Lauren & Matt's Wedding Planning Blog - Part 3

December 13, 2017Sarah Marsh3 Comments

With the Christmas build up well and truly upon us, we are so excited to share with you part 3 of Lauren & Matts wedding planning blog. For this special Christmas edition, Lauren has handed the pen over to Matt, so we can gain a little insight into planning a wedding from the grooms perspective. Over to you Matt....

So the time has come for the Christmas special, and at the time of writing there are only 13 sleeps until Father Christmas arrives! The time has also come for a non-bride, Bride blog! I should start by saying 'hello' - my name is Matt West and I'm very lucky to say on 1st September 2018, I will be getting married to Lauren in St Peter's Church, before celebrating with our closest family and friends at Coombe Trenchard. Lauren and I really wanted to do something different for this bride blog and give you a different perspective - so here I am coming at things from the Grooms angle.

Lauren and I had been together for just over 6 years when I found the perfect moment to ask Lauren the big question. I always knew that I wanted to ask Lauren in St Ives, as we have so many memories down there - its almost like our second home, away from where we currently are and where we grew up. I kept the buying of the ring to the very last minute to ensure that there was as little time to slip up as possible, however trying to keep it all a secret for the 3 days we were away was exceptionally tough. I think I did a pretty good job, until Lauren asked me to borrow my jacket...with the ring on the inside pocket...on the evening I popped the question, so I'd like to think it was a pretty good, non-surprising surprise!

From the moment we got engaged, I'm confident that Lauren (like most brides out there) had our dream day all lined up in her head. However, I was also pretty confident that I wanted to have as much involvement in planning the day as possible and make it a team effort. As soon as we returned from our trip to Cornwall, Lauren started to get her wedding planning hat on! I knew that Lauren was a super planner but she had everything lined up thanks to the handy BrideBook app, and I think she set herself the task of outperforming the app and beating the recommended timeline!

For me, a wedding is about the two people who are 'tying the knot' and I'd like to think that our day represents what Lauren and I are about really well. We have kept our guest list to the people who mean the most to us from really close friends and family only, and we were certain that we only wanted people along who we would remember in 5 years time (and beyond!). This perfectly represents Lauren and I to a tee, as we are not big showy people either - its all about having a good time, celebrating our relationship so far and getting excited the rest of our lives together.

I can't believe that by the end of 2017 we have all of the 'big' elements of our wedding lined up:

Coombe Trenchard - as soon as we walked around the beautiful venue, we knew that there was no other place that could potentially compare to the atmosphere and surroundings you experience here.
St Peter's Church - a quaint little church just a 5 minute walk down the way from Coombe Trenchard, a perfect size to fit our relatively small wedding party.
Dress and shoes - the only thing I know nothing about (and don't planning on finding out until 2pm on 1st September 2018!)
Bridemaid's dresses - this was definitely the biggest challenge is finding something that suited 3 of Lauren's closest friends.
Suits - something I took the lead on! We have definitely gone traditional with tails and a top hat for me!
Save the dates - a labour of love and an afternoon of painting and stencilling with 2 very excited cats!
Music - an incredible string quartet (Lauren always dreamed of this) and a DJ to play during the evening.
Flowers
Cake - we still have cake tasting still to come...yippee!
Food - what a great way to spend a birthday, we sat out in the gardens of Coombe Trenchard just under a year from the biggest day of our lives testing and sampling our potential wedding breakfast.

1st September 2018 is not that long away, and I have to say that the ride to get to where we are has been enjoyable, and far less stressful than I would have imagined. As a groom, you always hear people talk about the impending threat of a Bridezilla - but I haven't seen anything of the sort and the planning (and food-testing!) has been nothing but enjoyable. Long may it continue for the next 9 months and beyond!

Happy Christmas 2017 -

'So often we become focussed on the finish line we fail to enjoy the journey' (Dieter F Uchtdorf)

Coombe Trenchard's Guide to Wedding Drinks

December 9, 2017Sarah Marsh1 Comment

Alongside delicious food, the drink you serve at your wedding also needs serious thought. Deciding on how much to provide for your guests, what to serve when and how to ensure your decisions compliment your day and food can be a minefield, so Coombe Trenchard wanted to try to make this easier for our bridal couples with a handy blog post.

