I couldn’t think of a lovelier way to end the week than this beautiful sunny wedding. The groom and bride are Mike and Roksana, the venue is St Tewdrics and the day was photographed so beautifully by Martin Dabek Photography in South Wales. For the gorgeous couple, their ceremony was a really important part of their day, a blending of cultures and incorporating Polish traditions as they made their vows. As the story of their day unfolds, the sunlight turns golden and the images in fields of yellow flowers are absolute bliss. This is an unforgettable wedding – as always, I’ve saved some favourite images to share on instagram – follow @englishweddingblog for more!
Wedding photographer’s website
We chose Bristol wedding photographer Martin Dabek
Wedding photographer review
Martin was absolutely phenomenal in capturing the magic of our wedding day. From start to finish, he brought creativity, warmth, and professionalism that made the entire experience seamless and joyful. His ability to put us and our guests at ease meant he could capture countless candid, heartfelt moments that we’ll treasure forever. The photos were stunning—each one a beautiful reflection of the emotions and energy of the day—and he delivered them to us incredibly quickly. We had so much fun reliving every moment through his lens. Thank you, Martin, for going above and beyond. You truly nailed it!
Your best wedding moment or memory
Roksana: For me the best wedding memory was doing the first look with the groom before the wedding ceremony, seeing my husband to be just before the ceremony was a very special and private moment for us.
Mike: My favourite moment was walking down the aisle with my soon to be wife and sitting by her side during the church ceremony. These moments felt incredibly intimate, whilst also having the love and support of our friends and family.
Tell us about your wedding ceremony / celebrant / readings?
Our wedding ceremony took place at Parafia w Bristolu, and it was truly unforgettable thanks to the wonderful members of the parish. From the priest to the organist and the church decorator, everyone played a part in making the day feel incredibly special. Their warmth, care, and attention to detail created a beautiful and meaningful atmosphere that we’ll always cherish. We’re so grateful for their dedication and support, it meant the world to us.
Tell us anything you did differently – we love hearing about NEW traditions (or none at all!)
We did a few things differently to incorporate some Polish traditions (bride is Polish): – Bride and groom did fist look before the ceremony followed by blessings from the brides parents – Bride and groom walked down the church aisle together to symbolise unity and equal/ voluntary entry to the marriage – Before the wedding breakfast bride and groom were welcomed with a tray of bread, salt, and shots of vodka by brides parents, each of these items have their own symbolic meanings.
Videographer name + review
KB Wedding Videography
We’re thrilled with the final videos! Kien’s work has allowed us to relive the day in such a meaningful way. He captured so many special moments with care and precision, and we couldn’t be happier with the result. We actually hadn’t planned on having a videographer originally, but we’re so glad we changed our minds and booked KB Wedding Videography. The videos not only helped us revisit the day but also brought everything together beautifully, giving us a real sense of closure. Fantastic job, and we’re incredibly grateful.
Venue name + review
St Tewdrics House
St Tewdrics House was the perfect choice for our wedding—an absolute gem from the moment we first visited. The venue looked breathtaking on the day, and so many of our guests commented on its charm, especially the stunning wildflowers blooming throughout the garden. A special shoutout to our incredible wedding coordinator, Eliza. Her support, organisation, and unwavering dedication were truly invaluable.
We faced a major challenge on the day that could have derailed everything, but thanks to Eliza and the amazing team at St Tewdrics, the issue was swiftly handled with professionalism and care. They went above and beyond to ensure our celebration stayed on track and felt just as magical as we’d hoped. Beautiful venue, exceptional team, thank you to all at St Tewdrics House for delivering an unforgettable experience.
Tell us a little about your outfits – both of you!
Groom: Navy three piece suit from Moss along with a champagne tie. The suit jacket was bespoke with custom lining, lapel, button holes, and embroidered message.
Bride: V neck white fitted dress with long train. The veil had small flowers and roses. Shout out Jade from Abigail Westrup Bridal who worked tirelessly to alter the dress and make sure it fit perfectly on the day.
Hair + makeup name + review
Hair: Natalie at Beau Bridal
Natalie at Beau Bridal did an incredible job styling the bride’s hair into elegant Hollywood waves that looked flawless and held beautifully throughout the entire day and night. From the trial to the wedding morning, Natalie was professional, kind, and reassuring.
