Inspiration Archives - Page 3 of 4

Once you’ve fallen in love with your dream wedding venue, it’s time to start planning!

Your bridesmaids will love to help you plan your perfect day, especially when it comes to their bridesmaids’ dresses. Whether you keep your wedding colours classic or add your own twist to top wedding trends, take inspiration from these seven ideas and start to style your own dream day.

Bridesmaids In Brights

Make a splash at your summer wedding by embracing the most vibrant wedding colours for your bridal party. Whether your best girls work a mix-and-match medley of selected shades or rock a rainbow palette, your bridesmaids are sure to make a statement. Combermere Abbey’s Pavilion provides a pretty blank canvas, perfect for whatever wedding colours you choose.

Want to embrace colour-popping wedding trends but looking for something more low-key? Focus your attention on your bridesmaids’ accessories. From footwear to flowers, there are plenty more places to make the most of your chosen wedding colours.

Check out Natasha and Brett’s beautifully bright real wedding at Combermere Abbey for more inspiration and wedding trends.

Perfect Pastels

Pastels have been topping wedding trends lists for years and they’re a super pretty choice too. The softer tones complement almost all complexions and hair colours, making them a great choice for bridesmaids.

Why not coordinate your pastel bridesmaids’ dresses with your wedding colours? So, if you’ll be celebrating with sunflowers when you tie the knot in the Fruit Tree Maze, dress your best girls in yellow. But, if your heart it set on perfect peonies or ruffled roses, then pink could be the way to go.

Floor-length Favourites

A bridesmaid dress classic, elegant dresses that sweep the floor with every step are a brilliant choice for bridesmaids if you want a look that will stand the test of time. They’re an equally brilliant choice for Combermere Abbey’s classically romantic setting. Your group photos will dazzle in the Victorian Walled Gardens.

Short and Sweet

From tea-length to knee-length, there’s no one size fits all solution to short bridesmaids’ dresses. Get all your best girls together to try some shorter styles on and find the length that looks and feels the best. Your bridesmaids will dance the night away with ease beneath the twinkling canopy of lights in the Pavilion!

If they all love a style but are more comfortable with different cuts, remember that they could choose a variety of lengths, united by a common colour or neckline.

Very Vintage

Combermere Abbey’s Edwardian Glasshouse sets a fairy-tale scene for every wedding celebration, but its enchanting, historic charm comes into its own for vintage weddings. Another of the biggest wedding trends, it’s simple for your bridesmaids to channel this style. Combine dresses in subtle shades with antique accessories for an ultra-pretty, vintage look.

Multiway Magic

There are so many ways to work this style and they all result in smiling bridesmaids! Tie multiway bridesmaid dresses in countless different ways to change up almost every element of the gown, from the neckline to the bodice to the back. With so much flexibility, your bridesmaids are bound to find a style they feel their brilliant best in.

Multiway dresses also make it easy to introduce your wedding colours, because each design and length is often available in a dazzling range of hues.

To see how other couples have created their own dream day, from bridesmaids to bouquets, check out Rachael and Tom’s spring wedding at Combermere Abbey.

Your wedding; it’s a day you’ll have spent months, possibly even years, planning to perfection. You’ll have fallen in love with your fairy-tale Cheshire wedding venue, chosen breathtaking outfits and invited your favourite people to share the celebrations with you. Once you’ve exchanged vows in Combermere Abbey’s light-filled Edwardian Glasshouse, it’s time for the party to begin!

Here are nine of our favourite fun wedding reception games, guaranteed to get your guests smiling.

1. Fruit Tree Maze

Tie the knot at this Cheshire wedding venue and your entrance to the ceremony will be through the world’s only fruit tree maze. Then, as you spill out of the Edwardian Glasshouse and confetti showers down, this magical maze becomes the scene for a stylish drinks reception.

Adult guests will enjoy wandering through, glass of fizz in hand, while children race in and out of the nine different entrances. There’s no other venue in the world that offers this in their reception games line-up!

