Decadent Winter Weddings with Bespoke Events London

Welcome back to the Bodleian Wedding Blog. If you read our blog post last week, Introducing the Sheldonian Theatre, then you will know that it is possible to hire the Sheldonian as an additional space for your wedding reception. Today, we are beyond thrilled to invite Bespoke Events London to tell us how they used the Bodleian Library and Sheldonian Theatre to design, produce, and deliver a truly decadent and highly memorable winter wedding.

The love story…

We were delighted when Ellie and Paul approached us to design and plan their wedding as they had a completely blank canvas in front of them which is any creative event planner’s dream!

They were at the beginning of their wedding journey and with nothing booked, our first step was to find them their perfect wedding venue.

We like to get to know our clients, to understand them. This is the only way that we can truly provide them with the wedding of their dreams; as if we have seen inside their head, taken these images, and then blown them up one thousand fold.

We quickly learnt that Oxford held a special place in Ellie and Paul’s hearts. It made perfect sense that this should be the backdrop for the pinnacle of their love story!

Their brief was that the venue should be rare, special, not your everyday, something that would provide a truly unforgettable experience … mission accomplished!

The Ceremony

Divinity School provided the perfect setting and it is such an architecturally stunning venue that our intention here was to enhance its natural beauty and let is speak for itself. We wanted to highlight the building using it in a way that delivered a modern luxury wedding, whilst showcasing the historic venue to its full.

The ceremony was to be very classic and quintessentially English in style with an undeniable luxury feel. It was an elegant winter wedding with the bride in white fur. For our design we focused on creating the perfect lighting to enhance the architecture. We used warm ambers and stunning soft patterned lighting to cast a dappled effect across the room giving the illusion of delicate winter light casting subtle shadows.

The Wedding Breakfast

As we moved through the day into the Wedding Breakfast we started to bring in a little more ‘drama’ with the introduction of some bolder colours to the palette. We kept a beautifully wintery look and feel focused on blues and whites. The main feature of the Wedding Breakfast was the stunning floral runners which were installed along the centre of each table. These were designed to be statement pieces in keeping with the drama of the venue.

We wanted to ensure that the floral design across the whole day was seasonal. That it reflected the colours and (often overlooked) abundance of the winter giving a real sense of elegance and luxury. The lighting was then used to highlight the floral arrangements ensuring that they made the statement we wanted them to within the impressive setting. Our lighting design also included break up patten being projected across the whole room to add texture and a sense of intimacy to the occasion, whilst the architecture was once again framed to showcase its natural beauty.

The Evening Party

As the formal proceedings concluded, we moved into the final stage of the day which took place in the Sheldonian Theatre. This was the setting for the evening party and this was also where our biggest transformation took place. We needed to change the whole physiology of the space; to remove its identity as a large theatre space with endless rows of chairs, and to turn it into an intimate party room more suited for Ellie and Paul’s guest numbers. In order to do this, we installed a balloon canopy overhead which brought down the height of the ceiling immediately giving a more cosy feel. We then designed and built a fantastic custom stage and dance floor to fit the unusual shape the venue. We used lighting techniques to highlight and hide certain elements of the space to ensure a modern, intimate, and vibrant area for the dancing. In addition to this, we also designed plush vignettes of seating to serve as practical areas for guests to rest tired feet amidst dancing, whilst also continue to deliver a cosy atmosphere. Overall, the furniture and stage designs were much more in keeping with a London club. This gave a really modern twist to the historic setting and gave the evening a relaxed feel.

We endeavoured to take the guests on a journey throughout the day; from a more formal and classic English ceremony, to a dramatic and wintery dinner setting, to finish in a modern and relaxed evening party. All whilst being sensitive to, and paying homage to, the stunning historic setting.

Behind the magic…

We aim to deliver a totally unique and personalised experience for every one of the couples we work with. There is no set formula, the process develops based entirely on the couple. Our philosophy is listening to the client, listening to the venue, and delivering the best design results based on this information. We can build anything anywhere, so for us it’s all about the couple’s vision.

Our clients mainly find us by word of mouth, and there is no bigger compliment than this! However, we do also have a strong online visual presence and a reputation for creating events which are elaborate but sympathetic to our stunning historic UK venues.

Over years we have not only built a reputation for excellence but we have built an excellent team.  Our designers and technicians have a passion for 5-star hospitality, service, and amazing event design journeys that tell a story.

Until next time…

We would really like to thank Bespoke Events London for reflecting on a truly magnificent wedding. From beginning to end, the Bodleian Weddings Team were absolutely blown away by their eager professionalism. Every detail was meticulously planned (you should have seen the size of their event schedule!) and we could not believe how efficiently every aspect of the wedding day came together. We will always look upon this wedding with great fondness, and hope that Ellie, Paul and all their guests will do too.

Keen to see more?

Event Production Company: www.bespoke-london.co.uk

Photographer: www.blakeezraphotography.com

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