Business Details
50+ Years
experience
Your Bespoke Wedding Dress Experience in Cheltenham
Cocoa Couture is a bespoke wedding dress design boutique rooted in Cheltenham, Cotswolds, with a legacy of crafting exceptional bridal gowns since 1970. Our approach combines 35 years of couture expertise with a deeply personal service, ensuring each bride receives a gown that reflects her unique vision and personality. Every creation is meticulously hand-crafted in the UK using luxurious materials sourced personally by our founder, Cara Wagstaff. We prioritise building meaningful relationships with our clients, starting with a complimentary consultation to explore design ideas and silhouettes. Our made-to-measure service guarantees a perfect fit, blending traditional corsetry techniques with modern elegance.As a British-owned and operated business, we take pride in supporting local craftsmanship while serving brides globally. Our ethos centres on making every bride feel beautiful, confident, and radiant on her special day. With a heritage of excellence and a commitment to innovation, we continue to redefine luxury bridal fashion. Our Cheltenham boutique offers an intimate, inspiring environment for brides to begin their journey. From initial sketches to the final stitch, every detail is executed with precision and care. This dedication to artistry and client satisfaction has solidified our reputation as a leader in bespoke bridal design.
Services
Bespoke Wedding Dresses
Made-to-Measure Gowns
Custom Design Consultations
UK-Sourced Fabrics
Hand-Crafted Bridalwear
Details
- Year established: 1970
Highlights and features
- We offer 35 years of couture expertise in bespoke bridal design.
- All gowns are hand-crafted in the UK using premium materials.
- Personalised consultations ensure designs reflect each bride's vision.
- Our team includes founder Cara Wagstaff, a renowned couturier.
- We prioritise comfort, confidence, and fit through tailored service.
Services
Bespoke Wedding Dresses
Our bespoke wedding dresses are tailored to individual visions, combining 35 years of couture expertise with hand-crafted UK production. Each gown uses premium fabrics and traditional techniques to ensure a flawless fit. Clients collaborate directly with designer Cara Wagstaff to create unique, timeless pieces that reflect personal style and elegance.
Made-to-Measure Gowns
Made-to-measure gowns offer precision fitting through expert corsetry and fabric selection. We work closely with brides to adapt designs to their body shape, ensuring comfort and confidence. All gowns are produced in-house using UK-sourced materials, blending luxury with practicality for a perfect wedding day look.
Custom Design Consultations
Complimentary consultations allow brides to explore design ideas with founder Cara Wagstaff. Sessions include fabric and lace selection, silhouette trials, and concept development. We guide clients through the creative process, ensuring their vision translates into a gown that balances personal style with technical excellence.
UK-Sourced Fabrics
We exclusively use UK-sourced fabrics and laces, selected for quality and uniqueness. Materials are handpicked by Cara Wagstaff to meet design requirements while supporting British craftsmanship. This ensures ethical production and reduces environmental impact, aligning with our commitment to sustainable luxury bridalwear.
Hand-Crafted Bridalwear
Every gown is meticulously hand-crafted by our Cheltenham-based team, combining traditional techniques with modern innovation. This approach guarantees attention to detail, from intricate embellishments to structural precision. The result is a durable, elegant gown that embodies both artistry and technical mastery.
People
Cara Wagstaff
Founder, Designer and Couturier
Cara Wagstaff founded Cocoa Couture in 1990, bringing expertise from her background in fashion design and antique textiles. With a career spanning decades, she has established the brand as a leader in bespoke bridalwear, celebrated for its UK-made, hand-crafted gowns that blend tradition with modern elegance.
Questions
What is Cocoa Couture's speciality?
We specialise in bespoke wedding dresses, hand-crafted in the UK using traditional couture techniques and premium materials.
How far in advance should I book a consultation?
We recommend booking 6-12 months before your wedding date to allow ample time for design and production.
Are all gowns made in the UK?
Yes, every component of our gowns is sourced and produced in the UK by our expert team.
Can I customise my wedding dress design?
Absolutely. Our process involves collaborating with you to tailor every detail, from fabric to silhouette.
What is the price range for a bespoke gown?
Our couture wedding dresses start at approximately £4,000, with final pricing determined during your consultation.
Do you offer ready-to-wear options?
We have a limited selection of ready-to-wear gowns available for purchase at a lower price point.
Reviews (5)
Clare Herd
Dec 04, 2019
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Cara made my wedding dress - it was gorgeous! She's not only a highly talented lady, but also a lovely person! Cara's service was fantastic. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend Cocoa Couture. Thank you for helping to make my wedding day so special.
Pamu Chan
Nov 15, 2019
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Exquisite! So refreshing to see such unique and utterly gorgeous gowns. Cara is so attentive and down to earth and was quick to understand my aesthetic and find me the perfect dress all within budget. Couldn't recommend enough.
Gabi Greenwood
Nov 18, 2016
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Top Cheltenham wedding shop!! Bespoke couture inspired wedding dresses with effortless style. The dresses are tailored from the most premium fabrics and designed to sculpt and flatter in the most unique of silhouettes. The perfect bridal solution!!!!
Linney Nut
Jun 24, 2014
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Cara is FABULOUS - She has made me my wonderfully OTT dream dress and coat in pink silk and red velvet for my 50th birthday Sat 8/3/14
It's taken us a lovely long time to design it from scratch and lots of lovely attentive trying ons to make it perfect
I've enjoyed every second and can't wait to show it off to all my favourite people at my party
THANK YOU Cara and the team - LXXXXXX
It's taken us a lovely long time to design it from scratch and lots of lovely attentive trying ons to make it perfect
I've enjoyed every second and can't wait to show it off to all my favourite people at my party
THANK YOU Cara and the team - LXXXXXX
Qype User Rgt
Oct 05, 2010
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I cannot for the life of understand a negative review of this shop. I went to Cocoa without an appointment and was greeted with nothing but helpfulness and kindness and I certainly don't look like I have money to burn. My wedding (Sept 2010) had to be arranged within 4 weeks due to an immediate family members poor health and they performed absolute wonders for me. The manageress Ella accepted my calls whilst abroad on holiday and the lovely Cara was unfailing in her search for the perfect accessories to my dress despite my silly superstitions of no pearls! I felt always like I was a princess
