Sara and Ollie said their vows at their dream wedding venue, Usk Castle
“Ollie was living with his parents, near my nan’s farm,” says Sara. “We had never met as we went to different schools, and Ollie initially thought that I was older, so never took the opportunity to approach me, but in his own words, it was love at first sight.”
Ollie tells us all about his proposal plans. “I took my parents to the spot where Sara and I often stopped while walking the dogs,” shares Ollie. “We met harpist Kathryn Anne Rees at the clearing and hung ribbon from the branches, littered the floor with rose petals and set up a picnic blanket complete with champagne, chocolate and strawberries. Sara was completely oblivious! For all she knew, we were just walking the dogs, but as we got closer, she could hear the harp. She looked at me puzzled, and as we walked a little further, we could see the decorations and Kathryn playing. Sara took my hand and pulled me back and said ‘babe she must be making a music video’ and I said ‘no this is for you.’ It was perfect! I could barely get my words out, and neither could she. We were so happy sitting on the blanket in the dappled sunshine listening to Kathryn. It was magical and more than I ever wished or dreamed it could be.”
The rise of ‘wedding-like’ commitment ceremonies – and the legal dangers couples don’t see coming
With the costofliving still shaping how couples celebrate, and social media normalising nontraditional ceremonies; more people are opting for celebrations that look like weddings but aren't legally binding, and many couples aren't realising the risk until it's too late. Google searches for "what is a commitment ceremony" have surged 63% in the past year, and with costs ranging from just £200 for a simple register-office ceremony, non-legal celebrations are becoming an increasingly attractive option with the cost-of-living continuing to put couples under pressure when considering marriage. However, these ceremonies also carry hidden legal pitfalls
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New UK map reveals Brits’ favourite proposal spots according to social media
National family-owned jeweller, Beaverbrooks, has unveiled a new map revealing the 15 best places in the UK to pop the question, based on Instagram hashtag data. Whether it's against a backdrop of dramatic coastlines, rolling countryside or iconic city skylines, choosing the perfect place to propose is almost as overwhelming as choosing the ring. To help partners looking to ask the all-important question to their other halves, Beaverbrooks has created a new 'Proposal Map of the UK', making it easier than ever to find an idyllic location.
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Penmaenuchaf completes transformation
Set beneath the slopes of Cadair Idris and overlooking the Mawddach Estuary, Penmaenuchaf has completed a four-year transformation reimagining the historic country house as one of Wales' most distinctive luxury retreats. Shaped by the Welsh concept of hiraeth, a deep emotional connection to place and a longing for somewhere that feels like home, the refurbishment was created in collaboration with renowned interior designer Nicola Harding, and brings together Welsh landscape, craftsmanship and storytelling across all fourteen bedrooms and the hotel's shared spaces. The final phase of the project marks the completion of a carefully considered programme. The remaining five bedrooms have been individually redesigned and named after Welsh landscapes, historical figures and mythology.
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Why more couples are letting the coast shape their wedding day
For couples planning a wedding, the setting is increasingly becoming more than a backdrop. Research from WeddingDates found that 78% of UK couples consider location an important factor when choosing a venue, with more than a third specifically influenced by the view. Rockwater, the UK coastal hospitality brand with beachfront venues in Hove and Branksome, says this is helping reshape how couples approach weddings by the water. Rather than simply choosing a coastal venue and then planning the celebration independently of it, couples are increasingly allowing the landscape, changing light and relationship between indoor and outdoor spaces to influence the day itself. Rockwater has identified four of the key considerations shaping modern coastal weddings.
