Some couples have a way of putting you at ease the moment you meet them, and Emma and Josh are very much one of those couples.
Listening to them talk about their wedding day, what stood out wasn’t just how beautiful the day was, but how much of themselves they had woven into it. From handmade details and carefully chosen music to the inclusion of their much-loved dog Cadzow, every part of the celebration felt personal, thoughtful, and full of heart.
Set against the beautiful backdrop of Berwick Lodge, their wedding brought together family, friendship, creativity and plenty of laughter. Hearing them share their memories, it was clear that this wasn’t just a beautiful wedding day — it was a celebration that felt completely and authentically their own.
How It All Began
Emma and Josh met at university through mutual friends and quickly discovered a shared love of board games, long walks and spending time outdoors.
Their relationship grew naturally from there. While Emma is the creative one, always drawing, making and crocheting, Josh brings a thoughtful, organised approach to life. Together, they balance each other beautifully, each appreciating the strengths the other brings.
Years later, Josh proposed during a trip to Brighton.
What Emma thought was simply a surprise weekend away turned out to be something much more personal. Knowing how important creativity is to Emma, Josh arranged for a local art gallery to display elements of her own work before asking her to marry him. It was thoughtful, unexpected and entirely reflective of the relationship they had built together.
Finding Their Perfect Venue
Although neither Emma nor Josh had a strong connection to Bristol at the time, they knew they wanted a location that felt accessible for both families, who would be travelling from Newport and London.
Their search led them to Berwick Lodge.
After attending a wedding fair at the venue, they immediately fell in love with it. There was something about the atmosphere that felt different. Hidden away from the city, surrounded by beautiful grounds and full of character, it offered exactly what they were looking for — somewhere elegant yet relaxed, intimate yet spacious enough to bring everyone together.
Most importantly, it felt welcoming.
A Day Filled With Joy
The wedding morning began in the best possible way: slowly.
Emma spent the morning with her bridesmaids enjoying pastries, prosecco and a wonderfully relaxed atmosphere, while Josh focused on the moments he had been looking forward to for months — seeing Emma walk down the aisle and watching Cadzow take on his role as ring bearer.
Looking back, both describe the day as one where they never stopped smiling.
From the ceremony to the speeches, dinner and evening celebrations, there was a sense that everything unfolded exactly as it should. The Berwick Lodge team worked quietly behind the scenes, allowing Emma and Josh to focus entirely on being present with their family and friends.
It was, as they described it, a day filled with love from beginning to end.
The Walk Down the Aisle
For Josh, the clearest memory remains the moment he saw Emma walking towards him with her father. He admits he had already been trying not to cry before she even appeared, but seeing her made everything suddenly feel real.
For Emma, the experience was strangely focused. Despite the room being filled with people she loved, she remembers looking only at Josh as she walked towards him.
It was the moment where months of planning disappeared and everything narrowed down to the two of them.
Handmade Details and Personal Touches
One of the things that made Emma and Josh’s wedding feel so personal was how much of themselves they brought into it.
Emma poured her creativity into the details, crocheting wedding favours, creating artwork and decorating spaces with handmade touches that reflected their personalities. Josh channelled his energy into the music.
From ceremony playlists to choosing their evening entertainment, he spent countless hours carefully selecting songs that would help tell the story of their day. Even the ceremony music included subtle nods to Emma’s interests, including pieces inspired by Studio Ghibli.
Together, they approached planning in much the same way they approach life — dividing responsibilities, trusting each other completely and creating something that felt uniquely theirs.
Cadzow Steals the Show
No retelling of the day would be complete without Cadzow.
Their beloved dog played an important role as ring bearer and quickly became one of the stars of the wedding.Like any good wedding guest, he brought plenty of personality with him. There were moments of distraction, moments of excitement and even a few decorations that didn’t quite survive an encounter with his enthusiastic tail.
For Emma and Josh, though, that was exactly the point.
Cadzow is such a big part of their everyday life that they couldn’t imagine celebrating without him there. His presence added laughter, warmth and a few wonderfully unpredictable moments to the day.
A First Dance to Remember
If there was one part of the wedding they were nervous about, it was the first dance.
Neither of them would describe themselves as natural dancers, so the weeks leading up to the wedding involved YouTube tutorials, living room rehearsals and plenty of attempts to remember choreography. By the time the day arrived, neither was entirely convinced they knew what they were doing.
But as is often the case, what mattered wasn’t perfection.
Looking back now, neither remembers the steps particularly clearly. What they remember is sharing the moment together, surrounded by everyone they love, and laughing through any mistakes along the way.
Sometimes the moments we worry about most become the ones we treasure most.
The Beauty of Berwick Lodge
When Emma talks about her favourite photographs from the day, she immediately mentions the daffodils. Married in March, she hadn’t known exactly what the gardens would look like, but the bright spring blooms created a beautiful backdrop for their couple portraits. As someone from Wales, seeing the daffodils felt especially meaningful.
The grounds became the setting for some of their favourite memories, including planting a cherry tree together with a plaque marking their wedding day — something they can return to and visit for years to come.
They also loved having access to the Antolia Terrace, which gave guests another space to gather and helped the celebrations flow naturally throughout the venue.
Looking Back
When asked what they think they’ll remember in twenty years’ time, the answers weren’t grand gestures or perfectly planned details.
They talked about seeing each other at the end of the aisle.
They talked about Cadzow.
They laughed about a mishap during the confetti exit when one door opened and the other didn’t.
They remembered the sparklers, the music, the daffodils and the people who had travelled to celebrate alongside them.
Most of all, they remembered how the day felt.
For Emma and Josh, their wedding at Berwick Lodge wasn’t about creating a perfect day. It was about creating a day that felt like them — creative, joyful, slightly quirky, full of love and surrounded by the people who matter most.
And listening to them tell the story, it’s hard to imagine a more fitting celebration.
Planning Your Own Berwick Lodge Wedding?
Inspired by Emma and Josh’s beautiful spring wedding? If you’re beginning your own wedding journey, you may find these guides helpful:
- Planning Your Wedding at Berwick Lodge – A Stunning Countryside Venue in Bristol
- Questions to Ask Wedding Venues
- How To Start Wedding Planning
You can also explore our Weddings at Berwick Lodge page to discover more about celebrating your day at our beautiful Bristol venue.
Photography by Richard Hotwells from Hotwells Wedding Photography.
