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Wedding venue review: Ashmolean Museum

Wedding venue review: Ashmolean Museum

by | 7, July, 2020 | venues

Ashmolean Museum wedding venue review

You’d be forgiven if you didn’t realise that you could get married at the magnificent Ashmolean Museum in Oxford – there are some wonderful unknown venue options on offer right on our doorsteps.

Photography by Zaki Charles Photography

Licensed wedding venues

In 1995, the law was changed to allow marriages to be conducted in other civil approved venues in addition to a registry office or religious premises. Now over 50% of ceremonies are carried out in these type of venues and there are some truly beautiful venues to choose from in Oxfordshire and the surrounding Cotswolds.

Whether in a barn, a manor house, a marquee, a museum, or a hotel, there are some amazing places to hold your wedding or special occasion. There’s something out there to accommodate most styles, guest numbers and budgets.

Photography by John Cairns

Location of the Ashmolean Museum

Founded in 1683 The Ashmolean Museum is the oldest public Museum in the world. It is slap bang in the middle of a wonderful university city – steeped in history, with an abundance of amazing architecture, and nicknamed the ‘city of dreaming spires’.

Just a few minutes walk from the city centre shops is this impressive building, conveniently opposite the prestigious MacDonald Randolph Hotel, where guests often choose to stay and then can just walk across the road.

Photography by Martin Phelps Photography

Impressive backdrops

The Ashmolean Museum gives you maximum impact with minimal effort, as the backdrop of this venue needs no help in packing a punch – the wow factor is there for you already!

Photography by Zaki Charles Photography

Galleries

One of the most striking things about this venue is there are many options and different ways you could use a combination of the galleries for your drinks reception, licensed ceremony, dinner and dancing. Each gallery has it’s own character, atmosphere and capacity that can be suited to your number of guests and requirements.

This is a venue which is quiet, personal and intimate, yet very much on the grand scale.

Once the museum has closed to the public, you have full rein of the venue from 5.30pm. For example, you could choose to have a drinks reception on the Rooftop Restaurant Terrace where it has a more contemporary feel; your wedding ceremony in the European Art Gallery with imposing portraits, picture perfect harpsichord playing and a sweeping staircase to make a grand entrance; dinner in the Greek and Roman Sculpture Gallery; and then dancing in the Vaulted Café in the basement with booth style seating and nightclub feel.

Additionally the European Art Gallery is also available for exclusive ceremonies in the daytime whilst the Museum is open.

The contemporary Atrium is a popular choice for drinks and canapés receptions – typical guests numbers are 150 but it’s adjoining galleries and four floors can be opened up to accommodate as many as 900 guests. 

There’s certainly nothing staid or boring about this museum. And whilst I visited on a grey day at the end of May, there still was loads of light pouring into the venue.

Photography by Martin Phelps Photography

Facilities

Brides come in through a side entrance secretly to avoid the guests who are coming in through the main entrance. Then the bride is often brought down the grand staircase to make an entrance into the European Art Gallery complete with stunning gilded chandelier.

How awe-inspiring to spend your wedding day looking at half a million years of art and history with great masterpieces and statues looming over proceedings. All you need to decorate most of the galleries would be some up lighters for alcoves or where statues stand and spot lights for the aisle.

The Museum use Clerkwenwell Green as an exclusive catering partner to complete the wedding experience at the Ashmolean. Being a bespoke Events Catering Company based in Hoxton London, they too take the guests on a journey, delivering cool, confident and considered food that has been created with passion and designed carefully to showcase the best seasonal ingredients available throughout the year. Head Chef Mike Dewing was awarded ‘Chef Of The Year’ in 2017 by Benugo.

Chairs and tables are included in the price and they also offer a range of table linen, china and glassware.

Photography by Matthew Pattimore

Service

There doesn’t seem to be anything that is too much to ask of this venue. They seem extremely flexible to accommodate couples’ wishes for their big day. With the understandable exception of red wine (apart from in the dinner and dancing areas), anything seems to go!

They can offer expert guides and access to special exhibitions should you wish to add something different for your guests during your wedding festivities.

Stacey is their amazing onsite wedding planner and she is on hand to help you through every detail and aspect of your wedding day. Not a cookie cutter style wedding in sight – just the personal touch all the way.