Our alcohol policy aims to provide both flexibility and budget friendliness for our bridal couples, alongside compliance with our insurance and thoughts of safety for guests and the house alike. Our preferred bar company, Thirst Choice, can provide a very purse-friendly whole day drinks package that can be a hugely beneficial option, especially due to their creativity and flexibility.

Alternatively, bridal couples are permitted to provide their own alcohol for the drinks reception, toasts and wedding breakfast. Whilst able to source and supply this themselves, we highly recommend using Jaded Palates for this due to our wonderful relationship with them and appreciation of their passion and delicious drinks! Jaded Palates will enhance your wedding planning excitement with their contagious joy and enjoyably educational tasting experiences. Providing alcohol at wholesale price on a sale or return basis ensures value for money and stress-free buying. Alongside wines chosen to compliment your menu, you will make treasured memories, receive personal service and benefit from chilled wines being delivered with ease for your Big Day.

Drinks receptions tend to comprise of seasonal treats like Pimms or spiced cider in addition to or instead of some fizz. Depending on your guests, you may also wish to provide some ales or lager alongside this and, of course, think of a soft drink addition (we find Elderflower cordial and sparkling water go down well!). Jugs of water are also important, especially in fair weather. This element of your day will need to be manned – either by a bar company, your caterers or Coombe Trenchard to ensure a safe, clean and well-executed drinks reception. Glassware may be provided by the bar company, caterers or this can be hired in (some supermarkets offer this as a free service).

For your wedding breakfast, you will want to choose wines (or alternatives!) to compliment your menu’s flavours and style. Jaded Palates can help you do this or you are welcome to decide and provide this yourselves or in partnership with your caterers. Your caterers may be able to help you chill and store your wine and provide glassware for you, but this will need to be discussed with them. Most wine is simply added to the tables, but do discuss serving with your chosen caterer also.

During your speeches you may wish to provide something special to toast your wedding! This would normally be prosecco or champagne and will need to be chilled. Flutes would be needed to serve, although you could also use Coombe Trenchard’s vintage collection of champagne saucers (if within the house). Serving will need to be discussed and would normally be undertaken by your caterer if happening after/during your wedding breakfast. If you are wanting to look at alternative options for speeches, we are happy to discuss your own unique plans with you.

In the evening, your bar will need to be manned by a personal license holder in line with our insurance. This would normally be Thirst Choice and could be a free bar or cash bar, depending on your budget. Thirst Choice will work with you to stock the alcohol that you would like them to serve and love to come along to Coombe Trenchard for tasting sessions with you! They will be responsible for your evening party and ensure the safe serving of alcohol. Once Thirst Choice’s bar opens all other alcohol will need to be put away, something your caterers will be aware of. Jaded Palates sale or return policy would be hugely beneficial here and ensures you are only paying for the alcohol you use, and not worrying about running out!

Drinks can be done as simply or as lavishly as you would like (much like weddings!) and we are happy to discuss your requirements and thoughts in much more detail over a cup of tea. Do call or email us to pop you in the diary and ensure a relaxed wedding planning experience at Coombe Trenchard.

You can find out more from our General Information sheet sent at booking (or available upon email request) and by visiting Thirst Choice and Jaded Palates websites.

A Chat with Clare Kinchin Photography

December 2, 2017Sarah MarshComment

How would you describe your business?

I am a creative photographic storyteller, capturing weddings, events and people in a unique and individual way.

What is your favourite thing about being involved in the wedding industry?

CREATIVITY…I feel so inspired by my friends in the wedding industry, either by other awesome photographers or stationers, dress designers and stylists. Its wonderful being surrounded by creative people it adds to my own work and passion to explore new ideas.

Can you describe Coombe Trenchard in three words?

Quirky

Artsy

Relaxed Elegance Erk thats 4 sorry!

What spaces do you find particularly enjoyable to photograph at Coombe Trenchard

I'm an outdoors girl so the wooded area of Coombe Trenchard is a natural draw for me. The dining area with the buffalo skin covered walls is an incredibly sumptuous and interesting backdrop for bridal portraits.

