< Previous60 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY WEDDINGS W eddings may be steeped in tradition, but bridal fashion is proving that rules are meant to be rewritten. The latest shift comes with a raised hemline. Searches for mini wedding dresses have soared, as modern nearlyweds trade the sweeping train for something shorter, sharper and infinitely more versatile. The appeal is clear. A mini dress still carries the unmistakable bridal feel but does so with a playful twist. It’s a style that suits a generation of couples rethinking what a wedding should look like, less about meeting an inherited expectation, more about expressing personality. For some, that means abandoning the floor-length gown entirely; for others, it’s about adding a second look to the day, swapping into a shorter dress for the reception and taking full advantage of the dance floor. Practicality plays a role too. Shorter dresses are ideal for civil ceremonies, destination weddings or outdoor settings where ease of movement is a priority. They also lend themselves well to accessorising. A removable skirt or oversized bow can create a dramatic aisle entrance, before being swapped for something sleeker and lighter for the evening. A change of veil, a bold headpiece or statement shoes can transform the mood without the need for a complete outfit change. There’s a sustainability angle as well. A well-cut mini dress can be worn again long after the wedding day: on an anniversary, at a formal event, or even at a milestone party. This rewear potential makes it feel like a The rise of the mini wedding dress From aisle to afterparty, brides are embracing shorter gowns for their style, versatility and rewear potential, redefining what bridal fashion looks like today. 63 ÁLINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 61 WEDDINGS © stock.adobe.com/jianhua62 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY NORWOOD PARK NORWOOD PARK Discover 2 1 . 09 . 2 5 www.norwoodpark.co.uk | 01636302099 | events@norwoodpark.co.uk WEDDING INSPIRATION · REGIONS TOP SUPPLIERS · FREE TICKETS @essieloutriffittphotography B O O KN O WLINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 63 WEDDINGS © stock.adobe.com/RONNY 17 Market Place, Louth, Lincolnshire LN11 9PD Tel: 01507 604029 www.striacroft.co.uk Gold, Silver & Diamond Jewellery Jewellery & Watch Repairs Pre Owned Rolex Watches smarter investment compared to a gown destined for storage. It also encourages cleaner, more classic designs that work beyond the wedding context, relying on tailoring and fabric rather than heavy embellishment. The trend isn’t just about breaking with the past; it’s about broadening the definition of what bridal can be. For decades, the long gown has been the unspoken uniform, an expectation as much as a choice. Short dresses change the conversation. They signal confidence, individuality and a willingness to set the tone of the day on your own terms. On social media, the effect is striking. Mini dresses make a statement in photographs, especially when paired with bold accessories or unexpected footwear. Brides are pairing them with pearl-studded gloves, oversized sunglasses, or even trainers for the afterparty. These choices stand out not just because they look different, but because they tell a story, one