The Mount Without Wedding Photographer | A Colourful Bristol Wedding
Back at my local The Mount Without for another stunner of a wedding. What an incredible space. These guys were kind, warm and all-round lovely humans to take photos of, although that was probably due to the Stella.
If you’re looking for a The Mount Without wedding photographer in Bristol, here’s a little look at Josie and Matt’s brilliant day. Colourful outfits, a surprise brass band, beautiful architecture and a party that delivered a new addition to my music playlist. What’s not to like?
Getting ready in Clifton and Bedminster
The morning kicked off in two places, with Josie and the bridesmaids getting ready at the Mews Houses at Beech House Apartments in Clifton, while Matt and the groomsmen were over at The Coal Shed in Bristol.
I was with Josie and the bridesmaids, capturing the final getting-ready moments and all the little bits of excitement before heading over to The Mount Without. Meanwhile, the brilliant Lucy Lloyd-Jones was with Matt and the groomsmen, documenting the other side of the story.
Having a second photographer is particularly useful when you’re getting ready in separate locations. Rather than one half of the morning disappearing into the photographic ether, we could capture both sides of the build-up, from the anticipation before the ceremony to whatever shenanigans the groomsmen were getting up to.
With everyone ready, it was time to head over to The Mount Without and get this thing started.
Getting married at The Mount Without, Bristol
The Mount Without is one of those Bristol wedding venues that really doesn’t need much help looking good.
Set within a striking historic building, it has an incredible atmosphere and a character that’s quite different from a traditional hotel or country-house wedding. It’s grand without feeling stuffy, with architectural details and interesting spaces that make it a brilliant setting for wedding photography.
Josie and Matt’s ceremony began at 2pm, bringing everyone together before the celebrations moved into the drinks reception. And then came a lovely surprise: a brass band.
Because apparently a regular drinks reception simply wasn’t going to cut it.
With Brass Junkies providing the soundtrack, guests could get straight into the celebrations. These are the moments I love photographing most: people caught up in the excitement, laughing with friends, hugging family and generally forgetting that there’s a photographer somewhere nearby.
Colour, character and a little bit of Renaissance drama
One of my favourite things about photographing weddings is seeing how couples make a venue their own. Josie and Matt encouraged their guests to wear whatever they loved, with colour very much encouraged. It’s such a simple idea, but it makes for a wedding that feels personal and full of life.
And then there was the group photograph.
Josie and Matt had shared a photograph they loved, with an almost Renaissance painting quality to it. Naturally, we had to have a go at our own version, bringing the bridesmaids and groomsmen together against the incredible backdrop of The Mount Without.
I’m always happy to try something a little different when couples have an idea they’re excited about. Most of the day is about documenting things as they happen, but that doesn’t mean we can’t make time for a photograph with a bit of artistic ambition.
It’s a good example of how I approach wedding portraits, too. I’m not interested in keeping you away from your guests for an hour while we manufacture a hundred different poses. But if there’s an opportunity to make something a bit special, using the space and the people around us, I’m absolutely up for it.
A relaxed wedding breakfast and speeches
After the drinks reception, everyone settled in for the wedding breakfast, with food from Bianchi’s. The speeches followed, bringing the usual mixture of laughter, affection and whatever embarrassing stories the speakers had been saving up.
I love this part of a wedding. The big reactions are great, obviously, but some of my favourite photographs tend to happen around the edges: guests chatting between courses, people trying not to laugh at the wrong moment, and those fleeting looks between people who know each other inside out.
It’s also why I try not to over-direct the day. Give people the space to enjoy themselves and there’s a good chance the photographs will be much more meaningful than anything we could have staged.
An evening of brass bands, dancing and questionable drinks
Eventually, things moved towards the evening celebrations, with Feel the Funk Disco taking over the music and Grate Somerset sorting the evening food.
By this point, the formalities were well and truly out of the way. Everyone could relax, the dance floor could do its thing, and I could concentrate on capturing the wonderfully chaotic business of a wedding party in full swing.
These are the photographs that tend to bring the whole story together. The big dance-floor moments, the friends losing their minds to a favourite song, and the little interactions that happen when everyone’s had a brilliant day together.
I also came away with an important musical discovery: Pitball – Fireball. I’ve since added it to my party playlist, and you all should too.
You’re welcome.
Looking for a wedding photographer at The Mount Without?
If you’re planning a wedding at The Mount Without in Bristol, I’d love to hear about it.
My approach is relaxed, documentary wedding photography, with a mix of honest moments, colourful celebrations and portraits that feel like you. I’ll give you a bit of direction when it’s useful, but I’m not going to turn your wedding into a day-long photoshoot. You’ve got people to see, drinks to drink and a dance floor to investigate.
The Mount Without is a brilliant setting for couples who want a wedding with character, and I’d love to photograph more days like Josie and Matt’s here.
If you’re looking for a The Mount Without wedding photographer who’ll capture the big moments, the little moments and the slightly questionable ones in between, get in touch about your wedding.