Natalie’s calming presence was especially appreciated when nerves started to kick in—she offered gentle support that helped the bride feel more relaxed and confident. Natalie’s talent and easy going nature made her great part of the team, and the final result was everything the bride had hoped for.
Makeup: Kirsty Rowlands Makeup
Kirsty Rowlands did a fantastic job with the bridal makeup. It looked flawless, felt comfortable, and stayed perfect throughout the entire day and night. She was calm, professional, and reassuring during the morning preparations, which helped create a relaxed atmosphere. Kirsty took feedback from the trial and tailored her approach beautifully, showing real attention to detail. Her organisation and warm presence made a big difference, and the final result was stunning.
Florist name + review
Catherine Gray
Catherine Gray did an absolutely beautiful job with our wedding flowers—they looked stunning and brought our whole day to life. During the planning stage, we visited her workshop, which was such a fun and inspiring experience. Catherine instantly understood the look and feel we were going for and offered brilliant suggestions to help shape our vision. Her guidance throughout was thoughtful and creative, and she struck the perfect balance between what we dreamed of and what worked within our budget. Communication was smooth and reassuring, and we always felt in safe hands. We’re so grateful for her talent and care—she and her team truly helped make our day unforgettable.
Cake maker name + review
Chars cakes and bakes
Charlotte did a great job to create a gorgeous two tier (one Gluten free layer) cake for our wedding. The piping and the decorations looked gorgeous and just as we imagined!
Stationery maker’s name + review
Groom’s feedback: “my beautiful wife working tirelessly on the stationery after work”
Any crafty projects or homemade styling touches?
Instead of a guest book we had guests write us messages on a deck of cards.
Entertainment
Marcus at Speaker box was an excellent DJ, he understood the vibes very well and kept all the guests on the dance floor
It’s wonderful to be sharing this beautiful September wedding with you all today. Izzy and Tom chose some of our favourite suppliers for their wedding, and they’ve sent the sweetest reviews for their English Wedding interview. Not least, Barley Wood wedding photographer Martin Dabek who gets a glowing recommendation from Izzy and Tom. There are some truly breathtaking images of their day here, so slow your scroll and settle in for a lovely read!
Our wedding photography
We chose Bristol wedding photographer Martin Dabek.
Martin was fantastic on the day. He was relaxed and fun, putting us and our guests at ease. He also managed to be everywhere all at once!
When we saw the photos we were thrilled. They captured the day perfectly and we loved that he also got some great shots of our guests on the dance floor. Martin also made a wedding video for us using footage he’d captured on his iPhone set to some of the songs we used on the day which is the perfect memento.
Our wedding venue
Barley Wood wedding venue in rural Bristol
Barley Wood is a really special venue. It is an old house set in gorgeous grounds with both outdoor and indoor ceremony options and a Great Hall for the wedding breakfast. It has lovely bedrooms so we were able to have family and friends stay for the weekend of the wedding. It really felt like home for the weekend.
We loved that it was a blank canvas and we were able to decorate the house however we chose. Zach and the team there were so helpful and ensured everything ran smoothly on the day.
The morning of our wedding day was rainy but luckily the clouds parted and the sun came out in time for us to have an outdoor ceremony overlooking the Mendips. This was such a magical part of the day. The weather stayed warm so we were able to have our drinks reception outside as well as a pizza van and coffee van in front of the house in the evening.
Our wedding outfits
After lots of shopping around, I found my dress in Lace and Grace in Keynsham.
The dresses there are stunning and I was stuck between two. Becky and Carol were brilliant and helped me make my decision. In the end I went for a minimalist Chosen by Kyha dress and added sleeves and a personalised veil to make the dress my own.
I wanted to add a hair piece and by chance found a beautiful hairband in Bradford on Avon.
I treated myself to some gold Jimmy Choos to complete the look as the slit in my dress meant my shoes were on show!
Tom decided he wanted a tux fairly early on but wanted something a little different, so went for a navy tux with black details. He hired this from Clifton Suits.
Our amazing suppliers
Papadeli catering
Papadeli were amazing as our wedding caterers. We knew we wanted something a bit different food wise and for the wedding breakfast to be sharing style and they really delivered. Lots of our guests commented on how delicious the food was. Lou was so organised in the build up and felt like a friend by the wedding day. She was also brilliant at catering for anyone with dietary requirements which was very reassuring.
Pip Floral Studio
Anna supplied us with the most gorgeous flowers including a lovely arrangement that went up the staircase leading to the Great Hall. I loved my bouquet so much that I had it pressed and framed as a keepsake.
