Weddings in Bristol - everything you need for your Bristol wedding

Bristol is a vibrant city located about 120 miles west of London and where the Rivers Avon and Frome join – the city sits to the north and south of the River Avon with the spectacular Avon Gorge crossed by the Clifton Suspension Bridge. To the west of the city, the River Avon flows into the Severn estuary and then onto the Bristol Channel so its no great surprise that Bristol is an ancient and historic seaport and centre of commerce, as well as a "gurt lush" city!

A grand and historically prosperous city, Bristol offers a huge range of ceremony and reception venues in a diverse choice of locations and buildings. There are niche settings for small weddings and grand civic backdrops for statement occasions. Bristol is that happy blend of a traditional and historic city with a trendy 21st century culture and offers something for every bride and groom. From the world famous Clifton Suspension Bridge to the olde-worlde charm of St Nick's Market and the city centre, you'll have so many spots to choose for your wedding photos.

Still a busy trading port, some of Bristol’s harbourside is now home to a collection of shops and hotels with contemporary development nestling alongside former grand buildings connected to the shipping trade and some choice wedding venues for the bride and groom in this spectacular waterside setting. For a truly unique location, you can even get married aboard ship, a 19th century ocean cruise liner to be exact, berthed in the heart of Bristol’s Harbourside, a very distinctive place to say ‘I do’ and also to dine afterwards. However, if you want to stay safely on dry land then there are plenty of options and not just at the harbourside, stray to the edges of the city and you can find numerous locations with fabulous views.

There are green backdrops all over the city – Bristol has over 400 parks and green spaces – and country houses and hotels in abundance if you are looking for a private venue with exclusive grounds but if you want a city wedding with a country reception then Bristol is definitely the location to choose. Surrounded by beautiful countryside, mix and match your wedding with all the benefits and convenience of a glorious cityscape, peaceful locations overlooking the Avon Gorge and easy access to rolling green pastures and pretty villages.

Bristol is famous for its International Balloon Fiesta which takes place every August with a most spectacular display of over 100 balloons with daytime and after dark events, sure to delight your wedding guests and add a unique element to your special day. The Balloon Fiesta is very popular so book your venue and accommodation early and advise your guests to do the same.

Bristol is viewed as the gateway to the south-west and is served by the M4 motorway which runs from London to Wales and interchanges with the M5 just north of Bristol at Almondsbury, providing excellent links with Devon and Cornwall and north to the Midlands. There are two train stations in Bristol, Bristol Temple Meads and Bristol Parkway. Bristol Temple Meads is the main hub for public transport connections with a shuttle into the city centre and a bus service to Bristol airport running every 8 minutes. The airport in Bristol is located seven miles south-west of the city.