Gemma and Anthony had a romantic celebration at The Oxwich Bay Hotel
Gemma and Anthony have known each other their whole lives. “Our parents lived close, and we attended the same schools, always remaining good friends,” says Gemma. “When we were younger, our parents used to send Valentine’s Day cards to us from each other. This continued until our early comprehensive school days where we would just give each other a knowing look! We got together in 2012, and the following year I moved to Wales, and the rest is history.”
Anthony proposed in August 2017 in Florida. “It wasn’t the most romantic of proposals,” laughs the bride. “We were out shopping in The Mall at Millenia when we passed Tiffany’s and Anthony said ‘we’d better go in there and choose an engagement ring for you.’ It turned out that he had asked my dad’s permission the day before we flew! The lady who helped us pick out an engagement ring was called Lily, she was so helpful, and we visit her every time we go back to Florida.”
Perfect Wedding or Perfect Post? Gen Z Couples Feeling the Pressure
Wedding planning has always come with its pressures, but for Gen Z couples in 2026, the landscape has changed. Social media has transformed what should be a joyful, shared experience into a high-stakes performance. Scrolling Instagram, TikTok, and Pinterest can turn inspiration into comparison, pushing couples to measure their plans against celebrity weddings, curated feeds, and friends' picture-perfect posts. Grace Loves Lace, the Australian bridal brand known for effortless, movement-friendly dresses, has partnered with relationship therapist Amanda Lambros, who has over 25 years' experience, to explore how couples can navigate these pressures and enjoy the planning journey without burning out.
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One in seven couples choose sleep over sex on their wedding night
As the UK's spring and summer wedding season begins, new research by Mattress Online suggests the traditional idea of a passion-filled wedding night doesn't always match reality, with one in six couples (15%) saying they did not have sex after their big day. To understand why, the bed experts also asked survey respondents what their reasoning was behind this. They also provided additional insight on the idea of the "wedding night" from Relationship Expert, Jenni Trent Hughes. The findings show that exhaustion was by far the most common factor, with more than two in five (44%) of couples saying they were simply too tired after the celebrations. As weddings often involve early starts, long days, emotional highs, and late nights, rest is a more realistic priority than romance once newlyweds are in bed.
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Common wedding planning mistakes that can ruin your photos, according to a photographer
From rushed timelines to crammed shot lists, planning can have a big impact on how your wedding photos turn out. With the average UK wedding now costing £21,990, couples are investing heavily in a single day, with photography alone typically costing around £1,500, and often making up around 10% of the total budget. Behind that cost is far more than just the day itself. Photographers will often take between 5,000 and 7,000 images, narrowing these down to around 650–800 final shots,
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New occasion coat and outfit shop opening in Abergavenny
Introducing EdNerat, a women's coat maker and outfitter based in the historic market town of Abergavenny, South Wales. The boutique, which opened in November 2025, is adjacent to the popular Angel Hotel. It offers stylish occasion wear coats and outfits for mothers of the bride and groom. The talented team cut their patterns twice, once for a smaller cup size and once for a fuller fit, because achieving the perfect fit across the chest and shoulders is key. They offer full bespoke sizing and a toile service: a calico fitting copy is sent to the customer's home for a five-day trial, with a call available if needed, so that the fit is guaranteed before anything is cut in cloth.
