Newly Engaged…? Let’s start from the beginning…
Happy New Year treasures! I hope you all had a truly wonderful Christmas break…? We certainly did, but I’m secretly very happy to be back in Coco HQ! There’s only so much cheese and mulled wine one can consume. Oh, and there’s also the temptation of a brand spanking new 2015 diary to fill! Anyone else got the new year ‘stationary’ excitement…?
Now, if you’re new to Coco and have found your way onto these pretty pages in the last few days then that can only mean one thing… You’re ENGAGED!
Congrats on your fabulous festive news and welcome to Coco Wedding Venues. We’re absolutely the right place to start your wedding planning adventure, so give yourselves a pat on the back.
That thing you’re feeling right now, a mixture of being a little bit giddy and a whole lot of daunted… Yep that, well it’s totally normal… Trust me! I still feel like a newlywed myself, but truth is that I said my vows on a hot summers day back in 2013. I still can’t quite believe I’m his wife and each time I catch a glimpse of my husband’s wedding ring I get butterflies.
So back to you, are you taking your time before the planning commences…? Or are you desperate to rush out and buy that first wedding magazine…? If you’re the latter (and I certainly was!) than you may want to put the breaks on and take some time to really think about the kind of wedding you both want. Small or large…? Winter or summer…? Traditional or, ummm, not…?
There’s a lot to consider, but your first point on that to-do-list is without doubt the Wedding Venue. Your venue choice and style of wedding will influence your whole day – from the fashion, to the food, right through to the entertainment.
It’s at this very first step that I want to help!
So, let me show you around Coco Wedding Venues and spark some inspiration, but first you may want to pin this little reminder and bookmark the epicness that you’re about to read below…
From top to bottom; Almonry Barn – Image by Naomi Kenton Photography. Axnoller – Image courtesy of the venue. The Penn – Image by Mister Phill. The Bell in Ticehurst – Image courtesy of the venue. Event Space at Paintworks – Image by Marshal Gray Photography. River Cottage – Image by Helen Lisk Photography.
About coco
Coco Wedding Venues is a beautiful style focused wedding venue directory and it was founded in 2013 by me, Emma Hla. I married my (rather gorgeous) husband Mark that Summer – you can read more about us in The Coco Story if you so fancy, including our engagement story featured on Rock My Wedding!
Now, whilst I loved every minute of the wedding planning journey I have a confession to make… We fell at the first hurdle – the wedding venue search.
Image by Horseshoe Photography.
Our natural first step was to search the internet, but the wedding venue websites we came across didn’t excite and inspire us. I’m obsessed with style, stories and of course the pretty but nothing seemed to capture this for me. The functionality of these search tools also frustrated me – surely, I thought, this wedding planning lark should be fun…?
Wedding blogs on the other-hand are full of inspiration and there are plenty of beautiful blogs out there! But, there wasn’t one that focused purely on that first step of the journey. I wanted to merge the functionality of a venue search tool with the stylish wedding inspiration found on my beloved blogs, so I took it upon myself to create a Wedding Venue Directory for the couples wanting something a little bit different – something bespoke, cool and luxe.
So Coco Wedding Venues was founded…
The Coco Mission
My personal mission is to provide you with a stylish directory of pretty and unique wedding venues…
You can search for your wedding venue using six simple style categories – Bohemian Beats, Rustic Romance, Modern Vintage, Classic Elegance, City Chic and Coastal Cool.
Peruse these style categories to find inspiration, or simply use the region and venue type filters to get to the nitty gritty. Either way, you will find venues that will suit you, the stylish, discerning couple.
It’s all rather sexy…
the coco collection
Our wedding venues are all handpicked by yours truly, so we know we are recommending only the best. Each venue must have something unique, beautiful and that little something extra to offer, whether that’s gorgeous grounds, a fabulous in-house team or stories steeped in history.
Below are a few gorgeous specimens from our beautiful Coco Collection… From cool city spaces through to remote and romantic hidden gems. Just click through on the images to go straight to the wedding venue listings.
Coco Collection ft. (from top to bottom) Caswell House – Image by Rhys Parker Photography. On the 7th – Image courtesy of the venue. Fetcham Park – Image by Eddie Judd Photography. Larmer Tree – Image by Lisa Dawn. The Gallivant – Image courtesy of the venue. Kenton Hall Estate – Image by Alexa Loy.
simple yet beautiful inspiration
Coco Wedding Venues is here to inspire you, the Bride & Groom, on your first steps…
We inspire not only through the venue search tool but also through the Coco Blog which we use to share style inspiration, editorials, real weddings, fabulous suppliers and of course our beautiful collection of venues. Also… to keep things personal you may find the odd post with my own ramblings, finds, home decor and travels!
Coco is responsive across the board so whether you’re on your venue hunting mission or just fancy browsing the blog, you’ll find it super easy yet beautiful on all of your devices!
real weddings & styled shoots
This year we will continue to feature beautiful real weddings held at the venues in the Coco Collection… If you are getting married at a venue featured on Coco Wedding Venues or indeed have found your perfect wedding venue on these pretty pages then we want to know!
We would love to feature your wedding on the Coco Blog – I remember being very excited when I came across my own venue featured on a wedding blog and it helped to shape my own day. So what better way to help Brides and Grooms by sharing gorgeous real-life inspiration!
Real Wedding of Rebecca & David at Narborough Hall Gardens, Image by Katherine Ashdown Photography.
We also love to share styled shoots at our wedding venues, showcasing not only the location but the fabulous local suppliers that work with our venues. Styled shoots are wonderful sources of inspiration when planning the look and vibe of your wedding!
With this in mind, Coco also creates, designs and styles editorial shoots that fit our own style focused aesthetics – all shot on location at our wedding venues. Our shoots have been featured in some of the most incredible online and print bridal resources such as Rock My Wedding, Love My Dress, Bridal Musings, Wedding Flowers & Accessories and Perfect Wedding Magazine.
There’s so much more to come to come on this front in 2015 – we promise! But, why not check out all of the styled shoots we’ve featured so far here.
Modern Vintage Styled Shoot at Iscoyd Park, as featured on Love My Dress. Image by Rebecca Goddard Photography.
articles to read on coco
To get a feel for the website and all that we offer why not take a little trip through the below suggested articles;
The 2015 Wedding Trend Report | Rather pretty wedding inspiration for this year and beyond.
Coco’s Search Tips | A comprehensive guide to your Wedding Venue search – with questions to asks and helpful tips!
Suppliers We Love | Our personal list of fabulous wedding suppliers we love!
Bespoke Venue Search | Need more help with your wedding venue hunt…? We can help with our one-on-one service.
Wedding Planning Tips | The basics all laid out thanks to Wedding Planner Katrina Otter.
Events Diary | Start planning your 2015 calendar with these fabulous wedding events!
Stay in touch
You can find Coco on the usual social networks… Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest.
Come and say hello / follow / like (and all that jazz) so that you are kept up to date with the latest venue offerings, industry events and inspiration posts! You can also find my contact details here if you want to get in touch and say hello!
So that’s Coco Wedding Venues – I do hope we get to help you along the way. Enjoy this time you newly-engaged love birds… It’s just the best!
Oh and for those of you who have been with us a while, you may be needing this!
Image by Jade Osborne Photography.
Lots of love…