John and Kimberley’s Romantic Black Tie Wedding at St Audries Park in Somerset

John and Kimberley married on 19th July 2025 at St Audries Park, a magnificent country house wedding venue set in the Somerset countryside. The couple were drawn to its light-filled orangery and elegant gardens, which created the most beautiful setting for their modern, contemporary and romantic summer celebration.

Their day was captured beautifully by Love My Dress recommended wedding photographer, the wonderful Jodie Hurd. Kimberley looked stunning in the Bronte gown by Sarah Seven, which she found at Heart Aflutter Bridal Studio in London.

Every detail of the day reflected thoughtful planning and heartfelt meaning, from Kimberley’s lifelong love of calla lilies to the relaxed black tie styling and the sweetest dog with a black tie-style harness. This is a joyful, elegant and inspiring wedding, filled with love, laughter and beauty from start to finish and we are delighted to share it with you. Huge congrats to you both John and Kimberley – thank you both for sharing your precious day.

Our inspiration came from the modern romantic wedding aesthetic. The starting point was a photo I took of the landscape at the restaurant John took me to right after he proposed. That image became my muse; it guided our colour palette and floral choices.

Speaking of florals, I’ve been in love with calla lilies since secondary school. For an art project, we had to draw an object in different mediums, and I chose this elegant lily. Ever since, I’ve been captivated by its simplicity and beauty. I always knew that calla lilies would be the flowers I carried in my wedding bouquet.

Our photographer was Jodie Hurd. We were looking for a combination of documentary and candid style wedding photography for the day and Jodie’s style fit perfectly.

Jodie on the day was amazing on the day, she made me, and John feel super comfortable and relaxed when taking our family and couple photos. I would recommend Jodie to others. 

Kim and I had been together for a few years, and there was some family pressure on her side for us to get married. Although they weren’t expressing these expectations to me. I’d do things like organise a trip to Paris, and everyone expected me to propose in Paris, while I was happily oblivious and enjoying our city break. I did mean to propose one day, but years went by and I just hadn’t had the urgency. Eventually I hatched a plan – eight years in.

We take turns planning things. Especially around birthdays. The idea is that who ever is celebrating their birthday shouldn’t have to be busy with planning and organisational stress. So for her birthday I planned a trip to Bordeaux. We took the car. Me doing all of the driving (as always).

Kim was excited to know what we were doing but I hadn’t let anything slip, and I think the expectation, the timing, it was all built up in her, so she had some expectation that this might be the trip where I would propose.

She must have had some anticipation for the first stop – where would we be staying? would it be romantic? fancy?

The first stop was a box in an alley way.

I was actually an art installation in Nante, showcasing the microhome concept. It was technically above the alleyway I suppose. You had to climb a ladder. Kim doesn’t pack for climbing ladders. Fortunately there was a rope and pulley to hoist up your luggage.

She was quick to enjoy herself, but probably thought that this was not going to be the proposal. It wasn’t.

We drove down along the west coast and did some touristy things, on with a regular summer holiday, before ending up in Arachon Bay. Which.. is beautiful. Exactly what you’d expect for a cliche proposal destination. The restaraunt had an infinity pool looking over the bay. We sat there in the warm sunset, with oysters and wine. Kim even said to me – with a loaded hint that I was able to pick up this time, but didn’t let on – that this would be the perfect spot to propose.

I agreed. And just then, the man on the table next to us took that moment to do just that. He had a professional photographer cued up and everything. He got on one knee in front of the pool with the setting sun as their backdrop. Perfect sillouhet. We cheered for them. I made some comment about this is really how it should be done. I caught a look from Kim that was part “you idiot” part “you asshole”.

The next day I had a relaxing spa visit planned. After which we returned to our hotel and Kim opened the door to the room to find a trail of rose petals leading from the door to the bed, scattered around, and arranged in a heart shape on the bed. There was champagne on ice on the side table, and a ring box in the middle of the petal arrangement. She was shocked. She made her way through shill shrieks to the ring box and opened it up.

Pandora had a special on the Thanos Avengers(tm) infinity ring. I exclaimed happy birthday and gave her a hug. She tried so hard not to show her disappointment – she did a great job, but clearly it wasn’t what she had in mind. Although she does love the avengers, and had wanted the ring.

Again, I gave nothing away – I had no clue what else she might be expecting.

We had a fancy dinner in a posh place the next night – again, great spot and one of our favourite things to do – no proposal.

Next day we left the beautiful resort to continue on our way. Kim would later tell me that as we drove away from the luxury bit and on to “my bit” of the holiday (where we would do touristy things like cycle tours and museums) she thought to herself – He’s never going to propose, this is my life, and do you know what? I’m ok with it. I’m happy. Which is my favourite part of the story.

We got to Bordeaux and stayed in an ok hotel, did touristy things for a bit, Kim still having no insight into the itinerary, and then one evening I warned her to be ready for tomorrow as we should dress up nice, we were doing something posh again. She wasn’t best pleased. It was hot and we were in shorts and t-shirt mode. I had to battle with her a bit, but in the morning she was ready and a driver picked us up and drove us to the villeage of St. Emilion, which is rich in vineyards and steeped in wine history.

We were taken up to the Chateau du pressac, which has a terrace that over looks a valley of vineyards. A beautiful view, beautiful day.

Kim didn’t know of course that I’d arranged to have the terrace privately. We took some pictures stood together on the edge of the terrace and I asked the driver to come and take some of us. Which he did, and as he was recording I started some babbling speach and got down on one knee. Kim’s shock is immortalised in digital format. She repeatedly said no.

Which she then managed to garble out was meant to be like no- it’s not happening, you haven’t actually done this – rather than no i won’t marry you. A yes soon followed and we spent the day as a newly engaged couple drinking amazing wine in a beautiful location with great food.

Which was probably a good result, because Kim would have had a long walk home otherwise.

We opted for cupcakes instead of a traditional cake with two flavours. One of the flavours was a traditional red velvet and the other was a lemon and poppy seed.

The cupcakes were decorated with lavender and white cream cheese icing flowers. Cupcakes were made by Zoe’s Sweet Cake.

Put the effort in up front (early on) with the planning and make sure you have reliable people & vendors on your wedding day so that you have the freedom to just be in the moment. 

When selecting your vendors try and make the effort to have a conversation with them before you book. When selecting your vendor trust your gut. 

I think it would have been a good idea to have communicated to more people in person about having an un-plugged ceremony. Also I think we would have extended more invites to John’s extended family. 

Register here to be able to save all your favourite suppliers and venues to your own dashboard, where you can also save your favourite real weddings, shop items, ceremony readings and blog articles.