There is something so magical about Oxford at Christmas time. The winding streets lit by the glow of shop windows and street lights, people bundled up in heavy coats and scarves bustling about and the Christmas trees dotted about. 

Hannah and Odhran share my sentiments, they find the season so romantic and it was an obvious choice for them to hold their December micro wedding in the city centre. 

Old Bank Hotel wedding photography

Old Bank Hotel is ideal for a small, cosy wedding. The luxurious, five star hotel can be found just off the High Street, opposite some of Oxford’s most iconic buildings. The Radcliffe Camera and Bodleian Library. It’s one of the best locations in Oxford! It is regularly featured in “best hotel” lists, most recently ranked fourth in Conde Nast Traveller’s Top Hotels in the UK and named by the Sunday Times as “the place to stay in Oxford.” Pretty impressive accolades and they are more than deserved. 

Old Bank is housed inside a stunning Georgian former bank and I just love the mix of historical charm with the cool, contemporary decor inside. Modern art adorns the walls whilst the period detailing gives a nod to the history of the building and the city itself. 

Civil wedding ceremonies can take place in either The Gallery or the Red Room – both rooms are also great for wedding receptions as well. 

Hannah and Odhran held their short but ever so sweet wedding ceremony in The Gallery, a modern, luxurious space on the ground floor of the hotel. The walls are covered in stunning artwork and the room was perfect to host Hannah and Odhran’s family and closest friends. 

Wedding portraits in Oxford city centre

After the ceremony – and once Hannah and Odhran had enjoyed a glass of champagne and hugs with their guests – we all made our way outside to have a stroll around Oxford city centre. The soft afternoon light was beautiful – golden and so flattering. I love my adopted city and, even though I’ve photographed so many weddings here, I love seeing it with new eyes as I wander around with other people. We made sure to visit all of the landmarks – the Bridge of Sighs, the Bodleian Library and the Radcliffe Camera. Of course, all of these places have featured in thousands of pictures and, I’m sure, hundreds of wedding photographs so I love the challenge of creating new imagery there. It always helps that each and every couple brings their own personalities and magic to the photographs! 

Along with capturing some lovely, romantic portraits of Hannah and Odhran I love the candid, documentary photographs of them chatting and laughing with their family and friends as we strolled around the city. I always recommend this to couples who are planning a micro wedding in the centre of Oxford. There are so many lovely moments to photograph and it is a lovely memory for couples too. 

Are you planning your own winter wedding in Oxford? Or thinking of having a more intimate micro wedding? If so, I’d love to hear from you and chat about your wedding photography.