that feels relaxed, modern and completely personal. For some couples, the mini dress is a way to split the 64 Á64 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY WEDDINGS difference between the romance of tradition and the freedom of modern style. They might walk down the aisle in a full gown, then reappear later in a shorter number that completely changes the energy of the celebration. Guests notice, the mood shifts, and the evening takes on a new pace. As weddings continue to move away from one-size-fits-all traditions, the rise of the mini wedding dress feels like more than a passing fashion moment. It reflects the broader move towards individuality, flexibility and conscious choices. Whether worn for the aisle, the reception or the registry office, short and sweet is proving that less fabric can sometimes deliver more impact. © stock.adobe.com/Sulaihatinonwhat’sBourne September 4 - 7 Nene Valley Rock Festival - Grimsthorpe Castle This four-day festival at Grimsthorpe Castle celebrates the best of classic, progressive and blues rock. With bands and audience housed within marquees, and with ticket sales limited to just 1,000 people, you can be guaranteed a hugely memorable experience, more akin to a club setting than a festival. Food and drink are available on-site, as are facilities for motorhomes and camping. Stamford September 6 World Music Singing Workshop - Stamford Arts Centre This one-day singing workshop will feature a mix of African, Gospel, Georgian, American and Croatian songs. It will start with some physical and vocal exercises - gentle shaking and stretching of both voice and body to prepare for singing. Spalding September 6 Opera Boys: A Night at the Musicals - South Holland Centre Whether you’re a fan of modern day smash hit musicals like Jersey Boys, Mamma Mia, Wicked and Frozen, prefer the classics from Cole Porter, George Gershwin and Rodgers & Hammerstein, or adore the definitive masterpieces like Les Misérables, Phantom of the Opera and West Side Story, this show has something for everyone and is perfect for musical theatre lovers both young and old. Lincoln September 7 Marvellous Makers Market - Lincolnshire Showground After a successful event in 2024, the Lincolnshire Makers group return with their artisan markets. Explore over 100 curated makers in attendance, including local food and drink producers, creatives, artists, designers and more - there’s something for every taste and every budget! Workshops will run throughout the day, including a free friendship bracelet workshop. Street food caterers will be on site serving up the best local food and visitors can soak up live music on the patio and enjoy a circus skills entertainer - and even have a go for yourself. Louth September 9 - 13 Calendar Girls - Louth Riverhead Theatre Based on the true story of eleven WI members who posed nude for a calendar to raise money for the Leukaemia Research Fund, Calendar Girls has become the fastest-selling play in British theatre history — and it’s coming back to Louth Riverhead Theatre in September. Stamford September 4 - 7 The Defender Burghley Horse Trials - Burghley House Experience a weekend at Burghley House for the world’s greatest 5* equestrian event, the Defender Burghley Horse Trials. A key event towards the end of the summer social season, the Defender Burghley attracts fantastic crowds to witness exhilarating equestrian action alongside browsing the world-renowned shopping avenues and enjoying the many other attractions and activities on offer in this stunning location. © stock.adobe.com/Valeri Vatel LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 65 66 Á68 Á Gainsborough September 13 Gainsborough WordFest WordFest is back in Gainsborough! 