Your South Wales Wedding news and ideas from around the area

Llancaiach Fawr Manor is situated in the heart of the South Wales Valleys

The Grade I-listed Llancaiach Fawr Manor is one of the finest surviving fortified Tudor manor houses in the country. Situated in the heart of the South Wales Valleys, this 16th-century property has been restored to how it would have looked during the royal visit of King Charles I in 1645.

The Parlour is used for intimate celebrations and provides the perfect setting for a candlelit ceremony with up to 30 of your guests, or the Great Hall can be used for up to 50 people.

Alternatively, the light and modern conservatory offers panoramic views across the countryside and is available for 70 of your friends and family.

The Speech Surgery: modern day etiquette with Heidi Ellert McDermott, founder of Speechy

The Speech Surgery: modern day etiquette with Heidi Ellert McDermott, founder of Speechy, and author of The Modern Couple's Guide to Wedding Speeches: Some say addressing guests as 'ladies and gentlemen' is a mistake these days... what is the Modern newlywed speech etiquette? Let's start by saying (again) there are no wedding speech rules. When it comes to etiquette, it's simply a case of common sense and being polite. Honestly, that's it. When it comes to addressing your audience, 'Ladies and gentlemen' is becoming less common for two reasons.

Hotpod Yoga Cardiff has launched a new sleep-focused class

Wedding planning can be stressful and even lead to sleepless nights. To help, Hotpod Yoga Cardiff has launched a new sleep-focused class. The class will offer a calming and restorative flow that is suitable for all and draws from different yoga styles to deliver ultimate relaxation, all set within the nurturing environment of a patented pod: a peaceful cocoon helping you to relax deeply and find calm.

Dr. Sophie Bostock, who has partnered with Hotpod Yoga to support the launch of Sleep Sessions, says: "Many people struggle to switch off at night or wake up in the early hours with a racing mind. Yoga combines physical movement, breathwork and meditation techniques, which develop the skill of deep relaxation"

Creative ways to preserve and display your wedding bouquet

Your wedding day is one of the most magical days of your life, so you'll no doubt want to hold onto your memories for as long as possible. Here, Clare Price from framing specialists Wall Space shares their tips for preserving your wedding bouquet for years to come. Preserving your wedding bouquet can be a wonderful way to keep the memories of your special day alive. Techniques like drying and pressing are some of the best methods of flower preservation, and there are countless ways to show off your preserved blooms in your home once you're done. With the tips and ideas below, you can create lasting reminders of your cherished moments and remember your special day for years to come.

Glyndwr Vineyard is one of Wales’ oldest and largest vineyards

Producing a range of fine, award-winning wines that have been carefully blended and fermented by a skilled winemaker for well over a quarter of a century, Glyndwr Vineyard is one of Wales' oldest and largest vineyards that specialises in hosting individually planned weddings. The family-run property offers exclusive access to its gardens, vineyard, picturesque barn and terrace throughout the day.

The team is particularly proud of the venue's rural and environmentally friendly surroundings, where chickens, ducks and wild pheasants roam and hedges are left to grow to encourage birdlife. Couples are welcome to explore the ponds, woodland area and orchards with British apple trees that are used to make Glyndwr Vineyard's cider.

Experts reveal five wedding trends set to be huge this Summer

With the new season comes new colours and trends, and with that being said, experts at Diamonds Factory have predicted five wedding trends that are set to be big this Summer. Couples will step away from the traditional colour scheme "Stepping away from the traditional black and white formal attire, we expect to see many wedding parties embrace colour this Summer. We saw the mismatched bridesmaid dresses trend resurge in popularity in late 2023, and predict this trend will take off even further this Summer, especially now it's getting warmer and with people experimenting with colour more.

The Speech Surgery: how long is too long?

