Your West Midlands Wedding- December 2020/January 2021 (Issue 71)

DRESSED TO IMPRESS Suit Direct, one of the UK’s leading men’s formal wear retailers, has opened a new flagship store on Birmingham’s New Street. A stone’s throw from Birmingham’s major transport links, the store offers a premium customer- focused shopping experience. It stocks a selection of both formal and casual wear brands, including Marc Darcy, Ben Sherman, Jeff Banks, Gibson London and Antique Rogue. There are also a variety of accessories, such as shoes, ties and belts with a free alteration service and an in-store kiosk where customers can order stock from the website’s extensive collection. Amanda Argent, the retail director, explains: “We’re delighted to be growing our UK store presence. We cannot wait to be a part of the New Street shopping experience and ensure the Birmingham population stay suited and booted during these uncertain times.” To find out more visit, www.suitdirect.co.uk PLANNING SOS Your Wedding Live, a new premium wedding show, has announced its inaugural event on 27 th and 28 th March, 2021 at RICOH Arena Coventry. The show will offer brides and grooms the opportunity to discover everything they need to plan the day of their dreams, no matter how big or small and regardless of budget. Following several months of uncertainty, since the pandemic began, many celebrations have been postponed, including wedding ceremonies and receptions. Although there isn’t a ‘new normal’ for weddings and the guidelines continue to change, couples around the country are starting to look ahead and plan their special day. Bringing together the very best of bridal and the finest wedding suppliers, Your Wedding Live provides couples with the latest trends and new collections, as well as a wealth of advice and inspiration to help plan their day of the dreams. There will be a wedding runway, a suppliers village, pamper lounge, gentlemen’s lounge, honeymoon suite and wedding theatre. There are also VIP tickets available, which include complimentary parking, fast track entry, canapés, a goody bag and a drink. For more information, visit www.yourweddinglive.co.uk The look of love Macdonald Ansty Hall has seen a 25 per cent spike in enquiries after launching a series of flexible wedding packages created especially to help couples tie the knot following lockdown. The four-star venue had responded to significant demand and has re- shaped its offering to accommodate a range of wedding requests, creating a magical experience in a romantic and safe environment. The venue is offering the potential to hold small ceremonies now with a larger reception at a later date. These ‘sequel weddings’ have been particularly popular with the venue, with wedding coordinators working closely with couples to plan not one, but two special days. Kelly Fulong, the wedding coordinator at Macdonald Ansty Hall, said: “The last few months have created a lot of uncertainty within the wedding market, but we are now seeing a marked rise in consumer confidence. Your wedding is one of the most special days of your life, and we give a promise to each of our couples that we will do everything we can to create the day they have always dreamed of. As we navigate these unprecedented times, it is the ability to be flexible which will get us through. Macdonald Ansty Hall is one of our most romantic wedding venues, with a range of function rooms available. Couples also have the option to tie the knot outside in our beautifully serene gardens.” Visit www.macdonaldhotels.co.uk fo r more information. AWARD-WINNING The Belfry Hotel & Resort has retained its title as England’s Leading Resort and England’s Leading Conference Hotel at the 27 th annual World Travel Awards. The awards acknowledge, reward and celebrate excellence across all key sectors of the travel, tourism and hospitality industries. The hotel has 319 luxurious bedrooms and suites, several restaurants and bars, first-class events and wedding spaces, a leisure club, three golf courses and The Belfry Spa, which offers guests the hotel’s famous Fire & Ice Experience. Gail Aldridge, the marketing director, tells us: “It’s a fantastic achievement to receive these titles again. The Belfry has always been committed to providing our guests with an experience that will stay with them, long after they leave, so receiving these awards is a true testament to all the continued hard work the team put in. It’s especially gratifying to win during a time when we are all continuing to face unprecedented challenges, and we would like to wholeheartedly thank everyone who voted for us.” To find out more, visit www.thebelfry.com 10