I promised you a post all about outdoorsy, rustic weekend wedding venues – and here it is. A follow on from my ‘Top Country House Weekend Wedding Venues Cotswolds’, today I’m sharing the less stately and more laidback venues perfect for a weekend long celebration. Whether you imagine feasting whilst overlooking rolling hills, the warmth of wooden beams and candlelight, or staying in a Shepherd’s hut – my ‘Top Rustic Weekend Wedding Venues’ has got you covered.
Weekend weddings are all about celebrating in style. Who says you should only have one event, on one day? Creating multiple parties and activities for guests to enjoy, across an entire weekend, makes for an incredibly memorable experience. And what better way to embrace the concept than escaping the hustle and bustle of everyday life and heading to an outdoorsy venue in the countryside? Somewhere your friends and family can really let their hair down.
When it comes to rustic weekend wedding venues, there is quite a divide in quality and style. But I know you’re looking for something with that edge of understated luxury. So, although this list showcases outdoorsy choices for a weekend wedding, we’ll focus on the chic rather than the shabby
Elmley
Set in a National Nature Reserve, with 3,300 acres, Elmley had to make it onto the top rustic weekend wedding venues list. The traditional Kentish barn, with wood, original features, and breath-taking views, is exclusively yours for the weekend. The main barn is licensed for ceremonies (as is a smaller, open barn for outside weddings). And it can seat up to 150 for a reception. Perhaps the most enticing element of Elmley, however, is the on-site accommodation. Not only do you get access to a farmhouse for up to 12 guests, a cottage for up to 10, and six award-winning Shepherd’s Huts (sleeping 19 in total) – you can also make use of the Bell Tent village. It has dedicated loos, showers, and a camping kitchen. And can sleep up to 80 in 20 tents. That’s an incredible total of 121 guests able to stay onsite for the entire weekend.
Syrencot
With a stylish barn, walled garden, and outdoor kitchen – Syrencot, in Wiltshire, is an atmospheric and experiential weekend wedding venue. Licensed ceremonies, for up to 150 guests, can take place within the Glasshouse or outside in the Walled Garden. You can host fine dining receptions in the ‘Farmshed’ barn – with its modern interior and statement lighting. And serve unforgettable outdoor feasts of wood-fired pizza or pick-and-mix barbecues. There are 12 en-suite bedrooms within the elegantly restored Georgian house – including a Master Suite, complete with roll-top bath.
Huntsmill Farm
The very relaxed Huntsmill Farm, in Buckinghamshire, offers lots of flexibility to create your perfect celebration space within their main barn. You’re free to add your own personality and style to the décor. And to create a fun weekend wedding for your nearest and dearest. The barn can sit up to 100 for a meal. They don’t charge corkage – so the drinks can flow, free of charge. And, with the only neighbours being rabbits and birds, you can party the night away. The licensed ceremony barn can hold 90-100 guests, and when it’s time for bed there are seven self-catering cottages (sleeping up to 34 in total) for a selection of guests to stay onsite.
The Great Tythe Barn
With five different licensed ceremony spaces available, from 7 to 200+ guests, a capacity to dine up to 200, and room for an additional 150 evening guests – the Great Tythe Barn is very versatile. The Grade II listed, Cotswolds barn has a rustic charm, with exposed stonework and traditional wooden floors. The beautiful gardens feel quintessentially English. And within the grounds sit 10 self-catering cottages, 12 Bed and Breakfast rooms, and The Tythe House – sleeping up to 90 guests in total.
Chafford Park
Set on the Kent and Sussex border, amongst 300 acres of private grounds, Chafford Park is a romantic country estate available for weekend wedding hire. With a woodland, corn fields, manicured lawns, and lakes – it’s a great outdoorsy venue. The Hop Barn is licensed for ceremonies and can sit 100 guests. The Granary Barn is then the perfect space to eat, dance, and enjoy your celebrations. When you’re ready to sleep, The Manor House has four double bedrooms. And additional guests can make use of the glamping bell tents on-site.
Oxleaze Barn
Oxleaze is a beautiful picturesque barn with wondrous courtyards and lakes to die for. Their venue offers exclusive use of the barn as well as an onsite venue manager, plenty of parking and a beautifully landscaped courtyard garden for your drinks reception perfect for an authentic rustic wedding. The barn is fully adaptable for both a sunny summer wedding and a cosy winter wedding, the barn provides underfloor heating and logs for an open fireplace and fire pit to warm your guests on a chilly November eve.
The Barn at Avington
A blank canvas industrial barn is the perfect place to create a wedding that is personalised to your tastes. When opening the barn Beth the owner created a list she found essential to creating the perfect wedding venue and followed through on every action. She has in time created an easily accessible 5* Venue for cool and relaxed couples with accompanying accommodation. With a clear space and glamping available for your guests The Barn at Avington is a haven for boho brides and grooms alike.
Burley Manor
Burley Manor is a fabulous historical manor that has been restored and reborn. Their interiors are drenched in rich history and luxurious decoration has been updated into a more simple and elegant style to fit a more modern clientele. They have also opened a brand new restaurant with boutique rooms in the New Forest catered by award-winning chefs from up and down the UK. The manor itself is designed as an escape for adults allowing for relaxation and romance. Their rustic barn can host up to eighty guests for a seated meal. The large, beamed ceilings make the original barn airy in springtime while roaring fires create a warm welcoming atmosphere for those colder months.
Bonus* Botley Hill Barn
One of Surrey’s newest wedding spaces, and one of my favourite barn venues, Botley Hill Barn takes rustic and understated luxury to a completely new level. Set in the stunning North Downs, the barn has floor to ceiling windows offering panoramic views as your guests dine and party. Newly licensed, in Autumn 2019, the venue can host intimate ceremonies for up to 54 in the small barn, or up to 128 in the main barn. The main barn can then be transformed for your reception, seating up to 128 guests. There are currently three Shepherd Huts on-site, with plans to build more. And with hotels only a short drive away, Botley Hill Barn is certainly worthy of the top rustic weekend wedding venue list.
*not strictly speaking a weekend wedding venue as you can only stay one night
I hope this list has inspired you and shown that rustic doesn’t have to mean basic or lacking in style. Wanting to celebrate your wedding with a laidback party vibe definitely has my backing. And choosing a rustic weekend wedding venue can be the perfect choice. Alternatively, for a statelier celebration – take a look at my ‘Top Country House Weekend Wedding Venues Cotswolds’ post. If you need help finding your perfect weekend wedding venue, fit for an unforgettable experience, let’s chat soon.