2. Giant Jenga

This one’s a classic when it comes to fun wedding reception games and it’s easy to see why. Simply stack up the blocks and test your skills as you remove each piece, trying not to bring the entire tower falling down. Great for all ages, you’ll soon find guests cheering each other on as they get stuck into reception games on the Pavilion lawn.

3. Skipping

With hornbeam-lined pathways and several walled gardens to explore, keep all the little ones entertained at this Cheshire wedding venue with skipping ropes. There’s plenty of space to play.

4. Croquet

Give your reception games a French flair by adding croquet to your line-up. The smooth Pavilion lawn and surrounding gardens are the perfect setting and a croquet set is included in your Combermere Abbey wedding package.

5. Tug of war

As the party gets into full swing, challenge your guests to a competition with your reception games. You could have bridesmaids versus groomsmen or simply two teams of guests battling it out in a tug of war. Throw in a prize like a bottle of bubbly and you’ll soon have guests giving it their all. Just save this one for after the photos… May the best team win!

6. Crazy Golf

Fun wedding reception games can embrace your hobbies as a couple, too. If you’re a golfing guru or go mad for mini golf, why not include it in your wedding day? Thanks to the acres of space you’ll have available at this Cheshire wedding venue, there’s room for plenty of putting fun!

See how beautiful your garden wedding could be!

7. Hoopla

You might also hear these reception games being called quoits. Set up a hoopla and your guests can give it their best shot throwing the rope hoops onto the poles. You could even give your wedding favours a twist and use sweets jars as prizes. Everyone loves reception games with a prize at the end.

8. Sack Races

Entertaining children at weddings can be tricky – it’s a long day for little ones who want some less grown-up fun. That’s where sack races come in. Line them up, have an usher at the finish line and ready, set, go!

9. Space Hoppers

This is one of the most fun wedding reception games going. You can get your friends involved, embrace your inner child and let loose as you race to the finish line. Even better, this reception game lends itself perfectly to quirky group photos. Just imagine the epic action shot as you, the wedding couple, and your bridesmaids and ushers get stuck in! It’s sure to leave you smiling for years to come.

After a fun-filled day and night of celebrations, you’ll return to the luxurious North Wing to spend your wedding night in style. There’s not far for your guests to go, either, when you book Combermere’s cottages for your wedding. Explore our accommodation options and enjoy your wedding for the entire weekend!

With the first month of 2018 well underway, there’s been plenty of talk about tee-total drinks, whether you’re taking part in Dry January or perhaps overindulged a little over the Christmas period and you’ve called for a well-needed break as part of a New Year’s resolution. If you’re planning your wedding at the moment, you may also be thinking about the selection of drinks at your reception.

There are certainly ways of making non-alcoholic drinks a little more exciting, especially for your wedding. That’s why here at Combermere Abbey, we are big fans of Gorilla Events’ delicious virgin cocktails. Without further ado, here are their top recipes, which can be enjoyed from the comfort of your own home for a Dry January cocktail evening or can be served at your wedding on any day of the year. As the bride and groom, you might want to pace yourselves throughout the day as you converse with all of your guests: these drinks ideas are great for alternating between the wedding Champagne! These recipes are all really simple to make, why not try them at home before ordering them as part of your reception drinks? It’s always a good idea to have tasty, unique drinks for any teetotal or driving guests!

Mojitos

If you usually have a taste for flavoured mojitos then Gorilla’s rum-free cocktail will be the one for you. It’s a great drink to make at home and at your wedding, not only is it bursting with flavour but it’s aesthetically pleasing, ideal for photo ops!

12.5ml of lime

12.5ml of elderflower cordial

50ml of Combermere Abbey pressed apple juice

5 mint leaves

Ice

Soda

Mint sprig & lime wedge

For the method, you simply mix the lime with the elderflower cordial in a tall glass and then add the apple juice. To finish off, add the mint leaves and fill the glass with ice, topping it off with soda, followed by a mint sprig and lime wedge garnish. You’ve now got yourself a mouth-watering virgin apple elderflower mojito.