They offer all couples a complimentary anniversary dinner with fizz in the Ashmolean’s Rooftop Restaurant. Plus any couples who book an evening reception, they offer a complimentary tasting with their exclusive caterer as well as a case of Champagne delivered to your door after your special day.

Photography by Martin Phelps Photography

Summary

This is a beautiful hidden gem of a wedding venue in Oxford. From the outside you don’t know the expanse of options that are available inside. It provides a truly wonderful labyrinth of options to hold a wedding or special occasion.

Photography by Zaki Charles Photography

WEDDING VENUE FACTS
Type of venue: museum
Find out more: www.ashmolean.org/venue-hire
Location: Beaumont Street,  Oxford, OX1 2PH
Wedding season: year round after 5.30pm (plus exclusive ceremonies in the daytime whilst the Museum is open)
Guests: 20-150 (depending on gallery) for wedding breakfast / maximum 900 for reception
Marquee option: n/a
Ceremony: the entire Museum is licenced for ceremonies
Venue hire: tbd based on requirements and how many galleries you want to use for the day
Nearest church: St Mary Magdalen’s Church, 9 Magdalen St, Oxford OX1 3AE
Wedding breakfast: packages with Clerkwenwell Green
Accommodation: local hotels and b&bs and opposite the Randolph Hotel
Wedding fairs: Wedding Open Days throughout the year
Other things worth a mention: impressive backdrops in every room – your ‘something old’ sorted in an instant

First published 16 July 2018. Updated 7 July 2020.

Celebrate your original wedding date

Celebrate your original wedding date

by | 16, May, 2020 | blog, guest post, tips

Wedding plans on hold

What a strange few months we’ve been living through. A time when pretty much everything in our diaries has been wiped out. When plans have all been put on hold. It has all felt a little surreal, uncertain and apprehensive.

Obviously weddings have been greatly affected by current events with no sign yet on when they will be possible and in what format they will take when they are allowed again.

Celebrate your original wedding date

Meanwhile, wedding planner at the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford, Stacey Puffer has put together these lovely ideas for how you can still celebrate your original wedding date whilst plans are on hold (featuring some tantaslising shots of food prepared by Clerkenwell Green).

Your wedding day is one of the most exciting and memorable days of your life. Having to postpone your wedding day due to COVID-19 can be very upsetting. If you’ve had to postpone your wedding due to COVID-19, don’t despair there are still several ways you can still celebrate your original wedding date!

Exchange your vows

No doubt you’ve probably already written your vows, don’t let them go to waste, share them with each other on the date or your original wedding day.

Celebrate virtually

Whilst it’s not the same, why not get together your closest friends and family on zoom or house party app, pop a bottle of fizz and acknowledge that this was your original date!

Write a love letter

This will no doubt be a difficult time for you both, it’s something you’ve looked forward to for so long, so bring out some of those emotional feelings about your partner, the excitement of marrying them and what it means to you.

Order cake

Whether it’s a wedding cake or ordinary cake from your local cake/coffee shop (many are offering ‘order online’ services) order cake. Cake always solves everything – even if it’s for a few moments!

Date night

Share a romantic evening with your partner, whether it is a romantic meal cooked from scratch or your local take away, throw in a few rose petals on the table and a bottle of wine (maybe it’s one that you had saved for your original wedding date), or make your signature cocktail (if you were planning on having cocktails at your wedding). Whatever you decide to do, make it a special occasion and memorable to you both. This will help lift your spirits.

Put a ring on it

Why not celebrate your original wedding date with a symbolic ring (we all love a little bit of bling) or even your actual wedding rings, there is no reason why you couldn’t start to wear it should you wish.

Car parade

Whilst your nearest and dearest can’t be by your side right now, seeing family and friends (from afar) with beaming smiles, wedding bunting, maybe your first dance song blaring from the cars radio, supporting you in this current situation is a perfect way of helping you celebrate and marking this occasion.

Remember #loveisnotcancelled, you will get to say ‘I do’ and you will have your wedding day to remember!

instagram logo@staceypuffer_weddingplanner

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Wedding venue review: Bodleian Library

Wedding venue review: Bodleian Library

by | 29, April, 2019 | blog, venues

Bodleian Library wedding venue

One of the things I love about our region is the complete diversity of the types of wedding venues available in and around the Cotswolds and Oxfordshire. With an abundance of barns, manor houses, hotels and beautiful backdrops to tie the knot.