What advise would you offer to couples when choosing their photographer?

Think about your own personal style and choose a photographer that you think could best reflect that, I find a lot of my clients are similar to me, so we click!

My couples often laugh and say they have been stalking my work for the last year. GREAT….do your research.

Try not to make a decision based on budget alone….I know thats tricky as everyone has a budget, but your photographs are with you for a lifetime and longer not just for the day its definitely worth investing.

Arrange a meeting or SKYPE meeting to say hello to your photographer.

Look at complete weddings not just the edited good stuff from a selection of weddings.

Go with your gut feeling its usually right.

Do you recommend having an engagement shoot, and if so, why?

YES,YES, YES, an engagement shoot is such a valuable exercise. Most couples are nervous about being in front of the camera, this is a great way to meet your photographer and find out how it all works, most of my couples actually enjoy the experience and love the photos. I treat engagement shoots a little mini adventures, we head out to a pre planned location and get to know each other and take some pictures at the same time. It leaves you with one less thing to worry about on the day.

What do you feel is important when capturing a wedding day?

Weddings are filled with all sorts of emotions and thats what I look for first and for most. Relationships between couples, family members and friends are amazing to capture and are so important in the storytelling. I love photographing the couple the most but I also work really hard to get an amazing record of your guests enjoying themselves, the details, the venue the environment and your family.

Finally, what excites you most about your job?

Meeting and connecting with people…clients often feel like friends and its actually quite sad when the wedding is over and the albums have been delivered. Im a big believer in PEOPLE and while my industry and its technology is insanely brilliant, I am a people person and being able to deliver images that make my clients cry (in a good way) is the most rewarding part of my job.

We implore you to take a look at some more of Clare's beautiful work on her website here.

Lauren & Matt's Wedding Planning Blog - Part 2

November 9, 2017WeddingsSarah Marsh8 Comments

It’s officially under a year until we get married! Everything is now ‘this will be the last *blank* until we are married!’ I’ve even had my last birthday now as Lauren Meakin – which was actually spent at Coombe Trenchard.

We have been so busy planning; being a Coombe Trenchard Bride means a fantastic list of suppliers to choose from! Sarah & Emily have had on hand every supplier I could have wished for and more. The most incredible experience so far in our wedding planning has to be visiting Sarah, Emily & Thirst Choice on my Birthday (September 11th).

We spent a good few weeks looking over the list of food and drink suppliers, however when we first spoke with Sally and Dave we really felt they got what we wanted, they completely tailored a menu to what we loved and invited us down to see them for a taster at Coombe Trenchard. After we stopped for a birthday coffee and popped into see Tim the vicar (who will be doing our ceremony) we pulled up to be warmly welcomed by Sarah & Emily. It really feels like a second home as it’s already such a huge part of our lives. We were only expecting maybe a doggy bag of food to take away with us for our food tester – but what Sally, Dave & Sarah set up for us was so lovely I couldn’t believe it was for us!

We walked out onto the Italian terrace and we could smell the BBQ cooking, we were completely blown away, we tried literally a cocktail of drinks! They were exactly what we wanted but would have never thought of, including Cider Sangria – and the most incredible pink lemonade! After tasting the drinks Dave brought over the BBQ spread and they kindly left us to it, it was the most beautiful experience. We were sat covered from the rain, overlooking Dartmoor with blankets over our laps eating the most incredible food and drink. The whole time we were buzzing with excitement about how it will feel when we are eating this food on our actual wedding day!

The experience was one to treasure, and we now have our catering in the amazing hands of Thirst Choice and have managed to tick another box off of Emily’s spreadsheet! Along with: string quartet, makeup artist, hairdresser, groom and ushers suits as well as my dress, oh yes, did I forget to mention?

….MY DRESS, I can’t say too much apart from I LOVE IT. I’ll have to leave it at that until after the wedding when I can share some pictures of it– but I have included a sneak peak of me at the Bridal shop ‘Bridal Boutique’ in Street, with the owner Hannah, who again made my experience so memorable. I really have to say as a tip for any bride and groom, people buy people. It’s so true all of the people involved on our wedding journey are people I will stay in touch with after, because they have all helped to create the memories along the way, which I think is just as important as the day itself.

