A Year of Collaboration, Community & Growth: Celebrating the First Anniversary of the Wedding Venues in Cornwall & Devon Members Club
Written by Jessica Baber – Engagement Coordinator at Wedding Venues in Cornwall & Devon and wedding business owner (Tide the Knot Wedding Planning)
One year ago, we gathered at the Eco Park with a simple but ambitious vision: to create a supportive, collaborative community for wedding professionals across Cornwall and Devon. What followed has been a year of connection, learning, friendship, personal growth, and plenty of lessons along the way.
As we celebrate the first anniversary of the Wedding Venues in Cornwall & Devon Members Club, we wanted to take a moment to reflect on the journey so far, celebrate the incredible suppliers who have helped shape this community, and share some of what we've learned along the way.
“It started with a need for connection” – Helen Cotton, Founder
The idea for the Members Club was born from Founder Helen's own experience of working within the wedding industry.
After moving to Cornwall and developing Camel Studio into a wedding venue, Helen found herself missing the supportive networks she had previously experienced in the charity and social enterprise sector. While she regularly met talented suppliers and venue owners, there wasn't a consistent space where people could come together to share experiences, seek advice, and grow alongside one another.
As Helen explains:
"I felt quite lonely in my role as a venue owner. What inspired me to set this up was creating an opportunity for people to come together on a regular basis, build friendships, feel supported by one another and grow together."
That vision became the foundation of the Members Club.
Celebrating our incredible members!
While Helen and I may have started the journey, the Members Club has become what it is because of the people within it.
Over the past year, more than 60 wedding professionals have joined the community, bringing their expertise, encouragement, generosity and willingness to collaborate.
From photographers and florists to celebrants, planners, videographers, venues and creatives, every member has contributed something unique. Together, they've built a space where competition takes a back seat and collaboration takes centre stage.
One of the most consistent pieces of feedback we've received is that the Members Club feels like a family. Members know they have a network they can turn to for professional advice, creative inspiration, business support, or simply a friendly chat on a difficult day.
The truth is, the Members Club isn't something we've built for our members, it's something we've built with them.
The highs: Community, confidence & collaboration
Looking back, there have been so many highlights.
Our monthly check-in calls have become a safe and supportive space where members openly share wins, challenges and ideas. These conversations have sparked collaborations, inspired new initiatives and reminded everyone that they're not navigating business ownership alone.
Our networking events have helped people build genuine relationships and grow their confidence. Helen reflected on attending wider industry events and realising how much more comfortable she now felt walking into a room full of people she didn't know—something she attributes directly to the confidence gained through the Members Club.
We've also loved watching members step outside of their comfort zones.
From content creation workshops to podcasts, video introductions and styled shoots, members have embraced opportunities to develop new skills, increase their visibility and build confidence in marketing themselves and their businesses.
One of my biggest personal takeaways has been the confidence I’ve gained through being part of the community, helping me to grow both professionally and personally.
The challenges we didn't expect…
Of course, the journey hasn't always been easy.
Like any new venture, building the Members Club took time, patience and resilience.
Helen openly reflected on how difficult the early days were. Launching the directory and then the Members Club required belief, persistence and countless conversations with suppliers who understandably needed time to trust and understand the vision.
There were moments of self-doubt, moments where progress felt slower than hoped, and plenty of uncomfortable experiences, particularly when it came to introducing the concept to new people and growing the community.
But perhaps one of the biggest lessons has been this:
Meaningful communities aren't built overnight.
They are built through consistency, trust, showing up week after week, listening to people, and being willing to adapt along the way.
Learning from the experts
One of the most valuable aspects of the Members Club has been the opportunity to learn directly from industry experts.
Over the past year, members have benefited from masterclasses covering SEO, Google Ads, TikTok, Instagram, AI, content creation and much more. These sessions have been specifically tailored to the wedding industry, making the advice practical, relevant and immediately actionable.
A special thank you goes to all of the incredible experts who have shared their knowledge with our community, including Chloe Christine, Arlina, Rebecca Hopwood, Charmaine Cara and many others who have generously invested their time and expertise into helping our members grow.
What We've Learned
If we had to summarise the past year in a few words, they would be:
Supportive. Empowering. Inspiring. Fun.
We've learned that people thrive when they feel welcome. We've learned that confidence grows through community. We've learned that some of the best opportunities come from simply putting people in a room together and letting ideas flourish.
Most importantly, we've learned that there is real strength in numbers.
When wedding professionals champion one another, share knowledge openly and celebrate each other's successes, everyone benefits.
Looking Ahead
As we move into our second year, we're excited about what comes next.
We'll continue to be guided by our members, expanding opportunities for learning, networking, collaboration and business growth. We'll continue developing our Cornwall community while growing our presence across Devon, creating even more opportunities for wedding professionals throughout the South West.
Most importantly, we'll continue listening.
Because the Members Club has always been, and will always be, shaped by the people within it.
Want to Get Involved?
If you're a wedding supplier, venue owner, venue team member or creative professional working within the wedding industry and you're looking for a supportive network of like-minded people, we'd love to hear from you.
The Wedding Venues in Cornwall & Devon Members Club offers monthly check-in calls, expert-led masterclasses, networking opportunities, collaborative marketing initiatives, a thriving WhatsApp community, and access to a network of professionals who genuinely want to see one another succeed.
To find out more about the Members Club and how you can become part of this growing community, visit:
Photography Credits:
Photo 1: Katie Goff Photography at our Members Club launch event at the Eco Park
Photo 2: Katie Goff Photography at our Beach Walk and Talk event
Photo 3: Thomas Hare Photography at our Networking event at Polmanter Weddings in St Ives with Charmain Cara Media
Photo 4: Katie Goff Photography at our Members Club launch event at the Eco Park
Photo 5: Thomas Hare Photography at The Eco Parks Wedding Fair (Feb 26)
Photo 6: Thomas Hare Photography at The Eco Parks Wedding Fair (Feb 26)
Photo 7: Thomas Hare Photography at our Networking event at Polmanter Weddings in St Ives with Charmain Cara Media
Photo 8: Thomas Hare Photography at a styled shoot at Polmanter Weddings in St Ives