The Speech Surgery: how long is too long? Heidi Ellert McDermott, founder of Speechy explores this. My groom says he's finished his speech and he's really happy with it but it's almost 2,000 words long. Is that too much? Yes. All speeches should be under ten minutes long. It seems obvious but I've seen several speeches (generally the best men) go well over half an hour, oblivious to the yawns or heckling. That's no more than 1,300 words maximum, allowing for pauses or laughter on the day. Remind your fiancé that his first draft is just the start of the writing process.

Wedding favours for Kids: ToyChoc Box

PLAYin CHOC's ToyChoc boxes are a fantastic choice for entertaining kids at weddings. These eco-friendly, vegan, and allergen-free treats come in 100% recyclable packaging. Each box contains two creamy chocolate bars wrapped in compostable packaging, along with a 3D card puzzle toy featuring animals like endangered species, sea creatures, or dinosaurs - there's also a fun animal fact inside. At just £2.25 each on Amazon, these boxes are a budget-friendly addition to your wedding plans.

Wild and Fabulous Flowers has won a design competition

Wild and Fabulous Flowers, specialists in weddings, events and bespoke bouquets, has won a design competition. The goal was to create a spring- inspired tablescape, so owner Rhian and her team pulled out all of the stops and created a tablescape of dreams.

Rhian tells us: "We used small footed bowls, ikebana-style arrangements, a floral chandelier and colourful candles. There were entries from all over the world, from Norway to South America. It was so exciting when we discovered that we had won! Our prize will be a four-page editorial in the next edition of Flora Magazine. We loved creating our design so much that we now offer tablescaping for weddings. This means that we can do all of your florals plus provide candles, candlesticks, vases and even scented candles. We have everything available to hire, including larger items such as urns, plinths and lanterns, meaning we can style your wedding for you, and we are fabulous at it!"

Your ultimate guide to wedding gift etiquette

It's that time of year again where our inboxes and mailboxes are full of beautifully designed wedding invitations, we're scouring the web for the perfect outfit and excitedly researching accommodation and travel. Being invited to a wedding is a gift and it is tradition to provide a gift to the happy couple. But, where to begin? Luckily we've sat down with Georgie Mitchell, Wedding Planner, Coordinator and Wedding Expert, at online fashion destination SilkFred, who has shared her ultimate guide to wedding gift giving from how much to spend to how to make your gift stand out on the present table.

Tall John’s House is set in the Brecon Beacons National Park

Set in the Brecon Beacons National Park, in acres of exquisite grounds with mature trees and breathtaking views across to the Black Mountains, Tall John's House is a charming venue that's perfect for couples who want tranquillity, exclusivity, and the freedom to make this venue their own. The gardens at Tall John's House are something special with features for all-year attraction, such as the rill, rose arbour, silver birch circle, a splendid display of flowers, shrubs, fruits, and vegetables, and sweeping lawns perfect for strolling and photos.

Green I dos: How to plan a sustainable wedding

The carbon footprint of a wedding in the UK is equivalent to driving a car around the world twice – both create 14.5 tonnes of carbon dioxide. Ahead of wedding season, sustainability experts from BusinessWaste.co.uk teamed up with leading wedding planner Georgie Mitchel from Georgina Rose Events to share the best ways to make a wedding more sustainable, while also saving some money. Georgie says: "Having been involved in hundreds of weddings, it's hard to see the amount of waste that is produced from that one day. However, it's so good to hear that couples are looking at ways to be more green! Here are my tips for having a sustainable wedding day."

The Speech Surgery: too many thank yous? Heidi Ellert McDermott, founder of Speechy explores this

The Speech Surgery: too many thank yous? Heidi Ellert McDermott, founder of Speechy explores this here, ready now...I've written my bride speech but almost three quarters of it is 'thank yous'. Is that right? The thank yous are obviously very important but you also need to be wary of turning your speech into one long tedious list. For guests, thank yous are really only interesting if 1) they're personally getting thanked or 2) the thank yous are entertaining, from-the-heart and feel more than a cut and paste job...

