The Story

A Timeless Church Wedding in Bristol

For lovers of a traditional, church wedding who are planning a classic day but aren't shy of getting messy on the dance floor, this one is definitely for you! Pip and Henry's wedding day in Bristol was full of love, joy, and classic elegance, from the moment the Pip began her wedding prep at home all the way to the dance floor celebrations that were carried the most epic band ever filled with saxophones, trumpets... you name it! Bristol was definitely filled with some amazing music that night!

The morning started out in Pip and Henry's cozy flat, with Pip surrounded by her bridesmaids. Amelia Carmela, worked her magic on the girls' hair, while I hopped about snagging all of the details with my cameras! We were definitely all pinching ourselves that the sun had joined us too after a very soggy week of rain in Somerset, and as a wedding photographer hungry for yummy light, I could not have been more excited for the day ahead.

Once everyone was dressed and set for the day to begin, we headed on over to St Mary's Church, Bristol. Now, I'm well used to churches not being the brightest locations for photography, so this gorgeous church nestled away in Bristol was a huge surprise to walk into! There are definitely no dark corners here and the ceiling is a show stopper for sure. The service was beautiful and I could tell (and I think you can too in the photos!) that Henry was absolutely in his element standing next to Pip, whose dress was an absolute showstopper. She had seen her vision of the perfect dress in Clifton Bridal and had 3/4 length sleeves added to make it her own and help keep the chill from the autumn breeze at bay. She really and truly made the Justin Alexander dress her own.

Towards the end of the ceremony, as per the tradition of the church, Pip and Henry lit a candle together, a moment that was both precious and absolutely stunning with the backdrop of the church behind the pair. Their friends also added a deeply personal touch to the service, performing the songs that formed a part of their mass with everyone singing along together as the light shone through the church. Many had their eyes tightly shut while singing, and I could see just how much it meant for everyone to be there together in their local church.

The Wedding Party at Trinity College

After some coffee, chit-chat and confetti, we hopped straight into the reception at Trinity College, Bristol, where a beautifully decorated marquee awaited. Screaming luxurious elegance, the florals by Blossom Co. Floral Design complimented the bright markee and the wedding stationary had every little detail so well thought out, with each individual order marked out on the menus and leather name tags for easy seat finding. I had definitely stepped into a very sophisticated markee, and the sun had followed it's orders well, shining through the translucent ceiling of the dance floor!

Adding to the magic of the day and matching their classic, vintage vibe, the newlyweds arrived to the reception in a vintage car after a drive around the city — a "prop" that became quite the centre of attention in the evening as guests battled for their turn in the driving seat!

Now, for a day that started off very traditionally and was filled with elegance, these guys SERIOUSLY brought their A-game when it came to the party, for which I must give a tonne of credit to the Not Quite Big Band whose talent actually had me singing along with everyone too (if you're reading this, sorry for the out of tune howling guys). Pip & Henry had been so sure that they weren't going to have a first dance, but try as they might, they could not resist the charm of well... essentially a whole ass miniature orchestra filling their marquee with music. Nothing gets people who say they can't dance tapping their feet like an epic band, and this one was well worth dragging down to Somerset all the way from up north, and even though I couldn't record it for you to listen to, the photography from this wedding will hopefully have you dreaming of your favourite songs getting the saxophone treatment too!

And yes, I did have some fun with guests recreating "that" Kim K photograph that broke the internet!