Your South Wales Wedding news and ideas from around the area

Bryngarw House is a romantic wedding venue dating 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 beautiful 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.

Newly launched NimNik Glitter Tattoo Kit ideal for kids at weddings!

Boasting an impressive array of features, with 35 vibrant glitter colours, six fluorescent powders, 204 stencils, three adhesives, five brushes, and 215 rhinestones - the possibilities are limitless and will keep children happy for hours. This comprehensive set ensures that every user can unleash their imagination and bring their temporary tattoo visions to life. This glitter tattoo kit is not limited by age or gender; ideal for kids, girls, teens, men, women, and adults, it's perfect for occasions. The versatility of the kit allows users to explore different applications, such as eye shadow, body painting, DIY crafts, Christmas cards, birthday celebrations, or party decorations. The only limit is your creativity.

As the wedding season approaches, turn to Viners for a gift ideas

If you've been invited to a wedding and need some inspiration for what to give as a gift, we're sure you will find something within the Viners® range that the happy couple will enjoy for years to come. Opting for a cutlery set is a guaranteed hit. A sentimental and thoughtful gift to give your loved ones, a cutlery set will take care of any special dinner parties or occasions hosted by the newlyweds.

Bloom & Wild's exclusive insights into this year’s most anticipated flower trends

Brace yourselves for a vibrant floral revolution as 2024 bids adieu to the serene luxury trends of 2023, welcoming back maximalism with open arms. Bold statement pieces and lively colours are reclaiming their spotlight in the realms of fashion, interiors, and floral arrangements, marking a dynamic shift in the aesthetic landscape. Jo Reason, Director of Brand & Range at Bloom & Wild, predicts a surge in hyper-colour bouquets featuring fuchsia and electric lilac flowers paired with lime yellow foliages.

Expert insight on upcoming wedding trends in 2024

Georgie Mitchell, Wedding Planner and Wedding Expert for online fashion destination Silkfred, shares her expert insight on upcoming wedding trends in 2024. A beautiful white gown has been the norm for centuries, however, as Georgie explains, 2024 is set to change these traditional bridal tropes: "I think, in 2024, we'll see loads of individuality. Brides will be wearing different designs, colours, necklines with more of a focus on styles that not only make them look and feel good, but won't look like everyone else. I also think they will be very romantic, textured, patterned with touches of colour. Gone are the white dress brides."

The King Arthur Hotel has won an award

King Arthur Hotel, a wedding venue in Gower, has been crowned 'Best Wedding Venue in South & Central Wales' at the Welsh National Wedding Awards 2023. This award is a welcome recognition of the hard work and dedication of the whole team, from the gardeners and chefs to the coordinators and housekeepers.

The team tells us: "We extend our heartfelt thanks to our wedding couples, fellow suppliers and the local community for their support and trust. This award is not just a recognition of our efforts but also a celebration of the love stories we have had the honour of being a part of."

Wedding trends and tablescaping predictions for 2024

We've seen a number of popular wedding trends take centre stage over the past few years, from the soaring popularity of micro weddings to cosy and intimate sweetheart tables for the happy couple. As we step into 2024, the world of weddings is evolving even further, with couples embracing new and exciting trends and reimagining the art of tablescaping. So, what exactly are the latest nuptial trends, and how can brides and grooms emulate them in their own ceremonies and wedding tablescapes? The tableware experts from Burleigh Pottery are here to share their wedding and tablescaping trend predictions for 2024 to give you the inspiration you need ahead of the big day.

The Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama is nestled in the heart of Cardiff

The Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, situated in the heart of Cardiff, is surrounded by white Portland-stone 19th-century civic buildings on one side and the grounds of the magnificent Cardiff Castle on the other. The college is made up of two buildings encompassing both historic and contemporary styles. The Anthony Hopkins Centre is the original Cardiff Castle Stables and boasts an historic open-air courtyard. While the contemporary glass-walled entrance hall, overlooking the Grade I-listed Bute Park, creates a stunning backdrop for photographs.

Expert reveals wedding planning tips for newly engaged couples

Samantha Gilchrist, the owner of The Gilchrist Collection, has had the pleasure of working with thousands of married-couples-to-be, across 12 venues in total including three US, making her the expert when it comes to wedding planning: "Valentine's Day is an incredibly popular day for proposals, in fact the search for 'Valentine's Day proposal' is currently up 40% globally!" I love working with newly-engaged couples; but I always encourage them not to wait too long, as they may miss out on getting the best venues, photographers or even end up with key guests of honour unable to attend the big day as they have left sending 'save-the-dates' out until the last minute."

Savvy couples request money over wedding gifts amid cost of living crisis

Savvy couples are looking to use wedding gifts to invest in savings amid the cost-of-living crisis, new national research has revealed. The survey, conducted by Coventry Building Society discovered almost a quarter of newlyweds (24%) put money received as a wedding gift straight into a savings account, with more than one in ten couples (15%) using money to pay off wedding debt straight away. What's more, over half of respondents (57%) just want money as their wedding gift, opting for financial safety over traditional gift giving (43%).

A group of local suppliers worked together to create a dream wedding and raise money for a great cause

A couple from Port Talbot, Ryan and Darcie, teenage sweethearts and very much in love, were dreaming of being with their nearest and dearest and being married, but they'd just ploughed all of their disposable money into renovating their home, so plans for a big doo were put on ice. Until they won a competition for a dream wedding worth over £25k!

Rachel Jenkins, owner of The Dancing Daffodil florist in Port Talbot and mastermind of the huge fundraising endeavour, thoughtfully put together a wedding of any couple's dreams, a big day filled with top suppliers and nothing too much trouble, all while boosting the fundraising efforts for a little girl from Cwmavon.

