Perfect British summer wedding inspiration at this Clevedon Hall Wedding
There are some emails in our inbox that get us even more excited than usual – and we’re already pretty excited at every wedding request we get. Enquiries to be a Clevedon Hall wedding photographer are one of the ones that gets us really hyped, and with glorious sunshine, beautiful touches and unabashed emotion running through the whole day, Charlotte and John’s wedding day really shows off exactly why.
Their late September wedding was perfect inspiration for anyone planning a Clevedon Hall wedding, or wanting a day that captures that carefree, quintessentially British end-of-summer feel.
Clevedon Hall wedding venue
Why are Clevedon Hall weddings so special, you ask? Well, Clevedon Hall is one of the nicest venues in the area of Bristol, a Grade II-listed mansion built in 1852 that still oozes its original grandeur and elaborate period elegance. It’s luxurious but not uptight, allowing you to have a wedding day that not only looks amazing, but feels it too.
Relaxed bridal prep
This was perfect for Charlotte and John, because from the start their order of the day was to relax and enjoy themselves. Charlotte and her bridesmaids immediately took this very seriously, pulling up to Clevedon Hall in matching pyjamas! (One of the first photos we took was of Charlotte coming up the stairs to the suite, and in the light of the huge windows she looks literally radiant – we already knew we were going to have an awesome day.)
The rest of the morning was similarly relaxed, with the bride and her crew enjoying bubbles while having their makeup done (and sneaking sweets from the sweet cart…but we won’t tell anyone!), and the groom and his party arriving to suit up not long after. Things were excitable but calm, punctuated only momentarily by two of their guests arriving by helicopter to avoid missing the wedding!
Charlotte did a traditional reveal to her Dad once she was in her dress, which was so priceless and beautiful to witness. And though John didn’t do an orchestrated reveal to his Mum, her reaction upon seeing him in his suit for the first time was lovely too.
A ceremony in the library
One of the best examples of the impeccable aesthetics of this venue is the Library, where Charlotte and John decided to hold their Clevedon Hall wedding ceremony. The walls are covered in ornate carved woodwork and filled with old leather-bound books, whilst beautiful chandeliers hang from the ceiling (though with the huge bay windows, the room is super light anyway).
Charlotte and John added to the whimsical, wonderful feel of the day by lining the aisle with potted plants, and welcoming their guests with a harpist playing. They’d gone for a bright, colourful vibe, with the bridesmaids in green, the groom’s party in blue suits, and gorgeous, bold floral arrangements by the signing table.
After the ceremony, we gathered everyone outside for a confetti shot in front of the ivy-clad mansion front. Then, with guests enjoying drinks in the sun, we whisked Charlotte and John away for the first half of their portraits session. They went in style, setting off in their Uncle Adrian’s vintage red Rolls Royce!
Another great reason to have a Clevedon Hall wedding is the incredible grounds. The 17 acres of majestic green lawns feel fairytale-esque, complete with a stone fountain, a rope swing, and a picturesque bridge over the lake, as well as the gardens bursting full of gorgeous flowers in abundant colour (clearly, they’d got the colourful and bright brief of the day.) These photos were doubly special as Charlotte and John were expecting a baby at the time too.
A reception in the Orangery
Charlotte and John chose to have their Clevedon Hall wedding reception in the Orangery. Though the room was only opened in 2019, it feels perfectly aligned with the grandeur of the rest of the building, so you can enjoy Victorian elegance with modern climate control.
As they stepped into The Orangery it was not only bursting with their family and friends, but also more brightly coloured blooms. What made them even more incredible was that every single one was grown from seed by Charlotte and her Auntie Mandy!
After a round of emotional yet hilarious speeches and a delicious dinner, we made sure to make the most of golden hour with a few more portraits in the grounds, by the lakeside.
For the final portion of the day, Charlotte and John had decided to switch things up a bit. As well as a single-tier cake, they also had a drool-worthy donut tower, as well as a sweets cart by the side of the dancefloor. This meant everyone was sufficiently sugared up to rock the dancefloor until the very last song.
Bristol wedding photographer
If you’re planning a Clevedon Hall wedding and are looking for fun, laidback wedding photography to capture the day, then let us properly introduce ourselves – hi, hello, we’re Neil and Deb and we’re Bristol wedding photographers who love to shoot stressfree days.
Or perhaps you’re getting married somewhere else in the area, but love our style and still want to chat (you’ve got excellent taste!) Get in touch here to tell us all about your plans so far, and we’ll get back to chat all things wedding.
Suppliers
Venue: Clevedon Hall
Dress: Elizabeth Anne Bridal
Hair: Tracy Pallari
MUA: Leanne Jane
Harp: Siona Stockel
Band: The Lipinski Brothers
Sweet Cart: Sound Wave Entertainments
