Paul Aston Photography: Rachael and Josh’s spring wedding day

This perfect pair set their spring wedding date in honour of their Nanna, who married on the same date 67 years earlier…

As a recommended photographer at Crowcombe Court, I have had the privilege of capturing countless couples as they celebrate their nuptials at this beautiful Somerset wedding venue. Rachael and Josh tied the knot in March, with an early spring wedding. With a church ceremony and a grand reception, they had the day of their dreams. The pair were such fun to be around, we even got some shots of them dancing in the rain!

Somerset wedding photography, Crowcombe court wedding venue

A Perfect Proposal

After completing university, Rachael and Josh both landed a job at the same company.

“We met at work in our first post-university jobs and spent more time flirting than working,” Rachael laughs.

Their relationship blossomed and a few years later Josh pulled out all the stops and planned the perfect proposal. He had even hired a private courtyard for the evening. A romantic at heart, Josh set the scene with twinkling fairy lights, Champagne, strawberries and a beautiful arch of Racheal’s favourite flowers. Rachael arrived at the courtyard, none the wiser. When she took off her blindfold Josh dropped down to one knee as their favourite song played in the background. Josh had even thought of having the moment recorded for them to look back on in years to come. Of course, she said “yes!” and the planning commenced.

( Pics below provided by Rachael and Josh)

Dream wedding photographer!

Where to start with Paul Aston Photography!? Paul was the PERFECT photographer for our pre-wedding and wedding day photos. Not only is he extremely talented, he made two very camera shy people feel completely at ease in front of the camera. He was a total joy to be around and it was hard to remember we weren’t hanging out with one of our wedding guests (though he did have to do a lot more running around than them!). Forget boring family portraits – Paul has a great eye for some fun and quirky shots that will put a smile on your face when you look back on them. We are over the moon with our gorgeous photographs and have so many beautiful memories to look back on, every special moment captured. To top it off, the booking and planning process was totally stress free. We cannot recommend Paul enough and would advise you run, don’t walk, to book him for your day!

Rachael & Josh

Wedding Wardrobe

Somerset Wedding photography, Crowcombe court wedding

When it came to finding her wedding dress, Rachael took her time to find the perfect gown.

“I visited a couple of bridal boutiques, but struggled to find a dress that achieved the right balance between being modern and being classically bridal,” says Rachael.

Eventually, she found the one at Champagne and Charlotte in North Devon. Every bit the beautiful bride, Rachael walked down the aisle in a flowing tulle, a-line gown. In keeping with their spring wedding theme, the gown featured delicate floral embroidery, finished with sparkling beadwork. Rachael completed her aisle style with a crystal-studded waterfall veil, beaded ivory heels and delicate hair accessories and earrings that featured white clay flowers and gold leaves.

Josh looked sharp in black tie, with a formal tux and bowtie combination. His groomsmen followed suit in matching outfits, with Josh standing out from the boys through the black buttons on his shirt.

“Josh wanted to have his own James Bond moment in a tux and bowtie,” smiles Rachael. “He and the groomsmen looked suave on the day.”

The groom completed his look with personalised cufflinks and formal black patent shoes.

The four bridesmaids wore full-length mauve gowns with floaty capped sleeves. The girls all wore their hair in a half-up, half-down style, in contrast to Rachael who wore her hair in an elegant updo.

Feeling surprisingly relaxed as she got ready for the wedding, Rachael and the girls made use of Crowcombe’s dedicated bridal preparations room.

Rachel revealed why she thinks she felt so calm, “All of the planning was done, so there was nothing left to do but crack on and enjoy ourselves!”

Crowcombe Court, Somerset Wedding Venue

After tying the knot at the local church in Crowcombe , Rachael and Josh chose Crowcombe Court for their spring wedding reception. The pair fell in love with the Somerset wedding venue as soon as they set eyes on it. The grand Georgian country house sits within seven acres of landscaped gardens. The newlyweds arrived at the wedding reception through a flurry of confetti, ready to greet their 80 guests.

“We fell in love with Crowcombe Court after seeing how beautiful the building was. It is elegant, airy and bright with a classical yet contemporary feel that suited our spring wedding theme perfectly,” the pair explain.

The couple set the date for the 9th of March 2024. The spring wedding date had a significant meaning to Rachael and Josh. Rachael’s Nanna, who the couple are very close to, got married on the same Saturday 67 years earlier, in 1957. They selected the date in her honour.

Spring Wedding Styling

Rachael and Josh chose to reflect the season that they were tying the knot in their details and decor.

“We kept the styling light and bright, with spring colours throughout,” the pair echo.

Their spring wedding theme was brought to life through their flowers. Opting for a gently wild aesthetic, the blooms were all bright pastel shades. Delicate tulips, tall delphinium and frilly pink ranunculus came together to create springtime arrangements that matched the light and airy rooms at Crowcombe Court.

The tablescapes of the Somerset wedding venue were finished with fresh flowers. A sage green place name, adorned with a shimmering gold wax seal, added a touch of luxury to the place settings. And, in keeping with the spring colours, the couple gifted each of their guests an individual box of pastel-coloured macaroons for their wedding favours.

Even the three-tier cake featured pressed flowers and touches of edible gold leaf. The dried flowers were pressed onto the icing, as though growing from the bottom of the tiers, for a contemporary finish to the cake.

“We adored our cake and we couldn’t have chosen scrummier flavours – Salted Caramel, White Chocolate and Raspberry and Strawberry, Cream and Champagne Conserve – every tier was delicious,” the couple enthuse. “The cake topper was a gold wire sign reading ‘happily ever after’, which is now displayed in our home as a lovely reminder of our wedding day.”

Strike a Pose

Finding a photographer for your wedding is a big decision. You are trusting them to capture the fond glances, the emotional moments and pivotal points as your special day unfolds. Rachael and Josh found me when looking at their chosen Somerset wedding venue.

“Choose your photography wisely!” The newlyweds advise. “You’re with them all day, so make sure you can have a good laugh together, while they capture every special moment. We lucked out with Paul!”

These guys were such a great couple to photograph. From silhouette shots under an umbrella to capturing the laughter during fun group shots, they weren’t afraid to do things their own way. This couple and I were a perfect match! When it came to their photographs, Rachael and Josh knew what they wanted to achieve.

“We were hoping for modern, quirky shots with our bridal party. We got these with some awesome shots, sat outside of the venue on an antique sofa. It was very Friends-esque! It’s hard to choose just one favourite shot, but the Champagne spray and sparkler shots are just magical.”