3 Rustic Wedding Venues To Know About
BEST AFFORDABLE OPTION
Background & Setting
The romantic ambience of eco-friendly Silchester Farm is apparent from the moment you drive up the tree-lined driveway, which offers endless views across the surrounding area. Couples can tie the knot in the 400-year-old oak beamed barn, which is bedecked in gently twinkling fairy lights, but if you’re looking for something even more rustic, the Dutch Barn offers the perfect backdrop, with guests seated in and among the kitchen gardens. After the ceremony, guests can enjoy drinks and canapés in The Old Henhouse, and meander through the landscaped gardens, courtyards and green fields before gathering in The Cow Shed for the main event. If a religious ceremony is a priority, the closest church is St Mary The Virgin, just a few minutes away.
Food & Drink
The food at Silchester Farm is a laid-back, luxurious celebration of modern British fare and all the menus are put together by its resident head chef. Sample menus include dishes like crispy confit of Hampshire duck, cucumber ribbons, mouli and coriander to start; baked hake fillet, potato and Hampshire chorizo stew, rainbow chard and salsa verde for the main; and forced rhubarb and ginger pavlova with orange granita for dessert. Aside from the caterers, couple are also welcome to bring in as many external suppliers as they wish – although the venue does have a selection of recommended names if you are struggling with where to start.
Numbers & Accommodation
Silchester Farm is exclusive hire, and prices range from anything between £3,950 to £9,950 depending on the time of year and guest count. Maximum capacity is 140 for the ceremony, wedding breakfast and evening party. The venue can also sleep up to 27 guests in the on-site accommodation. The honeymoon suite is included in the venue hire price – a curated breakfast by the head chef will be freshly delivered to your door the morning after your wedding.
T&Cs
Couples are encouraged to visit Silchester Farm for a viewing, and once they’ve chosen a preferred date, the venue will hold it for seven days at no obligation. Within this time, it’s suggested you enquire with the registrar, celebrant or church to check availability. If you decide to go ahead, you will need to fill out a booking form and return it along with a 50% deposit.
Contingency Plan
Silchester has recently installed air-conditioning in The Cow Shed to keep everyone cool in the summer, or warm and cosy in the winter. Throughout the rest of the buildings there’s underfloor heating, but if the weather really takes an unexpected turn, the team can change the plan on the morning of your wedding.
Visit SilchesterFarm.co.uk
BEST FOR SMALLER WEDDINGS
Background & Setting
This Buckinghamshire-based venue started holding woodland feasts in May 2018 and has since evolved into hosting wedding receptions. Offering a natural alternative to the formulaic dining experience, it can take an abandoned area in a forest and transform it into the most spectacular setting, including a large table made from a fallen tree for your guests to dine at following the ceremony (which needs to be held off-site). To date, Nomadic has worked alongside leading professionals ranging from MasterChef champions, celebrated writers and award-winning executive chefs from top London restaurants to members of the royal family and Hollywood’s biggest stars.
Food & Drink
The ethos of the catering here is all about reconnecting with nature and being fully present during your wedding celebration. A local chef will use wild, seasonal ingredients to come up with a wedding menu – tailored to you but designed to connect back to nature. There’s also the option for live music, a wild cocktail bar with a bespoke menu curated by a resident mixologist, and even live fireworks if required.
Numbers & Accommodation
The woodland can accommodate up to 60 people (more on request) with prices starting from £10,000, including exclusive hire, a team of hosts and chefs, a dedicated wedding co-ordinator, woodland-inspired table settings, and a range of delicious food and drink. In terms of logistics, Chalfont & Latimer station (on the Metropolitan tube line) is only a five-minute drive – just note that there isn’t any on-site accommodation.
T&Cs
The final quote will depend on the day of the week and time of year you intend to get married, and seeing as it’s tailored around your needs, couples are encouraged to share as many details as possible when they reach out. A non-refundable deposit will be required to secure the booking, including the hire fee and minimum drinks spend. However, if your wedding date is within a month or less from your booking date, the total sum is payable up front.
