Editor loves and inspiration

One of our favourite things about this region is the scenery. It literally has it all. From the urban-chic, truly iconic backdrops of Bath, Bristol, Gloucester and Salisbury to the stunning countryside of all three glorious counties; not to mention the showstopping interiors of the gorgeous local venues. Best of all, it's there waiting for you, ready to provide some breathtaking settings for your wedding pics. Here, the region's wedding photographers showcase Somerset, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire at their finest for us.

This is one of my personal favourites by www.jwarrphotography.co.uk

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Elsie and Lily met at a mutual friend's birthday party. “At the time, Lily was uncertain of her sexuality,” Elsie explains, “But I knew the minute I saw her that I was going to fall in love with this girl! I chased her around the party, both young and nervous. She got her dad to pick her up immediately!” After frightening Lily off, the two spent several years being friends with Lily trying everything to avoid falling in love with Elsie. However, one lockdown later Lily finally bit the bullet and kissed Elsie one evening. From there, their relationship blossomed. “We're definitely the definition of opposites attract,” Elsie continues. “Lily is quiet and I'm wild and loud, but our two personalities just melt together perfectly. Where one falls, the other lifts us up. Although, we'll never agree on who's funnier!”

Elsie proposed on Valentine's Day 2023. It's a day tinged with sadness for her as it's the anniversary of her nanna's passing. However, knowing how much she would have loved Lily, she decided to pop the question on the day her nanna felt closest to her as she wanted her there in spirit when she asked Lily to marry her. So, she told Lily to meet her at their special place, where they went on their first date and now take their dogs for walks. On arrival, Lily was greeted by a trail of candles and lanterns hanging from the trees and found Elsie at the end of the path on one knee. Elsie read a short speech telling Lily what she means to her, along with a small ode to her nanna. Before she'd even managed to get the ring on, Lily hugged her and wouldn't let go! “She'd also forgotten to say 'yes' in the meantime,” Elsie laughs.

Sheppy's Cider Farm was the only venue the couple looked at and fell totally in love with it on their first visit. “We were greeted by the wonderful Megan who absolutely sold the venue and package to us. It was everything we wanted from a venue,” Elsie explains. “No question was too much, no request turned down. The staff were all friendly and full of knowledge on everything from the cheese to the cider. We truly felt like part of the family and still do months later. Sheppy's Cider Farm will forever hold a fond place in our hearts.”

Location decided, the date was set for 16th May 2024.

To find out more, download the latest issue of Your Somerset, Glos & Wilts Wedding, free at www.yoursomersetglosandwilts.wedding/free-download

Laura and Joe met at a nightclub while at University in Southampton. At the time Laura's best friend was dating Joe's best friend. She set the two up, and the rest, as they say, is history!

Joe proposed at the Westernbirt Arbortetum back in 2021. “Autumn has always been our favourite time of year, and it was here that Joe first told me he loved me three years previous,” Laura explains. It was so perfect for the couple, surrounded by autumn leaves, that it became part of the inspiration for the autumn wedding day – but we're jumping ahead! The proposal came as a complete surprise to Laura: “I was so excited, I said 'yes' the minute he got down on one knee, before he'd even asked the question,” she remembers. “We were with our very naughty one-year-old spaniel, Sully, so I was mostly surprised he didn't steal the ring and run off with it!”

Laura and Joe fell in love with the elegance and timelessness of Tortworth Court, the beautiful glass-topped orangery being a stand out for them. “As a doctor and trainee vet, we're both quite practical, minimalist people and wanted a venue that was classic and simple to fit with our vision,” Laura explains. “We also loved the outdoor spaces. The venue has it's own arboretum, and you can see the trees through the glass roof as you say 'I do.'”

The date was set for their favourite time of year, 25th November.

To find out more, download the latest issue of Your Somerset, Glos & Wilts Wedding free at www.yoursomersetglosandwilts.wedding/free-download

Emily and Chris met during their university years in Plymouth. They were introduced by a mutual friend, and that's where their story began. “Aside from her obvious good looks, within only a few minutes of speaking, I knew there was something more between us,” Chris shares. The two enjoyed an evening of chatting over drinks and haven't stopped enjoying each other's company since. “Emily is known for finding the best deals out there, but I think I won when it came to finding her that day,” Chris continues. “At full price and worth every penny, she is my world! We've shared more than a decade of memories and milestones including graduations, landing our first professional jobs, buying our first home together, and travelling the world side by side. None of which would have been possible without our attentiveness to one another and the love we share.”