2025’s festival brings a bonanza of bookish treats and a smorgasbord of storytelling. There will be a marvellous literature market, history walks and talks, an acclaimed crime author spilling the beans on her twisted tales, a double-bill of theatrical performances at the Old Nick Theatre, talented young writers reading their work at the Old Hall, tower tours at All Saints Church, dungeons and dragons, street theatre, fun and cartoons with Erin on the doodleboard, Wizardy Wizzine fun with Ally Pally Arts and blasting off to Planet Fun at the Library. Sleaford September 13 Victorian Blacksmith Demonstration - Navigation House As part of Lincolnshire Heritage Open Days, head over to Navigation House and watch a traditional blacksmith demonstration. Sandringham Game & Country Fair returns The Sandringham Game and Country Fair will return on September 13th and 14th, full of entertainment. The two main show arenas will be packed with country sports and pursuits, with fast paced equestrian action to keep you on the edge of your seats. Alongside scurry driving and horse boarding, new for 2025 is the Heart of Horsemanship Equestrian Display team, with a mixture of stunt riding, gymnastics and dressage. Falconry, stunt teams, gun dog demonstrations, fly casting and wildfowling are just some of the other arena displays. The Food Glorious Food section, meanwhile, provides food halls, cookery demonstrations, street food, bars and live music. There will also be craft marquees full of artists, designers, jewellers, potters and wood turners, and traditional craft demonstration areas including glass blowing, blacksmiths, bodgers and chainsaw carving. Have-a-go events including airguns, archery, clay shooting, fishing and a whole host of dog events, alongside steam engines, stationary engines, tractors, vintage cars, military vehicles, fun fair rides and puppet shows will make it a day to remember. Book your tickets online now at www.livingheritagecountryshows.com/tickets or call 01283 820548. © stock.adobe.com/Jason Wells Lincoln September 7 Wings and Wheels - International Bomber Command Centre This free family event celebrates the heritage that is to be found across ‘Bomber County’. Meet the teams of staff and volunteers who share a passion for aviation, heritage and Lincolnshire. Representatives and stalls from many regional aviation sites will be exhibiting, come and find out what they do and how they are keeping Lincolnshire’s aviation heritage alive. Alongside the aviation, see classic cars and bikes from clubs across the region and beyond. 