It’s not often that I’m completely blown away by a venue the first time I see it, before it has been styled and dressed for an occasion. But this was certainly the case for the Bodleian Library – it wowed me at very first sight!

Stu Heppell Photography

Bodleian Library location

The dreaming spires of Oxford are a pull for many tourists and locals alike. Many crave the Oxford college look for a celebration but this isn’t always possible unless you’re part of the illusive alumni. However, you don’t have to be part of this elite to utilise this stunning space.

The Bodleian Library is one of the oldest libraries in Europe (dating back to 1488) and the largest in the UK. An extensive working reference library which is part of the University of Oxford.

Set in Oxford city centre with entrances from Broad Street, Catte Street and Radcliffe Square into the Old School Quadrangle of the Old Bodleian Library.

Goose & Berry | That Event Company | Fabulous Flowers

Breath taking ceiling

It’s rare that you find a venue that just speaks for itself and has the wow factor without any frills or accessories. This little beauty doesn’t need to be dolled up to the nines to look good – it has got the natural look down to a fine art. It is quintessentially English so it’s no wonder it’s been used to typify English culture in so many films.

The ceiling is breath taking. And whilst you may balk at some restrictions in other venues, here you can completely understand why balloons or candles would be a no-no (after all there is an extensive and renowned library just above your head!) You are paying for an amazing atmosphere here.

Photography by Nicola & Glen

Preferred suppliers

With this in mind, they specify that you use their preferred supplier for lighting as they know the ancient electrics inside out. And the Bodleian Library have partnered up with Oxford Fine Dining (who seem to be prolific in this area of the industry at the moment) for all your catering needs.

Aside from that, you have the chance to bring in your own florist, photographer and any other suppliers for your day. This venue is a dry hire so everything has to be brought in by suppliers – including the kitchen sink. However, there is an amazing experienced wedding coordinator to offer you guidance and support.

Dale Stephens Photography

Grand and intimate celebrations

There are three main areas that make up the rooms for hire. Firstly, the Divinity School (which can sit up to 120 people for your wedding breakfast) with its striking carved gothic ceiling and huge arched windows, making this the most impressive of the three. You could have your ceremony and reception in this room alone from 4pm.

Or you could use the adjacent Convocation House, with its court like appearance which was a 17th century meeting place for the debating society and still houses the chapel style seating for around 100 people. This could also be for ceremony and a more intimate seated dinner throughout the day.

Better still, you could opt for a combination of the two options and mix and match the rooms you utilise.

There is a smaller Chancellor’s Court room next door which in the evening will act as a make shift kitchen for the caterers or a private entrance for your ceremony during the day.

A drinks reception would be idyllic outside in the Old School’s Quadrangle amidst the statues, whilst the bride and groom go off to have photos in the Duke Humfrey Library. A guided tour for 20 of your guests could also be arranged during your drinks reception.

Alexandra Jane Photography

Summary

This wedding venue is a magnificient blank canvas. Whilst it was certainly not built for weddings in the 13th century, it more than makes up for its slightly trickier organisation process with its unique charm and character. In spade fulls.

The ceiling alone is awesome and you’d be forgiven for just staring at the rafters for the duration of any event. It is not an exaggeration to say that this place is stunning.

Throw in a morning punting and a sighting of Morse and you’ll have fully submerged in a dreamy Oxford world.

WEDDING VENUE FACTS

Type of venue: historic building
Find out more: www.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/weddings
Location: The Bodleian Library, Broad Street, Oxford OX1 3BG
Wedding season: year round
Guests: 100-120
Marquee option: n/a
Ceremony: licensed (in two rooms)
Venue hire: from £1800 (ceremony only) or £6550 for wedding reception. Bespoke packages available. 
Nearest church: University Church of St Mary the Virgin, The High Street, Oxford OX1 4BJ
Wedding breakfast: packages with Oxford Fine Dining www.oxfordfinedining.co.uk
Accommodation: Old Bank Hotel nearby www.oldbank-hotel.co.uk
Wedding fairs: Wedding showcase 23rd February 2019 and throughout the year
Other things worth a mention: You may have spotted this venue is some pretty high profile films including Harry Potter and the recent ‘The Favourite’ starring Olivia Coleman who got an Oscar for best actress for her role.

Goose & Berry | That Event Company | Fabulous Flowers

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