Watermelon Sharbat

If you like exotic drinks then the Watermelon Sharbat is for you, as it traditionally hales from West and South Asia – well known for making the most of sweet fruits.

1/3 of a medium watermelon, cubed

250g punnet of strawberries washed and de-stemmed

1 tablespoon of pureed ginger

1 1/2 tablespoon of caster sugar

1 tablespoon of honey

1/4 tablespoon of sea salt

5 ice cubes

Garnished with fresh mint sprigs and a slice of watermelon.

Much like the previous cocktail, once you’ve got your ingredients together, put them all in a blender and serve with the garnish, preparing yourself for a delicious drink – we’re sure that all of your wedding guests will be reaching for one!

Virgin Mary

If you prefer less fruity drinks – never fear, there are plenty of alternatives – for example, the Virgin Mary recipe from Absolut. This is a drink that will certainly add some heat to any winter wedding and will leave you and your guests feeling a little warmer:

4 parts tomato juice

2/3 part Worcestershire sauce

3 dashes of hot sauce

2/3 part lemon juice

1 teaspoon of horseradish

1 pinch of celery salt

1 pink of ground black pepper

1 stick of celery

1 wedge of lemon

Fill a highball glass with ice cubes, add all the ingredients and stir it – finishing with the celery and lemon wedge as garnish. With this adventurous mix of ingredients, we doubt that your guest will even wonder where the vodka is!

Moscow Mule

If you usually love cocktails like the Dark & Stormy or Moscow Mule, look no further than Fever Tree’s Ginger Beer. The distinct fresh ginger taste is refreshing but warm and is delicious on its own in a glass with a few ice cubes. You can also squeeze in some fresh lime juice to give it some extra zest. But in the meantime, why not use the Fever Tree recipe for your very own non-alcoholic Moscow Mule? It is the perfect drink to serve at a wedding as the ginger will provide plenty of warmth to your wedding guests this winter.

Ginger beer

Dash of sugar syrup

Splash of concentrated apple juice

Fresh mint

Crushed ice

Smash up fresh mint in a glass with a dash of sugar syrup using a mixing spoon, add in the crushed ice and pour over the ginger beer. Finish with apple juice and a sprig of fresh mint. It sounds delicious – we might have to run and buy the ingredients right away!

We hope we’ve provided some inspiration for your non-alcoholic wedding drinks – there’s something for everyone to enjoy. If you decide to use any of these recipes, let us know on Twitter or Instagram using the hashtag #RecipesWithCombermere.

We’re incredibly lucky to work with some fantastic caterers here at Combermere Abbey, and with the festive season upon us we decided to catch up with them to get their favourite Christmas recipes this season. John at Olive Tree has some fantastic recipes for easy to prepare, but deliciously different nibbles, Sophia at Gorilla has a fabulously festive cocktail for us, and Louise from Pickled Walnut shows us how to use up those inevitable leftovers.

John Trelfa, Olive Tree Catering

For me, nothing says ‘Christmas’ like indulging in a pre-dinner party nibble with a glass of bubbly. Whether you’re cooking for two or 20, the key to starters is prepping in advance – make sure there’s space in the fridge and chop all your ingredients to have everything ready to go before you start cooking.

Cranberry and Brie Arancini

Serves 4

For Rice Balls

210g Arborio rice

90g white onion, finely chopped

1ltr vegetable stock

1 bay leaf

100g Somerset brie

100g cranberry sauce

2g salt

Pinch of pepper

For Pane

120g dried breadcrumbs

2 eggs, beaten

120ml whole milk

70g plain flour

Fry the onion with a little oil gently in a medium sauce pan.

Place the rice, vegetable stock, salt, pepper and bay leaf into the pan with the lid on and simmer on a low heat for approximately 20 minutes; stirring occasionally until the rice has absorbed the stock, then chill overnight.

When cold, divide the rice into approximately 80-90g balls.

Flatten the rice ball and put around 10g of Brie and 10g of cranberry sauce into the middle of the rice. Then gently wrap the rice around the filling.

Chill for 25-30 minutes.

