The 10 best places to propose in Bath

The 10 best places to propose in Bath

solsbury hill bath surprise proposal photographer

The 10 best places to propose in Bath

wedding proposals in bath, surprise engagements bath

Why Bath Is the Perfect Place for a Surprise Wedding Proposal

Bath is one of the most romantic cities in the UK, making it the ideal backdrop for a surprise proposal. Its rich history, elegant Georgian architecture, and breath-taking views create a magical setting for one of life’s most important moments. Since 2020, I’ve had the privilege of capturing countless surprise proposals in and around Bath, helping one half of the couple plan the big moment, and preserving the raw emotion and joy of that unforgettable “yes” moment. In this blog post I will share my secrets to planning a successful wedding proposal, all you need to know about the best places to propose in Bath and what else you can do while visiting beautiful Bath.

 

What you learn in this blog post

⭐️ How to plan a surprise wedding proposal with my help

⭐️ How a surprise proposal Photoshoot works

⭐️ The 10 best locations to propose in Bath

⭐️ Suggestions for what to do after your proposal

⭐️ A list of amazing places to visit during your stay in Bath

⭐️ A list of great places to stay when you visit Bath

leigh court summer wedding bride and groom portrait

How to plan a surprise wedding proposal (with my help)

Set a date

Once you have an idea of when you want to come to Bath to propose, you need to do is get in touch with and share your date with me so I can check my availability. For key dates such as bankholidays or special dates, I get booked up months in advance.

Download my information brochure here.

Choose a location

There are many beautiful locations in Bath which are perfect for a surprise proposal. Some of them are more public/private than others, some require pre-booking or paying a license fee while others are completely free of charge. 

Create a timeline.

In order for your partner not to get wind of your plans, your proposal needs to be integrated into the agenda for the day. Often late morning post-breakfast proposals work the best and can be masked as ‘we are going sightseeing or shopping’. Similarly early evening pre-dinner proposals are great as you can tell your partner that you are going for pre-dinner drinks somewhere, when in fact you propose on your way to your dinner location. However, later afternoon proposals are not possible in winter due to the lack of daylight.

About the weather

During the summer months, the weather is typically dry here in the South-West and some of the locations listed provide shelter. However, we will stay in close touch in the week running up to the proposal and discuss a potential plan B option should the weather not be as good as planned.

My approach

As a documentary photographer, I focus on capturing the genuine emotion of a surprise proposal — the anticipation, the joy, and the immediate reaction. My discreet and relaxed approach ensures that the moment feels natural and authentic, allowing you to focus entirely on each other.

leigh court summer wedding bride and groom portrait

How a surprise proposal photoshoot works

In the run up to the secret proposal, we will have discussed and set a date, a location and a timeline (see above).

One day before the proposal

One day before the proposal, you will receive an automated email from me with a few last minute reminders such as to make contact with me on WhatsApp (so you can share your location with me if required) and what not to forget during your proposal.

The proposal

I will arrive at the chosen location before you two will. I will either hide or most likely just blend in and pretend to be another visitor. I will keep a close eye on you both and once I see the signal that we discussed before the day, I will be ready to capture your proposal. I will so this from a bit of a distance in order to give you two privacy. Once the proposal is over, I will wait for you to point me out to your partner before I approach and introduce myself.

After the proposal

After the proposal, we will spend 30-40 minutes on creating some beautiful couple portraits in and around the location.

The same day

I will send you 5 sneak peek pictures of your proposal on the same day so you can use them to announce the good news!

One week after

Latest one week after the proposal, you will receive all your finished photographs, sent to you via a secure and password protected online gallery. You can download all high resolution images from this gallery and also share the link with family members or friends.

 

leigh court summer wedding bride and groom portrait

The 10 best locations to propose in Bath

1. Roman Baths – The Roman Baths offers a breathtakingly romantic and historic setting, with stunning architecture, torchlit ambiance, and exclusive access for an unforgettable proposal.

2. Parade Gardens  & The colonnades – The Colonnades in Parade Gardens is a great place to propose because it offers stunning views of the River Avon and Pulteney Bridge in a romantic, tucked-away setting.

3. Botanical Gardens – The Temple of Minerva, tucked away in the Botanical Gardens, is a hidden gem that adds a magical and private touch to the moment.

