It’s Our 1st Birthday…

Happy Birthday to me… Happy Birthday to me… Happy Birthday dear Coco! You get the idea.

Yep, we’re ONE today! Toot toot!

On 5th December 2013, the full Coco Wedding Venues directory launched.

In celebration of actually reaching this fairly important business milestone, the boy and I are off on a mini-weekend away to the big smoke. Filled with obligatory cocktails, possibly a show and some festive shopping, I’m quite looking forward to some time away to take stock of the last year and get into the Christmas spirit!

To celebrate turning one, I’ve also rounded up 10 fave blog posts that sum up what Coco Wedding Venues is all about. We have advice pieces from our lovely experts, real love stories, wedding inspiration, supplier love and beautiful venues, of course! Obviously there’s a whole bunch of folks who have helped Coco get to where it is today and it’s these lovely people that continue to support me, drive me and inspire me to ensure Coco Wedding Venues remains a pretty special place for Brides and Grooms-to-be.

To start this little one year blog round-up, were going right back to the beginning with my very first blog post. Eeeek!

Enjoy…

Credits

Image One by Horseshoe Photography. Image Two by Debs Ivelja. Image Three – credits in post. Image Four by Rebecca Goddard Photography. Image Five by Erich McVey and Christie Graham Photography. Image Six by Fanni Williams. Image Seven by Katherine Ashdown Photography. Image Eight by Rebecca Goddard Photography. Image Nine by Especially Amy. Image Ten by Anneli Marinovich Photography.

# 1 The Coco Story

Goodness… I’m excited. I guess I should firstly say welcome to the Coco Wedding Venues blog! I think to kick things off it would probably be appropriate to introduce who I am and what I’m doing here in this beautiful world of weddings… So folks… Ready…? Then I shall begin… Read More.

# 2 Coco’s Venue Search Tips

So you’re engaged… Congratulations lovelies! Know what you’re doing…? No…? Ummm… I didn’t either. Once the festivities of the initial engagement news have fizzled, the next big question on everyone’s lips will be when and where will the big day take place…? Yep folks it’s time to get to the nitty gritty of actually planning your wedding… Read More.

# 3 The 2015 Wedding Trend Report

Trends… Whether you follow them or not, they happen all the same. Some people like to avoid the whole wedding trends discussion, wanting to bring us right back to how it should reflect the couple, be about the love between two people and sharing the day with friends and family. This is all absolutely correct and I wholeheartedly agree with each and every one of these sentiments. However, if like me, you feel all of the above and more but also love to gaze at the new emerging interior trends, the latest colours and shapes hitting the high-street and have a wish list of current coveted pieces as long as your arm, then this feature is most probably for you… Read More.

# 4 Coco Editorial – A New Beginning

A New beginning was inspired by early, fresh spring days with a slightly moody edge. When the air is thick with dew and the days are breathing hope. Katrina, my co-stylist, and I wanted rustic, idyllic and organic elements within a soft pretty palette of duck egg blues, dark luscious greens and creamy whites. Rebecca Goddard, our Photographer, captured our vision perfectly in an array of delicate dream-like images… Read More.

# 5 coastal cool Colour Palette

I dream of the seaside… Not necessarily the kiss-me-quick, candy floss and fair-ground kind of seaside… nope. I’m more the raw coastlines and haunting whispers on the sea breeze kind of girl. Living in Brighton, my absolute favourite time of year is just as the autumn air starts to fall and the tourists have packed up their buckets and spades. The vast space and beauty of the beach leaves me breathless and full all at the same time. It’s this emotion that I wanted to capture in today’s chic yet wistful nautical wedding inspiration… Read More.

# 6  Jonny & Claire’s Wedding at Pembroke Lodge

Today we have a wedding at one of the first Coco venues I ever visited – The beautiful Pembroke Lodge, in the heart of Richmond Park. Imagine a picture perfect house, basking in the August summer haze, with far-reaching views across London… This was to be the setting for Jonny & Claire’s big day. Claire describes their wedding day as personal, creative and handmade, and folks, I simply can’t wait to share their story… Read More.

# 7 A Guide to Wedding Planning

Wedding Planning. It’s a big job. But with a few simple broken-down steps, it can feel like a breeze… Promise! So, to help you on your wedding planning way, we have the rather gorgeous Kat from Katrina Otter Weddings & Events making another cameo appearance, this time with her guide on this hot subject! Kat’s given you her run down of where to starts, what to dos and what to considers! Oh and I’ve created a pretty (pinnable!) Cheat Sheet for you to refer back to over your wedding planning journey… Read More.

# 8 The Bespoke Venue Search

For those of you with eagle eyes then you may have spotted our nifty new menu bar appear above in all it’s new shiny glory. I promise this post gets a lot (ok, a bit) more interesting. A few weeks in the designing and making, we’ve stripped the menu right back to create a clean user experience that easily guides you through our website. No fuss, no confusion. There are also some exciting new additions coming to the website later this year, but right now, I want to introduce you to our newly launched Bespoke Venue Search service for both the Brides & Groom and the Wedding Industry… Read More.

# 9 Loved by Coco

It’s Loved by Coco time and once again it’s just all so, so pretty! I found and fell in love with Especially Amy (Amy Murrell) when I saw her wedding photography at The Rectory. I simply had to drop her a note. So now, not only will you find Amy’s work in several of our venue galleries but you will also find her on our brand new Supplier Love List on the directory. Yep, we’re big fans here, so today it’s so lovely to share the story of Amy, her wanderlust bug and her love for big day details… Read More.

# 10 Millbridge Court Launch

I feel super lucky to be one of only a few people who saw this brand new wedding venue in it’s raw state. With high-vis vests on and a coffees in hand, Laura {Events Manager} showed me around the beautiful spaces at soon-to-be Millbridge Court. So when I returned one Autumnal evening in October, I was awash with satisfaction at seeing it all come together in a seriously pretty (and practical) fashion. With more than 130 guests in attendance, local suppliers, press and prospective couples were treated to an immersive and visually arresting evening of contemporary styling and exquisite catering… Read More.

Thank you to everyone who is reading this… You’re blinking ace.

Lots of love!