Your South Wales Wedding news and ideas from around the area

CWM partnership with Maya Deluxe and Dower & Hall for an exciting prize giveaway!

County Wedding Magazines has teamed up with Maya Deluxe and Dower & Hall for an exciting prize giveaway for our reader and social media followers! If you like or follow all three brands on either Facebook or Instagram, you'll be in with a chance of winning a £350 Dower & Hall gift voucher which can be redeemed online, as well as a £250 gift voucher for Maya Deluxe – that's jewellery and bridesmaids sorted for your wedding day leaving you more time and more budget to crack on with the rest of the wedding planning. Read on to find out more details about the brands and how to enter!

Autumnal fragrances from Woodwick and Yankee Candle

Connect to nature with scents and colours drawn from the breathtaking outdoors with the cosy new Autumn collection from Yankee Candle®, Cottage Getaway. Inspired by the nostalgic roots of outdoor adventures, and the natural beauty of our world, the collection seeks to spark creativity and inspiration, whilst bringing family and friends together. Launching in August 2024, the collection includes three warming fragrances, Woodland Weekend Memories, Pumpkin Cinnamon Swirl, and Afternoon Scrapbooking. This comforting selection of candles is perfect for reliving cherished moments at home as the late summer falls away and the new season settles n. Relax into Autumn with fragrances that ignite the senses, whilst the bright greens fade from the leaves and dusk draws in earlier by the day.

The Vale Resort is celebrating its 25th anniversary

Having opened its doors in 1999, the Vale Resort is celebrating its 25th anniversary with a year's worth of promotions that are taking place on the venue's social media channels. Couples can get their hands on golf and spa breaks, afternoon tea, gin-making experiences, golf lessons and more.

The independent four-star Vale Resort was built by the Leeke family and is made up of the 143-bedroom Vale Hotel, two championship golf courses, extensive leisure and sports facilities, Wales's largest spa, extensive conference and events facilities, restaurants, bars and Hensol Castle, an exclusive wedding and events venue that also incorporates a distillery.

Llantilio House is a listed 18th-century farmhouse in Monmouthshire

Llantilio House is a listed 18th-century farmhouse on a picturesque 300- acre farm in Monmouthshire. The venue has been refurbished in the most sustainable way possible, with ground-source heating throughout and great care taken to use traditional, environmentally friendly materials and wool insulation. Owners Lottie and George were keen to honour the venue's original features in the redevelopment. Lottie's background as a film draughtsman and the interconnectedness of the venue have resulted in a relaxed and contemporary feel throughout.

Instant photos make for lasting memories!

poignant keepsake for guests or a photo album. Instant photos make for lasting memories! The INSTAX mini 12 (£79.99) is the perfect product for guest use. Place on tables or dot them around the venue to allow for guests to personalise their memories, and most importantly, take them home. The INSTAX mini Evo (£174.99) is another great option for capturing what's important. The retro-themed exterior is fitting for those vintage-themed weddings – place next to the guest book so photos can be added straight in. The INSTAX SQUARE (£129.99) is a modern option for those photographic keepsakes. Connect the devise to phones and print polaroid straight from the camera roll. Instant photos are irreplaceable.

The Bridal Boutique Crickhowell is offering our readers an exclusive discount

The Bridal Boutique Crickhowell is a luxurious bridal boutique in Crickhowell. "I have always had a passion for beautifully designed dresses and a secret obsession with the bridal industry," says owner Yasmine John. "Close to turning 50, with children at home becoming emotionally needy teenagers, I felt it was the right time for a career change. So with the support of my partner, family and friends who said, 'Why not?' I launched The Bridal Boutique Crickhowell. Before opening The Bridal Boutique Crickhowell, I devoted almost 28 years to the field of health and social care, following my passion for caring for our older generation. With a wealth of experience in start-ups, business development and customer service, I felt I had the right skills to venture into the world of bridal. What could be better than seeing happy faces and helping dress them for their exceptional first day of marriage and the start of the rest of their new life? And so The Bridal Boutique was born!"

West Regwm Farm in Carmarthenshire is nestled within landscaped gardens

West Regwm Farm is nestled within landscaped gardens that offer panoramic countryside views of the surrounding woodlands and glistening lakes – perfect for those big-day pictures.

The barn at West Regwm Farm is fully licensed for ceremonies and provides a large open space with warm and modern lighting options to suit your theme or colour scheme. The bi-folding doors open to a large balcony seating area that is ideal for welcome drinks and canapés.

Elope in style - expert advice

Couples are rewriting the script on what it means to say "I do". Over the past 12 months, searches for 'elopement weddings UK' are up +83%, 'elopement wedding packages UK' increased by +85%, and 'intimate weddings UK' have grown by +89%¹. This has highlighted a clear demand amongst couples for intimate weddings. To find out what has motivated this trend, wedding decoration experts at Ginger Ray have conducted a survey of those engaged and in the midst of planning an elopement to see what their special day will look like. Why are elopements becoming more popular? Topping the list of factors driving couples towards intimate weddings is the quest to manage expenses. More than a third (32%) of respondents highlighted financial constraints as the primary factor influencing their decision to opt for a smaller celebration.

Say yes to saving for the big day - Top tips from Rathbones

Top tips from Kindar Brown, Senior Financial Planner at Rathbones Group Plc on budgeting together for the important day. A wedding is the beginning of a new chapter and likely one of the most important days of your life. While the day itself should be full of joy and stress free, a lot of our time and money goes into pre-wedding planning, to make sure this is the case. The cost of living crisis and sticky inflation are impacting prices across the board and wedding suppliers are no exception. For those gearing up for their wedding day, Kindar shares her top tips for anyone putting a budget together for that important day.

Couples celebrating their silver wedding anniversary can win a break at the Vale Resort

Couples celebrating their silver wedding anniversary can win a break at the Vale Resort worth over £300! Having opened its doors in 1999, the Vale Resort is celebrating its 25-year anniversary and wants to share in that excitement with couples also celebrating their own silver wedding anniversary. By sharing their favourite memory from their wedding day, one lucky couple will win an overnight stay (with dinner and breakfast) at the resort on a date of their choosing in 2024.

The independent four-star Vale Resort, built by the Leeke family, is made up of the 143-bedroom Vale Hotel, two championship golf courses, extensive leisure and sports facilities, Wales's largest spa, wide-ranging conference and events facilities, restaurants, bars and Hensol Castle, an exclusive wedding and events venue that also incorporates a distillery and visitor experience in its cellars.

Most popular TikTok wedding car revealed

Gone are the days of a horse-drawn carriage or a Rolls Royce pulling up to the wedding chapel, now it's all about modern cars! Couples across the UK are planning their dream weddings, with a twist. Searches for 'modern wedding cars' have surged by 60% in the last month according to Google Trends, signalling a shift from traditional vintage choices to sleek, contemporary vehicles that add a touch of modern elegance to the special day. ATS Euromaster, the tyre, MOT and vehicle services provider, has analysed TikTok hashtags and trends to reveal the changing popularity of wedding cars, both vintage and modern. Additionally, ATS has estimated rental costs for three-hour periods to help couples choose the perfect car for their special day.