Bride and groom stand in front of brewing equipment during thier Beartown Brewery wedding.

Beartown Brewery & Tap Celestial Wedding

Claire and Ralph run a lovely micropub The Blues Dawg so naturally they got married in a working brewery .The ceremony in the Beartown Tap & bevs in the Beartown Brewery.

  • groom puts ring on the finger of the bride who is wearing a black dress during wedding ceremony at Beartown Tap pub
  • Woman in a star‑patterned dress sits on a ladder as her skirt covers a man below holding a beer

A HALLOWEEN STYLED PI$$ UP IN A BREWERY. HELL YEAH!

The Details

The shop front of the beartown tap pub with two people outside talking

The Beartown Tap

A delightful 200 year old pub Serving the freshest cask ales directly from their brewery across the road.

A wedding in a Brewery at the Beartown Tap

Halloween was the obvious date as it’s Claire’s favourite time of year with the beautiful autumn colours. The ceremony took place in the Beartown Tap beer garden, lovingly decorated with autumnal DIY décor by their friends. I love heavy industry and lurking around in derelict buildings. When Ralph contacted me and said they wanted to get married in a live brewery. I could not belive I would be photographing their wedding in a fully functioning brewery.

  • Striped white pumpkin on a wooden deck surrounded by candles and dried autumn foliage.
  • Autumn‑themed outdoor aisle with pumpkins, candles and a crescent‑shaped leaf backdrop under a lit canopy
  • Two toy dinosaurs dressed as a bride and groom stand on a wooden surface before a tiered cheese cake.
  • Exterior of the Beartown Tap pub with two people outside and posters on the white brick facade.
  • Three people in a bright kitchen prepare for a wedding, with one ironing and others sorting clothes and drinks
  • Man adjusts his tie in a mirror while another person stands behind him using a phone
  • Man in a suit smiles and points to a can of Brewdog Elvis Juice while standing in a kitchen.
  • Person adjusts a man’s pocket square as he stands in a maroon suit with others blurred in the background
  • Groom drinks a beer with dog and friends beside him all smiling

Chotronette Black wedding dress and custom Converse

Claire wore a beautiful black Aurora Burealis Chotronette dress with custom Metallica Converse trainers and a really cool celestial style custom leather jacket. She got ready with her best friend and her dog “Bear” who was by her side all morning, there is nothing sweeter than having your dog be a part of your wedding day.

  • Person in a bathrobe styles another’s pink hair as they laugh and hold a glass of wine in a cozy room
  • beautiful custom made black leather jacket with date of wedding and drawing on the back panel
  • Person in a bathrobe has their pink hair styled while holding a glass of wine in a bright, cozy room.
  • Brown dog lying on the floor beside a woman wearing gold converse trainers
  • Person with pink hair in a black star‑patterned dress stands indoors with another person in a warmly lit room
  • One person helps another adjust a black star‑patterned wedding dress in a warmly lit room.
  • Black high‑top custom converse with bold metallica skull and geometric artwork displayed on a wooden surface
  • Close‑up of black wedding dress fabric covered in shimmering silver sequin stars of varying sizes
  • Two people in black gowns stand on a leaf‑covered garden path, surrounded by trees and smiling at each other.
  • Two people in formal gowns smile and embrace on a leaf‑covered garden path surrounded by trees
  • Two women stand arm around the other smiling and laughing, one has bright pink hair

A Humanist led quaich ceremony in the beer garden

Their humanist ceremony was a real tearjerker, full of laughter and led by their best friends with emotional and personalised readings. They shared a whiskey (after Claire downed the first one) from the traditional Scottish Quaich as they exchanged their vows and handmade rings.

  • a group of men stand outside the Beartown tap pub in formal attire
  • Three people stand under warm lighting as a man holds a flask and the others lean in during a close, social moment
  • bride walks down the aisle in the beer garden of the Beartown Tap for her brewery wedding
  • Couple stand under a white tent during their wedding, surrounded by guests along an autumn‑themed aisle.
  • friend does a reading for couple during wedding ceremony at Beartown Tap pub beer garden
  • friends embrace during wedding ceremony at Beartown Tap pub beer garden
  • couple stand smiling sharing a Quaich during wedding ceremony at Beartown Tap pub
  • man wearing a kilt walks down aisle holding a Quaich during wedding ceremony at Beartown Tap pub in the beer garden
  • Man cheers with arms raised as a woman drinks from quaich beside him, surrounded by smiling friends at pub wedding
  • Two men embrace under a lit tent as guests watch and react during a joyful wedding celebration.
  • bride and groom celebrate with arms in the air just getting married at Beartown Tap pub in congleton
  • Couple kisses under a white tent as guests cheer around them during a wedding ceremony
  • Couple embrace under a white tent as guests gather around them, clapping amid candles and small pumpkins.
  • Guests cheer and raise their hands under a white canopy at an outdoor wedding celebration
  • three girls share a hug after a wedding ceremony at Beartown Tap pub beer garden
  • Group raises glasses in a warm, wood‑toned beartown tap bar with shelves of bottles and menus behind them

Industrial Beartown Brewery wedding celebrations

The reception took place across the road at the Beartown Brewery with all its authentic industrial goodness, I love an unusual venue, especially when it means so much to the couple. The crew at Beartown are amazing and gave me free rein, I couldn’t have been more in my element. The weather was so bad they even let us do the sparkler exit inside – Legends !

