Emily & Henry at The Perch in Oxford

August 22, 2019

“We did not need to think twice about booking him. In fact, we booked Jonny before we booked either of our venues. It was the easiest decision we made (other than to get married)!”

LIKE THE LOOK OF THESE PERCH IN OXFORD WEDDING PHOTOS?

If you’re loving these pics and you’re thinking of getting married at The Perch, then check out The Perch in Oxford wedding venue guide here.

Emily & Henry’s Oxford Wedding at The Perch

Emily and Henry first met the old-fashioned way, through a mutual friend, Helen (one of the bridesmaids), during their final year at Oxford. Over eight years later, Henry surprised Emily with a proposal during a walk in the Brecon Beacons. He asked her to pose for a selfie, which turned out to be a clever setup to capture the entire moment on camera! Fast forward, and I had the pleasure of photographing their wedding at The Perch in Oxford.

Fun, Personal, and Full of Character

When asked about their wedding inspiration, Emily and Henry kept things simple with two guiding principles: fun and personal. Every detail reflected their personalities. For example, homemade sloe gin bottles were personalised with the names of friends who helped them pick the sloes the month after their engagement. Postcards featuring guests served as a creative alternative to a traditional guestbook.

The couple made sure the day was lively and interactive. Highlights included a live band, The Maida Vales, a striking flower curtain, plenty of confetti (handmade by Henry’s mother), a vintage postbox, sparklers, and playful surprises like guestbook Jenga courtesy of the mother-of-the-bride. Music played a central role too: the Independent Musicians Collective, featuring Henry’s sister Katie, performed during the ceremony, perfectly combining personal significance with entertainment.

The combination of meaningful personal touches, joyous moments, and the relaxed riverside charm of The Perch created a day that felt entirely authentic to Emily and Henry. From heartfelt ceremony moments to laughter-filled celebrations with friends and family, the day was unforgettable, and the venue provided a beautiful backdrop for both posed and candid photography.

Why Choose Divinity School and The Perch?

Getting married in Oxford was deeply meaningful for Emily and Henry, not only is it where they first met, but it also sits roughly midway between their hometowns (Emily from London, Henry from Cheltenham). Although they’re not religious, they loved the idea of a formal ceremony in a historic setting, followed by a relaxed, fun-filled reception.

The Divinity School at the Bodleian Library was perfect for their ceremony: stunning architecture, timeless elegance, and a sense of occasion without being overly religious. For the reception, The Perch offered the ideal complement, a relaxed “English country garden” vibe, incredible food, and a beautifully decorated marquee. Bonus points: arriving by boat added a unique, celebratory touch. For Emily and Henry, no other venues were needed — this combination had everything they wanted.

Bridal & Groom Style

Emily found her dream dress at Teokath London in Wimbledon during her very first bridal appointment. Though she explored other options, nothing compared to the Alan Hannah gown she fell in love with, simple, elegant, and detailed in all the right places. On the hottest day of the year so far, the dress was both comfortable and beautiful.

Henry wore a classic Ted Baker suit, accented with a tie and pocket square from Etsy, and new cufflinks gifted by Emily’s parents. With eight adult bridesmaids, the couple chose powder blue Maids to Measure dresses in different styles, allowing each bridesmaid to reflect her personality while maintaining a cohesive look. Paired with their own jewelry and shoes, they all looked effortlessly stunning.

Advice for those planning their wedding now?

1. Wedding planning is essentially an exercise in decision-making. Try to make them quickly, and then move on. Back yourself for making the best possible decision at each point, and try not to over think it after. It is only one day, after all!

2. Have fun with the small details. They really don’t matter, so you don’t need to stress about them, but they can be the most enjoyable part of wedding planning as a result. We have really loved hearing our guests talk about the fun additional touches that we added in the weeks after the wedding

3. Take time out to be together as a couple on your wedding day. We had a 40 minute boat journey after our service with just us, our sisters and Jonny, which was the perfect opportunity to soak it all in

4. Be organised!

The Perch Oxford Wedding Photos

We were lucky enough to have two very strong recommendations from Henry’s sisters (Katie and Louise). Both had Jonny photograph their weddings. We absolutely loved their photos. We did not need to think twice about booking him. In fact, we booked Jonny before we booked either of our venues. It was the easiest decision we made (other than to get married)!

We loved how much fun it was! Jonny’s emphasis is all about natural, candid photography, and just going with the flow of the day. Jonny is easy going, makes you feel super relaxed and doesn’t ask for any cheesy posing. What more could you want? It was also particularly special to have Jonny shoot his Knight wedding hat trick! Book Jonny before you book your venue, like we did. You will not regret it!