You are invited to
the marriage of
Dr Benjamin Tagg
and
Miss Natasha Harrison
15th May 2027
Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Beckley, Oxfordshire
Continue ↓
Our Story
Some paths are known from childhood. Others are walked into slowly, over years, with the right person beside you. We met in Oxford, and have spent much of the sixteen years since finding our way back to Oxfordshire - to its fields, its bridleways, and this particular hilltop. This is where the path leads.
We would be honoured to have you walk it with us.
Benjamin & NatashaThe tale of the day,
as best we can foresee it
- 13.00·The Ceremony
The Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary has stood on this Oxfordshire hilltop since the Domesday Book, its walls bearing the faded colours of medieval paintings applied by hand some seven hundred years ago.
- 14.00·The Reception
A short walk through the village brings us to the Abingdon Arms – a 17th-century country pub perched above the flat, shimmering expanse of Otmoor. Lewis Carroll gazed out across those same fields and imagined a giant chessboard.
- 15.30·The Buffet
A meal among friends and family, in a garden, above the fields. Locally grown, unhurriedly eaten. There are worse fates.
- 17.00·Speeches
The part where things are said that mean a great deal – we will try to say them well and swear only a little.
- 17.30·The Cake
Some cake. Many people. Act accordingly.
- 20.00·Wood-fired Pizza
Because Ben is a child and said we needed pizza.
- Throughout·Music, Dancing & Merriment
Music, dancing, and a bar worth visiting – stocked with local ales, wines and spirits. The rest is between you and the bar staff.
- 23.00·Carriages
Reluctantly.
Getting Here
Finding your way to Beckley
Public Transport
By train:
London Paddington → Oxford (approx 1 hour). From Oxford station it is approximately 15 minutes to Beckley.
Oxford Tube (bus):
A cheaper alternative – the Oxford Tube runs 24 hours from London Victoria to Thornhill Park & Ride (approx 1 hour 40 minutes). Beckley is approximately 10 minutes from there.
Taxis & Rideshare
Uber operates locally from Oxford to Beckley – approximately 15 minutes.
For pre-booked taxis:
Royal Cars Oxford – 01865 777 333
001 Taxis Oxford – 01865 240 000
Both run 24 hours. We recommend pre-booking your return journey.
By Car & Shared Lifts
Beckley village lanes are narrow – please park considerately and use The Abingdon Arms car park where possible.
If you would like to offer or request a shared lift, please do get in touch – we will coordinate a list closer to the date.
Get in touch: BandN2027@gmail.com
Where to Stay
A night (or two) in Oxfordshire
Beckley is a small village – accommodation is nearby rather than on the doorstep. Book early – May in Oxfordshire fills up fast.
If you have any questions in the meantime, please get in touch – we are happy to advise. You can reach us at BandN2027@gmail.com.
Beckley & Beyond
The landscape around us
Beckley sits above one of England’s great hidden landscapes. Otmoor stretches below the village – a protected wetland and Site of Special Scientific Interest, managed in part by the RSPB, famous for its wildlife and, in winter, its starling murmurations.
May is when it is at its most alive. Sedge warblers sing from every reedbed. Hobbies – small, impossibly fast falcons – hunt dragonflies low over the water. The red kites are Beckley’s own; the village sits at the heart of the densest population in the country.
Wild roses come into bloom in the hedgerows – dog roses threading through the hawthorn. Butterflies are everywhere: orange tips, brimstones, peacocks, red admirals. Hares run in the long grass; deer move through the fields at all hours.
Oxford is seven miles south. The Chilterns and Cotswolds are both on the doorstep.
Walk Otmoor
Our favourite walk begins on Church Lane and drops through fields and ancient woodland into Otmoor, returning along Otmoor Lane to the Abingdon Arms. Two hours, unhurried.
View on Komoot →
For further local information: Beckley Area Community Benefit Society.
Waterperry Gardens
OX33 1LA
Three miles east of Beckley, and one of the best-kept secrets in the county. A traditional English, walled ornamental garden with a long herbaceous border, a river walk along the Thame, a plant nursery worth raiding, and a tearoom. In May the tulips and alliums are at their peak.
Shotover Country Park
OX3 8TA
A mile from Beckley, and almost entirely unknown. Ancient royal hunting forest, good walking through oak and birch, bluebells in May, wild garlic, and views back over Oxford. Free to enter. Takes an hour if you wander, less if you don't.
Bernwood Meadows
OX33 1BJ
A fragment of the ancient royal hunting forest that once covered much of this part of Oxfordshire. Ancient woodland, flower-rich grassland, and one of the finest butterfly sites in the county – purple emperors in summer, and a remarkable range of species throughout the season.
Rectory Farm, Stanton St John
OX33 1HF
Pick-your-own, a twenty minute walk from Beckley through the Woodperry estate, with stunning views of the Chilterns in the distance. Open April to autumn and famous for strawberries – but the fields also yield many other fruits and vegetables. Farm shop, café, and a play area.
Blenheim Palace
OX20 1UL
Twelve miles northwest, in the village of Woodstock. Go for the formal gardens or simply walk the park, which is free to enter on foot. The estate village of Woodstock itself has good pubs and a museum worth half an hour.
Oxford
The city of spires, seven miles south. Oxford Castle and Prison – now a hotel, restaurant and visitor attraction – occupies a remarkable corner of the city. The Covered Market has traded since 1774 – independent butchers, fishmongers, cheesemakers, florists, bakers, and coffee shops under one Victorian roof. The Ashmolean is free and world-class. Bridges, libraries, colleges, and punting on the Cherwell at Magdalen Bridge. The best views over the spires are from South Park in Headington (OX3 7QJ) or, on a clear day, from the north-facing slopes of Boars Hill to the south (OX1 5EY).
Get in touch: BandN2027@gmail.com
RSVP
Will you join us?
No guest shall go unserved – please let us know of any dietary or accessibility requirements. Flower confetti only. All photographs are welcome. We would be glad to see them.
Why are you looking here? We aren’t even bloody married yet.