Celebrating your Wedding in Oxford

Why is Oxford a good place to get married?

You’ve done it. You’ve tied the knot at the Bod, you’ve danced the night away in Divinity School and had a selfie with the Earl of Pembroke, but you’re not ready for your time in Oxford to come to an end. And why should it? Your Oxford-based wedding needn’t be a one day affair. If you have guests coming from abroad, or you have guests who have never set foot on Oxonian land before, Oxford really does have so much to offer….

A tour of the Old Bod

The Bodleian Library is a huge visitor attraction, so to discover more about the building where you were married, choose to take a tour of the Duke Humfrey’s library! We can arrange tours to take place before or after your wedding ceremony, but if you wanted to do this at your own leisure during the day, then book a guided tour and be prepared to learn lots about the 15^th century Divinity School, and the Duke Humfrey’s (And yes, Harry Potter was filmed in both of these spaces!)

Visiting our neighbours

Ashmolean
Have you ever fancied visiting the World’s oldest University museum? The Ashmolean is just an eight minute walk from the Bodleian and is bursting with rooms and exhibitions to be explored. This museum is worth a visit if you’re interested in ancient traditions, middle-eastern cultures and a fusion of western and eastern art collections.

,Sheldonian Theatre
If you’re lucky, there may be a concert shown in the Sheldonian Theatre during your wedding weekend. These neighbours of ours couldn’t get much closer. In fact, did you know that the same architect (Christopher Wren) who designed the infamous Wren door in Divinity School also designed the Sheldonian Theatre? So, to see a truly unique and breath-taking performance space, why not combine your wedding celebrations with a concert in the Sheldonian?*

*As spontaneous as this sounds, always make sure you check the Sheldonian website and book ahead!     

Oxford University Museum of Natural History
This building alone is totally worth a visit. With extraordinary neo-gothic features, it certainly achieves an abundance of ‘wows!’ Perhaps some of your guests are travelling to your wedding with young kids, and keeping them entertained post-wedding may be proving a little… challenging? The museum has plenty of interactive activities that are family friendly and will certainly keep those little brains occupied while parents can enjoy nursing a much-needed coffee.

Keeping Active

If you’re having a wedding in the warmer part of the year, then punting in Oxford is an experience not to be missed. On a beautiful summer’s day, imagine a dreamy afternoon floating down the river Cherwell perhaps with a glass of something bubbly and a punnet of strawberries to hand?

(Please note, in reality, only two/three people could engage in the dreamy experience, while the nominated ‘punter’ will need to prepare themselves for one hell of a sweaty workout!)

At one with nature

Feel at one with nature when visiting the UK’s oldest Botanic Gardens, which are just off the main High St. Spring and summer are the perfect times to visit this pollen and bee-filled sanctuary. Beyond this are the photo opportunities. Maybe you want to get some group shots with your parents by the walled garden? This really is a charming location to make that happen.

A place to rest your head

When all your whimsical wanderings in Oxford comes to a natural pause, hotels like the Old Bank or the Courtyard by Marriott are perfect places to host your stay. There you can reflect upon your wonderful day (or days) in Oxford and enjoy dreams filled with spires (or nightmares, depending on your punting experience!)

10 other places to visit in Oxford

-Jericho – Stroll past the Oxford University Press and the amazing Blavatnik School of Government
– History of Science Museum
-The Bridge of Sighs – Great photo spot
-The Radcliffe Camera – Another great photo spot
-University Church of St. Mary
– Christ Church Meadow
-South Park – Largest park in Oxford and fantastic views of the dreaming spires
– Oxford Castle and Prison
-Oxford Covered Market – Incredible local boutiques
-The Westgate shopping centre

Until next time!

Oxford really is a city made for exploring. Beyond the Bodleian, there is so much to see, learn and do. So, if you want to make the most of your wedding weekend, we hope this post has inspired you to venture around Oxford or indeed return there later down the line to reminisce in the city where you tied the knot.

Please do bear in mind that this blog post has been written during the pandemic in 2020. While the majority of these places remain open at the moment, (September 2020) this could indeed change. For more information, please check the websites below:

Visit the Bodleian : https://visit.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/tours
Visit the Ashmolean : https://www.ashmolean.org/
Visit the Sheldonian : https://www.sheldonian.ox.ac.uk/
Visit Oxford University Museum of Natural History: https://www.oumnh.ox.ac.uk/visit-us
Go punting: https://www.oxfordpunting.co.uk/
Smell flowers: https://www.obga.ox.ac.uk/
Have a rest: https://www.oldbankhotel.co.uk/
Have a rest: https://www.marriott.co.uk/hotels/travel/oxfcy-courtyard-oxford-city-centre/

Photo credits – by order of appearance:
V&H Photography
Weddings by Nicola and Glen
Dale Stephens

If you enjoyed this post, you might also enjoy: Choosing the Bodleian for its History…

Website: www.visit.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/venue-hire/weddings
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