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Member since 2023

Ashmolean Museum

From £2,250

Based on a weekend wedding in July.

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Nestled in the heart of Oxford, the Ashmolean Museum stands as a wedding venue unlike any other. Surrounded by half a million years of art and history, its unique spaces offer a breathtaking backdrop for couples to realise their dream wedding.
Key Info
Ashmolean Museum
Beaumont Street
Oxford
OX1 2PH
Website: www.ashmolean.org
Tel: 01865 610 406
Email: events@ashmolean.org
 
 
Capacity
Ceremony:90
Dinner:152
Standing:n/a
Facilities
Licensed For Marriage:Yes
Accommodation:No
Exclusivity:Yes
Food & Drink
Catering:In-house
Bar:In-house
Licensed Until:Midnight
Other
Pets Welcome:No
Disabled Facilities:Yes
Child Friendly:Yes
Contact venue for late availability and exclusive offers
Pricing
From £2,250

Based on a weekend wedding in July.

Starting price includes:
  • Ceremony-only package from £2,250 based on daytime ceremony of between 15-50 guests.
  • Ceremony and reception from £8,130 based on ceremony for up to 90 guests & reception for 150 guests.
  • Reception only from £7,260 based on reception for up to 150 guests (plus 30 extra for dancing).
  • Rooftop Terrace and Dining Room reception from £3,480 based on 30-70 guests.
Additional costs:

These items are not included in the price above but can be added for an additional fee:

  • Food and drink costs.

Please contact the venue for detailed prices.

About
Setting

The Ashmolean Museum, located in the heart of Oxford, offers a wedding venue steeped in history and timeless beauty. Established in 1683, it is renowned as the world’s oldest public museum. Couples celebrating here are surrounded by half a million years of art and history, with spaces that create a breathtaking, historic backdrop. The Museum’s distinctive blend of classical and contemporary aesthetics provides endless possibilities for a wedding full of charm and sophistication.

Ceremony

The Ashmolean offers a wide selection of spaces for wedding ceremonies. Couples can exchange vows amidst the classical elegance of the Italian Renaissance and European Art Galleries, which evoke the grandeur of an English country house. For those who prefer a contemporary setting, the Atrium’s architectural staircase provides a dramatic, modern touch, while the Dining Room and Roof Terrace offer an intimate yet open-air experience.

Reception

The Museum is ideal for both intimate and grand receptions. Guests can dine surrounded by Old Master paintings and bronze sculptures in the galleries or enjoy a seated dinner in the Atrium beneath its soaring staircase. For those wishing for a relaxed reception with a modern feel, the Dining Room and Roof Terrace provide a stylish setting for dinner and dancing under the stars.

The dedicated team at the Ashmolean Museum ensures that every couple’s vision is realised, from choosing photo locations to recommending highly skilled suppliers. They work closely with each couple, offering personalised service to create an unforgettable celebration tailored to their tastes.

Accommodation

The Ashmolean Museum does not provide on-site accommodation. However, being centrally located in Oxford, guests can easily find a range of nearby hotels and lodging options to suit various preferences and budgets.

Food & Drink

The Ashmolean Museum’s events team ensures exceptional hospitality, tailoring menus to suit the couple’s wishes. With access to top-tier caterers, every element of food and drink, from cocktails to multi-course dinners, is carefully curated to create a memorable culinary experience for the celebration.

Local Area

Conveniently located in the centre of Oxford, the Ashmolean Museum benefits from excellent public transport links, including nearby bus and train stations. Parking is also available nearby, making it easy for guests to arrive by car. Its central location allows guests to explore the rich history and vibrant culture of Oxford, offering a perfect blend of accessibility and charm.

“

Our wedding day at Ashmolean was magical, exciting and special. The Ashmolean staff were wonderful. Most of my nerves evaporated as soon as I arrived as the team put me immediately at ease, and I could relax and enjoy the experience. It was so well organised, and everything flowed perfectly! I would highly recommend The Ashmolean Museum for weddings. It is such an iconic venue which requires no extra effort to decorate, as it is beautiful inside and out.

Abi & John

The Ashmolean is a wonderful, special and unique place for a wedding. We had a great experience, and the staff were attentive and kind throughout the process. Overall we are certain our wedding day was all the more special for us, memorable for the guests, and will be an interesting story for us to tell throughout our lives because we got married in the Ashmolean.

 

Emily & Andrew

I would recommend the Ashmolean for a wedding to anyone; it is a stunning backdrop for such a special occasion. It was just what we wanted and all our guests were so impressed! Asia was amazing from start to finish, and nothing was too much to ask. All the attention to detail was so on point. The room was set up perfectly, and all on-site staff were kind and attentive.

