Oxfordshire the place to marry nnnnn INTRODUCTION SSV Photography Welcome n Welcome to your Oxfordshire the place to marry wedding brochure and congratulations on your forthcoming marriage. Whether you live in Oxfordshire or not, getting married is a very special occasion and choosing your venue is very important. From the dreaming spires of Oxford to beautiful scenery and riverside settings around the county, Oxfordshire has everything to create the perfect place for your wedding. We hope this guide will provide you with all the information you will need over the next few months. Whatever your arrangements, whatever your choice, we will do our very best to ensure that your day is happy, relaxed and everything you dreamed of. Alicja Gilroy Superintendent Registrar Wallingford Portraits & Weddings www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/registration Oxfordshire the place to marry 3 nnn INTRODUCTION n Inside 4-5 inside Your quick and easy guide to what’s in this publication n A county of contrasts 6-7 From cosmopolitan Oxford to the romantic Cotswolds, Oxfordshire has something for everyone nnn WEDDING BASICS n What is a civil wedding? 8-9 Have the wedding of your dreams; choose a civil ceremony! n Getting started 10-13 From giving your notice of marriage to saying “I do”, we take you through the process n Your wedding ceremony 16-18 Everyone has wedding day nerves but with our step-by-step guide, there will be no tales of the unexpected n Choosing vows and promises 20-21 Oxfordshire the place to marry It’s more than a simple “I do”. We look at the vows and promises Published by Oxfordshire County Council Registration Service, Oxford Register Office, you can make to each other 1, Tidmarsh Lane, Oxford OX1 1NS. Tel: 0845 129 5900 www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/registration Produced and designed by The Design Place, 23 Mitchell Hill, p8 phy Truro, Cornwall TR1 1ED. SSV Photogra p10 Tel: 01872 271414 www.the-design-place.co.uk Photography courtesy of Assassynation, Catherine Photography, Squib Photography, SSV Photography, Wallingford Portraits & Weddings, Ca therine Ph Front cover photographs: otography (Top two and bottom two) Squib Photography p16 Back cover photograph: Catherine Photography p20 Feature articles on pages 38 to 43 written by Sam Pope. Email: [email protected] All information is correct at the time of going to print. tion Assassyna Squib Pho ᮊ 2014 tography 4 Oxfordshire the place to marry www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/registration nnnnn INTRODUCTION nnn VENUES n Outside ceremonies 44-45 Becoming ever more popular, we cover n Venues for marriage vows 28-29 the pros and cons of marrying outside With over 90 approved venues and registration offices in Oxfordshire how n Renewal of vows ceremonies 47 do you pick the right place for you? An opportunity for couples to renew their commitment to each other n Approved venues 30-31 A comprehensive list of Oxfordshire’s nnn HELPFUL HINTS & TIPS licensed civil wedding venues n Music for your wedding 50-51 “If music be the food of love...”; n Ceremony rooms 32-33 The Oxfordshire Registration our suggestions of popular tracks Service’s ceremony rooms to personalise your wedding day n Poetry and readings 53-55 nnn SPECIAL FEATURES Personalise your wedding ceremony with well chosen verse n Beautiful you 38-39 How to get that gorgeous glow and n Countdown to your big day 56-57 perfect hair for your wedding day and changes to your passport Your preparations checklist to ensure n Wedding on a budget 40-41 smooth passage into married life Suggestions for how to tie the knot without going bankrupt in the process n A to Z brochure index 58 An ‘easy search’ alphabetical guide to n Green weddings 42-43 what’s in this publication Looking at ways to make your n Advertiser index 59 special day as eco-friendly as possible Classified section of advertisers p28 p44 raphy Squib Photog p38 p50 ddings ortraits & We Wallingford P Squib Ph otography p40 p53 p42 p56 S quib Photogr Squib Photography aphy www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/registration Oxfordshire the place to marry 5 Oxford’s Dreaming Spires Waterperry Gardens, near Wheatley Canal near Banbury A County of contrasts From Oxford’s dreaming spires and lively streets to the surrounding countryside’s quaint cottages in beautiful villages and stately homes, there is something for everyone in Oxfordshire. n Oxford , as an ancient university city, is both timeless intriguing and romantic city. Whilst further afield, the and modern. Its dreaming spires and tranquil colleges rest of the county is awash with picturesque villages set co-exist with lively arts venues, bustling independent amidst rolling countryside, market towns each with shops and fashionable restaurants. It provides the their own specific character, canals and rivers for perfect heart to the most inspiring county. waterside walks and for lovers of history and heritage, stately homes including the world heritage