A few weekends ago we had the absolute pleasure of having a nosy round a stunning new barn venue in Silchester, Hampshire. We heard that our friends at The Wild Fork, Benjamin Stuart Photography, Wessex Flower Company and Victoria Shute Calligraphy were taking part in an exciting photo shoot for a brand new venue so we just had to find out more!

We'd heard wonderful things from a handful of suppliers who had already had a sneak peek of the venue. So, we dropped Al and Carla a message on Instagram and agreed to pop along to see what this new rustic venue had to offer. We were expecting great things but in fact what we were greeted with was even more fabulous than we could have imagined.

Al and Carla have thought of every last detail with Silchester Farm, making sure everything is perfect (including the toilets which are quite frankly, fabulous). This is how you renovate an 18th century barn whilst still keeping every inch of its unique character!

Lots of lovely local suppliers had dressed the venue in such a complementary way that their creations almost looked as though they were part of the venue itself. Wessex Flower Company, Ruby and Grace Florist and Miss Mollie's Flowers showcased their floral wizardry with an abundance of foliage and autumnal hues. We particularly loved the dried woodland foliage in the ceremony backdrop and archway in the barn entryway.

Finishing flourishes included Pretty Pieces Perfect Day's charming vintage china as well as a macrame backdrop and rustic welcome signage from Ivory and Bloom Hire.

The tables in the barn were a true collaboration of all the suppliers involved, including yours truly with our pumpkin tea light holders, hand-dyed cotton table cloths and metallic animal place card holders! We were honoured to be part of such a wonderful bunch of wedding professionals and when it came to the tables we were over the moon to see how they'd turned out. Jasmine had her Wild Fork hat on and used her creative direction to craft a range of beautiful tablescapes with crockery and glassware from Crystal Hire and Victoria Shute's beautiful calligraphy. Again, the florists adorned the table with their amazing arrangements.

As we walked from the driveway, we could see the reception area through the large glass windows. There are actually a surprising amount of windows in this barn venue so light will certainly not be an issue! There's a large open space to the right as you walk in which you can see has plenty of potential for dressing - Silchester Farm are also going to hire out this space for hen parties, workshops and other events which is such a wonderful idea!

The space to the left is possibly the most cosy little nook we've ever seen, complete with squidgy mismatched furniture and fireplace. It's an ideal for spot for older guests who may need a little peace and quiet later in the evening. 

Although the atmosphere was warm and cosy whilst we were there on a rainy September day, the barn itself is extremely open and spacious. Fairy lights enrobed the oak beams which gave the barn a festive, wintry feel. With large windows either side, you can tell that this venue is absolutely perfect for summer events too and we can picture the large doors opened out to the extensive grounds outside.

Long family style dining tables and chairs are included in the hire price which we think is super generous considering their quality. Long trestles are right up The Wild Fork's street so naturally they dressed them beautifully with Crystal Hire's stoneware plates and little trinkets. We were so pleased with how our pumpkin tea lights looked and our metallic animals looked right at home.

Now, toilets might not be the first on your list of things to check... but, Silchester Farm's loos are pretty impressive! With an industrial vibe and a Hollywood-style full length mirror, your guests will be queuing up for a totally different reason. Did someone say toilet selfie?!

If you're on the look out for a rustic barn venue for your 2020 wedding then do make sure you get in touch with Al & Carla from Silchester Farm. Not only were we seriously impressed with their renovation, they're also a pair of incredibly lovely people who we'd be more than happy to work alongside for your special day!

Wedding Suppliers Involved in Open Day
Flowers - Wessex Flower Company, Miss Mollie's Flowers, Ruby & Grace Florist
Table Settings - The Wild Fork with Crystal Hire Ltd
Pumpkins, Animal Place Card Holders, Dyed Cotton Runners - Wedding Shed
Drinks and Nibbles - The Wild Fork
Photography - Benjamin Stuart and Studio Rouge Photography
Stationery and Table Plan - Victoria Shute Calligraphy
Welcome Sign & Macrame - Ivory and Bloom Hire
Cake Display - Victoria's Sponges & More
Tiered Wedding Drip Cake - Francesca Calkin's Cake Company
Vintage China - Pretty Pieces Perfect Days
Harp - Lizzy Bennie Music
Band - Karizma 

Are you looking for a rustic barn venue in the Berkshire countryside? Nestled within the rolling hills of Combe, near Hungerford, sits the spectacular Combe Manor Barns. We've both visited this charming venue many times with The Wild Fork and absolutely love the set up. The space consists of two great barns which are attached in an L shape to offer plenty of flexibility, a beautifully picturesque lawned courtyard and a stunning manor house which couples are able to use for the bridal bedroom and drawing room.