4. & 5.  Alexandra Park and Solsbury Hill – If you’re looking for a dramatic backdrop, Alexandra Park and Solsbury Hill provide panoramic views over the city — the perfect spot for a sunset proposal.

6. At the top of Bath Abbey tower – The climb to Bath Abbey Tower rewards you with spectacular city views, adding a sense of adventure and grandeur to the occasion. You can hire private tower proposal tours.

7. Sham Castle – For a more whimsical feel, Sham Castle offers a unique and slightly fairy-tale-like setting. Its quiet location and historic charm make it ideal for a private and intimate proposal.

8. The Royal Crescent (or the Royal Crescent Hotel) – The iconic Royal Crescent provides a classic and timeless setting, especially at sunset when the golden light reflects off the honey-coloured stone. The nearby Royal Crescent Hotel not only has a beautiful pergola in their walled garden, perfect for proposals, it also offers a beautiful an intimate and luxurious atmosphere for a post-proposal celebration such as afternoon tea.

9. The Holburne Museum – If you are you a fan of the Bridgerton series and love the beautiful home of Lady Danbury, then the Holburne museum is the perfect place for you.

10. Prior Park Landscape Gardens and the Palladian Bridge – With its Palladian bridge and landscaped gardens, adds a romantic and timeless touch to any proposal. Please note that Prior Park belongs to the National Trust which means you’ll need to reach out to them in advance to book and pay fees for your photo shoot or event.

leigh court summer wedding bride and groom portrait

Suggestions for what to do after your proposal

Once you have proposed and we have had fun during our couple portrait session, it is time to celebrate! Here are a few suggestions of what you can do.

Have afternoon tea at the Royal Crescent Hotel or Sweet Little Things

Drink cocktails at the Ivy in Bath

Visit the Thermae Bath Spa

Book a boat tour on the river Avon

Have a romantic dinner in one of Bath’s best restaurants

leigh court summer wedding bride and groom portrait

A list of amazing places to visit during your stay in Bath

If you are coming to visit Bath for a long weekend, here is a list of places that are worth a visit:

Visit No 1 Royal Crescent and take a step back in time

Visit the 2000 years old Roman Baths

Visit Bath Abbey and potentially book onto a tower tour if you are not scared of heights

The Holburne Museum, famously features in the Bridgerton series, has many great exhibitions on

The American Museum & gardens offer spectacular views

leigh court summer wedding bride and groom portrait

A list of great places to stay when you visit Bath

Whether you are planning a proposal or a romantic getaway, here is a list of amazing places where you can stay:

The Royal Crescent Hotel offer a very luxurious and high end experience

The Bath Priory with a Michelin star restaurant

No 15 Guest House boutique hotel

Indigo Hotel has fun and colourful interiors

Eight in Bath is a small boutique townhouse hotel

Planning a surprise wedding proposal or engagement photoshoot in Bath, please contact me:


10 Wedding Venues in Bath

10 Wedding Venues in Bath

wedding venues in bath

10 Best Bath Wedding Venues

 

Bath is a historic city located in the South-West of England and a popular destination to get married in. With over 2000 years of history, the river Avon running through its centre and the prestigious title ‘World Heritage Site’, you will find it hard to find a better place for your upcoming nuptials.

 

 

There are many wedding venues in Somerset, but this blog posts focuses on wedding venue located in (rather than around) Bath. It also focuses on unusual venues that you would not normally perceive as wedding venues. For this reason I have left hotels out of the list.

 

1. The Guildhall and Banqueting Rooms

The Guildhall is located right in the middle of the town centre and is the main seat of Bath’s Registration Service. It offers a variety of rooms for small, medium and large wedding ceremonies. With its Georgian interiors and grand staircases, it provides a stunning backdrop. The Banqueting Room on the first floor provides a grand space for your wedding celebrations which is a great alternative to the no longer available Assembly Rooms.

 

2. Roman Baths & Pump Rooms

The Roman Baths are undeniably one of the most spectacular setting to say your vows and celebrate your wedding. Due to visitor opening hours you have your wedding ceremony either early in the morning (sunrise ceremony) or in the evening (sunset ceremony). In either case the Pump Rooms provide excellent space to celebrate afterwards. Evening wedding ceremonies have the option to use the balcony overlooking the baths and ticket hall for the wedding meal and celebrations.