Contingency Plan
Nomadic does offer a contingency plan in case of poor weather. However, its fully heated tipi can only accommodate up to 36 guests at a time –worth bearing in mind if you’re planning a larger wedding.
Visit ExperienceNomadic.com
BEST LUXE OPTION
Background & Setting
Wilderness needs little introduction. The surrounding Suffolk landscapes are unmistakably rustic in their beauty, and the reserve itself is set among 8,000 rural acres, seven miles inland from the seaside town of Southwold and only two hours from London. It consists of two adjoining estates: ‘Chapel Barn Estate’, a 15th century thatched long barn, and ‘Sibton Park Estate’, a Grade II-listed Georgian mansion. Both are set in their own private parklands with a collection of beautiful barns, spa farmhouses and cottages.
Food & Drink
Restaurant-quality food, local produce and Michelin-level chefs come together at Wilderness to offer couples exceptional wedding catering. The Estate Kitchen uses Suffolk’s best producers to deliver memorable food and drink for your guests, with different menus offered on arrival, the first night and for the wedding breakfast itself. The day after, the wedding party can stay on for a group picnic or pool party with treats including finger sandwiches, sausage rolls, oysters and a bloody mary station. Once guests leave, couples can enjoy a small bonfire experience complete with mulled wine, hot chocolate or Pimm’s – all served from the back of a Land Rover.
Numbers & Accommodation
With a wide variety of wedding reception venues available on site, Wilderness can accommodate between 60 and 300 guests, both inside and out. We recommend the Chapel Barn Estate – which is centred around a restored 15th century barn with a spectacular lakeside jetty nestled among woodland and parkland. Private swimming pools, saunas, steam and treatment rooms are also available to help your party relax. With options to sleep up to 80 guests across 39 bedrooms in seven properties, prices start from £35,000 midweek through to £75,000 for exclusive three-day weekend hire.
T&Cs
Again, couples are encouraged to visit Wilderness before booking. If you do book, 50% of the fee will be taken immediately. The remainder is payable six weeks prior to your arrival date. If your wedding is taking place within six weeks of booking, the full amount will be payable up front.
Contingency Plan
One of the big draws about Wilderness is that a contingency plan is already baked into the day. Ceremonies tend to take place under cover – although barn doors can be left open to encourage that indoor/outdoor feel – while reception celebrations can also happen inside or outdoors under structured tipis.
Visit WildernessReserve.com
Inspired? Five More Rustic Venues We Love For Your Wedding Day...
Hyde House:
This Gloucestershire venue has it all – stunning indoor and outdoor locations, accommodation and a team of events co-ordinators on site. Rates start from £2,500 for midweek weddings.
Visit Hyde-House.uk
Wasing Barn:
Available for exclusive hire, Wasing Barn is in a quintessentially English setting, yet it's still full of sophistication and elegance. Romantic farm buildings sit alongside the 15th century Parish Church of St Nicholas, including the majestic grade II listed Castle Barn, a granary and a dovecote.
Rates on request.
Visit Wasing.co.uk
Grange Barn:
This Cheshire-based location is family run and only holds one wedding a week so couples can have exclusive hire from Friday to Sunday. The barn is very flexible, too – it can accommodate small intimate weddings or larger weddings for up to 200 people.
Visit GrangeWeddingBarnCheshire.co.uk
Dewsall Court:
Dewsall Court dates back to 1644, and it's surrounded by Herefordshire landscapes – including 100 acres of Duchy of Cornwall land – and views of the Black Mountains. The barn reception space holds up to 170 guests, while the on-site accommodation has space for 27 of your nearest and dearest.
Bespoke rates on request
Visit Dewsall.com
The Hall Barns:
Originally built in 1889, this venue is full of history and original features to make it a truly unique space. It can host ceremonies for 70 guests, and up to 150 for the reception.
Rates start from £5,000.
Visit TheHallBarns.com
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