 

Bryony & George

Our wedding day at the Ashmolean was everything we hoped it would be. The venue was beautiful, of course, and the staff on the day made sure everything was seamless and ran smoothly. The attention to detail was superb, and having so many staff members there on the day reassured us, and we felt that everyone cared about our day being a success. It was a perfect day, and we highly recommend the Ashmolean as a memorable and unique venue for a wedding.

 

Amelia & Jack

We had the most incredible wedding day at the Ashmolean and we would recommend the venue to anyone planning a wedding.

The venue is truly unique and having the different stages of the reception in different parts of the museum made the whole event feel like a really exciting journey. Having dinner in the Roman Sculpture Gallery was really spectacular and it was a truly unforgettable experience. The vaulted café also serves as an excellent after-dinner dancing venue- we couldn’t get over how different it can look in the evening to the day! Everything looked stunning and our guests were all thrilled to have experienced a wedding in the museum.

The best part of having a wedding at the Ashmolean, however, would have to be Asia and her incredible team. Asia and her whole team were incredibly well-organised, efficient, enthusiastic, knowledgeable and a genuine pleasure to work with. Asia, in particular, was such a brilliant person to communicate with in the lead-up to the wedding. We felt like we were in a very safe pair of hands on the day and she made the whole process seem really rather stress-free. Asia also recommended us so many of our suppliers and she really made sure our vision turned out to be even better in reality.

 

Married April 2024

Katherine & Freddie

We can both honestly say that if we could go back in time, there would be absolutely nothing we would change. The day went so perfectly!

You were so helpful when we were initially planning our wedding. All the advice and guidance was really invaluable. So much so that we felt so comfortable and relaxed by the time the big day arrived that we could both fully enjoy the experience. We have some wonderful memories of the day, which is down to you and your team.

Your help on the day was very much appreciated and it made it such an enjoyable time for us. We both felt very special!

 

Married August 2024

Isabelle & Jon

Our wedding at the Ashmolean was truly spectacular – the museum provided an exquisite backdrop to our ceremony and celebrations. All our guests commented on the excitement of being in the museum after hours. The sculpture gallery made a striking setting for our meal, and the European Art Gallery was beautiful. We couldn’t recommend the Ashmolean staff highly enough, and they completely took the stress out of planning our big day.

 

Kirsten & Ben

Our wedding at Ashmolean was perfect. It was everything we had dreamed it would be and more. If we were to describe our special day in three words, it would be: unique, whimsical and breathtaking. We recommend the Ashmolean for anyone looking for a classic wedding with mystic magic and a unique touch of class and elegance. It completely lived up to being a dream come true for us on our special day.

 

Sophie & Luke

James and I knew that we wanted to get married at our college, but we were stumped when it came to a reception venue in Oxford. Some were too small, and others didn’t want to host a Christmas wedding (it being a lucrative time of year for office parties). When I suggested the Ashmolean, James seemed a bit puzzled: How would a wedding party work in a museum?

From the minute we met Asia and took the tour, we were convinced – and grasped the opportunity to have such an institution to ourselves for an evening. The European galleries provided a unique place to take portraits; the Roman Sculpture Gallery offered a stunning backdrop to the wedding breakfast; the cafe turned into an atmospheric dancefloor. On top of that, all the small details had been thought of, from uplighting at the front entrance in our colour scheme to a carousel of photos on the screens in the atrium. It was a magical place to mark the beginning of our married life together.

It was evident from the start that this was a well-oiled operation. Asia liaised with all the suppliers on our behalf; what was needed from us and when was always clearly outlined. She never took more than a few hours to respond to an email. I pride myself on my efficiency, but Asia took it to a whole new level! More than that, she was delightful to work with at every stage. Even on the day itself, with dozens of staff—plus 150 guests—to coordinate, Asia had a beaming smile. We could relax and enjoy the evening as we knew everything was under control, even when our speeches ran about 45 minutes over, and we set off the alarms with the heat from the dancefloor!

In short, I could not recommend the Ashmolean more highly. Fewer beautiful and better-managed venues exist not just in Oxford but in the UK as a whole.

 

Married December 2023

Rachel & James

Our wedding reception at the Ashmolean was incredible – the most amazing venue, wonderful staff and fantastic food! Many of our guests have said it was by far the best setting for a reception they have ever experienced, and we would agree – so many different spaces to use, surrounded by history yet also elegant and modern. Asia and her team were faultless in their delivery on the evening, and their professionalism, kindness and attention to detail were so appreciated.

 

Vicky & Simon
FAQs
What is your venue's most unique feature?

The Ashmolean has been telling stories since 1683. Only a few venues can say they have thousands of years of history within their walls.

Where's the best photo spot at your venue?

Our European Art Gallery. This spacious gallery evokes the richness of a historic art collection in an Italian palace or English country house where marble and bronze sculptures, fine furniture, Old Master paintings and imposing portraits are displayed in this stately reception room. A staircase leads down to the gallery, perfect for making your grand entrance.

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From £2,250
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