Wedding gifts

We really don't expect a gift!

If you insist there are a number of options you could choose.

1 - We've lived together for a while now and have most stuff that our tiny house can hold.

But there are a few things which we have selected for pressie ideas. Get in contact with either Jane (jiliffe@brookes.ac.uk) or Mrs Pat (0115 9374695) and they'll help.

2 - We're saving for a new sofa and a honeymoon. You can contribute through Jane and Pat (details above).

3 - Buy us a gift from Oxfam unwrapped. Our gift list reference is 1019016. http://www.oxfam.org.uk/shop/Lists/ViewList.aspx?listid=1019016

Thanks!!

PS - I've deliberately avoided the gag about the Leeds indie band The Wedding Present.

Come back!

The purpose of the blog is to keep you guys in the loop about what's happening when.

Bookmark the page and check it again nearer the time........

DIY DJ

We'd like you to help us DJ in the evening. This is because Matt's music is just too good and people may be too in awe to dance.

Please create a three song playlist on your Ipod or burn a CD. Bring it along and we'll stick it on!

What will get the grannies dancing? Think hard about your choices........

Where is Headington Hill Hall?

The Hall is part of the Oxford Brookes University Campus. It is at the city edge of Headington at the top of Headington Hill Hall. There are directions below.

On the day we have hired our village bus to take guests from the Hall (where we are getting hitched and having some nosh) back to Stanton St John where the Talkhouse Pub awaits.

There is plenty of parking at both the Talkhouse and Headington Hill Hall. It is up to you but maybe it's best to arrive at the Hall in a taxi and then get home later from the pub to your accommodation.


View Larger Map

From the city centre you come out of town along over Magdalen Bridge, along St Clements and up Headington Hill. The entrance is at the top of the Hill on the left. Just ask the security man in the lodge. Tip: the Oxford city centre one-way is a nightmare. Ask for directions if unsure...

From outside of Oxford - come into Headington from the main London Road/Headington roundabout. Follow the road (London Rd/A420) right through Headington. At the brow of the hill is the entrance to the campus.

The Hall used to be the residence of Robert Maxwell. Look out for the stained glass window he had commissioned. He modestly depicts himself as Samson! The house was originally built in 1824 and Maxwell took on the lease in 1953 living there with his family.

Watch out!

Allow a bit longer to get to Headington Hill Hall. The main Headington London Rd is being resurfaced all year. You have been warned.....

The one downside with having a party in a pub is we can't all stay there....

But Oxford and the surrounding area is full of great places to stay. You'll have to get sorted early though as places get booked up with tourists really early.

Our village is close to the ringroad and a taxi back into Oxford at the end of the night will probably be around £15 so staying in the city is very do-able. We'll be putting a couple of mini-buses on for those staying in the more popular places as well such as Wheatley and Headington. This will be confirmed later.....

Option 1

Wheatley is a few miles from Oxford and has a cheap Travelodge.

http://www.travelodge.co.uk

London Road Wheatley - 0871 984 6207

You know what you're getting but it's not the nicest location the world.

Option 2

Book a local B&B in Headington.

Red Mullions - www.redmullions.co.uk - 01865 742741

All Seasons Guest House - www.allseasonshouse.com - 01865 742215

Conifers Guest House - www.conifersguesthouse.co.uk 01865 763055

Mulberry Guest House - www.mulberryguesthouse.co.uk - 01865 767114

The Dial House - www.dialhouseoxford.co.uk - 01865 425100

Pickwicks - www.pickwicksguesthouse.co.uk - 01865 750487

Sandfield Guest House - www.sandfieldguesthouse.com - 01865 767767

Option 3

There is a farm in a village 3 miles away that has rooms in a converted stable block. They've got a couple of wallabies, geese, and llamas if that's your sort of thing.

http://www.commonleysfarm.com - 01865 351266

Option 4

Go for a special hotel and make a weekend of it - if your budget allows.

We've got some corkers round here for those with a bit of cash to spend.

The Malmaison is the old converted prison. Really impressive.

www.malmaison-oxford.com - 01865 268400

The Bat and Ball is just the other side of Wheatley and is really charming. Full of cricket stuff and character.

http://batball.co.uk - 01865 874379

The Mole and Chicken is about 6 miles away and gets great reviews.

www.themoleandchicken.co.uk - 01844 208387

The Manoir. If you really have money to burn Raymond Blanc's flagship is only a few miles away.

www.manoir.com/web/olem/le_manoir.jsp - 01844 278881

There is also the Crazy Bear in Stadhampton.

www.crazybeargroup.co.uk - 01865 890714

The Old Parsonage is very quaint and on the edge of the city centre. Great food too!

www.oldparsonage-hotel.co.uk - 01865 310210

And there is the famous Randoph.

www.macdonaldhotels.co.uk/randolph - 0844 8799132

Option 5

In the city we've also got a couple of Four Pillars Hotels.

http://oxford-thames-hotel.four-pillars.co.uk - 01865 334 444

Take your pick. Plenty to choose from. Just don't do what I normally do and leave it to the last minute or else you'll be sleeping in your car!

What shall I wear?

It goes without saying that Derby/Wigan shirts aren't allowed.

But otherwise we're not fussy. Just come along and have a ball.

Can I bring small children?

This is always tricky for weddings (I guess - I haven't done it before).

We've tried to say 'leave your kids at home'. Some folk have circumstances which make that impossible, so there may be one or two small people around.

I'm sure most of you will welcome an excuse to leave them behind (looked after by a responsible adult of course) but let us know if that really causes a problem.