Bodleian Weddings – Valentine’s Special

Welcome back to the Bodleian wedding blog – our first 2021 entry!

Boy are we feeling the love today. Early signs of spring are approaching, the evenings are getting lighter, and proposals are on the rise. So here’s a message to you, dear reader: love is not on lockdown.

Today we’re talking love through the ages. What is Valentine’s? Where did it come from? And what can you expect from Valentine’s day 2021?

Brief history of luurve…

Did you know that on Feb 14 couples have been officially declaring their love to one another since the 1300s? People recognised that 14 February corresponded with the bird mating season, bursts of new life, and the promise of spring.

By the 1600s, the demonstration of mutual appreciation ramped up. Lovers across the world started exchanging handwritten letters to one another.

In the 1840s, the US started the mass production of Valentine’s cards

We have now entered the age of mass consumerism. Valentine’s is now classed as an official holiday and with that comes an abundance of cuddly bears, perfume, jewellery, celebratory cocktails, fancy dinners, and maybe even a weekend get-away. In fact, in 2019, the UK spent 855 million on Valentine’s alone.

Love matters most…

Now, while lavish celebrations and treats are fun and thoughtful, we are keen to return to the true meaning of Valentine’s and what it means to feel head-over-heels in love with your romantic partner. For so many people, Valentine’s marks an occasion to celebrate their adoration and appreciation for the person they spend so much of their time with. But perhaps, this year, something for you has shifted. You’ve celebrated three or four Valentine’s with your partner, you still want to make memories with them, you love them endlessly, and now you feel it’s time to take it to the next level…

Popping the question…

Some might find it cliché to pop the question on Valentine’s, but it might surprise you to know that, according to theknot.com, 14 February is rated the fifth most popular day of the year to get engaged. (25 December being the most popular!) Who knows, with the UK lockdown still in place, the thought of an engagement and the promise of a wedding to look forward to, might actually mean that more people go ahead and do it?

#justsaidyes

So it’s 14 February and you’ve taken the plunge. A wobbly “Will you marry me?” was met with a gasp, a smile, and an “Omg, yes, of course, YES!” Your engagement journey starts now. You might consider sharing the news with your close friends and family first and then branching out to social media. Either way, it’s your special day, so find ways to make the day extra special for the both of you.

The average engagement period lasts 15-18 months. However, do keep in mind that with so many 20/21 wedding postponements, venues for 2022 will be booking up, fast. We recommend thinking ahead to 2023, and asking venues if they have released their 2023 dates and prices. Chances are, they will be thinking ahead too.

We want to be part of your love story…

You’ve probably guessed this already, but as a venue, we love Valentine’s. So many new, freshly engaged couples will get in touch and share their engagement stories with us. We love hearing their enthusiasm and therefore want to do everything we can to make their wedding at the Bodleian a memorable one. We have learned that the Bodleian is a place that often means something to one, if not both partners. Some met while studying in Oxford and distinctly remember studying in the Bodleian Library, others fell in love with Oxford city and wanted to tie the knot in a historic venue set in the heart of the city.

So what are you waiting for? Say yes to love. Say yes to getting married. Say yes to making unforgettable memories at the Bodleian Libraries.

Happy Valentine’s from the Bodleian Weddings Team x

Photo credits: (By order of appearance)
Weddings by Nicola and Glen
Maxeen Kim Photography

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