Roll the balls through the seasoned flour then the egg wash then the breadcrumbs until fully coated.

Place in a hot fryer (180°C) and fry for 6 minutes until golden brown.

Drain onto kitchen paper.

Serve with dressed rocket, sweet onion marmalade or tomato chutney.

Sophia Holden, Gorilla Events

Want to wow your guests with something a little more than a Buck’s Fizz on arrival? Christmas is a fantastic time of year to experiment with new flavours, and there’s so many great seasonal British fruits which you can take advantage of!

Spiced Pear Tipple

Makes 1 cocktail

25ml pear purée

25ml apple juice

37.5ml spiced rum

12.5ml pear liqueur

A squeeze of fresh lime

This recipe really couldn’t be simpler (ideal for when you’re juggling cooking the food at the same time!) Just pour all of the ingredients in a Boston tin and shake, then strain into a rocks glass over ice. Garnish with a slice of fresh pear & lightly dust with cinnamon.

Louise McGoff, Pickled Walnut Catering

You’ve cooked the turkey, roasted the potatoes and wrapped the pigs in their blankets – Christmas day dinner was a roaring success! But now you find yourself staring at mounds of leftover food that must be eaten over the next few days. If you can’t quite face a week of turkey sandwiches, never fear – we’ve shared our top leftover recipes…

Festive Bubble and Squeak cakes

Serves 4

These are a great way to use up the vegetables left from Christmas dinner. Perfectly served for brunch on Boxing day with some crisp bacon and softly poached eggs!

8 roasted potatoes – grated

12 sprouts – cut into quarters

100g cooked carrots – roughly chopped

100g roasted parsnips – roughly chopped

1 tsp whole grain mustard

50g melted butter

pinch salt and pepper

1 tbsp olive oil

plain flour

Place all of the prepared ingredients into a mixing bowl and mash together using your hands. Turn the mixture out onto a chopping board and divide this into four equal portions. Lightly flour your hands and mould the mixture into cakes. Allow these to chill in the fridge to firm up for 30 minutes. Remove from the fridge and heat a non-stick frying pan with the olive oil in it. Place the four cakes into the hot pan and allow them to colour on all sides. Fry over a moderate heat and the cakes are ready to serve after five minutes.

Christmas Mess

Serves 4

It’s always the case that there’s Christmas pudding leftover – so many guests can’t fit any more food in after the main meal! Don’t let a crumb go to waste and whip up this old school favourite with a twist.

300ml whipping cream

1/2 tsp vanilla bean paste

1 tbsp icing sugar

150 g crumbled Christmas pudding

25 ml brandy or rum

1 orange – zest

red currants – garnish

Place the whipping cream, vanilla bean paste and icing sugar into a bowl. Whisk the cream until it can hold its own weight. Soak the crumbled Christmas pudding in the rum or brandy and allow the alcohol to soak in. Gentle fold the alcohol soaked pudding into the cream. Spoon into chilled glasses and allow to chill in the fridge for 30 mins, to allow the flavours to develop. Garnish with some red currants and orange zest.

To find out more about the amazing food and drink you could have on your wedding day here, check out our Catering and Bar page and see our fantastic suppliers.

“Marry when June roses grow, over land and sea you’ll go.”

A recent stroll around our gardens got us thinking about the beauty of June weddings, when our stunning roses are fully in bloom. What could be more romantic than a backdrop of roses, ambling down over the walls of the garden in your wedding photos – not to mention the floral scents to signal that summer has truly arrived.

The popularity of June weddings originates far back in history. The month of June was named after Juno, the goddess of marriage and childbirth and the Romans held festivals to celebrate her on the first day of June. In the 15th century, weddings would usually take place in June as people would have their annual baths in May – bouquets would be held by brides to keep them smelling fresh. Of course, this is not why we choose June weddings in the 21st century, but it’s certainly interesting to step back in time.

Did you know that the Combermere roses, grown on the estate, are completely unique? As the Abbey was originally founded as a monastery in 1133 by Hugh de Malbanc, Lord of Nantwich, our roses have special religious names, including: Winchester Cathedral, St. Swithens, The Nun, The Bishop, Dreaming Spires and Rambling Rector.

