A beautiful countryside wedding filled with laughter, love, four-legged guests and a few unexpected surprises!

Some weddings have a little bit of everything, and Jess and Elliot's wonderful day at Bow Grange in Totnes, Devon, was certainly one of them. From a huge wedding party and a very excited dog to an unexpected encounter with a horse, it was a day full of brilliant moments to capture.

A Wedding Surrounded by Family and Friends

One of the first things that struck me about Jess and Elliot's wedding was just how many people were involved in their special day!

They had the biggest group of bridesmaids and groomsmen I've worked with so far, which certainly kept me on my toes when it came to organising the group photographs. But it also made for such a fun atmosphere, with plenty of laughter and excitement throughout the day.

Surrounded by their closest friends and family, Jess and Elliot celebrated their wedding against the beautiful backdrop of the Devon countryside.

A Beautiful Wedding Venue in Totnes

Bow Grange provided a lovely setting for the celebrations. With its countryside views, beautiful grounds and relaxed atmosphere, there were plenty of opportunities to capture those natural, unposed moments that I love so much.

We took some time away from the celebrations to explore the grounds for a few photographs of Jess and Elliot together.

I always enjoy this part of a wedding day. It's a chance for the couple to spend a little time together, away from the hustle and bustle, while we capture some relaxed portraits.

And on this occasion, our little walk led to something rather unexpected!

One of my favourite moments of the entire day wasn't something any of us had planned.

While walking around the grounds with Jess and Elliot, we came across a lovely couple who were taking their horses back to the field.

Never one to miss a photographic opportunity, I cheekily asked whether we might be able to borrow one of their horses for a few pictures.

Thankfully, they were more than happy to oblige!

It was such a lovely gesture, and we managed to capture some wonderful photographs that certainly weren't on the original wedding photography plan.

It's moments like these that I absolutely love about wedding photography. Sometimes the best photographs come from simply embracing whatever the day brings.

A huge thank you to the very kind horse owners for helping us create a rather special memory!

Of course, the horses weren't the only four-legged friends to make an appearance.

Later in the day, Jess and Elliot were joined by their dog, Stevie, who was clearly delighted to be part of the celebrations!

Full of energy and excitement, Stevie certainly made her presence known. We managed to capture some lovely moments of Jess spending time with her, although I suspect Stevie had slightly different ideas about how a wedding photoshoot should work!

As someone who loves capturing those little unscripted moments, having Stevie join the wedding was a wonderful addition to the day.

I also want to give a special mention to the team at Bow Grange.

Tom, Jasmine and the whole team were absolutely fantastic throughout the day. They were attentive, welcoming and worked incredibly hard to make sure Jess, Elliot and all their guests were well looked after.

And I have to say, they looked after me brilliantly too!

As a wedding photographer, that really does mean a lot. Wedding days are busy, and it's always appreciated when the venue team makes you feel just as welcome as everyone else.

The care and attention from the team helped create such a relaxed and enjoyable atmosphere for the celebrations.

As the evening arrived, it was time for some seriously good food.

A delicious hog roast was served, and I feel I have to give the crackling a special mention. Quite possibly the best crackling I've ever had!

With everyone well fed, the celebrations continued into the evening with music, dancing and plenty more laughter.

It was lovely seeing everyone enjoying themselves, and the dance floor provided lots of opportunities to capture those fun, candid moments that help tell the complete story of a wedding day.

Jess and Elliot, thank you so much for having me along to photograph your wedding day.

From your wonderful friends and family to Stevie's appearance, the unexpected horse photographs and the brilliant celebrations, it was a real pleasure to be part of it all.

I hope your photographs bring back lots of happy memories for many years to come.

And a special thank you once again to Tom, Jasmine and everyone at Bow Grange for being such wonderful hosts.

I'm Stuart, the photographer behind S A Thomson Photography, specialising in natural, relaxed and timeless wedding photography across Devon and the South West.

My approach is simple. No awkward poses, no forced smiles, just genuine moments and the story of your wedding day as it unfolds.

If you're planning your wedding at Bow Grange in Totnes, or anywhere else across Devon and the South West, I'd love to hear about your plans.