THE BRIDE: bristol harbour hotel
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photographY by martyn norsworthy
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ow’s default inspirational wedding shoots tend to take place in fields next to rustic barn conversions; sometimes we venture to precarious Devon or Cornwall cliff edges for the full Cathy Earnshawmeets-Sarah Woodruff windswept romanticism. (We’re talking Wuthering Heights and The French Lieutenant’s Woman here, of course.) But our patch also contains plenty of cities and large towns – Bristol, Cardiff, Exeter, Bath – and many of us enjoy a more urban wedding; even, when it’s rainy or wintry, hardly venturing outside at all. And if this is the way you’re going, one of the most exciting options is Bristol Harbour Hotel on Corn Street in the Georgian heart of the city, occupying two former banks (Lloyds Bank’s old HQ and a Midland, if you’re counting) and quirky as you like, taking full advantage of both buildings’ impressive classical proportions and architecture, while revelling in boutique hotel quirkiness around every corner. (Imagine bold wallpapers and carpets, plenty of velvet and unusually coloured leather, random Asian influences, huge metal fish sculptures and weirdly-shaped furniture.) There’s a fancy frontage with its columns and stone carvings of ships, lions and cherubs; the mighty Sansovino Hall (the main events space, with huge skylights and a painted ceiling); and even an underground spa in the old vaults. Some of original architect William Bruce Gingell’s 1856 work here is based on the 16-century Library of St Mark’s in Venice, Jacopo Sansovino’s High Renaissance triumph, but there are intriguing little corners and treats all over the place. hotographer Martyn Norsworthy might be based in Devon but has long enjoyed this space, and wanted to create a styled shoot to take advantage of it, so rocked up with his team one sunny day in March. “It’s just a lovely location,” he says, “and for me the most interesting part of the day was getting to explore all the many different corners of the hotel, taking advantage of the different architecture styles and approaches to interior design.” Martyn was lucky enough to have visited before this place was even finished – it only opened at Christmas 2016 – and so has long known how many shooting spaces it contains. “Ever since I’d seen the finished design, I knew I wanted to create a series of stunning images to showcase the style and design of the building,” he says. “It has a real Venetian feel to it, so I wanted strong, classical looks – but then everything is flipped on its head when you stumble across spaces like the funky Gold Bar. For those shots I knew I needed rougher hair designs, and a lot more attitude from the models, which I believe we pulled off.” Martyn brought together quite the talented bunch to work with him here, including Laura of Laura Louise Hall Luxury Wedding Stylist, who came up from Devon with the stunning gowns, and Lawrence Taylor – artistic director of Precision, Cardiff – who contributed amazing ‘hair up’ designs. “It was a privilege to watch such a master at work,” Martyn says, “and his hair creations were the icing on the cake for me. They certainly gave me the look I craved.” Models, meanwhile, were Hayley Revell and Corrie Hine – “they took direction extremely well,” Martyn says, “and fully understood the look and feel I had wanted” – wearing make-up by
Sally Bracey of Portishead-based Makeup by Sally. And the bridal flowers were sourced as simply as you like – Martin merely bought them across the street at a market stall in St. Nicholas Market. Finally, there were two helpers on hand: Martyn’s assistant, Julie, and Lawrence’s assistant, Jonah. “Whenever I produce a styled shoot, I always make sure the finished product is something we could actually deliver at a wedding,” Martyn says. “And within a real wedding’s time constraints, too. There is nothing worse than styling a shoot to showcase your abilities, then not be able to replicate it when a couple ask for it on their big day.” In the meantime, though, Martyn is looking forward to working here again. “It would be great to come back and approach the hotel in a totally different style,” he says, “perhaps using the outdoor area next to the Market, too. I’d even like to shoot outside on a nice crisp winter’s evening – this is, after all, one seriously cool venue.”
On the waterfront Wondering why the Harbourside isn’t quite outside the door were… Venue: Bristol Harbour Hotel; bristol-harbour-hotel.co.uk Dresses: Laura Louise Hall Luxury Wedding Stylist;
lauralouisehall.co.uk Hair: Precision, Cardiff; precisioncardiff.co.uk Makeup: Makeup by Sally; sallysmakeup.co.uk Flowers: St. Nicholas Market Models: Hayley Revell, Corrie Hine Photographer: Martyn Norsworthy;
norsworthyphotography.com