SS Great Britain Wedding – Bristol Wedding Photographer: Only a few weeks ago, Harvey, Cara and me headed down to the docks around the SS Great Britain for some fun pre wedding pictures as well as to have a post shoot chat about how we were going to capture their wedding exactly how they wanted it aboard this fabulous ship. I should mention that Harvey charters a ship in the British Virgin Islands for most of the year with Cara the on board chef /queen of cuisine so the SS Great Britain was almost home from home!
I’d not shot a wedding on board the ship before so made sure I visited on my own a week before to properly familiarise myself with the set up, lighting conditions as well as the best places to capture the two of them on and off ship on the day so I’d be fully prepared. Weddings aside, this is a fabulously interesting place with so much to see and I thoroughly recommend a visit…
So the morning started with Cara and her entourage getting ready directly opposite the SS Great Britain in one of the harbour-side apartments – later on, I even got a shot of them all waving on the balcony while I shot from the ship’s deck. A great start to the day with lots of happy ladies and plenty of champagne! I then headed over to the ship in time to say hi to Harvey and to capture the guests as they started to arrive. A few shots of Harvey’s mum showing the boys how to wear their lapel flowers then a quick dash back off ship as Cara arrived in style by horse and carriage. What an entrance – Cara looked absolutely amazing in a beautifully understated bejewelled ivory dress and I quickly realised we were going to get some quite special pictures on the day.
The ceremony itself went perfectly and when Harvey’s mum read “The Owl and the Pussycat”, the smiles on people’s faces were a joy to see. Such a lovely lady. Before long, we were up on deck enjoying the glorious sunshine (how lucky were they!) and then back down again for dinner – like a nautical Upstairs Downstairs! Harvey and Cara were so sweet and even had a place for me to dine with their guests which was really enjoyable.
And finally…party time. The two of them had obviously put in a few hours of ballroom dancing practice and put on a first dance display that Len Goodman would have been proud of. I always enjoy this time of the evening where everyone is fully relaxed and the laughs come in thick and fast. Before long though it was time for me to leave and after thanking Cara and Harvey for their kindness on the day, I abandoned ship and headed home.
I love the pictures from this wedding. Unique location, beautiful weather and even more beautiful bride as well as a hundred or so charming people to spend the day with. I hope you enjoy them too…
