{"id":195626,"date":"2015-04-26T23:00:27","date_gmt":"2015-04-26T13:00:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.easyweddings.com\/uk\/real-weddings\/new-yorkers-return-somerset-english-countryside-wedding\/"},"modified":"2022-03-17T09:40:08","modified_gmt":"2022-03-16T22:40:08","slug":"new-yorkers-return-somerset-english-countryside-wedding","status":"publish","type":"uk-real-wedding","link":"https:\/\/www.easyweddings.co.uk\/real-weddings\/uk\/real-weddings\/new-yorkers-return-somerset-english-countryside-wedding\/","title":{"rendered":"New Yorkers return to Somerset for English countryside wedding"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"lead\">Meet Gaby and Ben, the free-spirited California girl and the sensitive English gentleman.<\/p>\n<p>Gaby Wilkerson, 25, met Ben Ashwell, 26 at a Superbowl party while she was in London on a student visa. They bonded over a \u201clack of interest in American football\u201d and at the end of the night, fell head over heels for each other. Literally.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThat night ended with a missed first-kiss where we tumbled down the escalator at Kings Cross,\u201d laughs Gaby. \u201cBen still has the scars to prove it!\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Their instant attraction kept them side by side for the next six months. When Gaby\u2019s visa expired she returned to the US and a three-year long distance relationship starring 10 cities ensued, culminating in a move to New York for both and an intimate proposal by Ben in a candlelit apartment.<\/p>\n<p>Their first wedding was a small City Hall affair on July 5, 2013 and, exactly one year later, these kids-at-heart returned to where it all began for bohemian-themed, English countryside wedding.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019d always dreamed of getting married in a <i>Downton Abbey-<\/i>esque manor,\u201d smiles Gaby whose free spirit influenced the whimsical styling with country blooms in bright corals, oranges and yellows. \u201cUltimately Knowle Manor swept us away.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Seventy guests from near and afar joined the pair for a three-day celebration onsite at the manor, with vows that included \u201cto keep the kid in you alive,\u201d lawn games, marquee reception and even a late-night dip in the swimming pool.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cA highlight was the final song \u201cSend Me on My Way\u201d,\u201d says Gaby, \u201cwhen our wedding party lifted us up and we crowd-surfed!\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Photos courtesy of <a title=\"Linus Moran Photography\" href=\"http:\/\/www.linusmoranphotography.co.uk\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">Linus Moran Photography<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-58922\" src=\"https:\/\/content.easyweddings.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Gaby_Ben_Country-Wedding_001.jpg\" alt=\"Gaby_Ben_Country-Wedding_001\" title=\"\"><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-58928\" src=\"https:\/\/content.easyweddings.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Gaby_Ben_Country-Wedding_007.jpg\" alt=\"Gaby_Ben_Country-Wedding_007\" title=\"\"><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-58929\" src=\"https:\/\/content.easyweddings.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Gaby_Ben_Country-Wedding_008.jpg\" alt=\"Gaby_Ben_Country-Wedding_008\" title=\"\"><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-58924\" src=\"https:\/\/content.easyweddings.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Gaby_Ben_Country-Wedding_003.jpg\" alt=\"Gaby_Ben_Country-Wedding_003\" title=\"\"><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-58930\" src=\"https:\/\/content.easyweddings.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Gaby_Ben_Country-Wedding_009.jpg\" alt=\"Gaby_Ben_Country-Wedding_009\" title=\"\"><\/p>\n<blockquote><p>Ben gushes about his new wife: &#8220;She is my best friend and the most snuggly, joyous ball of beautiful I will ever meet.&#8221;<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-58926\" src=\"https:\/\/content.easyweddings.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Gaby_Ben_Country-Wedding_005.jpg\" alt=\"Gaby_Ben_Country-Wedding_005\" title=\"\"><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-58931\" src=\"https:\/\/content.easyweddings.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Gaby_Ben_Country-Wedding_010.jpg\" alt=\"Gaby_Ben_Country-Wedding_010\" title=\"\"><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-58933\" src=\"https:\/\/content.easyweddings.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Gaby_Ben_Country-Wedding_012.jpg\" alt=\"Gaby_Ben_Country-Wedding_012\" title=\"\"><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-58932\" src=\"https:\/\/content.easyweddings.