The Wedding Guide
Wedding planning can be daunting, there are lots of things to consider and most of them are probably things you’ve not really thought about before. We’ve created this guide to make your wedding at the Bodleian a little bit easier.
Below, you can find information on wedding ceremonies and receptions, a handy FAQ and signposting to other parts of our website that have timelines, prices and our recommended supplier list.
Where Do I Start?
The Bodleian Libraries Wedding Team coordinate over 50 weddings a year, and we want to use our knowledge to help make your wedding day a dream; whether you are planning a ceremony, reception or elopement, we know you’ll probably have some questions about where to get started. One of the first things to consider is where you want to get married and what you want out of your venue. There are a number of great reasons to get married in Oxford, and the Bodleian Library has a wealth of history that makes it incredibly unique! Remember to consider your guest numbers, the timeline the venue uses for their weddings, and what you want to use the spaces in the venue for!
Alongside picking your venue, you’ll also need to figure out whether you want a registrar-led wedding or a celebrant-led wedding. There’s a lot of different types of ceremonies you can have at the Bodleian, but whether you want to have a legally recognised (registrar-led) ceremony or not is a very big consideration. After you’ve determined this, you will need to get in contact with the Oxfordshire Registry Office to make sure the date and time you want to get married at is available, or contact a celebrant, if you want to go down that route. You will need to organise the legal elements of your ceremony separately to your planning with the venue, and we cannot do this for you, but we can direct you to helpful resources if you need them.
After you’ve booked your venue, you’ll want to start considering vendors for the wedding. We are a dry-hire venue, which means that you only hire the space and hire everything else yourself but we work with wonderful recommended suppliers who are very familiar with the venue, and have been handpicked for their attention to detail and care in their work. These suppliers are all local to the area, and adhere to sustainable practices in their work so that they not only ensure quality and creativity but also support our shared commitment to making weddings at the Bodleian as sustainable as possible. Sustainability has been playing a bigger part in weddings than ever, and choosing a local for your wedding day is an act of kindness towards the planet.
If you are having a wedding reception with us, we strongly advise contacting Oxford Fine Dining when you place a date on hold with us to request a quote and arrange a tasting with them. Other than that, you will also have a basic AV package included in your booking if you have booked an evening reception, and we ask that you reach out to THAT Event Company to organise your AV package with them.
The most important advice we can give for wedding planning is that this is your wedding, so enjoy it – make choices for your wedding that will make you happy!
Directory
Below is a directory for where to look for specific information on ceremonies, receptions and elopements, as guidance on suppliers and signposting to our journal, which is full of trips and tricks for wedding planning, interviews with our suppliers and some other information about wedding planning. If you can’t find something on these pages, and it isn’t in the FAQ below, please contact us – we’re always happy to help!
Wedding Ceremony Packages
Join us for your ceremony in the beautiful Convocation House, or the awe-inspiring Divinity School. You’ll find information about guest numbers, timelines and directions to start planning the legal details.
Wedding Reception Packages
Spend your reception dancing the night away under the magical Divinity School ceiling. This page has information about receptions in the Divinity School.
Small Wedding Packages
If your guest list is under 50, you may be interested in our small wedding packages. You’ll find information about small ceremonies, lunchtime receptions and shorter evening receptions on this page.
Elopements
Why not elope in a treasure trove of history and knowledge? You can find information on non-legal elopements, such as the timelines and guest numbers.
Our Suppliers
We work with wonderful local suppliers, all of whom were handpicked for their care and creativity. You can find anything from musicians to stationers on this list.
Our Journal
A handy guide on the different elements of wedding planning, such as comparing suppliers, the latest wedding trends and insider information about getting married in Oxford!
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a dry-hire venue?
When you dry hire a venue, it means you only hire the space and hire everything else yourself; a dry hire venue is a venue that only provides the space, and the staffing in the case of the Bodleian. However, we work with a number of fantastic suppliers, including florists, musicians and photographers.
Is there any AV/lighting included in my booking?
If you have booked any package with an evening reception hire, basic AV is included in the booking. THAT Event Company (TEC) provide their basic uplighting and a PA system for your band or DJ, anything else is not included in the package. We advise speaking to TEC directly, so that you can confirm what lighting colours and PA system you will need.
What catering packages do you have?
As a dry-hire venue, we do not provide catering, but work closely with Oxford Fine Dining, who provide excellent service for any occasion. We strongly advise reaching out to them for a catering quote around the same time you place a date on hold with us.
Do you have approved/recommended suppliers?
We have two suppliers that you are required to use for a reception, Oxford Fine Dining and THAT Event Company, however you have freedom to use any other suppliers. We do have lists of recommended suppliers, which you can find on our website under Our Suppliers.
Do you offer an alumni discount?
We do not offer any discounts on our wedding packages; however, we have a range of different packages that are suitable for different price points and we would be happy to talk to you further about what works best for you.
Do you organise the legal elements of the wedding, such as the registrar?
For any legal ceremonies, you will need to contact the Oxfordshire Registry Office directly. Both Convocation House and the Divinity School are legally-recognised venue, but the Duke Humfrey’s Library is not.
When does the evening party begin?
The evening party begins at 9:45pm, as we do not allow amplified music before this time. We recommend having the cake-cutting and speeches at 9:00pm after the evening meal, which takes about two hours.
What is your wet weather option for the drinks reception?
For smaller guest numbers, the Proscholium is able to fit guests for the event. However, we would recommend considering hiring the Sheldonian as an alternative drinks reception venue for larger wedding parties. You can find out more here, or email us if you have any questions.
Can I have confetti at my wedding?
Yes! We are happy to work with your photographer to organise confetti under the Bridge of Sighs, as it cannot be on the Bodleian Libraries site. We do ask that it be either biodegradable paper or dried flowers, though.
Can I get married in the Duke Humfrey’s Library?
While you cannot have a legal ceremony in the Duke Humfrey’s Library, you are able to have an intimate celebrant-led ceremony in the space. We allow up to 15 guests, for these ceremonies. Read more about Duke Humfrey’s elopements here.
Can I have my wedding photos taken in the library?
Yes! For an additional fee of £120, enjoy a private photoshoot with your photographer in the library on the big day. We typically schedule this during the drinks reception, slightly before the call to dine so that you can enjoy some time with guests before having a private moment in the beautiful space.
Do you allow smoking or vaping on-site?
We have a strict no smoking or vaping policy on-site. Any guests who want to smoke or vape will be guided to our off-site smoking areas.
Do you have any parking on-site?
We have limited parking on-site, and it is reserved for suppliers. We will speak to you during your details meeting about which suppliers may need parking. For guests, we recommend using the Oxford Park and Ride, or hiring coaches for your guests at the end of the night.
What if there are building works on-site?
We will endeavour to let you know about any building works taking place on your wedding day as soon as we know about them. However, we do not offer any discount because of building works on our site.
What accessibility is there in the space?
The venue has step-free entrances to both the Divinity School and Convocation House. Additionally, we do not have any de-escalation room, but we are able to offer a space for guests who need to step away. We are happy to discuss your accessibility need with you further over email.
Map of the Old Bodleian
The Bodleian site is a magical place, but sometimes it can be confusing for your guests and suppliers to navigate.
Below is a map of the venue, with the key areas labelled. Your wedding day will take place in the Divinity School or Convocation House, with guests entering through the Wren Door or via Chancellor’s Court. If there are any questions ahead of the big day, please email us to ask. We’re always happy to help!
Still have questions? Or are you ready to book your dream day? Either way drop us a line….
We love love and we’d love to hear from you!
