsh countryside, Canada Lodge and Lake offers an enchanting lakeside setting where natural beauty meets timeless elegance. Whether you're planning an intimate gathering or a grand celebration, this stunning venue promises a wedding day to remember. Just a stone's throw from Cardiff City Centre, Canada Lodge and Lake's lakeside venues and accommodation provides a tranquil escape. The Executive Cabin is reserved exclusively for the couple; this spacious cabin offers privacy and stunning lake views. Couples can also stay the night before the wedding, allowing them to prepare for their special day on-site. Your guests can relax in the oak-built cabins with lake views and modern comforts, or the Nova Scotia Apartment is a family-friendly option with a private veranda overlooking the lake. Booking your wedding at Canada Lodge and Lake includes the option to reserve all accommodations at a discounted rate, ensuring your loved ones stay close.

Baked By Steph launches fun Valentine's Day cookie collection for every type of partner

Baked By Steph, the favourite for quirky, cute, handmade treats, has unveiled its showstopping Valentine's Day collection and we're loving it. Known for combining playful designs with impeccable flavour, Baked By Steph takes romance to a whole new level with its personalised, letterbox-friendly iced cookies. Whether you're wooing your soulmate, pleasing your partner, or reminding your vegan Valentine how special they are, these cookies are the ultimate love language this February 14th. Inspired by everyone's favourite Friends quote, this adorable set includes cookies that spell out your love in the sweetest way. Perfect for reminding your lobster how much they mean to you.