It’s almost 2025 – how time flies! The seasons may change but the beauty of a Bodleian Wedding stays the same. The Bodleian Weddings Team are looking back on the weddings of 2024 and we invite you to join us.
We host weddings all throughout the year in the Bodleian, and because of this we’re lucky enough to see an incredible range of styles and colours across the seasons. The flowers, dresses and decorations all seem to reflect the time of year, and this harmony between nature and the weddings reflects the harmony between our couples in their wedding planning. Let’s take a look through the weddings of 2024 and see how they changed throughout the year!
SPRING
Spring weddings in the Bodleian are romantic and intimate occasions, with decorations that have warmer tones, usually in pastels and pinks, but with lots of greenery to capture the feeling of spring. These weddings capture the liveliness of nature during spring, and the newness of the season reflects the beauty of a couple about to enter a new stage of their life. However, we have also seen weddings in spring that used simple white flowers, or no flowers at all! Using more simple decoration techniques not only emphasises the natural beauty of spring, but highlight’s the Bodleian’s natural beauty. It’s all about figuring out what works for you!
In Spring, lots of couples choosing to invite smaller guest lists and utilise the lunch option that the Bodleian offers. One of our most beautiful spring weddings was an intimate occasion, with a small guest list and beautiful decorations that emphasise the brightness of spring. Our Small Weddings packages are available all year round, if you feel like this is an ideal option for you, do take a closer look at what we can offer.
SUMMER
Moving into summer now, this time of year seems to inspire a little romanticism in us all! We noticed that this summer, couples started utilising the space around the Bodleian more to appreciate the weather, including an outdoor bar so that their guests can soak up the sun! Summer also has more confetti to celebrate the couple, and the Bodleian is happy to help couples coordinate their confetti if this is what they want for their big day.
While summer and spring have very similar colour palette of pastels and pinks, summer generally has cooler tones than spring. These decorations look beautiful in the sunlight of summer, and are often the flowers that are in season during summer, including peonies, cornflowers and sunflowers. These flowers are all in bloom during the summer months, and draw on summer beauty.
This summer, we also saw couples drawing on their connections with their friends and family to make their big day truly special. One couple’s band of choice was the Green Bean Machine perform, who had personal ties to the couple and made sure that every element of their day was personalised for them. Live music always creates an incredible atmosphere for you and your guests, and creates swells of emotion throughout the big day. If you’re not fortunate enough to know any musicians, we thankfully do! Take a look at our recommended musicians list for some very talented people who would love to play at your wedding.
AUTUMN
As the weather starts to change, so do the preparations for weddings at the Bodleian. Unfortunately, British weather can be a bit wet and wild, and the best weddings are those with wet weather plans. The Bodleian offers a range of options for wet weather weddings depending on budget restrictions. Our standard option is using the Proscholium (just before you enter the Divinity School) in case the weather decides to turn. Some couples choose to hold their drinks reception in the Sheldonian to hide from the weather, whilst if you’ve booked for a small wedding, you use the narrow end of the Divinity School. We’re happy to accommodate whatever you might need to prepare for rain!
It’s not just the venue that adapts for the changing seasons, but warmer lighting and florals start to replace the cool tones of summer, really showcasing the beauty of the Bodleian. Our brides’ dresses often have sleeves to manage the colder weather. And the autumn seems to bring out a couple’s creativity! This autumn, we had a beautiful champagne tower during one couple’s reception.
WINTER
A wedding in winter is a beautiful occasion. While some may shy away from it, we encourage you to lean in to the Christmas feel and incorporate these decorations into your wedding. This year, the Bodleian’s decorations were Narnia themed, and the silvers and golds compliment wedding palettes beautifully.
Brides also start to dress more seasonally, and their wedding dresses may incorporate more shrugs and furs and wraps to keep warm. These are a beautiful way to show off your style in the season and keep cosy on the day!
Regardless of the time of year, a wedding at the Bodleian will be a beautiful occasion and a happy day for all! For all the soon-to-be married couples going into 2025, no matter what season – the Bodleian could be the venue for you!
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