A Q&A – How One Wedding Venue is Responding to Covid-19
Today, we turn our focus to one of our beautiful venue members for a Q&A about how the current situation is affecting their Devonshire wedding venue and how they are actively supporting their couples through this difficult time.
Over to Sarah at Coombe Trenchard…
What impact has coronavirus had on you as a wedding venue?
Coombe Trenchard has had to provide additional support and work closely with each confirmed wedding booking we had within our diary for the spring and early summer of 2020 – postponing each wedding to an alternative date later in the year, or seeking mutually agreeable dates in 2021.
Furthermore, we have seen a noticeable downturn in new wedding enquiry confidence to make plans, and during this period of lockdown, we are of course unable to conduct new enquiry showrounds and meetings in person.
How you are supporting couples who are immediately having to postpone their weddings?
We totally understand how distressing this sudden change of circumstances is for couples whose wedding simply cannot go ahead. And we have a duty of care and carry huge responsibility for our couples special day – a day that has been a long time in the making. In these unprecedented times, we simply have to be there for them, and offer our support in as many ways possible.
As soon as we knew the impact of Covid-19 within the UK wedding industry, we took it upon ourselves to contact each couple booked with us for this year to assure them of our support, of our due diligence as a private country house wedding venue, whilst at the same time inviting them to talk to us further about how we could overcome any changes to their wedding plans together.
Thankfully, we have been able to successfully transfer each booking affected so far to a new date, which is a great relief to everyone. I guess you could say that the flexibility we have been able to demonstrate is one of the merits of booking a venue that only takes on a limited number of weddings a year.
Any advice for couples who are yet to start planning their wedding?
I’d like to wholeheartedly encourage any couples just starting out with their wedding planning experience to go for it! Do not let this time of uncertainty tarnish your dreams. Use your days wisely to enjoy researching and exploring all the exciting options available to you, and take advantage of this quieter time in house for most venues by scheduling virtual chats and showrounds. Ask to watch past wedding footage, wedding blog features and testimonials for inspiration.
This digital age should continue to serve wedding planning appetites well, and at the very least, facilitate a preliminary connection with the venues and suppliers you like, until exciting real visits and meetings can start up again.
Don’t be afraid to ask a venue what measures they are taking to support new wedding enquiries and new booking opportunities in the wake of Covid-19. You are bound to feel cautious about your wedding budget and personal cash flow, and your commitment to booking a wedding date far ahead in the future. A venue of merit, should be able to put your mind at ease with some practical and positive solutions about this, demonstrating their support from the outset.
How have you decided to support future couples looking at Coombe Trenchard?
We have just released a blog post to highlight what we are doing to warmly welcome new couples during this unsettling time, which we hope will provide some practical and positive rays of hope to anyone urgently seeking a venue for 2021 due to Covid-19 cancellations, whilst also giving those who are about to start delving into the wonderful world of wedding planning some greatly appreciated flexibility and confidence.
Venue Coombe Trenchard
Photography Clare Kinchin Photography
Bride’s Dress Needle & Thread
Headpiece Kye Tew Jewellery
Shoes Rachel Simpson Shoes
Groom’s Attire The Vintage Suite Hire Company and Mrs Bow Tie
Bridesmaids John Lewis and Blanche in the Brambles
Florist Brompton Bud
Cake Edible Essence
Stationery (and also Bride!) Knots & Kisses
Hair Stylist and Makeup Artist Giselle at The Event Studios
Tipi World Inspired Tents
Styling and Décor Virginias Vintage Hire, Cybels Vintage Hire, West Country Wedding Planner, Best Day Ever and The Prop Factory
Support During this Time
Additional availability for 2021 now available
Coombe Trenchard have increased the total number of wedding bookings they accept annually. The new booking opportunities will apply to Spring, Summer and early Autumn 2021 dates, to enable couples urgently seeking a venue for next year to place an enquiry in confidence, instead of being turned away.
A discounted and flexible phase of booking payments
To support couples whose wedding budgets and personal cash flow during this difficult time, Coombe Trenchard have decided to reduce the deposit amount they require to secure a new booking by 50% – and we will run this discounted scheme for the duration of 2020.
Thereafter, we will also offer a staggered phase of final balance payments should couples prefer to spread the cost of their venue hire fees.
Embracing virtual ways to keep the conversation & the support flowing
During these times of isolation, Coombe Trenchard are pleased to use various digital platforms to communicate with their couples. For anyone wishing to have an initial wedding venue chat please email the team directly to book in an appointment.