The Speech Surgery part three - the father-of-the-bride gets the spotlight

The Speech Surgery part three, Heidi Ellert McDermott shares her tips for the father of the bride and how to delivery the ultimate speech. The wedding speech tradition is as prevalent as ever and is still very much one of the key parts of the day. For some, public speaking comes quite naturally, and they wouldn't think twice about standing up and 'performing' on cue, while for others it may cause sleepless nights and anxiety but the pressure of pleasing a loved one means you can't say no! Fear not, whether you're a pro and want to heighten your speech, or a novice and you need some advice on how to settle those nerves, Heidi is here to answer your all-important questions...

LIGA has launched a new cork recycling scheme in Cardiff

Endeavouring to make a positive impact on the planet, LIGA has launched a new cork recycling scheme in Cardiff, putting used wine corks to good use.

LIGA creates contemporary homeware collections, including placemats and coasters, trays, tableware, kitchen textiles and furniture, perfect as pre-wedding gifts. As well as providing sustainable options for home products, the team at LIGA strongly believes in encouraging people to work together to protect the environment. The new cork recycling initiative is a simple yet powerful way to contribute to a greener future. With 30 stores currently taking part in this recycling scheme, the idea is to take spent corks from wine bottles to your nearest participating LIGA stockist, where the corks will be collected. These will then be recycled into future LIGA products.

Planning an engagement party? Here’s a 6-step-guide from a party planner

So you've said the easiest yes of your life and now is the time to celebrate your new status with an engagement party, but where do you even start? From budget to dates to invites, the list can seem endless and overwhelming at first, but there are a few simple considerations that can ease the process from the offset, making this exciting phase of your life enjoyable, memorable and personal to you both. To help with your engagement party checklist, party planning expert at Ginger Ray, Jess Martin, shares six fool-proof etiquette tips to avoid those stressful preparations:

The Glyn Clydach is situated in an idyllic part of Neath

Set in an idyllic part of Neath within 15 acres of pristine grounds with panoramic views over the surrounding countryside, The Glyn Clydach is the perfect setting for your dream wedding.

Licensed for civil ceremonies, you can say 'I do' in The Abbey Suite, complete with a fully draped fairylit ceiling, or weather permitting, in the beautiful outdoor garden area.

A range of menus and packages are available for 50 to 220 guests, with all-inclusive full-day packages and whirlwind offers available.

Lab-grown diamonds dominating the market in 2024

In 2023, rather than reassessing their budget, many couples have started to become more conscious of their spending habits and switching to gemstones rather than diamonds and opting for lab-grown diamonds. According to exclusive internal data from Queensmith, lab-grown diamonds have continued to dominate the market due to their lower cost per carat, resulting in more affordable prices. These highly sought-after diamonds have enabled couples to still find the perfect engagement ring, without inflating their budget. The affordable option, at 60-80% cheaper than natural diamonds, accounted for nearly 80% of Queensmith's diamond engagement rings sold in 2023. Not only can consumers expect larger carat weights and higher quality diamonds, but also a more environmentally friendly and sustainably sourced alternative to mined diamonds.

Love letters are all but lost

Once the staple currency of every romance, the simple art of writing a love letter has been all but lost, in an age of Snapchat and WhatsApp. A new study has revealed that nearly half of young Brits in relationships (45 percent) aged between 18 and 35, have never written their sweetheart a love letter, while 71 percent say they would rather send a romantic WhatsApp, DM or Snap. In fact, 88 percent say that traditional displays of affection such as love letters and flowers are old fashioned. Young lovers admit that they wouldn't know what to say in a letter (37 percent), with a third (29 percent) confessing they would feel silly, according to the poll by Bird & Blend Tea Co. who have created a Swizzels Love Hearts Tea.

The Speech Surgery part two - icebreakers and tips for the best man

The Speech Surgery part two, Heidi Ellert McDermott shares her tips on icebreakers and advice for the best man. The wedding speech tradition is as prevalent as ever and is still very much one of the key parts of the day. For some, public speaking comes quite naturally, and they wouldn't think twice about standing up and 'performing' on cue, while for others it may cause sleepless nights and anxiety but the pressure of pleasing a loved one means you can't say no! Fear not, whether you're a pro and want to heighten your speech, or a novice and you need some advice on how to settle those nerves, Heidi is here to answer your all-important questions...

The worst Valentine’s Day presents ever gifted

With Valentine's Day fast approaching, many people in relationships will be facing one of the toughest questions of the year - "What do I buy my other half?". There have already been 43,000 online searches for "Valentine's Day gifts" as people look for inspiration and whilst some people might receive extravagant and romantic presents, some people are less fortunate. With this in mind, Ninja surveyed the nation to find out what the worst presents people had been given for Valentine's Day, and between a bag of crisps and cat food, the results will shock you

Mercure Holland House Hotel and Spa is the fifth most booked city spa in the UK

Spabreaks.com has revealed that the Mercure Holland House Hotel and Spa is the fifth most booked city spa in the UK. Situated in the centre of Cardiff, the day spa at Mercure Holland House Hotel and Spa is easily accessible and has all the facilities to wind down as a mid-week treat or a weekend spa day. For a special occasion, a girls' weekend, or just for some time out from every day, the hotel will provide creature comforts, delicious dining and leisure facilities to help you unwind. Enjoy a dip in the 18-metre swimming pool surrounded by floor-to-ceiling windows, then chill out in the spa's other wet facilities, which include a hot tub and steam room. Then, of course, there's a selection of relaxing spa therapies to choose from, such as a hot stone massage or a Décleor facial.