  • Beartown Brewery in Congleton at night with the lights on inside
  • Wedding crowd mingles inside the beartown brewery, surrounded by large metal tanks and string lights
  • groom making a speech stood on top of a set of ladders holding an empty pint glass at the Beartown Brewery
  • Person in a star‑patterned black wedding dress stands behind a pallet jack in an industrial space
  • Two people in wedding attire stand on a metal staircase between large brewing tanks
  • People help someone in a suit climb a ladder between large tanks while another person films the moment
  • Woman in a star‑patterned dress sits on a ladder as her skirt covers a man below holding a beer
  • Two people in wedding attire stand close together in front of a brick wall in an industrial setting
  • Two people in wedding attire stand close together,smiling and embracing in front of a brick wall
  • Formal wedding photo inside a working brewery with all the guests going wild at the Beartown Brewery
  • Man in a suit tastes beer from a glass while standing in front of large white numbered brewery tanks
  • Two people in wedding attire pose playfully in front of large white brewing tanks labeled with numbers
  • Bride and groom stand in front of brewing equipment during thier Beartown Brewery wedding.
  • Three people stand talking in a brewery, with large metal tanks and barrels visible in the background
  • People stand and talk inside a brewery with large metal tanks and string lights overhead
  • woman is stood wearing a custom leather jacket and black dress with her back to the camera
  • newlyweds kiss surrounded by thier guests who are all holding sparklers at a Beartown Brewery wedding

Your day your way – A very untraditional wedding day

Everyone returned to the pub for more delicious beer, speeches and wood-fired pizza. Ralph did a spectacular knee slide during thier first dance to Paramore’s “last hope”. There was no traditional sit down meal, no order of the day it was so much fun and very laidback. Every tiny detail of this wedding was totally epic and reflected Claire and Ralph’s carefree, fun loving personality! This was their second wedding having, had a micro wedding to celebrate with family a few days earlier, you can read more about it here.

  • Woman in a black sequined dress reads from a paper at a microphone while others stand nearby
  • Man in a suit holds a microphone and champagne glass while people raise drinks in a beartown tap pub
  • Man holds a framed diploma above his head while people around him raise glasses in celebration
  • Two people hug indoors, one holding a microphone, with a TV screen and microphone stand nearby.
  • Group of people group hug as one person with red hair takes a selfie inside beartown tap
  • Man speaks into a microphone while another man sits smiling behind a drum set in a small room
  • Man in a suit kneels on a wooden floor while people stand around him in a room with music equipment.
  • bride in stary black dress raises arms as a man kneels toward her in a pub with onlookers
  • A couple dances closely in a room with wood‑panelled walls, a yellow sofa and people watching.

I AM FOREVER GRATEFUL TO HAVE SUCH AWESOME COUPLES WHO HAVE SO MANY COOL IDEAS FOR THEIR WEDDINGS AND TOTALLY EMBRACE MY STYLE AND APPROACH TO DOCUMENTARY WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY

I ADORED EVERY MOMENT X

ready to chat?

I want to hear your story

“We felt she went far above and beyond the call of duty for our special day. I only met you couple times before wedding, but I instantly took a liking to you, I felt comfortable and felt you got me.”

– claire + ralph

faqS

for planning a BREWERY wedding

01

Will the brewery still be operating during our event?

This is one of the most important questions to ask upfront and the answer varies by venue. Some breweries shut down production entirely on event days, while others continue brewing behind the scenes. Find out which areas are off-limits to guests, whether brewery staff will be present, and if any equipment noise (like pumps or refrigeration units) could affect your ceremony or speeches. A site visit on a production day can be very revealing.

02

Can we create a custom beer for the wedding?

Many working breweries offer this as a premium add-on, and it can be one of the most memorable touches of a brewery wedding. Ask how far in advance you need to commit (typically 8–12 weeks), whether you get to be involved in the brewing process, and if the beer can be branded with custom labels. Also clarify the minimum batch size and cost as you may end up with more beer than you need, so ask about keeping or gifting the remainder.

03

What are the noise, decor & venue restrictions?

Breweries often operate under specific permits that include sound curfews, commonly 9 or 10pm, which can affect your band or DJ. On the decor side, open flames like candles may be restricted near equipment, and hanging anything from the brewing tanks is usually off-limits. Always ask for the full restrictions list in writing before booking, so there are no surprises on the day.

04

What’s included vs. what do we need to rent?

Don’t assume anything is included. Many breweries offer raw, industrial spaces that you’ll need to furnish almost entirely if thats your vibe. Your might need tables, chairs, lighting, a dance floor, and even restroom facilities in some cases. Ask for a complete list of what the venue provides and budget accordingly for rentals. The upside is you often have more creative freedom; the downside is costs can add up.

05

How is alcohol service & liability handled?

Since breweries are licensed alcohol establishments, they typically control all beverage service. Meaning you likely can’t bring in your own beer or spirits without paying a corkage fee, if it’s allowed at all. Ask whether the venue provides certified bartenders, how last call is determined, and who holds liability if something goes wrong. You’ll also want to confirm whether you need to purchase your own event liability insurance, as many venues require it.

06

What will the aesthetic and atmosphere actually look and feel like on the day?

A brewery’s industrial charm is a huge part of the appeal, but it’s worth understanding exactly what you’re working with before you commit. Ask whether tanks and barrels can be incorporated into your photos, whether any equipment will be moved and what lighting the venue provides versus what you can add yourself (string lights and uplighting can completely transform a raw industrial space).

MORE WEDDINGS WITH

DIY DECOR

VIEW MY PORTFOLIO

LOOKING FOR RELAXED WEDDING PHOTOS?

No forced smiles, no stiff posing.

TELL ME ALL ABOUT YOU