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!

It’s one of the most glamourous events of the year, and there were bridal inspirations abound at the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s 2017 Met Gala. This year’s theme was ‘Comme de Garçons’ in honour of 74-year-old Japanese designer Rei Kawakubo, and Rihanna fully embraced the theme of bright colours and statement gowns. However, most famous faces opted for simpler neutral and pastel shade gowns, notably: Kim Kardashian, Gwyneth Paltrow and Vogue editor Anna Wintour.

Always a much-anticipated Met Gala regular, Rihanna stunned the crowd with layer upon layer of bold and bright floral print. Will we be seeing more layered styles in wedding dresses? It would certainly seem that Marchesa are taking the lead in this trend, with their Spring 2018 boasting luxurious layers of embroidery and lace:

Although some criticised the lack of bold choice and daring fashion, it hinted towards the season’s trends and provided further inspiration for those destined for weddings in the spring and summer. Ever one to break social convention, Kim Kardashian arrived at the Gala in a simple white off-the-shoulder dress with bow detailing by Vivienne Westwood, accompanied by open-toe flat sandals. We can certainly see Kim starting a trend for off the shoulder gowns, just like this stunningly simple ruffled sleeve dress by Martina Liana:

Despite going against the theme of Kawakubo’s extravagant art pieces, it’s no surprise that the common choices of gown for the Met Gala were softer, feminine colours such as Gwyneth Paltrow’s pastel pink Raf Simons number. They’re just in time for spring and a great inspiration for bridesmaids, who are rarely dressed in anything but delicate colours to accentuate the bride’s gown. With millennial pink showing no sign of slowing down in popularity, perhaps we’ll be seeing more pops of pink taking over the traditional lilacs in bridesmaids’ dresses – like this eye popping Monique Lhuillier number:

Here at Combermere Abbey, we just can’t wait to see how the fashions at the Met Gala might influence the styles of our couples and guests – we’ll have to keep our eyes peeled!

Get in touch with us today to see how we could help you create your perfect wedding at Combermere Abbey.

Here at Combermere Abbey’s weddings office, we just love facts and figures, and a new and up-to-date compendium of statistics about marriage and weddings in the UK has just landed – so we’re wasting no time in sharing them with you.

Firstly, marriage is getting more and more popular. It dipped a few years ago, but the latest figure is up by more than 5%. There were 301,254 weddings annually at the last count – up from around 270,000 six years ago. Historically, the year with by far the highest number of marriages was 1940, when well over half a million couples tied the knot before the husband went off to war.

There were almost 32,000 weddings in Greater London, but relative to the size of the population that wasn’t in fact very many. On a proportional basis the local authority area where marriage is most popular is Dumfries and Galloway in southern Scotland. Yes really. Argyll and Bute, slightly further north, came next. Our region, Cheshire East, was pretty high up, coming in at fourteenth.

Within the larger regions, Scotland topped the table, followed by the West Country. Despite the popularity of marriage round here, the region where there were fewest weddings was the North West of England.

All of 55% of weddings took place on a Saturday, with Friday next on 20%. Tuesday and Wednesday tied on 4% each as the least popular days (so click here to see our great midweek marriage offer for next year). August was the most popular month, with January the least favourite. On average the groom was 33.3 years old, and the bride 30.9. In all, 67% of weddings were civil ceremonies, 21% Church of England, 7% Roman Catholic, and 5% other faiths.

Curiously, one thing that isn’t mentioned in the statistics is how very popular Combermere Abbey is with brides and grooms-to-be (and their guests), nor how beautifully romantic a wedding at the Abbey is – nor indeed how very hard our weddings staff work to make sure that you have the perfect day. Perhaps the figures are just off the scale! Click here to go to the weddings section of our wedding and read all about it.