Your South Wales Wedding news and ideas from around the area

Norton House Hotel is a country house with plenty of period charm

Boasting elegant windows, 17 individually designed bedrooms and an impressive entrance, Norton House Hotel is an independent country house with plenty of period charm. Recently announced as regional winners for 'Best Boutique Venue' at the Welsh National Wedding Awards, the property has been renovated to a high standard with home comforts that don't compromise the historic features. This Grade II-listed venue has been thoroughly refurbished with weddings in mind. The private grounds, which include a secluded lawn, an original raised patio, and wide stone steps, look stunning in photographs.

Does your mum need help with her wedding speech? Read these tips from Speechy

The Speech Surgery with Heidi Ellert McDermott, founder of Speechy & author of The Modern Couple's Guide to Wedding Speeches. Firstly, reassure your mum that we work with lots of mothers (both of the bride, and increasingly, the groom's) so it's no longer unusual to see a mum on the mic. Whether your mum is standing in for your father, speaking in addition to him or your dad isn't part of the picture, we generally find mothers have a lot to say! In terms of getting your mum excited at the prospect of delivering a speech, rather than dreading it, send her a few blog posts to show her how simple writing her speech can be.

Your ultimate hen do survival guide by SilkFred

With April being the most popular month for hen do's, and online fashion destination SilkFred finding that 625 people will be attending at least one hen do this 'hen do season' (with 93 of respondents attending 3+ hen do's)*, we've sat down with Georgie Mitchell, Wedding Planner, Coordinator and Wedding Expert at Silkfred and Head Stylist Megan Watkins, who have shared their ultimate 'Hen Do Survival Hacks' to manage everything from budgets and schedules to styling tips and mastering the art of saying "no".

Five myths about Champagne

For centuries, great occasions in life have been punctuated with Champagne. However, there are several myths surrounding the drinking, storing and essence of Champagne. As a result, the Champagne Bureau UK* wanted to bust those myths to separate fact from fiction and demonstrate how best to enjoy the pinnacle of sparkling wine, as well as ensure that you aren't fooled by some of the most common Champagne myths. Myth: Pop the cork and spray Champagne in times of celebrations. The blunt pop of the cork and the fizz of the fine bubbles – instantly reminiscent of celebration – is a sparkling start to any special occasion.

Must-visit wedding shows this April

Whether you've recently gotten engaged or are at the end of your wedding planning journey, trying to find the perfect suppliers can be stressful. To help you plan the wedding of your dreams, why not visit a local wedding fair? This is the ideal chance to meet some of the region's best companies and discuss your big day.

The Celtic Manor Resort Golf Club Wedding Fayre will be taking place on Sunday 14th April between 11am and 3pm. Entry is free of charge.

Held at Carmarthen Showground, The Welsh National Wedding Fayre will be taking place on Sunday 21st April between 11am and 3pm. Entry is free of charge.

Moonpig reveals weddings cards are the hardest to write

Greeting cards have been a popular way to express celebrations and affection for our loved ones. We're used to purchasing cards for milestones from birthdays, weddings, new jobs and more, but how often do we struggle with what to write in a card? With the recent growth in popularity of AI models like ChatGPT, Moonpig has launched its "Smart Text" tool, a feature which uses generative AI as a writing assistant for customers who need help in those moments where they don't know what to put in a card to their loved ones.

The five-star Celtic Manor Resort has several wedding spaces to choose from

The five-star Celtic Manor Resort, featuring several floors of immaculately designed guest rooms, is situated in the heart of the resort. Each of the bedrooms reflects the resort's distinctive style and boast a sense of luxury.

The Caernarfon Ballroom is perfect for large-scale wedding celebrations. The grandeur of the ballroom, with its high ceilings and chandeliers, offers a dreamy backdrop to bring your wedding to life, with space for up to 900 guests.

The Rooftop Garden and Terrace is a relaxed and informal wedding venue that adds a bit of garden gorgeousness to your day. Children can play happily on the terrace and lawns, while celebrations take place in the warmth of the summerhouse with its very own smokehouse barbecue. This space can hold up to 130 of your friends and family and can be hired for exclusive use.

Thinking of doing a joint wedding speech? Read Speechy's top tips

The Speech Surgery' with Heidi Ellert McDermott, Founder of Speechy & author of 'The Modern Couple's Guide to Wedding Speeches. A joint speech follows the same etiquette principles as your standard bride and groom speech but allows you to present it as a team and play up to your relationship dynamic. But, despite the two voices, be careful not to make the speech double the length! No more than 1,500 words maximum. When it comes to writing a joint speech, it all comes down to your ability to collaborate, discuss and bounce ideas off each other.

Things to consider when booking your big-day musicians

As the UK's largest and most sustainable musician bookings platform, musicians for weddings account for around 50% of Encore's bookings. As such, the company is well-versed in the most cost-effective ways to cut down on one of the more expensive aspects of a wedding. Please see below some best tips to help you save the most money when booking your wedding entertainment. On average, couples book musicians for their wedding seven and a half months in advance, but if your big day falls on a Saturday during peak season, you should book your musicians at least nine months in advance.

We spoke to Laura Glanville from Wishbone & Comb about her business and all things beauty

We interviewed local hair and make-up artist Laura Glanville from Wishbone & Comb to find out more about her business.

"I have been a hairdresser and beautician for 20 years. I started my career studying beauty therapy in Swansea, then went on to do a hairdressing apprenticeship in Cardiff. My passion for hair and make-up grew when I worked on my first wedding a few years later. I soon found that I got a real buzz from working with bridal parties on the morning of their big day and I wanted to specialise and grow my experience in this field. This is when Wishbone & Comb was born! As we have grown throughout the years, I have managed to expand the team and the area that we cover. We are now a fantastic team of 15 hair stylists and make- up artists who travel to venues across South Wales and the South West of England, creating flawless bridal make-up and show-stopping bridal hair."