66 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAYV¬©)¾¾ aËËAé©aËËxËéŤ NJ©¬ÅAéݬNJ©ÝäõËÄŬŤÝƣHŬݬ¾ä¾»ƣa©Ëä©Ù¬ÝÙéÝ©» ä©ÙËõ¬Åݾ¾ËÙÙ¬»ääˬÅä¬Ä¬ää©ääÙƣËä©ÝÙ¬V¬© )¾¾NJÝËÄûƣ,¾éä¬Åä¬Ä¬ä¬Å¤ƣZ©ÙÖƤØ鬻ƤÝÖ¾Åä¬ƤÅ Ý龬ľû¬ÄÖÙËô¬Ýä¬Ëžƣ,£ûËéNJôÅôÙÝÅ©¬ÄƤûËéÅäË©éÝä¾ ËõÅäËûËéپ˾ôÅéŤÙÝäéÝ©ÅôÙ¬ÝÖÖˬÅäÝƣ ôÙƣ a©f9NJÝé¾ä¬ÄäZ»ä©äÙúÖÙ¬ÅÝõ֬Ťä©Åä¬ËÅƣƣƣ$äÙû£Ë٠žäÙ¬£û¬Å¤Å¬¤©äË£Äéݬõ¬ä©ljaËËAé©aËËxËéŤƴa©AéݬˣĖaËÅ ǑûËÅljƤ©¬¤©ƴËäÅƤäõËƴ©ËéÙÝÖä¾ä©ää»ÝûËéËÅÅ éÅ£ËÙ¤ää¾Ù¬ä©ÙË餩ä©Ý»ÝËéÅä©äÝ©Ö¤ÅÙä¬ËÅÝƨa©¬Ý£¾ƴ ¤Ë˸ËéÙÅûúÖ¾ËÙÝ䩬Ùä©Ë£Ý»¬Å7Ĭţ˾¾ËõݬäÝúÖ¾Ëݬô ©¬ÝäËÙûä©ÙË餩äËä©Ù¬ä¬Ý©Ùô¬ô¾¬Å䩾äNJěĔÝÅNJĜĔÝƤ¾Ùä¬Å¤ä© ¤ÙËéÅÙ»¬Å¤ÄéݬÅ䩾¤ÅÙûÙä¬ÝäÝõ©ËĬ䤾˾ Ö©ÅËÄÅËÅƣ ËúH££¬ ĕĔƥėĔÄƴĘÖÄAËÅûäË#Ù¬ûƹ¾ËÝÅ»)˾¬ûÝƺ ;äB¬¤©äHÖŬŤäËĜÖÄAËÅûDŽÝǑaéÝûDŽÝƹaÙÄa¬Äƺ ĕĔÄƴĖÖÄZäéÙûÝƹú¾é¬Å¤é¤éÝäƺ a©éÙÝûĕĚHäËÙĖĔĖęǧĖĔƣęĔƹ¬Å£Ýƺ #Ù¬ûĕěHäËÙĖĔĖęǧĖĘƣęĔƴǧĖěƣęĔƹ¬Å£Ýƺ VË;ÄÙä¬SÙÝÅäÝSÙ£ä¾û$ËÙ¤ AÙéÙû #äé٬Ť䩬ÅÙ¬¾ôˬˣVË;ÄÙä¬Ƥ䩬ÝÝ©Ëõ©ÝõËõé¬ÅÝ ÙËéÅä©ËéÅäÙûÅéÙËÖž¬£ää©ÄäË䩬٣äƤ¬ÅûÅĬݩËõ ä©äää£é¾¾ûÅÖÖÙËÖÙ¬ä¾û¾ÙäÝä©ÙÙË£ËÅË£ä©ÄËÝ䤬£ä ÖÙ£ËÙÄÙÝË£¤ÅÙä¬ËÅƣ#ÙËÄr©Äƨ¾¾ä©õûä©ÙË餩äË䩬ôÙÝÙÝ Ë£$ËÙ¤NJݩ餾ûÝéÝÝ£é¾Ý˾ËÙÙƤ¬Å¾é¬Å¤ä¬Ä¾ÝÝ©¬äݾ¬»Ù¾ÝÝ r©¬ÝÖÙƤ#¬ä©Ƥ,NJÄxËéÙAÅƤ¾éaÙËÖ¬ÅƤÅÝËÄÅûÄËÙƤä©Ý©Ëõä¾¾Ý ä©ÝäËÙûË£$ËÙ¤A¬©¾¬Åä©ôÝäÙÖÙäˬÙË£ÝËŤÝä©äÄ©¬ÄŬËÅ äËÝËÄÅû £äÙݾ¾ËéäĖĔĖĘÝ©Ëõäa©ä©Ý)¾¾ƤAÙéÙûÙ»£ËÙĖĔĖęƤ ¾Ùä¬Å¤ä©¬ÙĖĚä©ûÙƣ ©ËÙˤÙÖ©Ýä¤Ý©ËõƤõ¬ä©ÝÖäé¾ÙÅéä©Åä¬ËÝäéÄÝƤ ©¬¤©¾ÝÝÖÙËéä¬ËŬžé¬Å¤ÙÄä¬ÅÝäÙ¬»¬Å¤¾¬¤©ä¬Å¤££äÝƣa© Ý©Ëõ¬Å¾éÝÝäÙËÄƤÝ©ËõÄÅÝ©¬ÖÅÅÅÙ¤ä¬ÖÙ£ËÙÄÅ £ÙËÄ7ËÝÖ©;7»ÝËÅÝNJ#Ù¬NJƤäˤä©Ùõ¬ä©ú¾¾Åä Äéݬ¬ÅÝ©¬ÖƤ¬Å¾é¬Å¤é䬣龾ûÙ£ä©ÙÄËŬÝƤŬÅäÙ¬ä¤é¬äÙ õËÙ»£ÙËÄ$¾ÅÅZÙ¬ÄÝ©õÝNJÙ¬ÅAûNJƣ #Ù¬ûėHäËÙĖĔĖęǧėęƣęĔƹ,Å£Ýƺ ZäéÙûĘHäËÙĖĔĖęǧĕęƣęĔƴǧĖĚƣĘęƹ¬Å£Ýƺ f9 ¾ a ) Ý a ǑGrantham September 13 Strictly Nashville - Guildhall Theatre Celebrating the very best from America’s ‘Music City’, this show promises an exciting fusion of pure Country gold with ‘New Country’ blockbusters. Guitarist, vocalist and band leader Bob Drury, who has been selling out theatres across the country for the past 10 years, heads up an amazing cast of musicians to deliver a set of classics from the likes of Johnny Cash, Glen Campbell, Brad Paisley, Garth Brooks, Willie Nelson and Kenny Rogers. Featuring Bob’s daughter Harriet on female lead vocals, the band presents stunning versions of monster hits from Shania Twain, Dolly Parton, Taylor Swift, Carrie Underwood, Eva Cassidy, June Carter, and many more. Horncastle September 14 Food & Drink Fayre - Stourton Woods This event offers more than just a fabulous market, with a wide selection of 68 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY WHAT’S ON quality Lincolnshire food and drink producers showcasing their goods. In and around the Roundhouse in the woods, you can really make a day of it with demonstrations and talks from local producers, Farm Safaris, and waymarked self-guided trails to explore the beautiful estate. Lincoln September 18 Lecture and Supper Series: Tiger Force - International Bomber Command Centre At the Quebec Conference of September 1944, Prime Minister Winston Churchill and President Roosevelt estimated it would take a further 18 months to defeat Japan once the war in Europe was over. Churchill proposed that Bomber Command would then provide a very long-range bomber force to fight alongside the Americans against Japan in the Pacific. Known as ‘Tiger Force’ it would be made up of squadrons based mainly from Lincolnshire. Phil Bonner from Aviation Heritage Lincolnshire will talk the about the build up for ‘Tiger Force’, the challenges of deploying out to the Pacific and its subsequent disbandment following the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Grantham September 19 D-Day Darlings - Guildhall Theatre Relive the nostalgic days of wartime Britain as the delightful D-Day Darlings take you on a musical