Both Matt & I are on the countdown, the wedding corner is now officially the wedding room and we still have so many more exciting things to plan, our next big milestone will be Christmas and then the start of 2018 – our wedding year! So we will love to keep you updated with a Christmas blog – which might have a little bit of a different feel to it ….

Lauren x

A Chat with The Prop Factory

November 1, 2017Sarah Marsh1 Comment

How would you describe your business?

We mostly make props and furniture out of various things including lots recycled and reclaimed materials. My business is my thought-child. The props on the shelves were once distant musings in my mind then with a small team of prop makers we made them in to real things! I find it hard to think of one single word that sums up everything we hire as it isn’t just props. Our range covers items like giant deckchairs, fairground games, vintage furniture, rustic tables and chairs to a light up and topiary alphabet. I tend to just refer to it as “stuff” as our most common comment is “you have SO much stuff”. The word awesome get used quite a lot too, so I would say to describe our business…. ‘we make awesome stuff to hire’ For 2018 we are going to concentrate mostly on making things for weddings and styling props.

What is your favourite thing about being involved in the wedding industry?

I think it is the wealth of creativity out there. I am so inspired all the time. I look everyday on blogs, social media feeds, in magazines, and talk to people about their weddings. I love styled shoots, that has to be my favourite thing to do. And designing props too, Thinking of an idea that hasn’t been seen in weddings before is hard work as you draw inspiration from what you know already. It is a real challenge to find a new idea that people will LOVE. I have some for 2018 in terms of products – all will be revealed!

Can you describe Coombe Trenchard in three words?

Inviting, versatile and prrrrrretty

What advice would you give to bridal couples wondering how to style their wedding with your props/furniture?

Some people seem to home in on exactly what they want and pick items with a predetermined agenda. Others we find can be a little overwhelmed, and they as to what to choose and what goes with what. If you are looking for inspiration I would say check out our Instagram and Facebook where we feature lots of styled shoots and real weddings. If you find am image you like then use it as a starting point. Just pick what you love! And if you’re stuck I will send ideas, resources and images to help. We have a full-time stylist too, Carys, so you can pop in for a visit and talk to her, she is super creative and very lovely. We’ll make you a cup of tea as well. Just a note, bring a coat in the winter as the warehouse is quite big and doesn’t have heating – our warehouse staff wear ski suits in the winter!

What are your favourite props to deliver to an excited bridal couple?

New props! It is always very special when a new prop first goes out. We used to make all our props on request but it got quite stressful so now we use all our experience and knowledge to guess what people might like to hire for their wedding. When someone hires something for the first time it is like the seal of approval. Our new, un-hired props at the moment are a big gold arch, flower wall, carousel horse sweet stand, rustic arch and lots of little styling bits.

Why do you think props are important for a wedding?

They add personality! No two orders are the same for weddings – we have enough “stuff” so this is true. Each couple compiles an order that reflects their tastes and ideas. They add many different dimensions to their wedding from fun and games, to photo opportunities, unique areas of interest and experiences you’ll remember. A bride and groom sitting in a giant deckchair each sticks our for me! Like tiny little people all dressed up.

What drew you to the world of props?

It was a happy accident. The Prop Factory started as a university project while I was selling cake stands at a pannier market. A couple asked to hire 10 rather than buy them, and so my collection grew. I am now a prop fanatic. Always looking for unique finds, new ways things can be used, never seen before ideas. I am pretty sure I can safely claim two wedding trends I started. The first is ‘hook a duck’ and the second is flowers in Gramophones. About 5 years ago I got asked for a coconut shy for a wedding, which was very novel at the time. So I made one and hired it out. I started to look round for ideas of new manageable fairground games that could be played at weddings. I thought of a few including hook a duck. I was not influenced by pinterest or any wedding image containing hook a duck or similar, only vintage fairground imagery. I remember uploading a picture to Facebook announcing the new hire item and wasn’t met with the reaction I expected. Most of the comments were negative, people saw it and silly and that nobody would want that at a wedding… I ended up deleting the post as I had made me question if I was barking up the wrong tree. I am very glad I decided to keep it, as we now have 6 hook and ducks and a whole range of fairground items – they are very popular!