When the summer sun starts to warm the earth, our gardens boast an array of colours as the roses bloom. If you love the deep red roses or the tinkled pink kind – you’ll have plenty of choice for your photo opportunities. If roses are your wedding flowers of choice, have you thought about extending the theme to the groom and his groomsman? A single rose can be worn as a boutonnière, bringing a colourful and romantic touch to their wedding suits. You can take further advantage of your summer wedding and incorporate roses into your centre pieces at your reception as well to capture aura of love in the air.

It’s not just the dazzling looks of the bright June roses which make them the ultimate romantic bloom, the different colours are also symbolic! The red rose symbolises passion, white roses mean innocence whilst pink roses represent admiration, grace; gladness and joy. More vibrant colours such as the yellow roses symbolise care and friendship, whilst orange roses signify passion and energy. Roses are so incredibly versatile – there’s a colour and an emotion to suit every couple’s wedding.

If you’re looking for the ultimate romantic wedding immersed in floral scents and beautiful colours, get in touch with our team today to discuss late availability for June.

Here at Combermere Abbey, we see a lot of weddings – and recently we’ve been casting our minds to how these happy couples got engaged in the first place. If you’re thinking of popping the question yourself, but want to do something a little more unusual, read on…

Under the Sea

Proposals on holiday can always be romantic, but how can it truly stand out? Imagine getting engaged under the sea – and who knows, maybe a singing crab will wish you well! Choose somewhere you can organise a private scuba diving session. Of course, you’ll need to liaise with the diving company to confirm that they’re happy to help with your underwater proposal! The more diving instructors present, the better as they will provide plenty of distraction as you prepare for the big moment. A romantic touch would be to use flash cards detailing the story of how you met your significant other – the last card being the proposal! The bride-to-be below thought she was going on a spontaneous diving trip – in fact it had been planned for weeks, along with a lighting crew and someone to hold the ring (complete with light up box)!

Hidden Engagement Ring

We recently read about a very creative proposal which clearly had a lot of thought put into it and planning. An Australian man made a necklace for his girlfriend – carved out of Huon pine and inside, he hid her engagement ring. She wore it every day for a year and a half without realising, until her boyfriend cracked it open and proposed! Once your partner gets over the initial surprise that they’ve been “wearing” their engagement ring the whole time – we’re sure that it’ll be received as a truly romantic gesture!

Picture Perfect Proposal

Are you a couple with an appreciation for art and have a specific place that you’ll always associate with each other? For example, if you’re planning on proposing at your favourite beach, make a day of it – take a picnic and some bubbly (ready for celebrating)! Have a graphic art print commissioned to depict the day and the exact moment you propose. Hand it to them in an envelope and have the ring waiting to pop the big question! This can be followed up with a “they said yes” print – which will count as a wonderful memory of the beginning of your life together.

Scavenger Hunt

Are you looking for a proposal idea that gets your family or friends involved? Organise a scavenger hunt where everyone competes against each other, of course the catch is – there can only be one winner! The last clue of the hunt can be a letter about how much your partner means to you – this could be quite the surprise if they have no idea what the day is really about. Then you can appear out of nowhere, ready to propose! Alternatively, the last clue could lead them to a special place that means a lot to both of you where you can finally ask them ‘will you marry me?’

Rose Garden Proposal

Alternatively, you can treat your loved one to a romantic stay at one of our beautiful Combermere cottages – you can even enjoy your own private spa treatments whilst you’re here. There’s also the stunning North Wing, which is rich with history and home to our boutique B&B where you’ll be treated to excellent service from Sue or Stephan. If this wasn’t romantic enough, the gardens of Combermere Abbey are the perfect setting for a marriage proposal. We’re thinking particularly of the walled gardens, especially when the roses are in full bloom – covering the walls in vivid colours and filling the air with their delicate scents. There can be nothing more romantic than re-living the magical moment of getting engaged by getting married in the very place you proposed!

