I’m always up for meeting an Oxford wedding venue, so when the girls from The Bodleian Library invited me for a coffee, I jumped at the chance. We talked a lot about weddings at The Bodleian, and to my surprise, they’re far less conventional than you’d expect.
Famous for featuring in Harry Potter, The Golden Compass and The Favourite, The Bodleian Library sits in the heart of Oxford and is surrounded by some of the city’s most ancient buildings. It feels grand and historic, which is why I was so surprised to learn from Kate, Hannah and Megan that it’s actually a brilliant alternative Oxford University wedding venue.
Oxford Wedding Venue – The Bodleian Library in the heart of the city
I’ve photographed many weddings at The Bodleian, and all of them had relaxed, creative couples with strong links to Oxford. Many of them loved the idea of a traditional church wedding but didn’t want a religious ceremony, so getting married in this remarkable building became the perfect alternative.
Take a look: A BODLEIAN LIBRARY WEDDING and A BODLEIAN WEDDIN CEREMONY to see how incredible a wedding in a historic courtroom can look.
Oxford Wedding Venue – The Bodleian Library has the best team
The lovely team running events at The Bodleian shared some brilliant stories. One was a Swedish–Indian fusion wedding with a super-zen couple who covered the outdoor space with rugs and cushions while a sitar played. Another couple had their wedding rings tattooed on during the ceremony. How cool is that?
Weddings here range from full Harry Potter themes to rustic outdoor ceremonies. There’s no “standard” Bodleian wedding. The only real pattern the team notice is that most couples have a deep connection to Oxford. They’ve studied here, met here, got engaged here, grew up here or live here. That personal link to the city seems to be part of the magic.
The history of the building gives the day a sense of formality, but the team are genuinely open to anything. Yes, there are a few rules because it’s a public space, but they mostly treat it as a blank canvas and encourage couples to ditch tradition and get creative.
So there we have it: The Bodleian Library – officially an alternative Oxford University Wedding venue. You can also download their brochure for pricing and details: BODLEIAN LIBRARY BROCHURE
Still searching for your perfect Oxford wedding venue? Take a look at this post: 12 OXFORD WEDDING VENUES IN THE CITY