SS GREAT BRITAIN WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY

Helen & Alex’s SS Great Britain wedding happened to be in one of my favourite places to go for a stroll on a Sunday afternoon. I love Bristol for days like this. There’s always a lovely atmosphere down on the harbourside, made all the better if you’re travelling by boat on a summers day!

I’d met Helen & Alex the year before and they were both really excited about getting married on the SS Great Britain. As one of Bristol’s most popular wedding venues I was pretty excited too! This was my first time photographing a wedding on the SS Great Britain. Brunel’s famous ship is an amazing feat of engineering for being the first to simultaneously harness both sail and wind power, with an equally amazing working life. I learnt something while I was there you see?

Helen spent a relaxed morning getting ready with her bridesmaids and family at the Bristol Royal Marriott hotel. This happened to be one of those few times each year where all hell does not break loose twenty minutes before departure! :) Perfectly on time, everybody jumped into cabs to the quayside to catch the glass boat across the harbour. What a lovely way to arrive don’t you think?

The wedding ceremony was held under a glass skylight on the beautiful promenade deck, before everyone made their way to the top deck for the usual drinks, canapés and a few group photos. After a few relaxed portraits on top of the ship and around the docks, Helen and Alex joined their guests for the wedding breakfast. The meal was served in the elegant dining room and I absolutely loved the speeches! Later on everybody carried on the party in the Hayward Saloon.

During the evening we nipped below the hull for a few night time portraits. Make sure you visit this bit if you’re ever there as you get a much better idea of the size of this ship. It’s huge! For any photographers reading this here’s a quick tip – work quickly before your bride passes out from heat exhaustion (not that she did!). The recycled air around the hull is kept at a relative 20% humidity to prevent corrosion, and it is very, very warm! I told you I learnt something…

Thank you both so much for asking me to be your wedding photographer, and congratulations on your wonderful day!