VENUES

A stylish venue sets the mood for the whole ‘I do’ extravaganza and we have a bumper crop of gems in our ‘hood. 15^th century manor Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons is a luxurious choice for an intimate affair of 50 people hosted in the walled garden. For a larger group, you can hire the whole manor house and have the acres and acres of glorious grounds with photo-ready manicured lawns and Japanese gardens all to yourself and your 100 guests.

If you’re tying the knot al fresco, Horwood House Hotel’s drop-dead gorgeous Blossom Garden is a great option. Though the ornate Rose Arbour and massive grounds make for endless photo ops, we’re well aware of the shrewish tendencies of the British weather. Should the sun run and hide, Horwood has an equally stunning indoor venue, The Drawing Room, with opulent chandeliers, high ceilings and vast windows for a spot of natural light.

Fairytale settings, if that’s your wish Cinderella, are plentiful in our region, but you won’t find anything more beautiful than The Bodleian Library, the oldest library in Europe, with its three licensed rooms; The Divinity School (jaw-dropping and dating back to the 15th century) Convocation House and Chancellor’s Court. Oxford Town Hall is ideal for bigger events – its stunning galleried main hall hosts anywhere from 40 to 500 guests.

Blink and you’ll miss lakeside charmer (and 2023 Muddy Award winner) Tip Top venues, tucked at the edge of Milton Keynes. Unconventional and celebrant-led ceremonies are topping the charts for 2023/4 and this is the ideal venue to have full creative reign and make the whole day personal to you (whether you’re hosting a mini affair or partying it up with 150 guests), not to mention the cool tipi reception and sweeping views of the Bucks countryside are conversation starters.

The luxury and historic Cornwell Manor makes for a stunning wedding venue with its 2,000 acres of polished grounds, no doubt due to the fact that it’s not open to the public, and tranquil Cotswolds locale. You get to use up the huge grounds for the reception with fairy-lit marquees dotted around, plus there’s luxe glamping for up to 26 overnight guests. With easy links from London it’s a good option for those coming from further afield.

Heading to your ceremony in a car? Bah! Yawn! You can have the whole reception on board Hobbs of Henley’s large boats with up to 125 guests, plus an unbeatable sunset backdrop. Or if you just need a drop off at the church, the ferry can pick you up or drop you off from five nearby churches. Not even joking. Finally, Tythe Barn in Bicester sits on a peaceful working farm. On the estate you’ll find stylishly restored stone barns and a 17th century farmhouse all of which can play a role in your big day. The Thatched Barn makes for a romantic ceremony while The Cowshed and Hovel are primed for reception drinks (plus you’re only five minutes from Bicester Village for next day meanderings). If you get in quick with their winter wedding offer and book before March 2024, you’ll bag a heavily discounted rate (bargain). Result!

Check out our Bucks & Oxon Little Black Book for more gorgeous venue options.

FLORISTS

Centre pieces, garlands and the all-important bridal bouquet depend on freshly picked beautiful blooms. Who better to start with than House Of Flowers, a Wantage indie that snatched the prize for best florist at this year’s Muddy Awards for its sustainably and organically grown flowers – not to mention their lush floral arrangements tailor made to fit the theme of your day.

If you live and breathe florals, you’ll know world-renowned Oxon local florist slash designer Willow Crossley for her fabulous workshops and homewares – but her work on weddings is more off-the-radar and naturally more exclusive. So exclusive that rumours say she arranged the flowers for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s evening reception. No doubt you’ll be in great company if you snatch this one, so save up and get in touch if you want your wedding flowers to be on par with the royals.

A new kid on the blooming block as of 2020, Blossom and Ivy has quickly gained a strong reputation – working with the bride to map out a vision, owner Lucy Simmons provides everything from understated flower jars to glamorous floral arches.

Howe Farm Flowers in mid Buckinghamshire offers a selection of fabulous wedding packages, or if you want to save some money and are feeling creative, you and your partner can create bespoke arrangements using the DIY selections, freshly picked and foliaged. Even if you don’t have a creative eye, it’s an easy way to get some stress-free wedding planning one-on-one time with your soon-to-be hubby.

Grown naturally without any chemicals or pesticides, Babylon Flowers in South Oxfordshire has a unique selection of blooms that reflect the seasons. The floral of choice this autumn being fragrant Dahlias which the team can style into bouquets and pretty arrangements, plus they also offer DIY buckets.

Prefer flowers you can keep well after the big day? Meadow Lane Flowers in Oxfordshire creates incredible faux arrangements (seriously, you’d never know) that would be perfect as table decor or bouquets.

For more floral inspiration, check out our Little Black Book.

BRIDAL BOUTIQUES

And now *scream* onto the dress of dreams. It’s undoubtedly the most stressful outfit you’ll ever have to choose, lucky for you we have some indie boutique belters, experts (me) advise trying them all out…just to be sure.

Muddy Award Winner for best Bridal Store 2023, Bride Like Me in Milton Keynes stocks sleek silhouettes from iconic wedding designer, Vera Wang, alongside classic ball gown styles and timeless elegant pieces from the likes of brit-brand Charlie Brear and Lyn Ashworth.

Who says VIP treatment starts on the big day? Marlow’s Your Story Bridal is an appointment only exclusive boutique, meaning you and your bride tribe have the team’s full attention with no rush to get you out the door. To get the party started, you even get a glass of champers to sip while trying on dresses from the likes of Evie young, Love & Liberty, and Nicole Milano.