site of You may already be familiar with some of the features Blenheim Palace. that make a visit to Oxford unique, from the sheer beauty of the city’s colleges to its If you are searching for inspiration, the national and international treasures in Oxford Visitor Information Centre is museums of world renown. Home to there to help you, with ideas on where stunning film and TV locations from to explore and stay in the city itself Harry Potter to The Golden Compass as well as across Oxfordshire. We can and not forgetting Inspector Morse, Lewis help you discover the secrets of and more recently Endeavour (the prequel this wonderful county and create to Morse) as well as musical and dramatic unforgettable memories. performances for all tastes from candlelit recitals to open-air festivals there’s something for all tastes. For more information visit Shops with real character can be found alongside lively www.visitoxfordandoxfordshire.com pubs and restaurants combining to give this historic city its alluring cosmopolitan buzz. Oxford Visitor Information Centre Oxford’s well-known museums such as the magnificent 15 - 16 Broad Street, Ashmolean and golden Cotswold-stone buildings like the Oxford, OX1 3AS Bodleian Library and Radcliffe Camera provide a Tel: 01865 252 200 wonderful backdrop against which to explore this e-mail: [email protected] 6 Oxfordshire the place to marry www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/registration nnnnn INTRODUCTION Beyond the city, Oxfordshire’s central location offers a gateway to a wealth of stunning countryside and attractions. North Oxfordshire offers a chance to relax and discover the historic market towns of Banbury and Bicester, some of England’s most beautiful countryside and picturesque villages and walks alongside the Oxford Canal. Visit www.visitnorthoxfordshire.co.uk Broughton Castle Banbury Cross Oxford Canal The Cotswolds, on the doorstep of Oxford, offer gentle, rolling countryside, quaint villages, glorious gardens and a rich and colourful history. Antique trails, garden tours and textile heritage are waiting to be explored, as is world heritage site and old home of Sir Winston Churchill, Blenheim Palace. Visit www.oxfordshirecotswolds.org Blenheim Palace Burford Shilton Southern Oxfordshire incorporates traditional Henley-on-Thames, the magical Uffington White Horse, the thrill of motor racing and the nostalgia of steam railways. Relax in market towns and villages used as film locations, walk or cycle trails in the company of red kites and enjoy entertaining festivals. Visit www.southernoxfordshire.com Thames at Henley Ashdown House Uffington White Horse www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/registration Oxfordshire the place to marry 7 SSV Photography Catherine Photography Wallingford Portraits & Weddings Catherine Photography Squib Photography What is a CIVIL WEDDING? Gone are the days when a civil weddinG meant a quick and simple ceremony in front of an office desk. n These days, you can have almost any kind of wedding, from a simple “I do” in a Registration Service Ceremony Room with a couple of friends as witnesses, to a more grand affair at an approved venue, with bridesmaids, attendants, readings and music: the works! Nearly anything goes but be aware that civil ceremonies must not include any religious content. There will be two Registrars at your wedding; one to conduct the ceremony and the other to register your marriage. All ceremonies are held in English. If either partner is unable to speak or understand English, an interpreter must be present. You can discuss this with the Registrar who takes your Notice of Marriage so that you can make appropriate arrangements. The only other requirement on the day is that you have two adult witnesses present who also must be able to speak and understand English. There is a huge variety of places in which to have a civil wedding in Oxfordshire. Summarised opposite are your options, with further information appearing later on in this publication. 8 Oxfordshire the place to marry www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/registration nnnnn THE WEDDING BASICS Booking a Wedding Ceremony Notice of Marriage Once you have settled on the date and venue for After booking your wedding at a registration office your marriage and made a provisional booking, or an approved venue, both of you will need to you will need to get in touch with the helpdesk give your Notices of Marriage. Details of how to on 0845 129 5900 to ask if Registrars will be do this are on pages 10 to 12. available on the day and at the time you want. It is essential that you do this before making Marriages in Churches any other arrangements . A religious ceremony may take place in any religious building which has been registered for Registration office weddings worship and marriages. Your first contact There are several ceremony rooms across the should be with the church minister where you county, in Abingdon, Banbury, Bicester, Didcot, would like to marry.