The flowers and gramophone ideas – which I see all over now, stated by accident. I took a bride and her florist to my storage unit. We basically had nothing that a florist could really use for flowers so I was a bit worried I might disappoint, so I literally suggest random things, anything with a hole, they must of thought I was a bit odd. The florist liked the gramophone idea and came up with an arrangement and it worked, thankfully. The florist did think I was mad, but now we are really close friends and she is a bit mad too.

Finally, what excites you about your job?

My favourite things are buying and making new things, when we get given or find awesome stuff to upcycle or use to make props, and when a style shoot goes to plan! Also our community spirit at work. We have a really connected team who all share a very similar view on life. We are big recyclers, love our community and love home cooked food…and tea. Without our amazing, talented team we wouldn’t be here. Check out our staff IG to see what we get up to @thepropfactory_staff

We just adore the colourful, exciting creations from The Prop Factory and high recommend their fantastic service and easy booking procedure. Why not enjoy a browse of these fantastically fun props on the website.

The latest from our social media

The Italian Terrace could fool you of its Devon location on Spring & Summer days like these ☀️ 📸 @clarekinchinphotography #coombetrenchardweddings #coombetrenchard #devonweddingvenue #westcountrywedding #ukwedding #countryhousewedding #weddingvenuesearch #springwedding #summerwedding #engageduk

✨ C r o w n e d ✨ The coronation events of the last week had us thinking about some of the gorgeous bridal ‘crowns’ worn over the years and particularly Btari’s bespoke flower headpiece from her wedding to Elliot last April. This bespoke jasmine, orchid and frangipani masterpiece from @claireaustinengland was created to honour Btaris Indonesian heritage and to pay tribute to the women in her life who wore similar headpieces before her on their wedding day. A truly stunning way to include personal tradition and culture into your wedding day 🌸 📸 @venetianorrington #crowned #bridalcrown #bridalheadpiece #bridalheadband #bridestyle #claireaustinengland #devonwedding #2022wedding #weddingstyle #coombetrenchard #coombetrenchardweddings #ukwedding #devonwedding

✨ C h i l d F r i e n d l y ✨ It could be the impending arrival of our newest grandchild, or all the lovely children at our most recent wedding but something sparked a memory about this precious photo from L & S’s wedding last year. Isn’t it wonderful? Having children at weddings is not for everyone and we understand that. However for those that desire or wish to accommodate little people at their wedding day, we are set up to make it as easy as possible: • Quiet spaces for little ones to take a nap • Guest wifi for any baby monitors • Long stretching gardens to burn off energy and play hide & seek • High chairs and a travel cot should they be required • Comfortable changing areas Please do not hesitate to get in touch should you have any queries about children at your wedding day and we would be happy to talk you through your options. 📸 @clarekinchinphotography #childfriendlywedding #childfriendlyweddingvenue #babyfriendlywedding #weddingdecisions #weddingstyles #ukweddingvenue #weddingvenuedevon #childrenatweddings #coombetrenchardweddings #coombetrenchard #yourweddingday #laidbacklove

✨ I n F u l l B l o o m ✨ We are preparing for our first wedding of the year taking place on Monday, so thought it timely to look back on the same from 2022. Leah bloomed in her unique floral embroidered gown as she prepared for her elopement to her love, Edward. These images from @venetianorrington capture the details of this stunning gown beautifully 🌸 #coombetrenchardweddings #coombetrenchard #elopementwedding #elopementvenue #devonweddingvenue #countryhouseelopement #uniqueweddingdress #unwedding #floralgown #embroideredweddingdress #weddingstyle #laidbacklove