journey back to the heart of the 1940s. Grantham September 20 Autumn Leaves: The Belvoir Big Band - Guildhall Theatre Take a journey back through the ages and enjoy all your old favourites with a night of musical extravaganza with the Belvoir Big Band. Featuring their resident vocalist, the incredible Steve Sale, and under the spirited direction of their MD, Jonathan Barker, the band will take you on a whistle stop tour of magical musical moments gone by. From the lolling jazz and blues of the 1920s and the big band swing of the 1930s and ‘40s, to the rock and pop of the ‘50s and ‘60s, and a delve into the delights of Latin, Soul and even a bit of Funk. Lincoln September 14 Art of Andalucia: Flamenco Dance - Lincoln Arts Centre Following the success of his first two productions, which have captivated over 80,000 audience members across the UK, Ireland, and Germany in the last two years, Daniel Martinez returns with a new show that places flamenco dance at the forefront. ‘Art of Andalucia’ offers audiences an immersive experience where the dancers take centre stage, bringing the passion and energy of Andalucia to life. If that weren’t enough, Daniel will also perform new pieces from his highly anticipated third album. © stock.adobe.com/adrenalinapuraWHAT’S ON Lincoln September 27 The Princess Proms - Lincoln Cathedral Calling all princesses and princes, you are invited to an enchanting concert at Lincoln Cathedral! Sing the magical themes from your favourite princess movies, including songs from Frozen, Cinderella, The Little Mermaid, Frozen, Wicked, Moana, Taylor Swift, Beauty and the Beast and more. Stamford October 2 - 4 Burghley By Twilight - Burghley House Burghley by Twilight offers the rare opportunity for an evening visit to Burghley House. As the sun begins to set, the State Rooms take on a magical glow and ambience only twilight can provide. Carefully positioned soft-lighting and candlelight allow you to experience Burghley interiors in all their beauty as the magnificent frescos and works of art come alive. As you explore the illuminated rooms enjoy performances from a variety of classical musicians. What’s On at Norwood Park With cosy season drawing in, Norwood Park’s lineup of exciting autumn events is sure to inspire your plans. Kicking off with our Wedding Fair on Sunday 21st September; discover beautifully style ceremony spaces, meet with top local wedding suppliers and chat with our friendly events team about your big day. On Saturday 28th September, join us for a seasonal Afternoon Tea. Indulge in a glass of fizz, plenty of tea, and sweet treats with an autumn twist. For something a little spookier, Haunted Heritage presents a ghost hunt on the 12th September and 28th November - a unique way to experience Norwood after dark. Garden lovers can look forward to our Autumn Garden Talk on Saturday 19th October, where head Gardener Alex will guide guests through the estate’s seasonal displays and offer helping planting tips. Plan ahead for Bonfire Night on Saturday 2nd November, returning this year bigger, better, and more spectacular than ever. Early Bird tickets are available now - so don’t miss out! For full details on all events, visit www.norwoodpark.co.uk LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 69 © Matt Andrew Photography Next >