One of Wales’ leading wedding blogs, Cwtch The Bride, has been shortlisted for the coveted ‘Best Wedding Blog’ award at this year’s Cosmopolitan Magazine blog awards.

The awards recognise the highest standards in blogging and spans across a number of industries including fashion, lifestyle, beauty and weddings.

Cwtch The Bride, which was created by Newport-based award-winning photographer Maria Farrelly, is the only Welsh blog in the wedding category.

The blog was started less than 18 months ago and is up against some of the UK’s long established wedding blogs.

It provides brides and grooms with inspirational ideas for their wedding and boasts an average of 19,000 views per-month. It has a small team of contributors who inspire brides-to-be, to plan a wedding which reflects themselves and their partner.

The blog features real weddings and supports local businesses in the Welsh wedding industry by showcasing them and recommending them to the readers.

Maria Farrelly said: "It started as an organic project. I never anticipated it would grow and evolve as quickly as it has. To be shortlisted for such a highly acclaimed award is extremely exciting. With the support and dedication of the blog’s contributing writers, all of which are brides whose weddings I have photographed, the blog has become very popular and we have amassed a dedicated ‘Cwtch’ community.

"We are urging our readers and the whole of Wales to support us in the bid to win the award and are asking that everyone votes for us. We want to fly the flag for Wales and put the Welsh wedding market on the map."

To vote for Cwtch The Bride to win ‘Best Wedding Blog’ log on the Cosmopolitan website and enter into the blog awards section. Cwtch the Bride is in section eight.