✨ S h o w e r e d w i t h L o v e ✨ These April showers have us reminiscing and swooning over this moment of Liv & Andy’s beautiful confetti shower after their ceremony in the Main Hall. Adorned with umbrellas and smiles, they were showered with love from their guests in this special confetti runway. The perfect balance of sunshine and rain really does make the gardens burst into the most stunning shades of green, which was perfect for the couples emerald toned styling and of course, the Larch Walk shot 🌿 📸 @clarekinchinphotography #coombetrenchardweddings #westcountrywedding #devonweddingvenue #devonwedding #weddinginspiration #weddinginspo #engaged #weddingstyling #rainyweddingday #showeredwithlove #UKweddings #countrysidewedding #weddingplanning #uniqueweddingvenue #countryhousewedding #exclusivehire #realweddingfeature #weddingphotography #laidbacklove #uniquewedding #weddingstyle

✨ T a b l e S t y l i n g ✨ British Summertime arriving this week feels like a welcome relief, opening the door to beautiful transformations of the garden and grounds when blossoms & buds burst and everything feels a lot more green! It had us thinking about table decor and how sometimes, a simple runner, some beautiful florals and mismatched crockery can be so transformative and so personal to a couple. Effortlessly beautiful. It is one of our favourite parts of getting wedding day ready. This picture was taken from L&S’s wedding last year by @clarekinchinphotography and it has us excited for the season ahead! #tabledecor #tabletransformation #tablestyling #effortlessbeauty #weddingdaystyling #weddinginspiration #countryhousewedding #devonweddingvenue #coombetrenchard #coombetrenchardweddings

✨ S p r i n g ✨ It has now officially sprung and for us, this initiates the start of the wedding season after a period of recharge and reflection. The gardens are fuelled by the Spring showers and the dappled sunlight and warmer temperatures are feeding the blooms as daffodils and bluebells appear in the woodland. A perfect time to welcome @katiewoods_bridal to the venue to shoot her beautiful new collection of gowns, jumpsuits and separates. Katie Woods offers “sustainable British bridal wear, made to last. Understated designs made to be restyled and worn again ensuring no dress gets left alone in the attic.” Living close by to Coombe a Trenchard and having got married at the venue a couple of years ago, it was wonderful to welcome Katie back to showcase her ethical collection. Bridal Wear: @katiewoods_bridal Florals: @heathland_flowers Venue: @coombetrenchardweddings Photographer: @katiemccphotography #coombetrenchard #coombetrenchardweddings #styledshoot #bridalwearshoot #bridalphotography #weddingphotography #devonwedding #devonweddingvenue #sustainablewedding #ethicalbridalwear #weddingdressinspiration #weddingjumpsuit #countryhousewedding

✨ 2 0 2 3 ✨ We do hope the festive season was filled of rest and relaxation for you and you are looking forward to what 2023 brings. We are looking forward to another fully booked year here at Coombe Trenchard, with our very special couples. May we be blessed with more beautiful seasons, laughter and gorgeous families and friends through the doors as we celebrate the marriages to come. Happy new year to you all. Love, All the team at Coombe Trenchard 📸 @venetianorrington

• ✨ F e e l i n g F e s t i v e ✨ Following a lovely evening of Carols for @st.peters.lewtrenchard last week, this deep freeze we find ourselves in and the preparations for Christmas it really is starting to feel very festive indeed. Reminding us of the beautiful, intimate day we had celebrating Francesca & Ben just over 2 years ago now. Taking inspiration from the season, warm jewelled tones, evergreen details and elegant sparkle underpinned the style for the day and comfort & joy shone through. May this be a wonderful season for you all 🌲 📸 @venetianorrington #decemberwedding #christmasstyle #countryhousewedding #petitewedding #weddingphotographyinspiration #christmasweddingdecor #marriedindevon

• ✨ C a r o l l i n g a t C o o m b e ✨ Tomorrow night, we welcome all of our wonderful couples, friends and family to Coombe Trenchard for carols & festive treats and we cannot wait to celebrate bringing in the festive season with: 🔔Lewtrenchard Hand Bell Ringers 🍷 CT Festive Mulled Brew 🧁 Home Made Treats 🎟️ Raffle with any proceeds going to St Peter’s Church, Lewtrenchard We look forward to seeing you there! 🎄 #christmascarols #festiveseason #coombetrenchard #devonweddingvenue #christmaswedding #carollinginthesnow