If you need some wedding planning help, send your questions through to Steph Allison of How 2 I Do Wedding Planning by and we will answer them on Bristol Wedding News to give everyone planning their big day some tips, ideas and inspiration.

Q. I'm looking for a Wedding venue that's a bit different as lots of my friends have already done hotels and big country houses. Where can you suggest to make our Wedding stand out? Lara, Bradley Stoke

A. Hi Lara, Actually, you're in luck in Bristol as there is a huge range of Wedding venues and some are really fun and unusual. My top venues to look into are,

Clifton Pavillion, which combines the tradition of a Georgian style Wedding venue with amazing views over Bristol Zoo. Your guests can also have free access to the zoo, meaning no boring waiting around while you have your pictures taken and you could get some fantastic shots.

                         

The SS Great Britain really makes an amazing unusual venue as you can get married on the Promenade Deck of an historic ship, dine in the First Class Lounge and drink canapes on deck. Your guests will love how fun and different it is.

                            


Clifton Lido is also a great unusual venue. It was totally refurbished a few years ago and has a brilliant restaurant overlooking the pool. It's licenced for civil ceremonies and really suits a chilled out modern wedding.

                            

Matara is a great choice if you want your ceremony to stand out as you can get married in a semi-outdoor ceremony and the whole place has a great zen like quality. There are also great features for your pictures such as a maze, lake and 28 acres of parkland to lose yourself in.


                                    

Photo Credits: Bristol Zoo, Clifton Lido, Iris Weddings, Matara of Flickr

One great thing about getting married in Bristol is the huge choice of venues and there's not many cities in the UK where you can say I Do on an historic ship. The SS Great Britain was designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel and was first launched from Bristol in 1843. Whilst in service she travelled around the world 31 times before eventually mooring in the Falklands.

She was brought back home to Bristol in the 1970s where she was carefully conserved in the same dry dock she was built in all those years ago. I think the incredible history of the ship makes it a venue worth consideration for any Bristol Brides.


                                           


                                           

Ceremonies for up to 70 can take place in the Promenade Deck, which could be followed by drink and canapes on deck and a reception in the first class dining saloon for up to 140 guests. These photos from Jefferson Studios above show a ceremony aboard the ship.

The great black and white shot below from Iris Weddings shows off the ceremony space beautifully

                                  

You can learn more about the ship's fascinating history, as well as download a Wedding brochure here