The Quarter @ Potbank Wedding

Groom kisses the bride's hand as she smiles during the ceremony, captured by a Quarter @ Potbank wedding photographer

A Fun-Filled Wedding at a Former Pottery Works in Staffordshire

Being a Stoke wedding photographer at The Quarter @ Potbank for Hayley and Scott’s big day? Easiest job going. These two smiled pretty much non-stop, and I spent the day trying (and failing) to catch them with a straight face. It’s an old pottery works with loads of character, and they brought all the personality to match. The fact that Scott used to work at the site before it closed just adds a bit more magic to having this as their wedding venue.

The whole day had a properly relaxed feel, like a great party that just happened to include a wedding. Their guests were a ton of fun too, so I never had to hunt for a laugh to photograph. They were everywhere. During the big sing-a-long in the courtyard outdoors, during the family photos, the confetti tunnel, and all over the dance floor! Here’s how it all went down.

  • Exterior of The Quarter at Potbank with its tented courtyard under a bright blue sky
  • Bride in curlers and pyjamas laughs while having her make-up done on the wedding morning
  • Bridesmaid in pink pyjamas laughs as the make-up artist works on her during bridal prep
  • Bridesmaid in a pink dress shrieks with laughter while pouring drinks during bridal prep
  • Bride hugs her dad as bridesmaids look on in the bridal suite
  • Groom and groomsman share a laugh before the ceremony under purple lighting
  • Black and white photo of the groom waiting at the front of the ceremony room as guests take their seats
  • Groom kisses the bride's hand as she smiles during the ceremony, captured by a Quarter at Potbank wedding photographer
  • Bride and groom hug at the front of the ceremony room as guests watch
  • Quarter at Potbank wedding photographer image of the bride and groom at the floral arch in the brick-walled ceremony room
  • Bride and groom walk through a shower of confetti thrown by their guests
  • Wedding guests laugh together on benches in the courtyard
  • Two guests laugh as they greet each other, one holding the bride's pink bouquet
  • Black and white photo of the bride hugging a guest after the ceremony
  • Bride and groom kiss in front of a painted door on a weathered brick wall of the old pottery works
  • Relaxed couples portrait of the bride and groom walking hand in hand beside a whitewashed building
  • Relaxed couples portrait of the bride and groom holding hands in front of a weathered brick wall
  • View through a doorway into the reception room with light-up LOVE letters and neon signs
  • Two guests laugh and embrace in the courtyard, one wearing a yellow fascinator
  • Bride's grandma laughs while holding a pint of beer at a courtyard table
  • Guests cheer and punch the air while singing in the courtyard
  • Bride, groom and guests sing and cheer together in the courtyard of the Quarter at Potbank
  • Guests wave napkins in the air as the wedding breakfast begins
  • Groom gives his speech in front of a floral backdrop
  • Guest throws his arms in the air during the wedding speeches
  • Bride laughs as the groom delivers his speech
  • Father of the bride laughs while reading his speech from his phone
  • Bridesmaid reads her speech as the bride listens
  • Wedding guests stroke a happy dog on a lead
  • Bridesmaid laughs while holding drinks outside the venue
  • Bride hugs a guest outside the venue after the speeches
  • Bride greets a laughing guest with open arms outside the venue
  • Two guests arm-wrestle at a courtyard table while friends laugh
  • Black and white photo of the bride hugging her dad in the reception room
  • Bride and groom share their first dance on the chequered dance floor surrounded by guests
  • Bride and groom sing and dance among guests on the busy dance floor
  • Bride dances with the groom and a guest on the chequered dance floor at the Potbank in Stoke
  • Three guests raise their hands and dance beside their table
  • Guest in a pink dress dances low on the black and white dance floor as the bride and guests cheer around her
  • Laughing bride dances with an older guest wearing a captain's hat on the chequered dance floor
  • Bride holding a Just Married sign poses with an older guest and a friend in fancy-dress hats at a Potbank wedding reception

Getting Married on the Old Spode Pottery Site

The Quarter @ Potbank sits on the old Spode Works site in Stoke, where Josiah Spode I took over the pottery in 1776, and Spode wares were made right up until 2008. That’s a lot of history to get married next to. The site has around eleven Grade II listed buildings, and the Spode Museum is still there, so any pottery-mad guests have something to explore. These days the old factory buildings are home to artist studios, restaurants and a hotel, so it feels like a place people actually use rather than a museum piece. For a couple who want something with real character and none of the stuffy formality of a country house, it’s a brilliant backdrop.

Staying on Site at the Potbank Aparthotel

One of the big perks here is that there’s a hotel on the same site. The Potbank Aparthotel is tucked into the converted Spode buildings, so you and your guests can get ready, celebrate and head to bed without anyone needing a taxi or a designated driver. Hayley spent the morning getting ready in one of the apartments, and it was a brilliant space. It had amazing views over the area and was full of natural light, which the makeup artists and hair stylists loved. It’s also only about a ten minute walk from Stoke-on-Trent railway station, handy for guests coming in by train.

Easy to Get To, With a Team Who Make It Even Easier

The venue is right in Stoke-on-Trent, a short distance from the town centre and about a ten minute walk from the railway station, so it’s a doddle for guests travelling in from elsewhere. What really stood out on Hayley and Scott’s day, though, was the staff. They were incredibly helpful and friendly from start to finish, and they kept everything running smoothly without ever making a fuss about it. That meant the day flowed naturally, nobody was rushed or hovering, and I was free to capture loads of genuine moments of the couple and their guests just enjoying themselves.

What Next?

If you’re getting married at The Quarter @ Potbank and looking for a wedding photographer, I’d love to hear from you. Tell me a bit about the two of you, when the big day is, and what you’ve got planned. Click the button below to see if I’m free for your date.

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