We’re now deeply in December, so we feel it’s safe to say it’s finally Christmastime! Whilst the Christmas season can be a hectic and stressful time, it is also the season of joy and celebration – so why not consider a Christmas wedding? Sure, you won’t have the long days nor the sunshine like you would in the Summer, but if you read on you’ll see all the reasons why we think you should consider booking a Christmastime Wedding at the Bodleian Libraries.
All of the photographs you see in this journal post are taken from real festive weddings which have taken place at the Bodleian, so you can have plenty of inspiration for your own Big Day!
School’s Out
For Oxford Alumni, having your wedding outside of the Oxford Term Times is very handy. How so? Well, as Alumni (doesn’t matter if only one person in the couple is an Alumnus) you can often use your former College Chapel to be married in for free. A large percentage of our couples are alumni who have their marriage ceremony at one of the historical nearby colleges, then proceed on foot to enjoy their reception at the equally historic Divinity School. The term dates are roughly the same year-on-year but do always check the University webpage for specific dates.
But even if you didn’t graduate from the University of Oxford, holding your wedding outside of the term times does still have its perks. For example, during the holiday dates, the University will rent out its accommodation for people to stay in. That’s right, you, your whole wedding party and maybe even your guests can stay in a centuries-old Oxford college for the true Town & Gown experience! To find out more, do check out Conference Oxford to get in contact with the University Colleges.
On top of that, we also can recommend some fantastic accommodation nearby to the Bodleian Libraries, so you don’t need to worry about booking a taxi in the cold weather!
It’s The Most Wonderful Time of the Year
Christmas is of course known as “the most wonderful time of the year”, so why not add into that festive cheer and hold your wedding in the season of goodwill? Not only will everyone be in a holly jolly mood, but you’ll also find that it’s much easier for guests to be able to book time off from work and have longer periods of leave than usual. This is ideal if you plan on going large and holding a whole weekend of celebrations, but also if you plan on holding a much more intimate celebration.
At the Bodleian Libraries, we offer Small Wedding Packages throughout the week and on Sundays, ideal for couples who see their wedding as a close celebration with less than 50 guests. We’ve often noticed that in the final week before Christmas couples enquire about holding a Small Ceremony & Reception during the weekdays as well. Our Ceremony & Lunch package is ideal if you want to hold a small gathering during the day or you can always go for the Ceremony & Evening Meal option if you’re more of a night owl. What’s fantastic about both options, is that they can run entirely indoors, keeping you and your guests within the warm walls of the Bodleian. Speaking of…
The Weather Outside Is Frightful
Whilst Christmas is certainly the jolliest time of the year, it’s not strictly the warmest with regards to the Weather. At the Bodleian, we hold weddings all year around, so we are used to planning for all weather options. When you have just a ceremony at the Bodleian Libraries, that does include having your small drinks reception (served by our lovely cafe partners Benugo) inside the venue.
For couples interested in a Convocation House wedding, Benugo will set up in the Chancellors Court (this is a small room just before entering the Convocation House). By the time your ceremony concludes you and your guests will be able to grab a drink and enjoy the baroque beauty of the Convocation House, before making your way to the reception venue of your choice.
For those who decided on the medieval marvel that is the Divinity School, the venue hire does encompass all three rooms; Divinity School, Convocation House and the Chancellor’s Court. Due to the increase in space, Benugo will set up the drinks table in the Convocation House, whilst using the Chancellor’s Court as a back of house space. This means that for you and your wedding guests they can relax and mingle between the two rooms. We can’t imagine a more unique drinks reception venue in Oxford, spanning centuries of history, for your guests to enjoy!
With our standard Ceremony & Reception bookings, our drinks reception does have a wet weather cover, the Proscholium which is just before you enter the Divinity School. This in included in the standard package, but for couples who want something a little more extraordinary, we can look at adding our neighbours the Sheldonian Theatre into the booking.
