Oxford; The City of Dreaming Spires. My top 5 favourite elopement photography spots.
When it comes to eloping in the city, I honestly cannot think of a better location than Oxford.
Renown for it’s stunning architecture and prestigious universities, as well as the large selection of famous writers, poets and philosophers who are tied to Oxford and it’s surrounding areas, it’s no wonder that this city is so romantic, charming and undeniably magical.
Having grown up in the area, I have come to find that every single nook and cranny of Oxford is photogenic. It’s quintessentially English charm makes it stand out to me ahead of all of the other cities I have photographed, which is why I thought I would share five of my favourite spots in Oxford that you absolutely have to capture for your city elopement!
Coming in hot in first place - The Pastel Houses of Hollywell Street
When I stumbled across this street in Oxford, I couldn’t believe my luck. I always thought I’d have to travel as far as Notting Hill in London to feast my eyes upon some cute pastel houses, but nope! Fortunately for us Oxfordshire wedding photographers, we have been blessed with a selection of adorable houses right in the heart of the city centre.
What I love most about this street of houses, is you are spoiled for choice when it comes to a colourful backdrop. You can literally walk a few steps over from a pink house and find yourself shooting with blue, yellow, grey and purple. It’s so utterly delightful and completely worth the hustle and bustle of this surprisingly busy city street.
My favourite thing to capture on Hollywell Street is a quick confetti throw. When using white, biodegradable confetti, a perfectly simple backdrop not only helps to make the confetti stand out in the image, but also gives this beautiful studio vibe that makes every photo feel even more professional! I highly recommend Proper Confetti for biodegradable confetti options!
A close second place, but just as incredible - The Bridge of Sighs
The Bridge of Sighs is an iconic skyway, joining two parts of Hertford College and sits in pride of place right next to a giant oak tree that was featured in Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire! So for all you Harry Potter fans, this part of Oxford is particularly special. It is also conveniently located next to one of the oldest pubs in Oxford; The Turf Tavern, where you can rest your feet and get a cheeky pint of Butter Beer on your elopement day.
I absolutely adore the quintessentially English architecture of the Bridge of Sighs and how it creates a sense of drama within every single elopement gallery. On a sunny day, the sun sets just perfectly onto the bridge creating this beautiful warm glow - probably one of my favourite spots for evening elopement photography in the city centre!
Another reason why I love this part of Oxford is the doorways. There are some incredibly old and beautifully constructed doors alongside this famous bridge that create an intimate setting for some up-close and personal portrait shots. These doorways are the perfect opportunity to get cosy with your other half and capture the love between you both.
Third but most definitely not the worst - Magdalen Bridge Boathouse
I mean it wouldn’t be a trip to Oxford without a quick adventure on one of Oxford’s fabulous punting boats, rowing boats or pedalows. Because, let’s face it. What better way is there to explore the city than by boat?!
Unfortunately, on this occasion we arrived before the boathouse had opened for hire. However, I definitely recommend checking opening hours and booking a punting boat so that it is ready and waiting for you to arrive and elope. Punting is probably one of the most intimate ways to elope within a city - imagine floating down the river, sipping on champagne and feeding each other strawberries? The perfect place for a bit of romance.
What I love about the Magdalen Bridge Boathouse, is that you can effortlessly capture a bit of English countryside alongside the beautiful architecture of the Magdalen Bridge. It is also a very quiet area within the city, which allows for some time to come together and reset after walking around such a busy city.
In fourth place we have the utterly dramatic - The Bodleian Library Complex
Being one of the oldest libraries in Europe, I think you would be crazy not to visit these beautiful buildings on your elopement day.
A personal favourite of mine is the Radcliffe Camera (as pictured below). This building is strikingly beautiful and understandably celebrated as one of the best buildings in Oxford. Capturing the entirety of the building creates an effortlessly dramatic scene for your city elopement gallery. The cute addition of bicycles brings in the wholesome feeling of Oxford and reminds us to be more planet conscious in our lives.
Opposite the Radcliffe Camera, you will find one of my favourite gates in Oxford; All Souls College gate. The intricacy of these gates makes for a stunning backdrop that gives a luxurious feel to your elopement photos. I absolutely love taking photos in this area of Oxford, as there are so many beautiful little details to bring into your gallery that often go unnoticed!
And last, but definitely not least we have the completely underrated - Back Alley Streets & Rustic Doorways
As you walk around between the iconic buildings and sites of the Oxford city centre, you will most likely wander down some back alleyways, cobble streets and old English rues.
These streets are perfect, as they tend to be more quiet than the main tourist spots, which allows for a bit of stillness and time to just be together. I love to take a step back and give my couples a bit of time to embrace one another and take in everything, whilst I capture the love story and candid moments from afar.
The old English buildings down the back alleys of Oxford create beautiful leading lines, quirky shapes and almost a sense of Parisian life with the beige architecture and unkept roads. There are so many beautifully crafted doorways that feel like they belong in Harry Potter or Lord Of The Rings, which I love to use to create some textures in my work.
To be quite honest, I think I could go on and on about the different spots in Oxford that I adore for elopement and wedding photography. However, these 5 spots really stand out to me every single time I shoot a wedding or elopement in Oxford and my couples are always blown away by the magic within these areas of the city.
If you are looking for English charm, effortless romance and a city like no other, then Oxford is the place for you!
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