Planning a hen (or sten) party? These activity-based bars need to be on your list

Tasty food, gorgeous cocktails and a bit of healthy competition equals a winning recipe for an amazing time for your pre-wedding get together! How does a side of shuffleboard or darts with your cocktails sound? Whether you're looking for a daytime plan or something to keep you partying into the early hours, Electric Shuffle and Flight Club are great options. Both have resident DJs banging out the tunes, and both offer fab bottomless brunch packages if an afternoon booze session is more what you're after. They're also perfectly designed for the most amazing insta-worthy pics

Ocean View Windmill Gower boasts panoramic views of an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty

Ocean View Windmill Gower is situated in a quiet and calm hamlet overlooking an ancient castle, green fields and the stunning Gower coastline. Boasting exclusive use with panoramic views of an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, the venue is nestled in a charming area perfect for weddings.

Ceremonies are held in The Original Milking Parlour, which has oak beams, an elegant interior and space for 120 friends and family.

Revealed the UK’s best venues with woodlands to achieve dreamy cottage-core weddings

A recent study revealed the UK's highest-rated venues for woodland-themed weddings, with Creeksea Place being named the best. The research conducted by photo wall art creator StoryBoards analysed user-generated review data to identify the UK regions with the highest quantity of top-rated woodlands venues by creating an overall rating score. The study has revealed that Creeksea Place is the most highly rated woodland in the nation. Located in Essex, the manor house, which includes picturesque woodland, has been rated five stars over 220 times giving it a perfect score of ten out of ten.

The new Yankee Candle® SS24 collection

Find an oasis this spring with the new Yankee Candle® SS24 collection, Under the Desert Sun. The new collection will brighten the home with fragrances that exude memories of warmer days, including four refreshingly light and bright fragrances including, Desert Blooms, Aloe & Agave, Sweet Vanilla & Horchata, and Stargazing. Inspired by the unique beauty of the desert, the new collection has been designed to help escape the ordinary and satisfy wanderlust, immersing the home in sun-drenched scents. The Under The Desert Sun collection features exotic fragrances such as aguaro cactus, aloe and blue lotus, as well as soothing lavender and eucalyptus.

Three spicy but sophisticated hen party ideas

Throwing a hen party that will please all attendees can be tricky. Striking a balance between risque and tame activities can be one of the most controversial challenges you'll face when planning. In fact, some of the more crude hen party gimmicks came out in the top 10 most hated parts of a hen party in this report. However, you can create a hen party that strikes the perfect balance between spice and sophistication, ensuring a night to remember for both the bride and her friends. Jess Martin, Hen Party expert at Ginger Ray has shared three amazing themes for the perfect spicy but sophisticated hen party:

Win a bridal bouquet worth £80!

Solva Flowers By Maggie is a florist located in the beautiful coastal town of Solva, only five minutes from the city of St. David's, Pembrokeshire. Run by Maggie Julien, the company offers a range of services, including wedding flowers, gifts and accessories.

Exclusively for Your South Wales Wedding, Maggie is offering one lucky reader the choice of a dried or fresh flower bouquet in a colour of your choosing worth £80. To enter this fabulous competition, visit www.yoursouthwales.wedding/giveaways

The Big Welsh Wedding Show is back and to celebrate its hosting the ultimate Win a Wedding Competition

Are you ready to say 'I do' to the wedding of your dreams? The Big Welsh Wedding Show has announced the ultimate wedding giveaway competition! To celebrate their spring wedding show on April 21st at DEPOT Cardiff, TBWWS has teamed up with some of their amazing wedding supplier friends to offer one lucky couple an unforgettable wedding package worth over £2,500!

Experts share 5 tips on accommodating deaf guests at your wedding

Planning a wedding can be challenging, especially when there are so many decisions to be made and so many things to be considered. Whilst this is your big day, considering your guests can go a long way, especially for those who have disabilities or are hard of hearing. In the UK, one in five adults is deaf, has hearing loss or tinnitus, so the likelihood of having someone who may need additional help when it comes to hearing in attendance is quite likely. Ashish Shah, Audiologist at The Hearing Care Partnership has offered his expert advice on how you can better accommodate your deaf and hard-of-hearing guests.

Wolfscastle Country Hotel & Spa is a family-run wedding venue

Nestled within the village of Wolfscastle is the family-run Wolfscastle Country Hotel & Spa. This award-winning property is a Victorian vicarage with impressive views of the surrounding woodland landscape and the awe-inspiring Treffgarne rocks. There are 20 en-suite bedrooms to choose from, a boutique spa, a contemporary brasserie and a two-AA-rosette restaurant to enjoy in the run-up to the big day.

The Garden Room is a bright and airy space with high ceilings, impressive bi-folding doors that open up to the rear garden and room for 120 of your friends and family.

These daily habits are ruining your wedding ring

If you've been the lucky recipient of a diamond ring or a piece of jewellery, Nilesh Rakholia, jewellery expert and founder of Abelini, has shared exactly how to care for your precious diamonds to ensure they last a lifetime... Nilesh says: "While it can be tempting to wear precious items such as an engagement ring all the time, daily habits such as cooking and cleaning can damage your jewellery. To avoid this, we always recommend removing jewellery before showering or washing up because the soap can cause a film to form, which can leave rings and bracelets looking dull.