Located just across from the Divinity School, the Sheldonian Theatre is perfect place for your guests to enjoy a glass of bubbly and some canapes before the wedding breakfast is ready in the Divinity School. Just like the Bodleian Libraries, the Sheldonian Theatre is also steeped in history. It was built during the 1600s, so almost as old as the Convocation House, but a hidden fact about this building is that its architect was Sir Christopher Wren – the same person who built St Pauls Cathedral in London. When you’re in the Sheldonian Theatre, do remember to look up – if you can’t sell you on that gorgeous ceiling, we don’t know what else to say!
Holly, Jolly Holiday
When we think of Christmas colours, our minds of course jump to shades of reds and greens. But if those colours seem particularly strong, you can always break them up with white or use classic metallics like gold and silver alongside for a very festive wedding. One way to include some festive feel on the wedding day is to have bridesmaids and groomsmen wear a striking colour such as burgundy or forest green – a subtle nod to the season.
One of the most fabulous parts of the festive season is of course the decorations. Whilst we cannot hang Christmas lights off the building, do talk to our amazing AV & Lighting partners THAT Event Company do add any extras to your package. They can provide not only just more uplighters but also ceiling washes which illuminate our whole Medieval ceiling but also disco balls as well for an evening of true festive sparkle!
At the Bodleian Libraries, we also have Christmas trees in the Old Schools Quad and in the Divinity School, further adding to the festival cheer for your wedding! What’s even better is that our Christmas trees get lights added to them, so we’re already giving you an extra bit of Christmas sparkle too. While Christmas is not regarded as particularly florally abundant, why not have a bouquet of evergreens or use the ever-traditional mistletoe on your wedding day?
If you’re still stuck for ideas or inspiration, do reach out to one of our recommended florists. Or if you want a true party, many of our recommended wedding planners can also turn their hand to venue design as well.
Food, Glorious Food
It should go without saying, that when most people think about Christmas, their minds (and bellies) jump straight into thinking about the Christmas Dinner. Whilst it’s not compulsory to have a roast dinner if you book a wedding in December, our catering partners Oxford Fine Dining can create you an incredible feast if you ask them! Oxford Fine Dining can work to a seasonal menu, so do click on the “Winter” option to see what could be on offer for your big day.
For those not keen on roast dinners, Oxford Fine Dining do also a whole selection of menus, so rest assured you’ll have plenty of choice to pick from for your perfect Wedding Breakfast. At Christmas (and coincidentally Weddings), the traditional dessert is a fruit cake, but we imagine the allure of a delicious sponge is a bit too difficult to resist, so do have a look at some of our recommended cake bakers.
Duke Humfrey’s Library
The warm, cosy atmosphere and tones of the Duke Humfrey’s Library make it the perfect place for couples’ photography. As you look back at photos from your big day for years to come, you’ll instantly be taken back to that comfy feeling. Surrounded by books which are at least a couple of hundred years old, the Duke Humfrey’s Library is a location which is completely frozen in time. Not to mention, the age of the Library means it can count as something old on your wedding day!
For fans of films at Christmastime, we should also mention that the Duke Humfrey’s Library was used in the filming of the first Harry Potter film, The Philosopher’s Stone (or Sorcerers Stone if reading from the USA!). It was used for the Hogwarts Library, but more specifically for the scene where Harry dons his invisibility cloak to enter the restricted section. We’re not asking you to bring a wand or a spell book whilst you have your photography (although we wouldn’t say no!), but it adds just a little more, I guess we should say magic to the atmosphere knowing that your couples photographs are being taken in the exact same location.
We have a list of recommended photographers if you’re still looking for someone to capture your first steps into married life together, all of whom would be thrilled to follow you upstairs into the Duke Humfrey’s Library too!
The entire Bodleian Libraries Weddings Team wishes you a very wonderful festive season; whether that is shopping for loved ones, going out for the staff Christmas party or just tucked up in bed watching a film. When you get the chance to wind down, you may want to have a read of some of our past journal posts too. We also hope that maybe you’ll consider the Bodleian to be the venue of your own yuletide wedding!
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