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Gaby_Ben_Country-Wedding_011.jpg\" alt=\"Gaby_Ben_Country-Wedding_011\" title=\"\"><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-58934\" src=\"https:\/\/content.easyweddings.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Gaby_Ben_Country-Wedding_013.jpg\" alt=\"Gaby_Ben_Country-Wedding_013\" title=\"\"><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-58935\" src=\"https:\/\/content.easyweddings.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Gaby_Ben_Country-Wedding_014.jpg\" alt=\"Gaby_Ben_Country-Wedding_014\" title=\"\"><\/p>\n<blockquote><p>Gaby praises friends and family for their help on the day: &#8220;I&#8217;m not sure how many weddings have the guests carry their chairs from the ceremony to the reception!&#8221; she laughs.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-58936\" src=\"https:\/\/content.easyweddings.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Gaby_Ben_Country-Wedding_015.jpg\" alt=\"Gaby_Ben_Country-Wedding_015\" title=\"\"><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-58982\" src=\"https:\/\/content.easyweddings.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Gaby_Ben_Country-Wedding_SBS_008.jpg\" alt=\"Gaby_Ben_Country-Wedding_SBS_008\" title=\"\"><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-58940\" src=\"https:\/\/content.easyweddings.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Gaby_Ben_Country-Wedding_018.jpg\" alt=\"Gaby_Ben_Country-Wedding_018\" title=\"\"><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-58943\" src=\"https:\/\/content.easyweddings.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Gaby_Ben_Country-Wedding_020.jpg\" alt=\"Gaby_Ben_Country-Wedding_020\" title=\"\"><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-58944\" src=\"https:\/\/content.easyweddings.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Gaby_Ben_Country-Wedding_021.jpg\" alt=\"Gaby_Ben_Country-Wedding_021\" title=\"\"><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-58948\" src=\"https:\/\/content.easyweddings.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Gaby_Ben_Country-Wedding_025.jpg\" alt=\"Gaby_Ben_Country-Wedding_025\" title=\"\"><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-58946\" src=\"https:\/\/content.easyweddings.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Gaby_Ben_Country-Wedding_023.jpg\" alt=\"Gaby_Ben_Country-Wedding_023\" title=\"\"><\/p>\n<blockquote><p>&#8220;With Ben, I can be my true, authentic, weird self,&#8221; smiles the bride.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-58949\" src=\"https:\/\/content.easyweddings.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Gaby_Ben_Country-Wedding_026.jpg\" alt=\"Gaby_Ben_Country-Wedding_026\" title=\"\"><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-58950\" src=\"https:\/\/content.easyweddings.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Gaby_Ben_Country-Wedding_027.jpg\" alt=\"Gaby_Ben_Country-Wedding_027\" title=\"\"><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-58965\" src=\"https:\/\/content.easyweddings.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Gaby_Ben_Country-Wedding_042.jpg\" alt=\"Gaby_Ben_Country-Wedding_042\" title=\"\"><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-58968\" src=\"https:\/\/content.easyweddings.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Gaby_Ben_Country-Wedding_045.jpg\" alt=\"Gaby_Ben_Country-Wedding_045\" title=\"\"><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-58964\" src=\"https:\/\/content.easyweddings.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Gaby_Ben_Country-Wedding_041.jpg\" alt=\"Gaby_Ben_Country-Wedding_041\" title=\"\"><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-58967\" src=\"https:\/\/content.easyweddings.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Gaby_Ben_Country-Wedding_044.jpg\" alt=\"Gaby_Ben_Country-Wedding_044\" title=\"\"><\/p>\n<blockquote><p>&#8220;We loved <a title=\"Linus Moran Photography\" href=\"http:\/\/www.easyweddings.co.uk\/WeddingPhotography\/Dorset\/LinusMoranPhotography\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Linus<\/a>&#8216; photography style,&#8221; says Gaby. &#8220;He was a calming force and we never really noticed him being there, which was great!&#8221;<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-58969\" src=\"https:\/\/content.easyweddings.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Gaby_Ben_Country-Wedding_046.jpg\" alt=\"Gaby_Ben_Country-Wedding_046\" title=\"\"><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-58927\" src=\"https:\/\/content.easyweddings.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Gaby_Ben_Country-Wedding_006.jpg\" alt=\"Gaby_Ben_Country-Wedding_006\" title=\"\"><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-58958\" src=\"https:\/\/content.easyweddings.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Gaby_Ben_Country-Wedding_035.jpg\" alt=\"Gaby_Ben_Country-Wedding_035\" title=\"\"><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-58959\" src=\"https:\/\/content.easyweddings.