Five ways to beat a wedding hangover

Weddings are notorious for booze with 50% of people admitting they wouldn't be happy to attend a wedding without alcohol. With an expectation for heavy drinking at most celebrations, lots of dancing and a late night, wedding guests often wake up feeling worse for wear. Those suffering the morning after a wedding can ease the pain with simple hacks, including drinking a pint of water before bed and sleeping on their left side. Nausea, thirst and aches can also be alleviated by having a lie-in, which helps to limit fatigue and irritation the next day.

Penhein Glamping is celebrating its 10th anniversary

Penhein Glamping, set in acres of Monmouthshire farmland, has reopened just in time to celebrate its 10th anniversary. This year sees the introduction of even more ways to spend time with nature while staying in one of its eight high-domed luxury Persian 'Alachigh' tents, including the launch of an adventure club aimed at younger children.

There are over 250 acres for guests to explore and on-site activities include stargazing, meadow yoga, dawn chorus safaris, nature-inspired treasure hunts, bushcraft skills days and botanical gin foraging.

UK vs US Brides: Wedding expert reveals 5 ways we differ

It's time to settle the score: do UK brides really do it better, or are our American cousins stealing the show? Let's dive into the wedding warzone and explore five spicy differences that set us apart! According to a survey conducted by the UK's largest wedding venue collection, the Gilchrist Collection, there are some key differences in the ways Brits plan their big day, compared to that of Americans. Samantha Gilchrist, the owner of the Gilchrist Collection, has had the pleasure of helping thousands of engaged couples with their wedding, across 12 venues, both in the UK and US.

Lanelay Hall Hotel is a luxurious wedding venue in Pontyclun

Starting life as a manor house dating back to 1821, Lanelay Hall Hotel has undergone many different transformations throughout its lifetime. Over the years, the venue has been home to a succession of well-heeled gentry families, often hosting special events and impressive family celebrations. The most notable of these residents are the Bassett, Cole and Talbot families.

Combining centuries of timeless architecture on the outside, finely balanced with contemporary design on the inside, you can choose from a variety of individually named guest rooms and suites linked to past occupiers. The 19 bedrooms are individually designed with bespoke furniture, carpets and bathrooms to offer luxe boutique stays.

Here are 10 must-have items to include in a wedding bathroom basket

Luxury bathroom experts at Posh.co.uk have shared ten must-have items to provide to make sure guests are well taken care of. Wedding bathroom baskets can be a really nice touch for couples to show their guests they care by providing them with everything they need for a comfortable evening. Including items like safety pins, deodorant, body tape and antihistamines will mean that guests won't have to worry about a thing. Andy Ellis from Posh.co.uk said: "Wedding bathroom baskets can be a really lovely touch at a reception by providing guests with all of those small but important items that they may not necessarily be able to bring with them.

The Speech Surgery: timings!

Unsure of when to have the wedding speeches? Heidi Ellert McDermott, founder of Speechy & author of The Modern Couple's Guide to Wedding Speeches has the answer: In the US, speeches are just as common at the rehearsal dinner (the formal dinner prior to the wedding that the 'top table' are invited to) as the wedding day itself. At many British weddings, the speeches are scheduled before the wedding meal; the idea that everyone is officially welcomed to the wedding and the speakers are quickly able to relax (and tuck into the free wine!).

Wedding day wines from leading English wine producer Gusbourne

English wine producer Gusbourne, has a stunning range of the finest vintage sparkling and still wines to elevate any wedding providing guests with an array of exquisite drinks that complement every element, from the welcome drinks to the wedding breakfast and toasts! With Gusbourne wines, every pour becomes a celebration of love and new beginnings, ensuring your wedding day becomes a truly unforgettable affair, brimming with sophistication, charm, and cherished memories. For a spectacular wedding reception, fill your guests' glasses with the exquisite Gusbourne Blanc de Blancs 2018, a sparkling masterpiece that exudes elegance with its delicate bubbles and refreshing, crisp notes. As guests raise their glasses to toast the happy couple, each sip is vibrant and intense, setting the tone for an evening of celebrations.