Little Wedding Helper
Kirsten helped us to style our wedding. We had calls with her to discuss our vision and she had loads of props we were able to borrow on the day to save us buying things we wouldn’t use again. She was amazing the day before and set everything up meaning we could have a (fairly!) relaxed afternoon and evening before the wedding.
George Wilson music
We hired George, a singer and pianist, to play for our ceremony and drinks reception. He took requests from guests and brought great energy to the beginning of the day.
Photo & video – Martin Dabek PhotographyVenue – Barley Wood
Dress designer – Kyha Studios
Boutique – Lace and Grace
Suit – Clifton Suits
Catering – Papadeli Events
Flowers – Pip Floral Studio
Styling – The Little Wedding Helper
Hair – Bridal Hair by Jodie
Pianist – George Wilson Music
I’d say this Plas Dinam wedding was adorable, but honestly the alpacas take it to the next level! Helen and David make a gorgeous couple, the atmosphere is pure joy and the pops of colour everywhere make this day look perfect. Keep scrolling for some stunning images by Bristol wedding photographer Martin Dabek, and some fabulous supplier recommendations from Helen and David!
Wedding photographer’s website
Plas Dinam wedding photographer Martin Dabek https://martindabek.com
Wedding photographer review
Martin was amazing and such an integral part of the weekend. He gave us so much invaluable advice in the run up to, and on the day. We really enjoyed having lots of little photo shoots throughout the day, which gave us a chance to escape the madness and have some lovely quiet moments as a couple. Martin was so friendly and easy going that he really felt like a part of the wedding party! And needless to say, the photos are absolutely stunning.
Your best wedding moment or memory
David surprised me with a little visit from the Alpacas! (https://admiralsviewalpacas.co.uk/) I have absolutely no idea how he managed to keep that a secret but I was very impressed and it was such an adorable surprise. I also can’t think back to our speeches without shedding a tear, everyone was so lovely and funny, and I’m so glad we opened up the floor to impromptu toasts at the end.
Tell us anything you did differently – we love hearing about NEW traditions (or none at all!)
As we officially tied the knot during lockdown, for our wedding party we combined all of our favourite parts of the traditional ceremonies from our respective cultures. From the Jewish side we had a beautiful Chuppah and had our family recite the seven blessings, we shared a cup of wine and at the end of the ceremony David broke the customary glass. From the Persian side we had the Sofreh table, displaying symbolic items, and my brother did a traditional reading, whilst happily married women dusted us with sugar to ‘sweeten’ the marriage. It all felt very special and unique to us and was one of my favourite parts of the day.
Venue name + review
Plas Dinam was our dream venue and worked perfectly for what we wanted.
It was so special to have all our loved ones with us for a whole weekend in such a beautiful venue. The team were so helpful during planning and on the weekend itself, ensuring that everything ran smoothly and all of our slightly less traditional plans (alpacas, laser tag!) went off without a hitch.
Tell us a little about your outfits – both of you!
I was very keen on buying a second hand wedding dress and was so lucky to find my dream dress on Still White. I am obsessed with its detachable sleeves and pockets!
Florist name + review
Tammy at TMS events (https://tmsevents.co.uk/) was brilliant from the very beginning and helped bring my vision to life with nothing more than a screenshot from pinterest and the words ‘feathers’ and ‘moss’. She understood exactly the vibe we were going for and the end result blew me away.
Any crafty projects or special styling touches?
I made our welcome sign and the seating plan, as well as the place settings, the programmes and the tags for the favours. The biggest shout out goes to my brother-in-law who did the most amazing job of decorating the stable ceiling beams!
We couldn’t get away without mentioning our favourite fudge shop The Fudge Patch who supplied our wedding favours and an unsightly amount of fudge for our sweet table!
Hair + makeup name + review
Rebecca Forshaw
Rebecca was so lovely and we all felt so relaxed. We had a really good trial beforehand and made some adjustments on the day and it all came together beautifully-my hair stayed in until the Monday morning! (when I reluctantly had to give it a brush)
—-dowm
—her
Imagine sitting down to eat with all of your favourite people, in the gardens of one of England’s most striking stately homes. The sun shining as evening falls, with views across the Somerset countryside. Bliss, and a dream wedding that came true for Holly & Nat!
