Country House Wedding Venue SOS - how Coombe Trenchard can help couples with their wedding plans in the wake of Covid-19

As the days roll into weeks in the wake of Covid-19 here in the UK, it’s safe to say we are all beginning to realise the immense challenges this unprecedented time is bringing to life as we know it.

Our hearts go out to everyone right now - as we all have no choice but to face the difficulties, the worry and the sadness of this crisis head on.

Many of you will already be aware of the devastating impact this epidemic is having on UK weddings and events - as doors to venues have temporarily closed, marriage ceremonies are postponed, festivals and shows are cancelled, leaving so many wonderful people forced to make radical changes to their plans.

Spring and summer 2020 wedding couples nationwide, their families, friends, and network of amazing South West Wedding suppliers, have watched their plans, designs, and endless efforts for a day that dreams are made of, be abruptly altered. Plans which have been curated with love, joy and excitement in the months, even years leading up to this point.

So what can we, Coombe Trenchard the relatively small private West Devon Country House Wedding Venue do to help couples whose wedding plans are in jeopardy?

The Coombe Trenchard team and I have brainstormed - with kindness, flexibility and personal attention to detail at the forefront of everything we do here - and we hope the following measures (which are available with immediate effect) will provide a positive and practical ray of hope to couples as together we stand strong and weather this storm.

Additional availability for 2021 now available

As of today, Philip and I have taken the decision to increase the total number of wedding bookings we accept annually, by way of releasing additional booking dates within our private events diary. 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 with us 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, we have decided to reduce the deposit amount we 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

I’m fortunate to have access to (and be able to use!) a number of digital communication tools which I enjoy using to stay in touch my family and friends from all corners of the world. And in these times of isolation, I will be pleased to use these digital platforms for our wedding business too.

So for anyone wishing to have an initial wedding venue chat via skype or facetime to begin establishing a connection with Coombe Trenchard - to find out more about us, to explore our availability and the beautiful spaces, props, services and wedding planning support we just love to share - feel free to email me to schedule in a virtual meeting.

Sowing the seeds of love

And finally, for those who haven’t yet watched our new film, below is a link for you to do so via our You Tube channel. I invite you to sit quietly for a moment, and enjoy being temporarily transported to our very special West Devon estate as I share an insight into the story of Coombe Trenchard.

I’ll let you into a little secret… I’m not a natural in front of the camera at all, so this film took a lot of patience, and many many edits. Enormous thanks to Will and Nell for working so patiently with us to create the finished film, which we all love, are very proud of, and is a beautiful reminder that happy days will return again.

Take care & keep well,

Sarah x

Image credits

Wedding & Grounds: Clare Kinchin Photography

Weddings at Coombe Trenchard ~ Our pledge to couples since we began sharing our home

The beginning of a new year is an incredibly exciting time for engaged couples.

From the blissfully dizzy heights of marriage proposal, to the realisation of actual wedding plans - with lots of venue hunting, idea swooning and supplier shopping all to be done in between - and all in the name of love - your most exciting union…

It is safe to say that we absolutely adore sharing our home and our gardens with couples, their families and their chosen guests to create an idyllic day - the day of dreams.

“Our special spot in the West of Devon, lends itself so beautifully to making the very best of memories - it is one of the reasons we fell in love with Coombe Trenchard ourselves 11 years ago when it became our home.”

Since then, we’ve hosted two of our own family weddings and so many wonderfully memorable occasions here, before we opened our doors and started to share Coombe Trenchard with a selected number of seasonal booking opportunities which includes weddings, for they just work so well here.

“Wedding bookings at Coombe Trenchard are exclusive and limited in number - as we set aside no more than a handful of dates each year for others to enjoy the happiest of times in our home.”

Our decision to take on a limited number of bookings each year assures the highest personal attention to detail, and a unique and extra special experience for each couple that falls in love with our location, and feels connected and ‘at home’ in our home.

We love to host events, and to really look after our guests, and our pledge to not ‘pile the bookings high means our product and our service will always be delivered with focus, energy, style and un-interrupted grace - giving everyone perfect peace of mind, and our couples the chance to take in every magical moment of their Coombe Trenchard wedding.

Of course no two weddings are ever the same, and nor should they be…

Those seeking a venue for an elaborate two day weekend summer celebration - are most welcome to get in touch. And those planning their day in an entirely different fashion, with fewer guests…or even marrying mid-week - are also welcome to get in touch too!

“Our space is flexible, our experience is plentiful, nothing will be too much trouble, and you’ll be in the safest calmest of hands as we guide you through every single detail, and support you every step of the way.”

So what’s the catch? Well there isn’t one really… except that if Coombe Trenchard is the venue for you - you have to book with us quickly before our diary of limited edition dates for each year closes!

We have just a snippet of availability left this summer, and for now our diary is still open for 2020 and 2021. But it won’t be long before our allocated dates for weddings have been secured, of that we are certain.

If you’d like to start exploring Coombe Trenchard’s opportunities for your wedding by casting your gaze over our wedding brochure and indicative wedding price guide, or by asking me any questions you may have - do get in touch by clicking here.

My heartfelt thanks to Kelly and James who married at Coombe Trenchard last year - it is their images I have shared with you throughout this blog post, all captured beautifully by Elizabeth Armitage.

Happy happy happy new year everyone - I have a feeling it is going to be quite marvellous, especially for our 2019 couples.

Sarah x

sarah@coombetrenchard.co.uk

01566 783179

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!