If you'd like to know if Combe Manor Barns ticks all your boxes, scroll down to see our list of popular questions and answers... 

Between the two spacious barns sits a generously-sized stage which offers the perfect space for a band or DJ to set up their equipment.

Combe Manor Barns are licensed to hold civil ceremonies in their barns, you can see an example of the set up below (there's space for 150 seated guests). There is also a Grade 1 listed church next door which can be used for the ceremony subject to discussion with the local Rector and agreement with the Church of England. This beautifully historic church is just 50 metres away from the barns!

Combe lies within the rolling hills of the West Berkshire countryside and the winding roads up to the barns offer the most stunning views! To the west lies Wiltshire, Basingstoke and Deane to the east and Test Valley to the south. Combe Manor Barns is an easy drive from surrounding towns including Newbury, Hungerford, Basingstoke, Reading and Swindon.

Next to the barns there's a fully functioning kitchen which can easy handle a wedding breakfast for up to 200 people! Combe Manor Barns recommend a selection of caterers but you're also very welcome to bring your own caterer, although this does incur a small surcharge. Their recommended caterers include The Wild Fork, Total Hospitality, Vaughan's Kitchen, Nyama Catering and The Little Kitchen Company!

Combe Manor don't charge corkage (yay!) and they have fridges to chill down those all important bubbles and wine for your special day. If you're keen to have a pay bar for all or part of your day, they can recommend a few companies who can help with licensing and supply a fully-stocked bar and staff (your chosen caterer is likely to offer this service too). 

No! Combe Manor Barns have round and trestle tables, as well as chairs for up to 150 people. Even better, they don't charge for these.

As you can see, Combe Manor offers a gorgeous rustic setting within tranquil and picturesque location. You'll most likely still have plenty of questions about this countryside venue so thankfully they've included a whole host of information here on their website!

If you love the outdoors but don't want the risk of soggy guests and frizzy hair, you have to have a nosy at some teepee weddings. Teepees offer the perfect combination of rustic and cosy but serve as a blank canvas for any theme or style. In the colder months your guests can warm up by the fire with a mulled wine and on sunny days you can open up the side to let the outdoors in!

Stunning Tents have kindly shared some gorgeous images from Alan Law Photography to give you a little inspiration if you're considering a teepee or marquee wedding. Joss and Fergus certainly weren't afraid to get creative and their décor was truly stunning. Although it was late October, this lovely pair chose to channel the tropics with zingy foliage-filled arrangements, mini palm trees and cocktails!

It's pretty clear they were absolutely buzzing about their special day as here's what they had to say...

"If you're looking for a party / wedding tent with a difference, just book Stunning Tents and don't think twice. Their ability to think of unique setups for your space, their range of beautiful finishing touches to make it all look amazing and their effortless attention to detail and positivity were just amazing. They were seamless, super calm, super professional and with tents / accessories / ideas that made our wedding beyond our dreams. We compared extensively with other suppliers on costs, range and also willingness to create a custom solution and they were hands down exceptional on all fronts. Book them now!" 

Teepee - Stunning Tents
Catering - Carte Blanche
Photographer - Alan Law Photography
Photo Booth - Hello Booth
Band - Turn It Up

We loved the flexibility of the venue to be able to choose the caterers we liked from their recommended suppliers, and to be able to bring our own drinks during the day. Lewis’ Dad brews his own beer and brew us special beers for our wedding (all named after Lewis’ favourite songs). It was a really personal touch to the day.
Our caterers were The Great Food Company. They served really delicious canapes with the welcome drinks. We had Pimms with vintage straws as well as the beer Lewis’ Dad brewed. The Great Food Company were able to provide sharing food for our meal, rather than a formal dinner – but the quality of the food was amazing. We had Italian charcuterie boards for starters, platters with different barbecue foods for main and a lovely lemon tart for pudding. Sharing the food really got conversation going for our guests – even on tables where people didn’t know each other.

If budgeting is important (which it was for us) create a spreadsheet to keep track o
f costs. We updated it with everything – even the smallest things like decorations/craft materials. It’s surprising how quickly things rack up! Look for decorations on ebay – you can find the same things for a more reasonable price than in the shops (I even saved money on the patterned craft paper for my homemade mobile). Make some decorations yourself if you can / ask friends to help – everyone loved the homemade touches
Try not to stress – I was so worried about everything coming together, but on the day everyone wants the best for you and makes sure that it all runs smoothly.