Small Weddings at Coombe Trenchard - Sarah's 'Petite & Beautiful' solution to Wedding Planning SOS for 2021

As Autumn unfolds here at Coombe Trenchard, and the Covid-19 pandemic remains very much at large, we’re reaching out to wedding couples already booked with us - and to new couples too, to help those who may feel they’ve lost their way when it comes to the plans for their wedding…

Now more than ever, we are here to share a positive, happy, hopeful conversation - and to offer a ray of wedding planning light, paired with calm and dedicated support.

We know the turmoil that surrounds the wedding industry is creating waves of worry and sorrow for everyone involved, casting a shadow over what should be the best time ever.

Having spoken to many engaged couples over the last 6 months, we’ve listened carefully to how some are beginning to feel stuck in the never ending cycle of postponement after postponement.

And yet one thing is becoming clear… love and life has to go on - and if restrictions dictate a small yet beautifully formed wedding, so be it.

So next week, we launch a new ‘Petite & Beautiful’ wedding opportunity at Coombe Trenchard, to help 2021 wedding couples rise out of the fog, and achieve a stunning small wedding day, sooner rather than later.

Furthermore, we’ll be pleased to offer couples the chance to book a celebration party with their wider circle of family & friends at a much later date too - if a full and fabulous celebration remains an absolute must.

Our newly designed wedding solution will we hope, carve out a positive way forward for us as a venue, and for couples feeling really stuck.

Below Sarah answers a few key questions for those considering a ‘Petite & Beautiful’ wedding at Coombe Trenchard, enabling couples to understand how this new weddings opportunity will operate as a breathe of fresh air, at this incredibly difficult time.

Q: How many guests are we allowed within our small wedding to qualify for the ‘Petite & Beautiful’ package?

A: The minimum number for the package can really be just the two of you as the couple. We’d be thrilled to act as your witnesses for the marriage ceremony, and it would be our pleasure to welcome and host you discreetly throughout your time here at Coombe Trenchard.

The maximum number of people we can include within the package is 30 guests, the total number of which, should include you as a couple, but not our immediate suppliers or staff.

Q: Is the ‘Petite & Beautiful’ package available to be booked on any date and at any time?

A: We’ve designed the package to provide a stunning solution for couples (and ourselves as a venue) finding their wedding plans for 2021 in crisis.

A ‘Petite & Beautiful’ wedding at Coombe Trenchard is an opportunity for relatively short lead wedding enquiries, or weddings that find themselves having to rethink all of their plans.

Either way, it’s a wedding booking solution no further ahead than 12 months at any one time to be safe and sensible during a time when so much remains unknown.

The package is a mid-week wedding solution in the main, with weekend enquiries potentially considered, subject to our availability and discretion.

Enquiries for a mid-week ‘Petite & Beautiful’ wedding booking in 2022 may also be considered, under exceptional circumstances, however I do ask couples to be aware that prices quoted as far ahead as 2022 could be subject to a nominal increase in line with inflation, and to ensure our overheads for the inclusive package are fully covered.

Q: What does a ‘Petite & Beautiful’ wedding opportunity at Coombe Trenchard include?

A: Our digital brochure holds a full and detailed explanation of every detail we will take care of and organise beautifully for you. We’ve worked hard to ensure everything you could possibly wish for has been included, leaving you as carefree as possible to simply drink in the day.

Whilst we cannot reasonably unpick elements from the package, do rest assured we would pleased to consider organising any additional elements, that may be important to you for a tailor made experience.

Q: How much does a Petit & Beautiful Wedding at Coombe Trenchard cost

A: The package pricing starts at £3000 inc VAT. Precise costs will be dictated by your chosen number of guests, and the dates in which you’d like to consider marrying.

Weekend dates will nearly always carry an additional fee due to increased demand for the limited number of wedding dates we offer as a private country house estate each year.

Each booking is subject to individual quotation.

Q: How can we talk to you, visit you, and find out more?

A: I can be available via video call for an initial conversation if time is of the essence. Furthermore, we also have a series of Coombe Trenchard IGTV videos and links we can share with you by way of a virtual tour if you happen to be based a distance from Devon.

And of course if you’d like to visit us in person, I would love to welcome you personally for a show round.

Whilst weddings like never before are being forced to happen right now, Coombe Trenchard can help you have a small but incredibly beautifully formed wedding to exceed expectation - putting your love and your happiness where it belongs, back on the agenda.

To arrange a discussion in person, or via video call, to receive our ‘Petite & Beautiful’ wedding brochure, or to ask me any further questions at all, please feel free to get in touch with me by emailing sarah@coombetrenchard.co.uk or by telephoning 01566 783179.

