Adrian and Gabriella’s Wedding at Crowcombe Court – Dancing in the Sunset

Written By Simon Billing

Adrian & Gabriella’s Somerset Wedding at Crowcombe Court

From the moment we first spoke with Adrian and Gabriella, we knew this was going to be one of those weddings we wouldn’t forget. Every chat with them in the lead-up was filled with excitement, thoughtful details, and a real love for their people. This wasn’t just about the two of them, it was about bringing their friends and family together for something special. And that’s exactly what the day became.

Their wedding at Crowcombe Court had the most gorgeous sunshine, the kind of light that makes everything feel even more golden. The venue looked incredible, the energy was high and joyful, and there was this beautiful sense of presence from everyone there.

cake cut at sunset at crowcombe court

But the moment that completely stole it? The first dance. They did it outside on the lawn, as the sun was setting, a first for Crowcombe Court and an absolute showstopper. With everyone gathered around them, the music kicked in and suddenly Dancing Queen was echoing through the gardens. Grandparents were belting it out, kids were spinning in circles, and friends were up on their feet straight away. It was like something out of a film, completely unplanned, totally natural, and full of love.

A massive shout out to Prescott Entertainment for making this happen. He always brings something special to the evening of a wedding, making it feel truly personal for couples.

Adrian & Gabriella’s wedding at Crowcombe Court

bride and groom at crowcombe court

How did you guys meet?

Tinder... it all started with a swipe. 

Then our first date was at Ilminster Carnival, huddled under an umbrella to keep out of the rain, before having chicken kebabs in Gabii's mum's kitchen, and Adrian meeting too many of the family than should be allowed on a first date. 

When did you guys start planning your wedding?

Pretty quickly after getting engaged, in May 2023. We actually requested the date for our engagement shoot while we were on the plane back from Krakow!

first dance outside at crowcombe court

How long did it take you to find your perfect wedding venue?

We viewed 4 venues before falling in love with Crowcombe Court. We were adamant we wanted something a bit different, especially not a manor house! But viewed Crowcombe, 'just to see', and it was perfect! We booked it a month and a half after getting engaged.  

How would you describe your wedding theme? What was the inspiration?

Traditional, modern and classic.  There were neutral tones, featuring ivory flowers, creams, and beiges, with touches of gold and sparkle. We wanted something timeless and elegant. 

Tell us about your ceremony & your wedding reception

It was important to us that our ceremony was personal.  We said our own vows, had our family warm our rings and had photos of our loved ones to the side, that showed the love stories that came before ours. Gabii walked down the aisle to music from her childhood, and Adrian's parents did a reading, both in English and Polish. 

Bride walking down the isle at crowcombe court

We wanted the personal touches to continue throughout the day, and we wanted everyone to feel like they had been thought about. We did personalised colouring sheets for the children, with pencil pots with their names on, and mini cameras so we could see the day from their perspectives. We had heart-shaped fans and brollies to the side, just in case. The place names were ribbons, so everyone had a little keepsake, with shots of toffee vodka - nazdrowie! There were bathroom boxes with everything our guests needed in the emergency kits, and cocktail skewers and bar signs, all with our special touch. The day felt lighthearted, and having our first dance outside, surrounded by all of our family and friends, was just perfect. It was the best start to the best evening, celebrating with everyone. 

confetti throw at crowcombe court
bride and groom under veil

What was your favourite part of planning your wedding?

All the arts and crafts. A lot of the wedding was DIY, and it was so special being able to see it all come together.  We're very grateful to Gabii's mum for storing everything in her house! You could barely see the dining table and hallway by the time the wedding came around.

Do you have any regrets or things you wish you knew before planning a wedding?

I wish I had done more of the 'little bits' earlier. I was still writing letters to our parents the day before, and finalising some bits the morning of. It all turned out fine, but I could've used that time differently. 

Looking back on your wedding now, what was the most memorable moments?

Singing to Dancing Queen outside the front of the house with our family and friends. We danced our hearts out and sang at the top of our lungs. It was filled with so much love. 

What were some of the best decisions you made when planning your wedding day?

Booking Simon & Kiana! Seriously - from fixing Gabii's bustle when we couldn't find the button on the inner layer of her dress to just bringing the best vibes, and producing the most incredible photos for us to look back on, they were absolutely incredible from beginning to end. 

We also did the legal ceremony beforehand, which not only meant we had two wedding days, but also took some stress out of the wedding morning.

dancing at crowcombe court
bride running at crowcombe court

If you had any advice for future bride & grooms, what would that be?

No matter how stressed you feel on the run-up to your wedding day, all the stress goes away by the time it comes around! The day before our wedding, our cake got delivered and had completely collapsed due to the heat. By then, we just thought 'ah, we'll just cut it up and serve it as slices' - what other option did we have? We were lucky we had the absolute best people around us, and the incredible chef at Crowcombe managed to save the cake, so nobody would've ever known! 

speeches at crowcombe court
bridal party at crowcombe court
bride and groom walking at crowcombe court

“If you're looking for the best photographers look no further! Simon and Kiana are your perfect choice. They are absolutely amazing and we couldn't be happier with how they captured our day.
This is our 2nd time working with them (they did our engagement shoot and now wedding) and honestly, if you want someone that is going to capture the moments you may have missed during your day, don't worry they got it covered. They're friendly as anything and honestly they felt like they were part of the party! They managed to capture the day but you don’t even realise they’re there.
They captured the happy smiles, the tears, the dance moves, all from the morning until the evening. The best and most dynamic duo full of banter, laughs and emotions.

Thank you very much guys! We really appreciate it, we're still smiling every time we see the photos”

  • Adrian & Gabriella - Crowcombe Court

Suppliers on the Day

Simon Billing
Next

Golden Hour, Singing Waiters, and One Big Party — Huw & Katie’s Quantock Lakes Wedding