Get ready to say "I do" in Darlington

It’s coming up to wedding season! If you're currently planning your big day, one place where you can find absolutely everything you need is Darlington. From high street names to independent retailers, there’s a shop to make your moment one to remember. Take a look at our recommendations to find exactly what you need!

Wedding dresses

Shopping for a dress is one of the most special parts of the wedding planning process. No matter if you have a dream dress in mind or need to shop around to get some ideas of what you might like, there’s several places in town that can help. Poppy Bridal on Duke Street is a gorgeous boutique stocking a range of fantastic designers, like Maggie Sottero and White One, at affordable prices. Or there’s Happily Ever After Bridal just outside of the town centre in Cockerton, who pride themselves on offering top quality and exquisite dresses to people of all sizes.

If you’re looking for something that’s more eco and budget-friendly, you may like Something Old Something New in Houndgate Mews. This spot is all about preloved bridalwear, so all of the dresses here are second hand, but still incredible quality. And what’s even better is you can buy a dress at the fraction of the retail price! It’s kind to the environment and kind to your purse.

Suits

Just as important as the dress is the suit and Darlington is home to some fantastic menswear boutiques that offer some sensational options. Affleck and Moffat on Duke Street have stood the test of time, celebrating 100 years as a leading suit hire business. There are styles to suit all kinds of wedding style or theme, plus accessories to help you finish the look.

If you want to buy rather than hire, All About The Suit on Northumberland Street is the perfect option. You can find a dazzling range of colours, materials and cuts to really complement your style and all are available for you to buy and keep. Or if you’d like something a bit more personalised, Geoffrey Gillow on Grange Road can help you to pick out shirts, trousers and shoes to build the perfect look.

Rings and jewellery

Of course, a wedding isn’t complete without the rings and Darlington has several high street names that can offer you a glittering selection to look at. H Samuel and Warren James are both in the Cornmill Shopping Centre, giving you the perfect opportunity to spend an afternoon trying on some rings. Both offer pieces of incredible quality and there’s options for both masculine and feminine rings. Just over the road in Queen Street Shopping Centre, you’ll find F Hinds as well, so there’s lots to choose from if you want to buy from a familiar brand.

If you want to shop small and find something a little more unique, there’s a great community of independent jewellers in the town. Ingledews on Post House Wynd are diamond specialists, so they have some beautiful engagement rings, but lots of wedding rings and bridal jewellery to complete your outfit too. Or if you want something that’s totally custom to you, AD Designs on Skinnergate specialise in one off commissions. Whether you want gold, silver, platinum, a plain band or gemstones, they would love to work with you.

Flowers

Flowers can really tie your wedding theme together, no matter if you’re going for an all white look, something more boho or bright and colourful. Heavenly Scent on Bondgate is a family run florist and they offer flowers to suit all tastes and budgets. You can visit them in the shop to get some inspiration, then book a consultation to sort exactly what you’d like. From bridal bouquets to buttonholes, they’ll be happy to help.

Flowers By Nattrass are out in Hurworth and they have a huge portfolio of wedding venues that they’ve dressed. Why not go in store and take a look to see if they’ve provided flowers for your venue before? They also have lots of flower accessories to hire too, like vases, stands, mirrors and tealights, so it’s a one stop shop.

Mother of the Bride or Groom

As much as it’s the happy couples’ day, the mum’s of brides and grooms will definitely be in the limelight too, so they’ll be looking for the perfect outfit. Darlington is home to a fabulous House of Fraser, so there’s multiple brands and sections in there to help mums find the best thing to wear. From dresses to fascinators, there’s multiple floors of things to choose from, as well as a luxury makeup hall for a little extra treat.

As well as the department store, there’s plenty of independent boutiques to look at too. Joel Alexander on Grange Road is a specialist in formal womenswear, so you can expect to find gorgeously elegant pieces in a range of colours, prints and materials. There’s also Leggs Fashion on Skinnergate, which is a hotspot for glamorous and limited edition pieces from big designer names, like Guess and Valentino. She’ll look and feel like a million dollars! But if it’s handmade fascinators she wants, look no further than Julie’s of Darlington in the Cornmill Shopping Centre. She’s been making headwear for over 30 years and puts her heart into each one. They’re completely unique and would be an amazing addition to a wedding outfit.

Venues

If you’re still on the hunt for the perfect place to tie the knot, there are so many wonderful venues in Darlington. For those who love the theatre and want to make a bit of a statement, you can get married on the stage at the Darlington Hippodrome. With its blend of luxurious, Edwardian style and modern day facilities, it’s a fantastic backdrop for the day. Or if you want something a bit more fairytale, take a look at Walworth Castle. Just imagine having your dream day in a 12th century castle, with views of the rolling countryside and incredible views.

For the ultimate opulence, why not have your day at 5 star hotel Rockliffe Hall? This picture perfect estate sits in 375 acres of lawns, parkland and wildflower gardens, has homegrown food and an award-winning spa on site. Another fabulous hotel option is Bannatyne Hotel, which is a Grade II listed townhouse that’s conveniently located on the edge of the town centre. Will you choose to say “I do” in Maxine’s Restaurant with its marble fireplace and large windows? Or maybe the Wilbur Suite with the Georgian-style doors that lead into the garden?

There’s all of this and so much more in Darlington. Visit enjoydarlington.co.uk to find more places to shop, dine and stay.