Whichever way you choose to propose to the love of your life – we’re sure it will be perfect for you. All of these different ways of asking ‘may I have your hand in marriage?’ has got us thinking about the beauty of May weddings. With the gardens in full bloom and the promise of fresh spring country air, there really is nothing like a May wedding here at Combermere Abbey. If you’ve recently got engaged (or soon will be!), get in touch with our wedding team to find out more about late spring availability.

Gone are the days of seemingly identical wedding bouquets and floral table displays, indistinguishable from one another – today brides can let their creative flair run free with a huge range of different colours, scents and textures. A trend which we’ve seen gain popularity at Combermere Abbey over the last few years has been choosing native wildflowers for your big day – something we just can’t get enough of!

Britain is home to thousands of native wildflower species, from the delicate honeysuckle to the vibrant cornflower. If you’re looking for subtle, muted tones, forget-me-nots and cuckoo flowers are a perfect pastel-inspired combination. For big pops of bold colour, take a look at scarlet pimpernels, sweet violets and Welsh poppies.

The benefits of using native British wildflowers on your wedding day lies not only in their stunningly gentle beauty, but also in the knowledge that you’re helping to preserve and promote flowers which are threatening to become endangered. Back in April, The Telegraph reported that many of the country’s native wildflowers and plants were on the verge of extinction – so what better way to encourage their popularity by displaying them for your guests’ delight on your wedding day?

The best way to make your wildflower bouquets and displays reflect their natural and primitive beauty is to interweave them with native greenery as well. In the countryside, wildflowers grow amidst the rest of nature – the grass and moss, leaves and bushes. Sprigs of fern, ash and rowan are ideal for framing your graceful wildflower displays.

By far our favourite of all the wildflowers has to be bluebells. With almost 50% of the global population of bluebells right here in the UK, it is the quintessentially British wildflower. Every April here at Combermere Abbey, our woodland’s floor is covered in a rich carpet and blue and purples hues.

The spring bluebells transform the grounds into a fairy-tale setting, and couples can even have their photos taken amongst the thousands of dainty flowers in the charming woodland leading down to the lake with the dappled sunlight peeking through the trees to create the perfect romantic shot.

If you’re looking for a whimsical, enchanting backdrop to your wedding, get in touch with our team today to discuss late availability for April 2018!

You know what they say, ‘a party without cake is just a meeting’; which is why one wedding tradition that has stayed strong across the years is the show-stopping wedding cake at the reception. From capturing the guest’s attention to cutting it and taking that first bite, the intricate designs, sculptured white icing and traditional three-tier height, it all kindles invaluable special moments for the happy couple. But, the white-glazed fruit tower is no longer a typical wedding cake style – here at Combermere Abbey, we’ve seen (and tasted!) an array of ‘alternative’ wedding cakes, that for us, have created even more special, irreplaceable moments.

From the one-tiered, to the chandeliered, to the pork pie cakes (yes, you read that right!), alternative is the new traditional, so if you’re in need of some cake-spiration, look no further! We’ve rounded up some of the best cakes (in our humble opinion) that we’ve come across. Note; do not read on an empty stomach…

Naked Cakes:

A big trend that is inspiring couples this year is the naked cake. Not as risqué as it sounds though (guests don’t need to be alarmed!); a naked cake is simply one without icing. You may not think that such a cake could be dressed up suitably for a wedding, but with some fresh fruit, floral décor, and a dusting of icing sugar, this cake will be the best dressed in the room; a stunning combination of classic Victoria sponge with a rustic ambience.

Cheese Cakes:

No, we’re not talking about your traditional buttery biscuit-based Philadelphia staple, but a literal tower of flavoursome cheese. But a cheese cake doesn’t mean that your guests will be staring at a yellow rainbow of cheese blocks, but rather, a rustic (often waxed edge) cheese, laden with fresh, complimentary fruits (we love the pomegranates below), and a sprig of seasoning. Teamed up with vintage accessories – check the cut-out hearts below – and sat on top of a classic wooden serving board, these cakes are simply in-cheddar-ble.

