We Are Four! A 2017 Round Up
Four years ago today we pushed 6 months of hardwork and 50 curated venues live for someone to hopefully see! Well see (and like!) they did and it’s honestly been such a fabulous journey being on this online start-up ride.
2017 has been quite big for us as we spent half the year rebranding and re-building these pages – all for your venue viewing pleasure!
It’s been amazing hearing the feedback and we just love it when our venues tell us that couples have found it super easy to use. Wedding Planning is tricky enough so I’m rather chuffed we’ve managed to strip things back to offer a gorgeously visual site whilst creating a superior user-experience.
It’s around this time we usually start to look forward to the upcoming festivities! It’s the only time of year we take a blogging break and I always use this time to reflect and make new goals. My goals for this year were simple – to grow and rebrand. I wanted to reach more brides, to showcase more beautiful venues and to ensure the brand continues to reflect me, our venues and ultimately the couples who choose to use Coco Wedding Venues.
When the New Year hits we’ll be working on something pretty big for couples and I’m hoping to share some news on this in early January! I’m also really excited to build on my wedding venue consultancy and I have two major venue branding projects on the go! Roll on 2018… Eeeek! But, we’ll never be distracted. This little space will continue to be the most inspiring wedding venue directory out there! Promise.
As it’s our birthday post, I’ve rounded up 10 of my favourite blog posts that reflect what our website is all about. We have advice pieces from our lovely experts, real love stories, wedding inspiration, supplier love and beautiful venues, obvs! If you’ve just got engaged and found us then this is a great feature to start with…
Before I go, I just want to say a BIG thank you to everyone who has been a part of our story this year. But mostly, I want to send a big virtual hug to our couples, I’ve shed many a happy tear this year seeing your wedding photos. Just being a small part of your big day love story is pretty darn cool.
Wild Bohemia at Godwick Great Barn
Wild Bohemia; full of natural, unruly beauty. For those free spirited brides and boys who dream of walking bare-foot up the aisle on battered Persian rugs. Styled outside in the untouched setting of Godwick, Norfolk, the shoot was a collaboration of suppliers from The Most Unusual Wedding Fair held last November. Read more…
Weekend Weddings on Private Estates: The Pocketful of Dreams Guide
I am constantly seeking out those really special and rare venues and locations for my clients to host their weddings. Places that allow them to create a truly immersive experience for their guests, where they can transport them to somewhere magical and give them a once-in-a-lifetime adventure.
Usually this experience is one that goes beyond just the wedding day itself, as invited guests are often dotted all around the world and as such have to travel to attend. My couples realise that time is so precious and when you are inviting friends and family to travel from afar, spoiling them with a wedding weekend is the perfect way to express your gratitude. Read more…
The Garden at Narborough Hall
The beautiful June styled styled shoot is inspired by the 17th Century poem ‘The Garden’ by Andrew Marvell.
The poem describes a nymph taking a sensual walk through an abundant garden filled with birdsong, flowers and shady mossy walks. Set in an ancient watery landscape with gentle streams, misty lake, woods and parkland, Narborough Hall has exactly the right atmosphere and sense of place for this shoot. The garden is organic and sensual and its plants are either edible, scented or therapeutic. It is a space with secrets, an abundance of fruit, flowers and lush greenery. Read more…
A ‘Home Tour’ of Elmore Court
Elmore Court was one of our precious founding partners and we absolutely love them for all their brilliant support. Plus you guys can’t get enough of them and their seriously cool venue in the Gloucestershire countryside.
Elmore Court, which first opened its doors in November 2013 as an exclusive use party and wedding venue, has completed its second phase of development. The accommodation capacity for overnight guests has now doubled and the additional rooms include an alternative master suite, as well as a unique ‘Bridal Prep Pad’ in the former Coach House. Read more…
Starting the Search for the Dress
So we know that you can totally rock research AND you know just where to look because you’ve here on Coco!
The Bridal Edit is the name you need to know to get inspired for your wedding day look. We’re all about bridal fashion so check out our handpicked edit of designers by style or brand, view the current collections (and guideline pricing for budget brilliance) and basically boss your research from the word go.
Rebecca & Darren’s Caswell House Wedding
I’m completely in love with this super chic, black tie wedding at the glorious Caswell House in Oxfordshire. Naomi Kenton’s photography has captured Rebecca & Darren’s big day in all it’s elegant rustic glory. In short, I’m in wedding heaven. Read more…
The 2018 Wedding Trend Report
It’s that time of year again – the annual Coco & Kat collaborative Wedding Trend Report is here!
This year you’re in for a mammoth trending treat with not 1, not 10 but 18 jam packed wedding trend predictions!
So, a little re-cap… In 2017 we coveted everything from greenery (before PANTONE announced their colour of the year 2017 #justsaying!) to shades of nude, commissioned illustrations to poly(methyl methacrylate)… aka acrylic and perspex. Several of these turned out to be BIG news in 2017 and will continue to be trending well into 2018 and beyond. Read more…
The Siren’s Song
I’m very much drawn to the rugged coastlines that we’re so fortunate to have in the UK. Whether it’s the tall swaying grass of the dunes in Sussex, the dramatic cliffs of Dorset or the stretches of sand in Northumberland – I love them all. So when I discovered The Great Terrace at Clovelly Court, in Clovelly Village Devon, with it’s own pebble beach and stunning quay vista I knew this would be the perfect place for a sea-inspired shoot. Read more…
Being Present On Your Wedding Day
If you read one thing today, make it this.
A really rather beautiful and honest piece from Tamryn Lawrence, Celebrant behind Wild & Oak, about being present on your wedding day. You’ll hear it time and time again from those who know, the day will be over before you even know it. So how to take it all in, how to be present, how to make sure those memories last? Read more…
Hiring a Wedding Planner – Who, What, Why, When & Where
This award-winning planner has the most incredible vision but her skills are firmly rooted in the logistics, schedules and spreadsheets that are the backbone of your wedding day. Planning a wedding can be quite a daunting process and for some couples this might be the very first (and only!) time they try to organise such a big event. If you’re finding yourself a little lost right now then this feature is perfect for you as Kat will be taking you through the 5 w’s of hiring a Wedding Planner – who, what, why, when & where.
We hope this post offers some guidance about what Wedding Planners do and if their services are something you feel you require, we’ve also included links to some of our absolute faves for you to research. Read more…