An elegant black and white wedding at The Bodleian Libraries in Oxford

Now I’m usually all about colour but I also get VERY excited about the drama and glamour of a monochrome wedding!

There’s something infinitely elegant and luxurious about black and white styling; it’s sophisticated, it’s bold and it provides that extra element of formality that gives the day an even greater sense of occasion. Combine that with the outstanding backdrop of The Bodleian Libraries in Oxford with it’s incredible architecture and honey-coloured walls and you’ve got a wedding that’s worthy of a red carpet.

So, if you’re considering a black and white wedding, then let me inspire you with this incredible wedding shoot. The monochrome theme extends to every element of the styling and its modern simplicity makes for a classy affair!

The finer details

When it comes to creating a modern luxe look for your wedding, it really makes a difference when you take care of the small details…it’s where the devil is after all!

This particular wedding combines subtle touches of gold to bring a sense of luxury and the use of classic and simple stationery with a simple line drawn floral monogram sets the tone for the whole day.

Black and white gold-rimmed tableware is striking against the crisp whiteness of the thick table linen and bursts of beautiful black and white wedding florals and greenery run down the centre of the table disrupting the neatness of the settings and bringing in some drama.

The wedding cake

It goes without saying that the wedding cake gets a mention of its own! It’s not often that I get to work with a monochrome colour scheme so I embraced the contrast of black against white. Rather than use block colour however, I used a softer hand-painted watercolour effect to the black tiers with handmade wafer paper black roses and white anemones, which mirror the wedding floral arrangements. The design is finished with black and gold lines that run from the top to the bottom of the cake, drawing the eye vertically up the cake and adding a modern edge, and smoky glass-like rice paper petals.

A modern bride and groom

Can we take a moment for the bride’s dress and those epic separate sleeves! It manages to have all the look of a structured gown but still has a billowy and romantic feel and a short underskirt that’s perfectly made for dancing! The bride’s modern look is complemented by a glamourous full ponytail and delicate hair accessories whilst the groom is effortlessly classic in black tie.

The wedding venue

Let’s not forget to mention the beautiful wedding venue, which provides such a stunning backdrop to this elegant black and white wedding. The Bodleian Libraries is steeped in history and you can’t help but be hypnotised by the architecture of the stunning Divinity Hall. It’s perfectly placed within the historical buildings of Oxford with easy access to the nearby river for those couple portraits. It’s the perfect combination of country and city chic!

So there you have it…if you’re considering a black and white themed wedding then embrace the drama and really go for it, the results are evidently gorgeous!

For more wedding inspiration at the Bodleian Libraries, head to my blog: Spring Floral Wedding at the Bodleian Libraries.

The incredible team of suppliers

Image & Art Direction: @poppycarterportraits
Planning & Design: @bellebespokeweddingdesign
Florals: @fallintoflowers
Dress: @nortiershallow
Models: @couple_of_als
Makeup: @lauracarrollmakeupartistry
Hair: @hollyedmondshair
Stationery: @papermillcalligraphy
Cake: @terreetlunecakedesign⁠
Table wear: @duchessbutler
Linen: @just_4_linen
Videography: @all.the.sparks
Venue: @bodleianlibraryweddings
Lighting: @tec_oxford
Hair Accessories: @miss_clemmie_accessories