Even though wedding photographer Holly Clark and James Paull had first met each other on a group ski trip, it wasn’t until their mutual friends intervened years later to set them up—when James was visiting London from Australia—when sparks flew. And after more than two years together, James planned a sweet proposal at home.
James made an excuse not to go to their friends’ house for a drink to set up the moment. “Whilst I was nipped out, James made dinner, filled the living room with candles and refreshed Find My Friends a million times to check when I was en route home!” Holly exclaims. “I came back to him on one knee . . . We moved into our new house a few months before, so it felt even more special being at home.”
Once engaged, the couple quickly booked Babington House in Somerset—where James grew up—for their spring wedding. Holly and James had spent many weekends away at the house, so it was an easy choice. They planned the celebration alongside Emma Gold and Lexi Rose of GSP Events in just 10 weeks. Over The Moon Directory Photographer Corbin Gurkin and Tynegate Films lensed every once-in-a-lifetime moment of the weekend.
The bride wore Emilia Wickstead. Even though she feels most at home in a trouser suit, Holly opted for a dress only when they decided to hold the ceremony in Babington’s little chapel. “I did though know that I wanted something structured and with clean lines,” Holly shares. “Emilia Wickstead is a magician at creating pieces that completely fit that brief. I tried on one dress and knew it was the one straight away.”
On the day-of, Holly got ready in If Only If nighties with makeup artist Alesandra Macsim and hairstylist Charleigh Jayne, who made her feel like the best version of herself. Holly also scented the bedrooms with candles from Grove England and wore their Anemone perfume—a scent that will now always remind her of the day. And instead of a veil, the bride opted for a long scarf, draped around her shoulders for the service. She completed her look with Manolo Blahniks. Bridesmaids complemented her in cornflower blue dresses of their choosing, while flower girls wore La Coqueta.
James looked handsome in a bespoke tuxedo by Hackett on Sloane Street with the Rolex that his mother gifted his father on their own wedding day, 50 years prior.
On March 19, 2026, Holly and her father walked down the chapel aisle that is believed to date back to 1748. Florals by LVF Creative Studio surrounded the altar for a burst of spring. “For anyone who knows us, they know we both cry easily,” Holly laughs. “And therefore, it was no surprise, we could hardly get through the vows. As soon as we started crying, everyone just laughed. It was an intensely personal mix of emotion and lots of laughter, which was exactly as we’d hoped.” Once officially announced as married, the couple recessed to “This Will Be.”
Celebrations began with Champagne on the lawn in front of the house, followed by a wedding breakfast, served as a feasting-style menu. “The tables were dressed with stunning tableware by Maison Margaux. And one of our favorite touches from the day, were the individual poems on the back of everyone’s menus,” Holly chimes in. “We worked with Tally of Pinky Studio, who wrote these, and Kilkie Sands, who set them so beautifully—some friends took them home to frame.”
Later at the bar, transformed by Forta Productions, BEAT of ALR Music was ready to get the party started. The newlyweds shared a first dance to “Happy Together.” “We love the lyrics and wanted it to become not just our first dance song but the song of the wedding, so we had it played throughout the few days in various ways,” Holly explains. “Our pianist Carl Joseph first played the melody at the welcome party, and then our friend, Alex, played it on the violin while we signed the register.”
For late-night dancing, Holly made an outfit change into a minidress by The Own Studio. And after the revelry died down and the wedding day came to a close, the couple went on a short honeymoon, starting in Venice. They continued on to Paris via the ultra-chic Over The Moon Directory Venue Venice Simplon-Orient-Express. “We wanted to do something totally different for our honeymoon, something we wouldn’t otherwise do,” Holly begins. “And this felt like a very romantic, unique way to celebrate.”
