In association with
Brunel's SS Great Britain
Whether you have lived in Bristol for your whole life, or have simply visited for the day you will have undoubtedly been impressed by Brunel’s SS Great Britain. Standing at an imposing 40m tall from the top deck to the tip of the mast, and at 98m long, Isambard Kingdom Brunel’s visionary creation rests in the Great Western Dockyard where she was originally completed in 1843. At that time no-one had attempted such an ambitious vessel, using wrought iron for the hull together with the latest in steam propeller technology, Brunel created the largest, strongest and fastest ship of its day. It was so large in fact that the lock at the entrance to the harbour had to be dismantled to allow her to get out on her maiden voyage!
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With a working career spanning over 80 years, Brunel’s SS Great Britain has had a colourful life. Her first voyage in 1845 was from Liverpool to New York which she completed in a record time of 14 days and 21 hours, then in 1852 she made her first voyage from Liverpool to Melbourne, and over the following four years she carried thousands of emigrants bound for a new life in Australia. She carried troops off to fight in the Crimean War and also ferried the first all-England cricket team to do battle with the Auzzies on their home turf. Up until the outbreak of WWI she was used to transport Welsh coal from Penarth to San Francisco and return wheat to the UK. Then, after a damaging fire she was anchored off the Falkland Islands and served as a coal store for naval ships fighting in WWI. After nearly 19 years as a floating fuel station the SS Great Britain was decommissioned and moved to Sparrow Cove in the Falkland Islands where she would rest for another 32 years before being refloated and transported back to her home in Bristol in 1970.
Today the SS Great Britain stands proud in the Great Western Dock, restored to her original condition thanks to tireless efforts from the SS Great Britain Trust and donations from the general public and Heritage Lottery fund. She is an award winning tourist attraction and a renowned venue for lavish functions, but how can this cherished piece of history make your big day extra special?
Below this is the Promenade Deck, where most couples choose to hold their ceremony. Used mainly as a socialising spot for wealthy Victorian ladies during their voyage, this area is bright and cleanly finished with authentic brass fixtures and ornate carvings. It can hold up to 100 guests for the ceremony (60 seated, 40 standing) and the long, sweeping space makes for a perfect aisle, giving all of your guests a great view of the beautiful bride, even Mr. Brunel himself is present, taking a modest seat in the corner to oversee proceedings! The natural light in this area makes it great for photos and video, which can often be a problem with dimly lit churches or registry offices.
After the ceremony, guests can make their way back to the weather deck for drinks and canapés before being invited down to the First Class Dining Saloon for the reception. Of all the areas of the ship this has to be the most splendid – royalty red carpets, ornate brass light fixtures and pillars finished with gold-leaf trims surround the two long banqueting tables which can comfortably seat 140 guests. Being further down in the belly of the ship, the Dining Saloon does not have the natural light that the Promenade Deck enjoys, however the room itself seems to glow from the warm lighting and polished fixtures and this provides a real period setting for lunch or dinner. 
The team aboard Brunel’s SS Great Britain provide a full catering service from introductory canapés to four-course banquets. All vegetarian and vegan requirements can be catered for with banquets ranging between £31.95 and £46 per head, there are also buffet options and an a la carte menu to choose from.
Due to safety restrictions and humidity controls, all catering has to be done in-house and therefore it is not possible to use an outside company. However with such extensive menu options, West Bride feel sure you will find the on-board catering service suits all of your guests’ needs, and may also reduce the stress of dealing with yet another service provider.
After dining your guests can retire to the Hayward Saloon where there is a cash bar and sprung dance floor – combining this with few drinks might make you feel as if you really are at sea! This room can accommodate up to 80 guests and can also act as a dining area for smaller, more intimate wedding parties. Whilst aboard you and your guests are not restricted to the function rooms and able to explore any part of the ship. On the day you can even have your own tour guide who will show you around and tell you exactly what makes the ship such a treasured piece of history, this is especially great for the children in your party, who rather than getting restless in a hotel function room can really have a fun day out pretending to be pirates!
When you choose to hold your special day aboard Brunel’s SS Great Britain you get the experience and dedication of their wedding team. With seven years experience, Bronwen Rolls is the onboard wedding planner who will guide you through every aspect of making your day a success. “In seven years of planning weddings I have never been part of a more spectacular one than those held on Brunel’s SS Great Britain”, she said, “Every part of the ship has such character.” Indeed it does, and Bronwen and the team appreciate the need for flexibility, doing their utmost to accommodate limited budgets and special requests – some of which have included a casino, pirate themes, jazz performers and transport across the harbour by ferry.
West Bride says: “From the moment you step on to the dock and look up at the stern, everything about Brunel’s SS Great Britain is impressive – the original engineering, the restoration craftsmanship and attention to detail, the attentiveness of the staff and the genuinely fascinating history – all of which combine to make this a unique and memorable location for a wedding. When you hire the ship, not only can you enjoy the amazing setting for your big day but you can also take pride in the fact you are directly contributing to maintaining this treasure for future generations.”
You can find contact details for Brunel’s SS Great Britain in our venue directory.
The photographs that accompany this article were taken by, and used with, the kind permission of Mandy Reynolds & Graham Wyles.
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