 

3. Holburne Museum

The Holburne Museum is positioned between one of Bath’s grandest roads, Great Pulteney Street, and beautiful Sydney Gardens, just east and in walking distance to the town centre. The Holburne Museum offers spectacular backdrops for your photographs. ALso it is worth noting that a lot of Bridgerton Season 2 was filmed here!

 

4. Victoria Art Gallery

Victoria Art Gallery is positioned adjacent to the Guildhall in the centre of Bath and is an unusual and quiry space for small wedding ceremonies and drinks receptions. Similar to the Holburne Museum the arty backdrop makes for rich photographs.

 

5. Parade Gardens & the Riverside Colonnades

Located just behind The Guildhall and Victoria Art Gallery is Parade Gardens. It is nestled between the Bath Abbey and the river Avon, and with the bandstand and riverside colonnades offer an often underrated outdoor wedding experience.

 

6. Temple of Minerva & Botanical Gardens

The Temple of Minerva is located by the north entrance of the Botanical Gardens in Bath. It is nestled into the beautiful gardens and provides a small indoor space for wedding ceremonies and celebrations. This space can be extended via a marquee on the adjacent lawn.

 

7. The Little Theatre

The Little Theatre is a cinema you ca get married in! I used to go there with my small baby for mum & baby friendly film screenings. The space is very dark, but super atmospheric and unique!

 

8. Bath Pavillion

The Bath Pavillion provides a very central and large space for your wedding ceremony and celebrations. It has less unique features, but therefore more options to be customized!

 

9. Prior Park College

Prior Park College sits just above Prior Park National Trust garden with the famous Palladian Bridge. It offers very hand end spaces and services for your wedding ceremony and celebrations.

 

10. Field Good Bar

Historic venues are not your thing? Prefer marquees and outdoor space? Then check out these guys who are located literally on the door step of Bath. They provide you with everything you need for a festival wedding.

 

 

If you have any recommendations for other venues in Central Bath please message me and I can add them to this list!

 

Are you planning your wedding at any of these venues?

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Leigh Court Wedding Photographer

Leigh Court Wedding Photographer

bride and groom posing in the great hall at Leigh Court in Bristol

Leigh Court Wedding

Bristol Wedding Venue

 

After getting ready at the Bristol Hotel and then getting married in the chapel at Clifton College, Lauren and George headed to Leigh Court for their wedding celebrations. On their way to Clifton College we stopped at Bristol’s most famous landmark for portraits: the Clifton Suspension bridge. What a stunning sight to stop for portraits, particularly in the beautiful simmer sunshine!

leigh court summer wedding bride and groom portrait

Clifton Suspension Bridge Wedding Photography

While all 160 wedding guests as well as my second shooter made their way to Leigh Court for the wedding celebrations, Lauren, George and I stopped at Bristol Suspension Bridge for some portraits. The suspension bridge is one of Bristol’s greatest landmarks and make one hell of a great backdrop for romantic couple portraits!

Leigh Court – the arrival of the bride and groom

Having spent time to do portraits at Clifton Suspension bridge meant that all 160 wedding guests had a chance to get to Leigh Court before us. This had two advantages. Firstly, we could take some portraits of Lauren and George at the front of Leigh Court without guests walking through the shot. Secondly, the guests greeted the couple with a huge cheer which was a wonderful way of starting the second drinks reception.

 The Drinks Reception

This was the second drinks reception of the day and all the guests seemed very happy t have arrived at the final destination. Leigh Court offers a lot of space to a wedding party. There is the great hall, two side rooms as well as a patio area with extended seating.

Leigh Court Marquee

At the back of the venue was a huge marquee to house the guests for the wedding breakfast, speeches and evening celebrations. At this wedding we had around 160 guests, but the marquee could have easily taken more guests than that. From a photography point of view a plain white marquee is wonderful, because it acts like a huge softbox, it gives really even and clean lighting.

Leigh Court Bridal Party Portraits

If you are planning to have your wedding at Leigh Court, please be aware that you cannot have large group shots on the famous stairs as they are cantilevered and can only carry a limited amount of weight. For this reason we did two separate group pictures, one of the girls and one of the boys. Afterwards we did one large bridal party group shot on the outside stairs which was a lot of fun and made for a very dramatic and fun group picture!