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Gaby_Ben_Country-Wedding_036.jpg\" alt=\"Gaby_Ben_Country-Wedding_036\" title=\"\"><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-59004\" src=\"https:\/\/content.easyweddings.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Gaby_Ben_Country-Wedding_SBS_030.jpg\" alt=\"Gaby_Ben_Country-Wedding_SBS_030\" title=\"\"><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-58973\" src=\"https:\/\/content.easyweddings.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Gaby_Ben_Country-Wedding_050.jpg\" alt=\"Gaby_Ben_Country-Wedding_050\" title=\"\"><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-58974\" src=\"https:\/\/content.easyweddings.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Gaby_Ben_Country-Wedding_051.jpg\" alt=\"Gaby_Ben_Country-Wedding_051\" title=\"\"><\/p>\n<p><div class=\"embed-container\"><iframe src=\"https:\/\/player.vimeo.com\/video\/103921282?dnt=1&amp;app_id=122963\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen> width=\"640\" height=\"360\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"autoplay; fullscreen; picture-in-picture; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\"><\/iframe><\/div><\/p>\n<p>Video by <a title=\"Adam Nicholas Films\" href=\"http:\/\/www.adamnicholasfilms.co.uk\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">Adam Nicholas Films<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":195661,"parent":0,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"uk_real_wedding_category":[9084],"uk_real_wedding_tag":[9562,9177,9598,9597,9307],"uk_real_wedding_style":[10478],"uk_real_wedding_location":[10527,10521],"uk_real_wedding_setting":[10484],"uk_real_wedding_colour":[10653,10631],"uk_real_wedding_competition":[],"class_list":["post-195626","uk-real-wedding","type-uk-real-wedding","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","uk_real_wedding_category-9084","uk_real_wedding_tag-bohemian-wedding","uk_real_wedding_tag-country-wedding-2","uk_real_wedding_tag-knowle-manor","uk_real_wedding_tag-linus-moran-photography","uk_real_wedding_tag-marquee-wedding","uk_real_wedding_style-romantic","uk_real_wedding_location-somerset","uk_real_wedding_location-south-west","uk_real_wedding_setting-garden-chapel","uk_real_wedding_colour-light-pink-wedding","uk_real_wedding_colour-orange-wedding"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.easyweddings.co.uk\/real-weddings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/uk-real-wedding\/195626","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.easyweddings.co.uk\/real-weddings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/uk-real-wedding"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.easyweddings.co.uk\/real-weddings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/uk-real-wedding"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.easyweddings.co.uk\/real-weddings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.easyweddings.co.uk\/real-weddings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/uk-real-wedding\/195626\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.easyweddings.co.uk\/real-weddings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/195661"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.easyweddings.co.uk\/real-weddings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=195626"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"uk_real_wedding_category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.easyweddings.co.uk\/real-weddings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/uk_real_wedding_category?post=195626"},{"taxonomy":"uk_real_wedding_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.easyweddings.co.uk\/real-weddings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/uk_real_wedding_tag?post=195626"},{"taxonomy":"uk_real_wedding_style","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.easyweddings.co.uk\/real-weddings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/uk_real_wedding_style?post=195626"},{"taxonomy":"uk_real_wedding_location","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.easyweddings.co.uk\/real-weddings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/uk_real_wedding_location?post=195626"},{"taxonomy":"uk_real_wedding_setting","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.easyweddings.co.uk\/real-weddings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/uk_real_wedding_setting?post=195626"},{"taxonomy":"uk_real_wedding_colour","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.easyweddings.co.uk\/real-weddings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/uk_real_wedding_colour?post=195626"},{"taxonomy":"uk_real_wedding_competition","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.easyweddings.co.uk\/real-weddings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/uk_real_wedding_competition?post=195626"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}