The annual awards – backed by wedding planning website hitched.co.uk, are back for their fourth year to give out prestigious honours to small businesses across the UK.
Some 1,500 small businesses won an award with 367 wedding venues receiving awards for excellence in customer service, more than 280 wedding photographers, 212 makeup artists and hair stylists and 162 wedding DJs and music artists were also featured.
Cheshire had 39 winners across the board including Cottons Hotel and Spa and Merrydale Manor in Knutsford, The Vicarage in Holmes Chapel and Alderley Edge Hotel in Wilmslow.
Photographers Gareth Roy from Winsford and Tom Groves from Mobberley picked up awards as did Hair and Makeup by Zowie Pointing and Immy May Makeup.
Almost 27,000 wedding businesses participated in the Hitched Wedding Awards this year, where the opinions of the couples who used the various Hitched platforms to plan their weddings in 2024 were assessed and compiled to highlight the highest rated and reviewed wedding vendors across the UK.
Cottons Hotel and Spa
The 14 winning wedding venues in Cheshire were:
- Alderley Edge Hotel, Wilmslow
- Colshaw Hall, Peover Superior
- Cottons Hotel and Spa, Knutsford
- Grange Barn, Wrenbury
- Heaton House Farm Wedding Venue, Macclesfield
- Hilltop County House, Macclesfield
- Merrydale Manor, Knutsford
- Owen House Wedding Barn, Mobberley
- Pryors Hayes Golf Club, Hatton Heath
- Rylands Farmhouse & Events, Wilmslow
- Sandhole Oak Barn, Congleton
- Stock Farm Wedding and Events Barn, Knutsford
- The Plough Inn, Eaton
- The Vicarage, Holmes Chapel
The 11 winning wedding photographers in Cheshire were:
- Alex Mew Photography, Widnes
- Duncan Edward Photography, Sandbach
- Gareth Roy Photography, Winsford
- Green Wedding Photography, Wrexham
- Helen Cotton Photography, Sandbach
- Jamie Ellis Photography, Chester
- Lisa Cowen Photography, Congleton
- Tom Groves Photography, Mobberley
- Forever Photo Studio, Cheshire
- Jodie Ericah Photography, Wexham
- Beps Photography, Cheshire
Jimmy Beedham
The four wedding music and DJs in Cheshire were:
- Chris Morris (pianist), Warrington
- Groove Noise, Crewe
- Jimmy Beedham, Warrington
- Wedding Violinist, Frodsham
Penny B Celebrant
The three winning celebrants from Cheshire were:
- Penny B Celebrant, Warrington
- Rituals of Love celebrant, Chester
- Your Ceremony Cheshire East Registration Services, Crewe
The five winning beauty, hair and makeup artists in Cheshire were:
- Alice Marie Rouillon Hair and Makeup Artist, Cheshire
- Brhaive Weddings and Events, Warrington
- Hair and Makeup by Zowie Pointing, Cheshire
- Immy May Makeup, Cheshire
- Louise Hood Hair and Makeup, Cheshire
Brhaive Wedding and Events
The one winning videographer in Cheshire was:
- Declan Cadman Films, Warrington
The one Cheshire winner in the ‘something different’ category was:
- The Big Day Content, Chester
Zoe Burke, leading wedding expert and editor of Hitched.co.uk said: “The Hitched Wedding Awards are a true celebration of excellence in the wedding industry, shining a spotlight on the vendors who make dream weddings a reality.
“These awards are based entirely on feedback from real couples, which makes them all the more special—winning one is a testament to outstanding service, dedication, and expertise.
“With almost 1,500 winners this year, it’s inspiring to see so many incredible businesses recognised for going above and beyond to create unforgettable wedding experiences.”
The biggest chunk of wedding budget spend went toward the wedding venue last year, according to the latest National Wedding Survey, with couples spending an average of £8,800 on their chosen location, up from £7,600 following the pandemic.
Wedding photography was one of the most important things for couples to have on their wedding day, with 92 per cent of couples choosing to have a wedding photographer.
Spend on wedding photography increased last year to an average of £1,400, up from £1,300 in 2022.
Couples are spending around £190 on hair and makeup for one half of the happy couple and around £110 per wedding party member.
The average cost of a wedding in 2024 increased to £23,420, up from the year before when couples spent an average of £20,700 on their big day.
Newlyweds didn’t set out to spend this much though, with more than half of those surveyed (51 per cent) revealing that they had gone over their original budget.
The knock on effect of inflation saw more than half of couples (61 per cent) increase their estimated wedding budgets at least once, while 57 pre cent opted for more DIY elements than originally planned to counteract the rising costs.
The survey also revealed that friends and family had a huge part to play in the financing of weddings last year, with 63 per cent of couples relying on financial gifts from friends and family to pay for their wedding.
