From finding their venue to saying ‘I do’ in just five months, Laura & Aaron’s wedding shows that the perfect wedding can come together quickly…
Aaron, tell us about the proposal. How and where did it happen?
Very low-key! I had already bought Laura’s engagement ring, but I ended up not being able to keep a secret and surprised her in the comfort of our own surroundings.
What was your first step in planning your wedding?
Laura saw St Audries Park on the internet and it took her fancy straight away. She asked me to look at it, and we fell in love with it. We spoke to Sally and arranged a virtual tour, but in the end I think we talked ourselves out of it for financial reasons. However, a month or so later, I got a bonus at work and this fast-tracked everything. We got back in touch with Sally and everything followed from there. Five months later, we were married!
What were your wedding “must-haves”?
We kept things simple because we felt that St Audries Park was glamorous enough in itself, with its beautiful orangery, grand main house and deer park in the grounds. We wanted the wedding to be local to us in Somerset or the South West, and we kept the guest list to close family and friends. Everything had to be kid-friendly because there would be seven young children there.
How did you organise your wedding budget?
As I’ve mentioned, my work gave me a well-timed bonus, so that was our budget (with the potential to go slightly over if there was something extra we wanted). We didn’t go completely crazy or get carried away because that isn’t our nature, but we did treat ourselves to a few added extras that St Audries provided.
How did you find your venue?
Laura found the venue on the internet and we were both instantly attracted to it. We arranged a virtual tour as soon as Sally could fit us in, and things progressed from there.
What made you choose the venue?
We attended an open day to see the venue with our own eyes, and we knew we had found the right place. We also went to a menu tasting night, which was fab!
How did you personalise your big day?
We had a theme of white flowers and green leaves, and our three-tiered white wedding cake was decorated with our themed flowers. Our table centrepieces were white and green wreaths with a stainless steel lantern, and the chairs were dressed with white bows to complement the flowers. We sourced the wreaths, lanterns and candles locally and purchased the Lit Candle Package as an extra. We also hired the Post Box from St Audries, which we loved!
Did the venue provide any memorable extras or nice personal touches that stood out?
We were really pleased with the staff throughout the process. There was Sally at the beginning, and Roz, who took us on the open day tour and helped when the planner was on leave. Our planner was Hannah, who really made it all happen for us in the way we wanted. The guests were able to come in early on the wedding day, which really took the pressure off them (especially as some had travelled down from the North West).
Describe Laura’s wedding dress and favourite accessories
Laura wore an ivory, lace-trimmed wedding dress with a strapless bodice and an elegant, long train, with a light veil. She looked like a million dollars.
What did you wear?
I chose a three-piece black and white tuxedo suit from Moss Bros, and I added a pocket watch to the waistcoat. My favourite Omega Seamaster added the finishing touch.
Tell us about your wedding party’s outfits
The bouquets and buttonholes kept with the floral theme, and the men in the wedding party all wore black and white tuxedo suits (the boys wore white shirts with black trousers). The flower girl wore a white dress, and the bridesmaid had a dress in British Racing Green to match the colour scheme.
What was your ceremony like?
Laura’s brother walked her down the aisle in the Orangery, and we had a reading from my sister. The music was from a playlist that Laura and I had created on Spotify in the build-up to our wedding.
Tell us about your drinks reception and wedding breakfast
The speeches were amazing, very emotional and personal. At the request of Laura’s brother, Hannah arranged for all guests to have mini shots of cider – a personal touch that was a tribute to Laura’s dad.
The food was out of this world and there were loads of compliments from our guests. The canapes and welcome drinks also went down very well with everyone. We heard that the evening buffet was fab (Laura and I missed out on that one as we were too busy).
What music did you have at your evening reception?
We used the St Audries Park DJ for the evening festivities. He got in contact before the wedding to find out our preferences for music. He courteously asked if there was anything we didn’t want playing to avoid any potential awkwardness.
What song did you choose for your first dance?
Our first dance was amazing. We danced to I Choose You by Ryann Darling.
Based on your own experience, please give us some top tips!
Try not to get overstressed with it all. We managed to arrange the day of our dreams in a short time. We found that having things like the catering done through the venue really took the pressure off us, because we were spinning a ridiculous amount of plates at once! We did get flustered at times, but we made sure we kept things to suit us and us alone. The important thing is to try and enjoy it because it really is over in a flash.
Did you go on a honeymoon or a mini-moon?
We actually booked our honeymoon a week after the wedding! We’re going to Gran Canaria in 2026 (for our first anniversary), and this holiday will be with our children. Our mini-moon was a long weekend in Bude, Cornwall, staying in a glamping roundhouse with a private hot tub. It was absolutely beautiful and it felt really important for us to spend some time away on our own together to reflect on the recent events.
“If we could do it all again, we’d…”
I’d drink less, because I’d love to live the day again with a clear head! It went so fast.
Laura also says she’d try and take more in from the day. “It’s so busy, you are here, there and everywhere, and I wish I’d taken a breath and taken it all in more.”
Tell us about your suppliers
Wedding dress: 14 & Sixpence
Groom’s suit: Moss Bros
Flowers: Flowers By Tasha in Highbridge
Wedding Rings: H Samuel
Wedding Cake: Sweet Delights in Wells
Invitations: Say I Do
Photographer: George Bishop Photography