Images within this blog and our ‘Petite & Beautiful’ weddings brochure with grateful thanks to Clare Kinchin Photography, Venetia Norrington, Luna Weddings, Lucy Wallace Photography, Fizz Photography, Freckle Photography, McKenzie-Brown, Liberty Pearl and Alexa Poppe.

A note from Coombe Trenchard during these unsettling Covid-19 days

When we made the difficult decision to begin postponing events here at Coombe Trenchard 10 weeks ago, I'm not sure any of us were able to really grasp or appreciate just how much Covid-19 would alter life as we knew it, leaving no stone unturned. 

And whilst this virus has given each and every one of us huge personal and professional challenges - with many lives sadly lost and livelihoods seriously compromised - mother nature has been thriving quietly and calmly every day, reminding us that we can and will thrive again too.

The garden wildlife, promising green shoots and beautiful blooms have certainly helped to sooth our sorrows here, as we've been forced to slow down to take each day as it comes… with the vivid blue sky, warm sunshine and family bonds a blessing beyond measure. 

This weekend we, like many festival organisers and venues, should have been opening our gates to welcome exhibitors and visitors in their thousands from all corners of the South West for the 9th year of our much loved English Country Garden Festival. And what a time it would have been sharing the most exciting collective of exhibitors we've ever had with our growing audience and show supporters in this glorious sunshine.

If you haven't already done so, we’d love you to save the date for our 2021 Festival, which will take place on the 5th and 6th of June next year. An event for us all to look forward to.

Of course we should also be sharing Coombe Trenchard with wedding couples and their chosen guests, with our popular garden and house tour visitors, and our supper club followers too - and yet for now Coombe Trenchard sits quietly this summer, holding us tight, as we stay safe, well, and positive.

We greatly miss the buzz of welcoming guests and visitors, and we are missing all the celebrations of summer that should be unfolding right now through the unique and special events perfectly placed at Coombe Trenchard.

But we are, and will continue to be patient. And we have, and will continue to work closely with our wedding couples, our festival exhibitors, our supporters, and our greatly valued country house community to get through this.

We cannot wait to open our gates again when it is safe and right to do so. And when we do, the wait will be worth it. Happy times will be savoured again amongst the beauty of our historic walls and gardens, of that we remain hopeful.

Until then, perhaps you might like to enjoy a carefree moment by visiting us virtually via one of my IGTV videos, or by clicking this link to our short film on you tube.

New enquiries and any questions regarding an existing or new Coombe Trenchard event opportunity or visit remain welcome to get in touch with me at any time. It will be my pleasure to hear from you.

Take care,

Sarah x

Images with thanks to Claire Kinchin, Venetia Norrington and My Little Eye.

Lauren & Matts Wedding Planning Blog ~ part 5

A final blog post from Lauren, before this beautiful couple hold their September wedding at Coombe Trenchard.

Counting down the days to wedded bliss

With now less than 5 weeks to go everything is beginning to fall into place and is feeling so real! We have counted down the weekends we have left and each one is jam packed with something meaning we have no time left to do anything more, so we just have to have complete trust in our planning so far and hope that it will all come together perfectly on the day – with a huge hand from Sarah, who we know will make sure every detail is accommodated (she’s been amazing for this!).

We are also spending time over the next few weeks wearing in shoes, practicing our first dance, and hand making all the last little bits for the day.

The 'wedding planning room' at home has spanned so far out I had to have a sit down and sort out last week to remember all the things we have got! It was so exciting going through things knowing the next time they are unpacked will be the night before the wedding.

We have had nearly all the final appointments with our suppliers, and have settled the final balances with most of them too, which has been such a huge relief as we know now that anything we have extra can go towards the honeymoon - Yippee!

We have booked with Kuoni, and cannot wait for our amazing trip - 3 nights in Bangkok and then off to enjoy the beaches of Thailand for a week!

Our honeymoon will follow on straight after the wedding which will be fantastic as we carry the motion of the day on into the most amazing holiday of our lives!

After our wedding and honeymoon it will be back to reality with no planning left to do – which will feel really strange! I actually don’t know how I will get on not having something to make every week or contacting people to arrange appointments - although from the amazing people we have met throughout our planning, I am pretty sure I will be in touch with them afterwards.

For example, Kimberly at Changing Faces has been brilliant - Mum and I had our trial for makeup and hair last week and it was just lovely being pampered and trying out different styles and choices. I didn’t really have a specific idea of what I wanted which I thought might make it difficult but I think if you choose a supplier who really knows their stuff, and takes the time to understand you, they can guide you easily. This is exactly what Kimberly did and I was so happy with the results. And it was so special sharing this time with my mum as well, who also looked beautiful!

Neither Matt nor I can wait now for everything that we have planned to come together. The countdown is well and truly on, and I will be sure to write a blog with lots of pictures from the day - our wedding day at Coombe Trenchard (!!) - only next time I'll be signing off as Mrs Lauren West!