Chris had an idea in mind for a while once he'd decided he wanted to propose. The couple had talked about doing a hot air balloon ride together but life always got in the way and they'd never gotten around to it. Having received the blessing of Emily's dad earlier in the year, Chris set his plan into motion. Under the guise of a meal at Haselbury Mill near Crewkerne, he revealed that they'd finally be taking that ride. Before long, they were airborne and taking in the views. Chris gave a knowing signal to the pilot who took them higher to allow more time for Chris to deliver his prepared words. “I awkwardly got down on one knee in the tiny basket,” he remembers. “Hundreds of feet in the air, wind gusting, fire billowing overhead, I've never made things easy for myself! Yet when it came to the ultimate question, any nerves or fear just faded away. I'd never been so sure of anything, and when she said 'yes' it was one of the best moments of my life.”

To find out more download the latest issue of Your Somerset, Glos & Wilts Wedding, free at www.yoursomersetglosandwilts.wedding/free-download

Hartham Park Estate is a beautiful 50-acre estate park and Georgian house dating bck to the 18th century set within the timeless beauty of the Cotswolds, just north of the Wiltshire town of Corsham. It's the perfect setting for a quintessential English country wedding, easily accessible and close to the M4, with nearby Bath and Bristol providing direct transportation links to London and beyond. As a returning wedding venue, Hartham Park Estate has been offering 40 per cent off all weddings in 2024.

There's a wide choice of spots for your ceremony here. The Ceremonies Room can seat 75 loved ones and is an elegant space, thoughtfully designed for intimate gatherings and formal occasions. With soft lighting and tastefully decorated walls, it provides a serene ambience ideal for weddings.

As well as hosting a dazzling wedding ceremony with 120 guests, The Ballroom also exudes an atmosphere of celebration for a reception. Its expansive space allows for flexible seating arrangements, accommodating both intimate dinners and grand features. The gleaming chandeliers cast a warm, inviting glow over the room, while the state-of the-art sound system ensures that music fills the air.

The Grand Hall, which can seat the same number, stands at the heart of the venue, with its ceilings, majestic staircase and architectural details serving as an impressive backdrop for your gathering from welcoming your guests to the day's more formal elements.

For more intimate “I dos” The Library is a quiet sanctuary, filled with rich detail, towering bookshelves and the warm glow of chandeliers. This space offers a cosy atmosphere for 60 of your nearest and dearest. It also offers a wonderful ambience for an intimate and refined reception. Guests can enjoy a reception surrounded by timeless beauty that feels both cosy and luxurious. The soft lighting and comfortable seating invite conversations and connections, making it the ideal choice for weddings that prioritise elegance and warmth.

For more North Wiltshire venues download the latest issue of Your Somerset, Glos & Wilts Wedding free at www.yoursomersetglosandwilts.wedding/free-download

Hurds Hill is an elegant Regency-period country house with Victorian and later additions. It was once home to Langport's most famous resident, Walter Bagehot, who is widely regarded as one of the 19th century's most infl uential writers on government, the constitution, banking and finance. He was editor of The Economist for 16 years from 1860 to 1876. The house is set in fi ve acres of tranquil private grounds with far-reaching views over the Somerset Levels.

Shoot coordinator, local celebrant Jen Whitworth, met owner David a few years ago and the two have been discussing weddings ever since. “David is keen to offer micro weddings where friends and family come together for the ceremony, enjoy drinks on the lawn and a meal in the evening,” Jen explains. “The house does have a sophisticated, vintage vibe, which would appeal to those planning a small, intimate wedding, who would appreciate the eclectic collection of art and furniture.”

So, the idea of doing a shoot to showcase the house dressed for a wedding came to life and Jen assembled a team of local wedding afi cionados to do the honours. “As the house was full of gorgeous, antique furniture, we opted to do a classic vintage shoot using a pastel palette of green, pink, purple and lilac,” Jen shares.

Discover more of this gorgeous shoot in the current issue of Your Bristol & Somerset Wedding, free to download at www.yourbristolsomerset.wedding/free-download

While Pia and Joe were aware of each other at school, nothing happened between them until they were old enough for a bit of Dutch courage, and met up at a pub five year's after leaving. “Although we weren't high school sweethearts, meeting in our early 20s felt like the right time for both of us to have this forever thing going,” Pia explains. “It's funny because even when we started dating, Joe said he didn't want anything too serious. Obviously that didn't quite go to plan!”