The (Cup) cake:

Worried about whether there will be enough to go around? Worry no more! With cupcake cakes, guests are able to help themselves to a pre-portioned taste. However, the magic of cutting the cake and making that all important wish is still possible, with the top tier holding a small sandwich cake.

Ombre wedding cakes:

Ombre wedding cakes are perfect for those who have a tri-colour scheme. While an ombre cake mostly incorporates the traditional three tier structure, it can be done with just the one, but the truly show off an incredible blend of colours, we suggest you opt for the three tiers (plus more cake!).

Whilst these are just a few of the exceptional ‘alternative’ wedding cakes that we’ve come across, we’re certain that whatever cake you opt for, including the traditional type, it will compliment your big day. And remember, if ever you need a taste tester before serving to guests, there are always Combermere staff to be found across the venue! To take a look at more inspiration, head on over to our Pinterest board.

You’re about to start the beginning of the rest of your life on your honeymoon. But what to take? We’ve put together a few tips on how to travel in style, really there’s no other way.

Want to look your most glam when you walk into arrivals but don’t want to take all of your make up collection in your hand luggage? The solution? This compact has all the essentials…The Laura Geller ‘Glam On The Glow’ palette has three eyeshadows, a highlighter, a blusher and a lip gloss. Perfect for touching up your make up before you make your descent!

No one likes getting dehydrated on flights and we’re pretty sure your skin isn’t a fan of the dry cabin air either, especially on a long-haul flight. Skin tries to counteract the effects by producing more oil which is why a skincare routine is even more important in flight. The Mario Badescu Herbal Hydrating Serum will help your skin stay fresh, dewy and healthy – as well as being the perfect base for your foundation. Don’t let dehydration spoil your right to travel in style!

On the subject of style, why not treat your passport to a Bespoke case from Anya Hindmarch. You can even have it personalised with your initials, handwritten messages or pictures. It’s the perfect way to create memories of your honeymoon and future travelling adventures with your new spouse.

To go with that seriously smart passport holder, you definitely deserve to house your holiday wardrobe with gorgeous designer luggage like the Hulla Oriental Blossom suitcase from Ted Baker. You certainly won’t lose track of it when you’re waiting at baggage reclaim, it’ll be the most envy-inducing suitcase in the airport. If pink hues aren’t your thing, you can get your hands on the Terina version which features butterflies and jewels.

Whichever way you choose to ooze style on your honeymoon we have every faith that it’ll be magical, now go book those plane tickets!

A Guide To Summer Bridesmaids

Bridesmaids In Brights

Perfect Pastels

Floor-length Favourites

Short and Sweet

Very Vintage

Multiway Magic

Top 9 Wedding Lawn Games

1. Fruit Tree Maze

2. Giant Jenga

3. Skipping

4. Croquet

5. Tug of war

6. Crazy Golf

7. Hoopla

8. Sack Races

9. Space Hoppers

Non-alcoholic wedding drinks to spice up your reception

Mojitos

Watermelon Sharbat

Virgin Mary

Moscow Mule

Festive treats from our wedding caterers

John Trelfa, Olive Tree Catering

Cranberry and Brie Arancini

Sophia Holden, Gorilla Events

Spiced Pear Tipple

Louise McGoff, Pickled Walnut Catering

Festive Bubble and Squeak cakes

Christmas Mess

5 Wedding Gifts That Make Perfect Presents

1. A special experience

2. Something for the garden

3. Personalised artwork

4. Luggage

5. Stay another night at Combermere Abbey!

The Greatest Gifts are the Memories You’ll Take Away

June weddings in bloom at Combermere Abbey

Creative ways to pop the question

Under the Sea

Hidden Engagement Ring

Picture Perfect Proposal

Scavenger Hunt

Rose Garden Proposal

Bring your spring wedding to life with wildflowers

Alternative Wedding Cakes That Will Wow Your Guests

Naked Cakes:

Cheese Cakes:

The (Cup) cake:

Ombre wedding cakes:

The essential honeymoon style guide

Combermere Abbey’s Spring Showcase