The perfect place to find a dress that fit your every curve, Beaconsfield-based Pure Couture is known for its extensive collection for curvy brides, and expert alterations by the close-knit team. Not to mention the purse friendly prices and fabulous gowns hand-picked from designers as far as Australia.

Spruce up your whole bridal team in one afternoon (yes, it can be done!) About You Bridal in Wantage prioritises making dress shopping a stress-free experience and offers styles for the bride, groom, mother of the bride, and bridesmaid dresses. You’re not stuck with off-the-peg styles here, you can get made-to-order wedding dresses and suits for the whole bridal team, with a five-month turnaround.

For added sparkle (not to mention the all-important wedding rings), try West Wycombe’s Artisan Jewellery. Owner Justine Holliday is big on ethical and sustainable jewellery, using recycled materials where possible to create beautiful pieces for engagements, weddings and special occasions. Other great options include Biagio the Jeweller in Thame/Bicester, one of the most established engagement and wedding ring jewellers in the region, and the brilliant Libby Rak in Woodstock, whose bespoke rings feel chic and modern.

FOOD AND DRINK

Luxurious woman wearing a white dress, holding a coupe with champagne in sun light. Concept of an open air party.

I remember at my wedding I was almost more worried about getting the food right than anything else. All brides look beautiful on the day but dull canapés or mains are a friend to no party. We love Lamb Catering (tried and tested by Muddy at two Awards events, both huge successes) for its seasonal menus sourced from local small growers and farms, and Oxford Fine Dining for bespoke menus crafted for your day, everything from buffet spreads to BBQ and tapas-style sharing plates.

Wash it all down with champers from family-run Daws Hill Vineyard, a three-acre powerhouse in the Chilterns that grows traditional varieties of French grapes producing Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunir. If you’re after a refreshing summer vino, Hendred Vineyard’s Hendred Brut is a crisp white that complements seafoods and meats – its constantly selling out so hop to it if you want it on your menu.

Picky guests? Sip a bit of everything with Oxford Wine Co.’s 2000+ curated bottles with a budget-friendly price range or taste award-winning sparkling white wines from boutique vineyard Fairmile, in Henley.

Freezing a slice of your wedding cake and eating it on your one-year anniversary is all the rage on social media, and we love the wholesome trend, but if you’re going to be digging in after all the fuss and buzz has died down, the cake better be a knock-out. Flour and Fold (pictured) is a great option. Run by Jess Howells, a passionate baker based in Faringdon, South Oxfordshire, she makes gorgeous bespoke cakes with your choice of design, flavour, and quirky add-ons. For an extra slice of sweetness, add Jess’s Great Taste Award-winning triple chocolate brownie to your desserts table.

One-of-a-kind luxury designs are Henley-based Vikki Schofield’s specialty, The Mouse and the Cake creates centrepiece cakes that hold meaning to the couple, and also happen to be super Insta-worthy. Each cake is elegant yet fun and gives you room to have the cake of your dreams, no matter the design.

BEAUTY

Hey, we all know it’s about the prep! Oxon’s sleek skin and laser clinic ERA (an acronym for Enhance, Rejuvenate and Anti-ageing) specialises in treatments that give your face and body a youthful boost helping with everything from body toning to lash lifts, and dermaplaning facials. Muddy has just completed a brand new EmFace course (review to come shortly), a non-invasive muscle work out for the face, and it’s definitely worked!

Glow Beauty offers the full works, luxury manis and pedis, brow shaping, body waxing, and spray tanning (hey, this is your day to glow.) This local gem is new to Long Crendon and has serious creds from Champneys Beauty College and exclusively uses luxe skin-loving products from Elemis Clarins, plus organic brand Neal’s Yard.

Do away with bridezilla by tackling all your wedding planning stresses and anxieties. Link Breathing in Bicester has a new one-to-one service for brides and grooms which targets your worries. Founder Jane helps you retrain your breathing habits to create a calm and relaxed baseline – whether you’re worried about your speech, catering, or being the centre of attention – get ahead of it and enjoy your big day.

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Once the bouquets are caught and the heels are long gone, all eyes will be your hired paparazzi.

Muddy’s choice for best wedding photographer 2023, Danielle Newton’s editorial style ditches bland traditional photos for elevated snaps that look straight out of a style mag. Whatever your inspiration, Danielle will help you capture it – speaking of, if you’re going for Kate Middleton’s regal look, it’s best to get papped before the champers comes out.

For the ultimate wow factor Megan Guard Photography has an eye for romance, so much so that one of her photos was shortlisted for the British Photography Awards Top 20. She offers a full-day package with up to 10 hours of coverage, a 5-hour day, and is happy to travel for destination weddings.

Another Muddy 2023 finalist, David Cook is a documentary style photographer with an eye for capturing candid moments in stylish photos. A huge shift in wedding photography over the last few years has been making everything seem more authentic and David is the man for the job, especially if you’re not super comfortable in front of a camera.

DON’T FORGET

You’ve ticked off the to-do list but there’s one four-legged friend that needs company on the big day. Doggytopia, in Standlake offers bespoke Wedding Chaperone services for your pooch. Whether they’re part of the flower team or enjoying the show from the audience, the experienced chaperones will get your pets pampered, dressed up, and keep them entertained for the day.

The perfect local wedding guide

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