The Wedding Speeches

The speeches took place once everyone was seated inside the marquee and they didn’t disappoint! Mixing two different, but also similar cultures (the Brits and the Americans) created substance for many good jokes.

The Evening Celebrations

This wedding incorporated many American traditions and so the dancing started with a daughter-father and son-mother dance, before entering the traditional first dance for the bride and groom. They had a band which is always great for atmosphere and all their guests loved the dance floor as well as the photo booth.

Check out Lauren and George’s Wedding Ceremony at the Clifton College Chapel here:

What Lauren & George said…

We had the most wonderful experience with Betty as our wedding photographer. She was with us every step of the planning process (which, due to Covid, was over 3 years) and understood our vision. She is extremely organized and prompt, and she worked collaboratively with us to make sure we had the most beautiful photos to remember our special day. Her professional knowledge is exceptional. She did site visits at all of our venues and had numerous phone calls with us. On our wedding day, she catered to us, making sure we were well hydrated and comfortable during 30+ degree heat. She was such a huge part of making our wedding day worth the wait. We are forever grateful for her taking this very long journey with us!”

 

Suppliers Information

Wedding Ceremony Venue – Clifton College

Wedding Celebration Venue – Leigh Court

Videography – Third Reel Films

Hair & Makeup – South West Bridal Hair & Makeup

Flowers – Emily & Me

Dress – Calla Blanche

Bridesmaid dresses – Lulus

Last but not least, this is me together with the awesome videographers Sol and Howard who are Third Reel Films.

You can see Lauren and George’s amazing wedding video here courtesy of Third Reel films.

betty bhandari and wedding photographers

Are you getting married?

If you are getting married at Clifton College or Leigh Court, I would love to hear from you!

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The 10 best places to propose in Bath

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Clifton College Wedding Photographer

Clifton College Wedding Photographer

clifton college chapel bride and groom confetti shot

Clifton College Wedding

A Bristol Wedding Venue

 

This wedding involved four different locations, two photographers and two videographers as well as a lot of sunscreen, some driving chaos and five main meals for three people!

clifton college summer wedding portrait photography

Bristol Wedding Photography

 

Lauren and George first contacted me in early 2019 to enquire for their summer 2020 Bristol weddings. Little did we know then what was coming our way – the joys of a global pandemic! Three and a half years and two postponements later, we finally made it and it was a glorious day that didn’t disappoint!

 

Preparations – the Girls

Lauren, her six bridesmaid and two flower girls got ready at the Bristol Hotel in Central Bath. They had taken over one of the conference rooms and setup various hair and makeup stations. When you have a large bridal party, it makes such a difference if you have a team of hair and make up artists working together. Everything was going like clockwork, while everyone was still feeling relaxed and joyful! Wedding preparations only get stressful, when they are poorly organised or your team of MUAs is not big enough.

Preparations – the Boys

The boys got ready in the same hotel, but on the other side and out of the girl’s sight. Due to the size of the wedding (160 guests) and the bridal parties, I had a second shooter with me for most of the day. Lovely Celie covered the boy’s preparations which was immensely helpful! The groom George was in very good hands with five groomsmen and two dads around to help him get ready.

The wedding ceremony at Clifton College Bristol

George and the groomsmen left the Bristol Hotel before the girls, in order to get to Clifton College Chapel with enough time to greet all the British (George’s side) an American (Lauren’s side) guests. Both George and some of his groomsmen used to be students in Clifton College a few years prior, George was even head boy at some point.

The wedding ceremony took place in the Chapel which first opened in 1867. While I was in place to cover the bridal party’s entrance, my second shooter Celie covered the bride’s arrival.

The Confetti Shot

Everybody loves a good confetti shot! And with this many guests and a bride who was very organised (i.e. loads of confetti) it was bound to be a great one! When the bride and groom walk down the aisle and lead the guests outside, it is crucial for them not to exit the building but hide away somewhere inside. In the meantime all guests will go outside, take a handful of confetti and get in place. I’m not shy to ensure everyone is in place and briefed: “Throw the confetti over the couple, not at them!” Nobody wants the bride to spit out confetti.

