Just as spring began to bloom, Anna and Jake gathered their closest family and friends for a wedding day full of shouts of laughter, love, and unforgettablly romantic moments at the stunning Coombe Lodge in Blagdon. As their Somerset wedding celebrant, it was a privilege to tell their love story; a story so enduring and heartwarming that the entire room radiated joy.
From the very beginning, their romance felt destined – well, to Jake, anyway. Meeting as teenagers at work, Jake fell in love with Anna at first sight. His tender, funny, and devoted character won her heart, and their guests couldn’t resist laughing at the stories of how he won her over. When a couple has been together for so long, and their friends and family know their journey inside out, it becomes such a pleasure to enrich their ceremony with emotion as well as memory. Together, we created a personalised wedding ceremony that reflected not only their shared values but also their deep connection and commitment to one another.
Jake, full of emotion, and Anna, his calm and steady rock, embraced the ceremony at their own pace. We wove their story with love and care, gently building towards their heartfelt vows and the symbolic exchange of rings. One of my favourite moments came when I shared secret contributions from the children Anna works with—words that lit her up with joy and even brought tears to her mum’s eyes.
Adding to the magic, their best man Antonio stepped in for an impromptu role during the ring exchange, handing them each their rings and making the moment uniquely theirs. That’s the beauty of a celebrant-led wedding: it allows for spontaneity, authenticity, and deeply personal touches that make the day unforgettable.
When Anna and Jake sealed their vows with a kiss, time seemed to pause. Their happiness was palpable, and every guest in the room felt certain they were witnessing a love meant to last a lifetime.
The celebrations continued with cocktails, cake, and warm spring sunshine as everyone gathered outside for laughter, hugs, and the kind of moments that linger in the memory forever.
What I LOVED ABOUT THIS WEDDING:
- Planning with Anna & Jake over roast dinners, laughter, and shared stories (including plenty of Labrador mischief!).
- The warm hug I received from them both as they saw me. It was a sign that they felt just as comfortable and happy with me as I was with them.
- Anna’s brilliant bridal party: a lively, loving group who supported her every step of the way, and Jake’s dad, who was as awesome in real life as I’d been told he would be, and so proud of his son!
- Jake’s cheeky boudoir Polaroids—proof that he could easily have a second career in modelling!
- A surprise guest: an overly friendly wasp, who made quite the appearance during the ceremony (Sian, our brilliant photographer, and I had to dodge it more than once!).
What anna & jake loved:
Thank you Anna, who said, “Choosing Eleanor for our ceremony was the single best decision we made for the whole event! It could not have been filled with more love, humour or personality and we can’t thank her enough for what she did. She went above and beyond to get to know us and genuinely celebrate our day with us. From our first meeting, we were so comfortable with her and knew we were in good hands. She took time to surprise me with heartfelt messages from children I teach, spoke to our closest family and friends and bonded with us over our love of crazy labradors. Of all the compliments we had from guests about our day, the ceremony comes top. Many have told us it was the most memorable and romantic ceremony they’ve been to. We felt that, but good to know we aren’t just biased. The other comment I continued to receive was asking how long we had known Eleanor and the shock when I shared that she wasn’t an old friend (although she feels like one now) just an incredible celebrant who took time to truly know us. We thank Eleanor enough for what she did before, during and after, including sending us special package with our ceremony included. I also need to commend her for her incredible professionalism whilst being harassed by a wasp mid-ceremony. Cannot recommend her enough and sincerely hope we have another special moment where her services will be needed again.”
Thank you, Anna and Jake, for trusting me with your day, and to the wonderful Sian Hall Photography for capturing these beautiful photographs.
If you’re dreaming of a wedding that feels truly yours, I would love to help you create a personalised wedding ceremony that celebrates your love story in the most authentic and meaningful way. As a Somerset wedding celebrant, I specialise in elegant wedding ceremonies that are heartfelt, joyful, and completely unique to each couple.