Images in this blog are by Bristol wedding photographer Martin Dabek, who we’re delighted to say is a member of English Wedding. He’s an experienced wedding photographer, based in Somerset, and has photographed over 400 weddings across 14 years.
This day was glorious. The colourful flowers set the scene for a fun, vibrant and colourful celebration. There’s so many special touches and little details which make this wedding stand out from the crowd.
Holly & Nat told us Brympton wedding photographer Martin Dabek was fantastic. Martin is based in Bristol, Somerset and covers weddings throughout the UK and abroad.
“Martin was great and stopped at nothing to get the perfect shot.” ~ Holly & Nat
The setting is sublime. Brympton House is picturesque and perfect for an indoor or outdoor wedding. If you’re lucky enough to have amazing weather, you have option to dine outside. Inside the house itself is equally fabulous. Holly & Nat said,
“Brympton House was fantastic. The staff were great and so kind and accommodating. The venue itself and the gardens were stunning.”
I couldn’t agree more! With colourful florals and styling by Brympton Styling, background music from The Bristol String Quartet and a lively party in the company of Mariachi Loco, this has to be one of the most fun weddings I’ve seen!
My artistic heart has fallen head over heels for Cat Faulkner’s illustrations of the couple and their guests – what an amazing keepsake to take home from a wedding – they’re really beautiful!
Martin Dabek is a Somerset wedding photographer and a member of English Wedding
Samantha Gilchrist, the owner of The Gilchrist Collection, has had the pleasure of working with thousands of nearlyweds, across 12 venues including Crowcombe Court and The Ravenswood, making her the expert when it comes to wedding planning:
“Planning a wedding should be an enjoyable experience and of course the happy couple shouldnt feel stressed, but if you are planning on tying the knot in 2025 (or even 2026), here is a checklist to help you get those wedding wheels turning. You should aim to have these steps nailed down nice and early, because the end of the aisle is not so far away!”
All photos in this blog are by Somerset wedding photographer Martin Dabek Photography, and are from Eleanor and James’s wedding at Crowcombe Court.
BEGIN WITH A WEDDING BUDGET:
Yes I know! Budgets may seem like the party pooper that’s ready to shatter your big celebration of love, but it really should be the thing you consider first. It’s essential that you sit down with your partner and have an honest conversation about what you can afford.
Yes your wedding is an incredibly important day but heading into debt is sure to put a downer on things to say the least! If you are expecting financial help from relatives it is important to have those conversations with them as an urgency too.
GET YOUR GUEST LIST:
Your budget will significantly influence your guest list, so consider who you would like to invite next. I recommend an A, B and C list.
The ‘A’ list is day guests, who you just couldn’t see yourself getting married without.
List ‘B’ should consist of evening guests, who you would love to have in the day and could be included as a day guest if someone declines.
Finally list ‘C’; people who you wouldn’t mind if they were unable to come or who are acquaintances. This can be a list of people who you know will bring the fun and you would love to invite if your venue allows you to have unlimited evening guests. List ‘C’ can also act as a bank of people to invite if other guests decline to make up numbers.
VIV: VERY IMPORTANT VENUE:
As the owner of 12 wedding venues I’ve seen the joys of grooms and brides securing their fairytale location for their happily ever-after.
I have also, however, seen couples incredibly disappointed because they have left booking their dream venue too late and now we have no dates available!
Once you know what budget you have to spend on a venue and how large it will need to be to accommodate your wedding party, it is essential to start doing your research on wedding venues. Get those tours booked in and get ready to be wowed by the incredible venues available.
CREATE YOUR WEDDING PLANNING TIMELINE:
So now you have your budget sorted, venue booking fee down and you know who is coming, work out a timeline for wedding planning. e.g. Decide when you’ll need to book your florist (if you have one), cake designer, videographer, ice cream van(!) etc and when to start thinking about colour palettes and decor?
A PHOTO FINISH:
Before I owned wedding venues I was a wedding photographer, and let me tell you they book up fast! Working with a photographer who is going to immortalise your wedding day forever is something you want to get right. Spend time looking at portfolios and social media and make a decision with your partner on what you want your day to be remembered like – then get that deposit down! You don’t want to be left with your second (or third, or fourth) choice.
As you navigate the initial stages of wedding planning, remember that securing certain milestones like setting a budget, confirming your guestlist and picking a venue sets the foundation for the entire process. Enjoy the journey, and here’s to crafting a celebration that reflects the essence of your love story. Cheers to your happily ever after!”