  The Drinks Reception

The day was beautifully sunny, but also immensely hot! For this reason the drinks reception was setup in the courtyard which allowed the guests to enjoy cold drinks and a huge buffet of canapes, while being to hand for our extended list of formal group shots with we took on the stone steps next to the courtyard. You can see a few of those pictures in the post below.

Check out Lauren and George’s Portrait Session at Clifton Suspension Bridge and Leigh Court Reception here:

What Lauren & George said…

We had the most wonderful experience with Betty as our wedding photographer. She was with us every step of the planning process (which, due to Covid, was over 3 years) and understood our vision. She is extremely organized and prompt, and she worked collaboratively with us to make sure we had the most beautiful photos to remember our special day. Her professional knowledge is exceptional. She did site visits at all of our venues and had numerous phone calls with us. On our wedding day, she catered to us, making sure we were well hydrated and comfortable during 30+ degree heat. She was such a huge part of making our wedding day worth the wait. We are forever grateful for her taking this very long journey with us!”

 

Suppliers Information

Wedding Ceremony Venue – Clifton College

Wedding Celebration Venue – Leigh Court

Videography – Third Reel Films

Hair & Makeup – South West Bridal Hair & Makeup

Flowers – Emily & Me

Dress – Calla Blanche

Bridesmaid dresses – Lulus

If you are getting married at Clifton College or Leigh Court, I would love to hear from you!

 

bristol hotel wedding preparations                                                     

Are you getting married?

Are you looking for a friendly and passionate documentary wedding photographer to capture your day?

I am almost fully booked for 2023 and my 2024 diary is open so click the button below to get in touch.

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The 10 best places to propose in Bath

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My best 2022 wedding photographs

My best 2022 wedding photographs

Bride Groom Confetti shot outside the Guildhall in Bath

100 of my favourite wedding photographs for you.

Twenty twenty two – a wedding photographer’s summary

 

It’s the time of the year again where I want to showcase the best wedding photos I have taken last year. After a strange and somewhat displaced 2021, I was looking forward to a year of more normality – it did deliver and at the same time did not!

While we regained our freedom with regards to the size and style of weddings we could do, I noticed a significant change in the wedding industry – the pandemic has give people the permission to do the small weddings they truly wanted, and while I have photographed more weddings this year than any year before, half of them were relatively small, either in length, size or complexity.

But don’t be mislead, a smaller wedding does not mean a less good wedding. In fact I think couples who choose smaller weddings often tend to customize those more and make them truly ‘theirs’. This is reflected in the choice of guests, in the choice of decorations as well as the choice of venue. Small, but mighty!

This leads to my best 2022 wedding photos

Having said that, this year I was back at my favourite wedding venues: the Assembly Rooms (now closed for weddings sadly), Aldwick Estate, Leigh Court, the Roman Baths, Priston Mill and the Royal Crescent Hotel to name a few.

We had the most wonderful experience with Betty as our wedding photographer. She was with us every step of the planning process (which, due to Covid, was over 3 years) and understood our vision. She is extremely organized and prompt, and she worked collaboratively with us to make sure we had the most beautiful photos to remember our special day. Her professional knowledge is exceptional. She did site visits at all of our venues and had numerous phone calls with us. On our wedding day, she catered to us, making sure we were well hydrated and comfortable during 30+ degree heat. She was such a huge part of making our wedding day worth the wait. We are forever grateful for her taking this very long journey with us!”

Lauren & George, wedding at Clifton College and Leigh Court July 2022

Are you getting married?

Are you looking for a friendly and passionate documentary wedding photographer to capture your day?

I am almost fully booked for 2023 and my 2024 diary is open so click the button below to get in touch.

Bride and groom walking hand in hand away from the manor by the lake main house

Bride and groom standing on the staircase in the Gainsborough hotel in Bath

 

Are you getting married?

Are you looking for a friendly and passionate documentary wedding photographer to capture your day?

I am almost fully booked for 2023 and my 2024 diary is open so click the button below to get in touch.

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10 Wedding Venues in Bath

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Leigh Court Wedding Photographer

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Clifton College Wedding A Bristol Wedding Venue   This wedding involved four different locations, two photographers and two videographers as well as a lot of sunscreen, some driving chaos and five main meals for three people! Bristol Wedding Photography  ...