The revival of this thread reminds me that I have been having a fruitful time with 'Family Notices' on the national archive. One section of my family were upmarket enough (lawyers, saddlers, wine merchants, that sort of thing) to announce BMDs in the regional press. They don't actually say much but can be great for those (usually early 19c) marriages where the church records give very little info, and you're not sure from the church record who the parties were.