This month’s featured member is the Ashmolean Museum. Set amongst Oxford’s dreaming spires, the Ashmolean Museum is a magnificent venue for a wedding, civil partnership or celebration. The neo-classical architecture, iconic entrance, grand sweeping staircases and opulent galleries offer stunning and romantic backdrops.
The Ashmolean has been telling stories since 1683 and understand that every wedding is different. They have an expert team on hand to make sure they tailor your day exactly how you imagine it to be.
Galleries
The Ashmolean offers a wealth of different spaces, each presenting its own unique and romantic backdrop. From the European Art Gallery to the Atrium to the Dining Room and Terrace there are plenty of options to choose from.
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 a grand entrance.
Photographer Credit: MT Studio
Atrium
This magnificent space provides an unforgettable location for an intimate seated dinner or a larger reception. The architectural staircase sweeps up through the heart of the Museum and offers the perfect platform for addressing your guests.
Photographer Credit: V+H Photography
Sculpture Gallery
This majestic gallery, built to display the Arundel marbles, is located close to the Ashmolean’s imposing entrance. A grand and impressive space for a ceremony, reception or banquet.
Photographer Credit: V+H Photography
Dining Room & Terrace
A contemporary space overlooking the impressive Atrium, the Ashmolean Dining Room has a large terrace from which guests can enjoy views over the Oxford skyline.
Photographer Credit: Lucy Judson Photography
Trusted Partners
Over the years the Ashmolean has developed relationships with trusted partners to support events at the Museum. This means they can offer clients a curated list of suppliers and creatives who share their values and meet their high standards.
Oxford Fine Dining and Benugo Event Catering are two of the Ashmolean’s trusted caterers. Created with passion, their food is sustainably sourced, showcasing the best seasonal produce, beautifully designed and provides an extraordinary culinary experience to inspire you and your guests.
Sustainability
Ashmolean Events has recently been awarded Accreditation by the Sustainable Wedding Alliance.
As part of the University of Oxford and the Ashmolean Museum, the event team is committed to reducing their environmental impact by following, and encouraging, sustainable best practices, and supporting the University in achieving its net zero carbon and biodiversity net gain, by 2035.
Working together with partners and clients, here are some of the changes the team has begun to make:
- Delicious low carbon menu choices; their talented chefs have developed creative and inspiring plant-based, low carbon and vegetarian dishes, using seasonal and local ingredients where possible.
- Reducing waste; their knowledgeable team can advise you on ways to reduce catered event food and horticultural waste
- Reducing single-use plastic in their private hire events.
- Improving their energy efficiency; they are switching to energy-saving lightbulbs and using technology to zone their lighting for private venue hire.
- Responsible sourcing; they use Rainforest Alliance certified coffee, MSC (Marine Stewardship Council) approved fish and UK Red Tractor meat, sourcing locally and seasonally where possible.
The Ashmolean Museum are really challenging themselves to think, act and advocate environmentally sustainable decision making. Their venue hire team have also all pledged to undertake Carbon Literacy Training to increase their knowledge and enable them to discuss positive initiatives more confidently with their couples.
They understand that there is more to learn and that this is an ongoing journey so they will continue to build on the changes they are making and review their goals. To follow the Ashmolean Museum on their sustainability journey visit their website or Instagram page. We are excited to watch them grow.
Photographer Credit (Cover Image): MT Studio
