Oxford Town Hall wedding – Mona & Andrew

Oxford Town Hall wedding photography

Oxford Town Hall on a sunny October’s day saw Mona and Andrew get married in front of family and friends. As lawyers who live and work in Oxford, this wedding was centred on the city – all along the high street.

Coverage began with Mona getting ready at the luxury five-star Old Bank hotel with her mother and bridesmaids. Mona’s family had come over from her native Germany. ( Mona is also only the second person I’ve met with this distinctive first name, the other being my grandmother ).

Once ready, Mona walked with her bridesmaids the short journey down the High Street to Oxford town hall. There, Andrew waited in the rather grand Assembly Room. A ceremony with a few tears and lots of smiles, as autumn sunshine, poured into the room. Even Andrew had ‘something in his eye!” 😉

Drinks followed in the same room for an hour and Mona’s border collie came to visit on the town hall steps. Bubbles on the steps – a (maybe targeted?) bouquet throw and then Mona and Andrew led their guests back down the High Street to afternoon tea at the Grand Café. History drips off every corner of the centre of Oxford. The Grand Café is no exception, being the first coffee house in England in 1650. ( The one across the street dates from 1654 ). Tea, cakes and sandwiches consumed and a cake with ‘Bear’ and ‘Pumpkin’ cut, it was time for the best man’s speech. A white sheet hung across the mirror on the back wall and a slideshow of Andrew’s youth. A youth that included his career before becoming a lawyer, as a press photographer on the Sussex coast (We had a few minutes geeky chat about cameras later, as Mona patiently waited). We also found out that ‘Bear’ was also known as ‘Wedge’ in his youth. (Star Wars?)

Some pictures near Merton College in the last of the sunshine and then, for some of the guests, a ghost tour of Oxford’s bloody past. The guide had an image of a ‘ghost’ on his mobile phone but so far, I’ve not seen any recorded by my camera as I followed the tour. Interesting stuff though. Days when the townsfolk would rise up and massacre the Oxford University students…

Back to the Café and a brief first dance to start the evening of cocktails, music and chat.

Here are a few images from this Oxford Town Hall wedding…