While away on holiday in Dominican Republic in 2023, the couple stayed in the adults only Secrets Hotel in Punta Cana. Since they both love the beach they booked a romantic dinner there during golden hour, surrounded by lit candles and hearts drawn in the sand. While there, Pia noticed a bride who'd just been married on the beach. When she turned back to Joe she found him holding out his great grandmother's ring. “That could be you one day,” he said, popping the question. “It was a girl's perfect dream,” Pia remembers. The next day the couple began to celebrate and share the news with their nearest and dearest. “I was so detached from reality that I went to breakfast with my dress on inside out and back to front,” Pia laughs.

Already nearly a decade into their relationship, the couple weren't interested in a long engagement so they started looking for wedding venues as soon as they got home. On the hunt for something as local as possible, Joe found the beautiful Old Oak Farm, which was having its new barn built at the time. Even though it wasn't 100 per cent complete when they viewed it they found themselves squeezing each other's hands with excitement during the visit and immediately cancelled their other venue appointments. “It gave us all the amazing feels and we just knew it was where we'd become husband and wife,” Pia explains.

Discover the story of Pia and Joe's big day in the current issue of Your Bristol & Somerset Wedding, free to download at www.yourbristolsomerset.wedding/free-download

Vicki and Steve met on Tinder in 2017, and got together for a first date at Nettle and Rye in Bristol. At the time, Vicki lived in Clevedon, and made a memorable exit when her Uber driver crashed into a bollard while reversing! The two soon went on a second date and before long they'd bonded over a love of food and enjoyed subsequent dates at foodie hotspots including Bravas and Poco Tapas in Bristol and Scoozi's in Clevedon. As Vicki is a vet Steve also impressed her on an early date with a tour of Bristol Zoo complete with a quiz.

After six years together Steve proposed to Vicki in a beautiful Prague park. He'd managed to surprise her, which we understand is quite an achievement as Steve is generally an open book. What was even more impressive though was that both sets of parents had managed to keep it quiet too! When the couple first visited North Cadbury Court, they'd only seen three other venues. “But we stopped searching there and then, as it really felt perfect,” Vicki explains. They'd been looking for somewhere that would allow them to have a relaxed, weekend away vibe to their wedding and the fact that North Cadbury Court was able to sleep 80 guests on site in its luxurious bedrooms meant it fit the bill. “We knew our guests would enjoy it and we could also mould the wedding our way through a flexible choice of suppliers. There was no corkage and no schedule, which was more than we'd hoped for,” Vicki shares.

Discover the story of Vicki and Steve's big day in the current issue of Your Bristol & Somerset Wedding, free to download at www.yourbristolsomerset.wedding/free-download

When Claire and Jack met through a mutual friend, it wasn't long before he asked for her number. In no time, they were off on their first date to the BFI on London's South Bank. “I loved how many diff erent interests and hobbies Jack has,” Claire tells us. “He'd say he loved my sense of humour!”

Jack's plan was to propose on a boat he'd rent while the couple were on holiday in Sorrento. However, the weather was so unpredictable every time he tried to organise it the conditions were too bad. Instead, he opted to pop the question on the evening of his birthday. The pair went for a walk after dinner to a park in Sorrento, the Villa Communale, blessed with beautiful sea views. Determined and undeterred by the thunder and lightning, Jack got down on one knee and asked Claire to marry him!

The couple had been on holiday to Wells a few years previous and fell in love with the city. They'd visited Bishop's Palace and Gardens whilst there and thought the grounds were so beautiful that it immediately came to mind when they began looking for a wedding venue. “As a former archaeologist I love the history of the Palace, and the gardens are truly special,” Claire explains.

Discover the story of Claire and Jack's big day in the current issue of Your Bristol & Somerset Wedding, free to download at www.yourbristolsomerset.wedding/free-download

Wookey Hole Caves offers you an unforgettable wedding in a historical, magical location in the heart of the Mendip Hills. Take your vows in a spectacular chamber surrounded by clear pools that have been carved out by the River Axe over millions of years. This really is a venue with a difference.

Find out more about Wookey Hole Caves and more Bath & Mendip venues in the current issue of Your Bristol & Somerset Wedding, free to download at www.yourbristolsomerset.wedding/free-download