5 Minutes with Chris – Manager of Priston Mill

Chris has been leading the team at Priston Mill since March 2019, after leaving London where he had been for a large part of his career. He moved back to Somerset and joined Priston Mill and has been at the heart of our little family since. Having worked in events for years he certainly knows how to ensure our couples have perfect day.

Before our busy summer starts, we managed to track him down for a 5 minute catch up.

Chris, what is your favourite part of being the Project Manager here at Priston Mill?

I have to say working with the amazing team we have here at Priston Mill from our office team who look after couple so careful too our kitchen team who ensure that every piece of food that leaves there kitchen is to the highest standard it can be. 

I regularly come down to the venues early in the morning as it is always a special privilege as it allows to me to watch the wildlife without disturbing them. We currently have lambs in the fields surrounding both our gorgeous venues and to watch them play together is always a treat to see!

This then leads me into the venues and being able to be the person who gets the venue ready for a wonderful and magical day where we can make dreams come true really does make it worth it!

What invaluable lessons have you learned so far in your career?

I always think it's good to get any of the important details in writing. Whether that is from us as your venue or from the other suppliers that you have hired for the day. This can help with things like how you wish the day to look like such as in photos taken, or how the decorations need to be set up. This also ensures that you as the couple are happy and can be fully confident in knowing what the venue and suppliers are doing on your behalf on the big day so you don't need to worry about anything and can just enjoy it!

What would be your top tip for future couples getting married with us at Priston Mill?

I would create a realistic plan and budget and stick to it, don’t panic, and add last minute purchases if they were not part of your original mood board. These are often not needed and end up being a waste of money. It is a cliché, but less really is more, both our venues have lovely rustic styling, and you only need to enhance this do not try and change it too much for a few hours. The summer months you have the lovely outside space and scenery and during the winter months, candles, the fireplace and dimmed lights really make for a magical experience. For those December weddings you get the extra special treat of the lovely Christmas tree!

Do you have a favourite season for saying I do?

Weddings hosted here at Prison Mill in Bath are gorgeous all year round. Autumn and Winter weddings in such a rural countryside area are simply stunning with the frost covering the fields and making for those beautiful crisp photos, you also get to see all the lovely festoon lights that much earlier, and candles really come into their own. That is my favourite time of the year, the fires are on, the lights are twinkling the early morning mist is so beautiful to watch rolling into the valley and the deer running through the fields.

What would be your advice to a Groom and his Ushers for the morning of the wedding?

All I would really say is just to leave plenty of time to get ready, so that you don’t have to rush and don’t feel you have to arrive too early.  Enjoy the anticipation of the wedding morning together, and the experience the fun and excitement together - a great opportunity for some brilliant photos as you get ready for the day ahead.  And most importantly, don’t forget to wear clean socks!!