Your Hampshire and Dorset Wedding news and ideas from around the area

Instant photos make for lasting memories!

poignant keepsake for guests or a photo album. Instant photos make for lasting memories! The INSTAX mini 12 (£79.99) is the perfect product for guest use. Place on tables or dot them around the venue to allow for guests to personalise their memories, and most importantly, take them home. The INSTAX mini Evo (£174.99) is another great option for capturing what's important. The retro-themed exterior is fitting for those vintage-themed weddings – place next to the guest book so photos can be added straight in. The INSTAX SQUARE (£129.99) is a modern option for those photographic keepsakes. Connect the devise to phones and print polaroid straight from the camera roll. Instant photos are irreplaceable.

Discover Michelin-trained Loic Gratadoux from Frenchman in the Kitchen

Michelin-trained Loic Gratadoux, chef and founder of Frenchman in the Kitchen, has noted a growing demand for his private chef services amongst couples and their families seeking to take the stress out of the days leading up to weddings. He comments, "More and more couples with a love of good food are booking my services for two to three days before their wedding. It's not just the big day they're thinking about, but the exciting – and, let's face it, slightly stressful – days when couples often have family staying with them or nearby. I provide a full-day Personal Chef service, providing breakfast, lunch, and dinner as required (as healthy or as indulgent as they like), and I always ensure that everything is kept clean and tidy. Some couples choose to write their menus, some prefer me to provide a sample menu to guide their choices, and some of my more adventurous clients want me to surprise them with the best seasonal produce I can find to create wow gastronomic delights.

Elope in style - expert advice

Couples are rewriting the script on what it means to say "I do". Over the past 12 months, searches for 'elopement weddings UK' are up +83%, 'elopement wedding packages UK' increased by +85%, and 'intimate weddings UK' have grown by +89%¹. This has highlighted a clear demand amongst couples for intimate weddings. To find out what has motivated this trend, wedding decoration experts at Ginger Ray have conducted a survey of those engaged and in the midst of planning an elopement to see what their special day will look like. Why are elopements becoming more popular? Topping the list of factors driving couples towards intimate weddings is the quest to manage expenses. More than a third (32%) of respondents highlighted financial constraints as the primary factor influencing their decision to opt for a smaller celebration.