Somerset Registration Service teamed up with Who Is Benjamin Photography to give away a wedding in November. A ceremony for up to 100 people in the historic Tudor Hall at Taunton Register Office and photography package were up for grabs. Facebook users just had to answer the question “Why do you want to #SayIDoInSomerset.” We caught up with our lucky winners Laura and Shaun to hear their story, while Ben got busy taking a few pre-wedding shots.
Somerset Romance
Together for 12 years, Laura and Shaun have 2 daughters and are loving living in Bishops Lydeard after moving there from Taunton. Laura is a maternity trainee nursing associate, while Shaun is a support worker for clients with disabilities.
If you want a real Somerset romance, it doesn’t get better than this, really. Shaun’s family owned a holiday business at Dunster Beach, and met Laura as a teenager when she got a job selling ice creams. They dated for a while, but Shaun moved to London. Years later they reconnected, and he moved back to Somerset to rekindle their teen romance.
Time To Take The Plunge
While they’ve been engaged for 6 years, they’ve never quite found time to take the plunge. Laura said “It’s a combination of having kids, moving house 5 times, changing our jobs and finances. We just haven’t managed to fit it in yet!” They had vague plans to set a date next year but were still saving up. While she was scrolling Facebook late one night, she came across our competition post and decided to give it a whirl. Laura did assure us that she let Shaun know first, just to make sure he was on board with the idea!
Quantocks and Countryside
Over coffees and milkshakes at the Cosy Club in Taunton (one of our fab Supplier Directory Members), we chatted about what they love about Somerset. The big highlight for them as a couple is the countryside, another reason to locate to a village. “We’re country bumpkins at heart” said Laura. “We love walking on the Quantocks, and being near our family. It’s great living somewhere people are so friendly.”
The Last Piece Of The Puzzle
We asked them what the most important thing about their wedding was. For some couples it’s the party or putting on a big show, other people get caught up on specifics like the budget or how many people they want to invite. They said, in unison, “Us!” Shaun even admitted that he’d be happy if it was just the two of them. For these two, it’s all about cementing their relationship. According to Laura, it’s been a long journey with lots of ups and downs, and this feels like the last piece of the puzzle.
Bridesmaid Dresses: Check!
They’ve not thought much about music and readings yet, but the aim is to keep everything relaxed and friendly. The one thing Laura is sure about is that she’d love to be walked down the aisle by her dad. The girls have already picked out their bridesmaid dresses, so that’s one thing ticked off the list. We’ll be checking back in with the family nearer the big day to find out what else they’ve added to the ceremony.
The Wedding Guests
What’s really unusual about their wedding plans so far is the guest list. Shaun’s keen to keep it small, but he hasn’t actually met half of the wedding party yet! He’s part of a group of Xbox gamers who’ve played together for the past 15 years. They’re finally coming together in real life to celebrate his marriage. All his long distance pals will be heading to Somerset to organise his stag activities and spend time together before the wedding.
Say I Do In Somerset
It’s such a privilege to be able to help such a lovely family finally start the next chapter in their story. Somerset Registration Service provide marriage and partnership ceremonies at over 130 venues across the county. With the simple statutory ceremony costing just £57, it’s never been easier to #SayIDoInSomerset. You can find everything you need to know about the process right here on our website. If you have any extra questions, just get in touch with the team. Thanks to Ben for working with us on this project. Find him in our directory and on social media to see more of what he does.
