Zita & Neil – St Andrew’s Church Backwell & Coombe Lodge
Some days just feel like Somerset from start to finish, and Zita and Neil’s wedding was one of them – village church, winding country lanes and a golden‑hour drive up to Coombe Lodge with the hills doing their thing in the background.
St Andrew’s Church, Backwell
By the time Zita arrived at St Andrew’s Church in Backwell, everyone was already inside, settled into pews and buzzing quietly with that “it’s really happening” energy. The church itself is basically the blueprint for “English village church” – old stone, stained glass and that soft, slightly echoey light that makes everything feel a bit more magical.
Because guests were already seated, there was this brilliant stillness just outside the doors: a quick deep breath, a last dress check, and then straight into that long walk down the aisle. Inside, the warm light and historic details framed the readings, hymns and vows beautifully, and we tucked ourselves into corners to catch all the good stuff – hand squeezes, happy tears and those fast little glances between them that say far more than the official words.
Backwell lanes, bridal car and Coombe Lodge
After confetti on the church steps, it was time to swap stone walls for countryside views. Zita and Neil headed off towards Coombe Lodge in the bridal car, and Em tucked in behind them in our car, window down, lens out, grabbing photos along the lanes as they went. There’s something really special about those in‑between moments – just‑married smiles in the rear‑view mirror, a dress spilling over the back seat, the two of them finally breathing for a second with no one else in the car.
The drive itself isn’t long, but it’s enough to feel the day shift gears – village church fading into the background, Coombe Lodge getting closer with every bend in the road. By the time guests swept up the long drive, they were greeted by the honey‑coloured 1920s house, rolling hills and views out towards Chew Valley and Blagdon Lake, and it all felt like the perfect “part two” to the day.
Coombe Lodge wedding reception
Coombe Lodge is exclusive‑use, which basically means once you’re in, it’s your house for the day – and Zita and Neil definitely leaned into that. The entrance hall, sweeping staircase and limed‑oak panelling did their usual “Oh wow, this is nice” job as guests came in for drinks and canapés.
Most of the action happened in the light‑filled Music Room, which opens straight onto the terrace and lawns. It’s one of those spaces that can handle pretty much anything – long banquet tables, classic rounds, or something more relaxed – and it still feels airy and elegant rather than crowded. Speeches, laughs, a few happy‑cry moments… it all landed really nicely in that room.
Food, sunset and dance floor
Coombe Lodge has a bit of a reputation for very good food, and Zita and Neil’s menu absolutely lived up to that – beautifully presented plates, local ingredients and a front‑of‑house team who somehow managed to be everywhere without ever being in the way.
As the sun dropped, the Music Room shifted into full party mode with a brilliant live band getting everyone moving. Later in the evening, Zita changed into a stunning red dress – a traditional colour for her – and made her grand entrance down the sweeping staircase straight onto the dance floor. The room absolutely erupted; it was one of those moments that felt like pure celebration, with the band playing louder, guests cheering and the energy just skyrocketing from there. Guests drifted between the bar, terrace and dance floor, the hills turned that soft evening blue, and the night carried on exactly as a wedding that good should.
Waking up at Coombe Lodge
One of the perks of Coombe Lodge is its on‑site bedrooms – twelve bright, spacious en‑suite rooms tucked away upstairs – so the day doesn’t have to end with the last song. Zita and Neil stayed over with some of their favourite people, which meant the wedding eased gently into breakfast, coffee and “Do you remember when…?” stories the next morning, all without leaving that countryside bubble.
If you’re planning a St Andrew’s Church Backwell wedding and looking for somewhere special for the reception, or you’ve fallen down a “Coombe Lodge Somerset wedding” search hole, Zita and Neil’s day is a pretty perfect example of how well those two work together: classic village church energy, big‑sky manor house views, a little bridal‑car‑convoy magic in the middle, a red-dress dance-floor moment for the ages and a relaxed, elegant feel from first bell to final dance.
